## **