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Trustees Annual Report and Accounts Bushbury Hill Community Action Group 01 April 2021 – 31 March 2022
Charitable Incorporated Organisation Charity Number 1169727
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Charity Name: Bushbury Hill Community Action Group (BHCAG) Charity Registration Number: 1169727 Registered Office: 14 Kempthorne Avenue Low Hill Wolverhampton WV10 9JG Board of Trustees: Diane Lewis Chair Kate Spilsbury Treasurer Karen Williams Auditors: GNC Accounting Services Ltd
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Structure, Governance and Management
Bushbury Hill Community Action Group (BHCAG) is a resident led voluntary and community organisation that established in 2013, and in 2016 became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
The board of trustees consists of a minimum of three and maximum of twelve trustees. Bushbury Hill Community Action Group actively seek to recruit new trustees.
Eligibility for trusteeship
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(a) Every charity trustee must be a natural person.
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(b) No individual may be appointed as a charity trustee of the CIO:
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if he or she is under the age of 16 years; or
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if he or she would automatically cease to hold office under the provisions of clause [12(1)(e)].
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(c) Every trustee must be:
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A resident of Bushbury Hill or
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Work in Bushbury Hill (including local services) or
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Operate a business in Bushbury Hill or
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Operates a business that benefits a significant number of people in Bushbury Hill
Apart from the first charity trustees, every trustee must be appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO.
Recruitment and Training of Trustees
Where required support is provided to enable people who wish to become a trustee to gain the appropriate skills and knowledge to carry out this role. Following appointment new trustees are provided with a copy of the current version of the constitution/rules, and a copy of the CIO’s latest Trustees’ Annual Report and statement of accounts, along with the Charities Commission latest version of a Trustee Guidance to ensure they are aware of their responsibility as a trustee.
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Overview of Bushbury Hill Community Action Group:
Its aim is to improve the quality of life of all residents of Bushbury Hill and the surrounding areas. BHCAG work alongside a number of partner organisations within the area, and have been part of the development and delivery of key projects. Bushbury Hill is an area that is part of the suburb of Bushbury, Wolverhampton, West Midlands and is the most densely populated ward of Wolverhampton. The area is within the top 5% on the indices of deprivation and as such, the Objects of BHCAG are…
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To promote for the benefit of the inhabitants of Bushbury Hill and the surrounding area the provision of facilities for 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 pf improving the condition of life of the said inhabitants.
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The relief of those in need, by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage.
Overview from Chair of the Board of Trustees:
Following a difficult couple of years for everyone during the Covid-19 pandemic, this year saw a refocus of our energy and efforts to help support our community to recover from the effects of lockdown.
We have worked with partners within the WVV10 Consortium to deliver a range of services targeting financial struggles and both physical and mental health and well-being.
We have also worked in partnership with Bushbury Hill Estate Management Board to acquire and develop Fifth Avenue Community Centre which will be the new home of Bushbury Hill Community Action Group, and the place from which many of our services will be delivered. Our aim is to ensure this centre becomes the beating heart of the local community where help can be sought and friendships made.
We are always in need of new ideas and volunteers, and welcome all members of our local community.
Diane Lewis
Chair
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Activity: -
Smart Energy Project: At the beginning of this year we were fortunate enough to be awarded a grant from Smart Energy GB to provide an outreach worker for 8 months who worked alongside volunteers to increase awareness of the benefits smart meters can bring and how this can contribute towards managing your energy usage. . As well as outreach and door to door support we ran Smart Energy sessions alongside our 'Life after the Foodbank' initiative where families were provided with support, in total supporting 2106 people across our local community.
We provided training to 21 volunteers to ensure that across WV10 area we have a team of people who are able to provide guidance on the usage of smart meters, as well as running a Radio campaign in partnership with Wolverhampton Community Radio.
Bushbury Buddies Treat & Chat: Bushbury Hill Community Action Group has continued to work in partnership with a number of other local community organisations including Bushbury Hill Estate Management Board, Big Venture Centre, Park Village Education Centre, Stratton Street Community Centre and the Women’s & Family Resource Centre as part of the WV10 Consortium. In partnership with volunteers from across the WV10 patch we were able to continue to ensure that all Bushbury Buddy members and new referrals were provided for through the Treat & Chat Scheme.
Staff and volunteers used our mini bus to deliver a weekly treat (often a hot meal) to the doorstep of elderly/lonely/vulnerable members of our community, and then had a door step chat at the same time. Food was labelled with contact details of local people/volunteers who they could call for further help if required. This gave us the opportunity to check on their well-being, lift their spirits and to offer further social opportunities back at our partner community centres.
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Life after the Foodbank: Since starting this project in the previous year, demand has grown and we have continued to seek resources to expand our provision. Working in partnership with the Big Local Venture Centre, the project aims to provide a 6 week programme of support whereby people in financial difficulties attend and participate in weekly healthy, budget cooking sessions. Alongside this they also receive advice and guidance to tackle the root cause of their financial issues from partner organisations including Wolverhampton City Credit Union, local housing providers, family budget sessions, mental health awareness, into work support and confidence building. At the end of the 6 weeks the aim is that we have tackled financial issues that are preventing that person or family improving their own quality of life. It is anticipated that these cooking sessions will also run from Fifth Avenue once we are able to do so.
Household Support Fund: In response to the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, Bushbury Hill Community Action, together with partners from the WV10 Consortium were asked by Wolverhampton City Council to administer the Household Support Fund in our local area, and
secured just over £35,000 during this year. The fund can be used to provide support with essentials linked to energy and water in recognition that a range of costs may arise that directly affect a household’s ability to afford or access food, energy, and water.
Holiday Activities and Food Programme : As part of the WV10 Consortium, Bushbury Hill Community Action Group have delivered a variety of activities for children and families at community centres across the area.
The aims of the programme are to ensure that children in our local area can…
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eat healthily over the school holidays
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be active during the school holidays
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take part in engaging and enriching activities which support the development of resilience, character and wellbeing along with their wider educational attainment
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be safe and not to be socially isolated
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have a greater knowledge of health and nutrition
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be more engaged with school and other local services
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We also aim to ensure that the families who participate in this programme:
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develop their understanding of nutrition and food budgeting
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are signposted towards other information and support, for example, health, employment, and education
It is anticipated that we will be able to deliver from Fifth Avenue Community Centre in the coming months, expanding the provision of this service across the area.
Neighbourly: Last year BHCAG became members of the neighbourly organisation, this organisation puts charities like ours in touch with supermarkets and other big companies with the aim of any surplus goods they may have being donated to the charities for use in the community. We are pleased to say that we have now secured an increased number of surplus collections from Lidl, M&S and Sainsbury’s. The surplus goods are collected and distributed via the Big Venture Community Shop where they are given away for free.
School Uniform Drive: For the fourth year we have been able to support our tenant’s children with a free items of school uniform. This was delivered in a slightly different way this year with the focus on tenants who were struggling financially and delivered alongside other services provided including the Life after the Foodbank and Household Support initiatives. We will continue to look for new ways to deliver this service going forward.
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Bushbury Hill Community Action Group Accounts 01 April 2021 – March 2022
| Income | £ |
|---|---|
| Grant Funding | £38,835.44 |
| Donations | £2,070.00 |
| Other MiscIncome | £826.49 |
| Total Income | £41,731.93 |
| Expenses | £ |
| Bank Charges | £15.20 |
| Treat & Chat Project | £7,749.62 |
| Mini Bus Costs | £4,108.86 |
| Strawberry Patch Maintenance |
£463.00 |
| Uniform Drive | £620.95 |
| ChristmasEvents | £2,089.25 |
| Household SupportFund | £14,598.26 |
| Donations | £1,250.00 |
| Other Misc Costs | £533.14 |
| Total Expenses | £31,428.28 |
| Profit/Deficit 2021-2022 | £10,303.65 |
Notes to the Accounts: None to report.
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Signed by and on behalf of the Board of Trustees for Bushbury Hill Community Action Group: -
| Name | Diane Lewis |
|---|---|
| Position | Chair |
| Date | 30.01.2023 |
| Signature | |
| Name | Karen Williams |
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| Position | Trustee |
| Date | 30.01.2023 |
| Signature | |
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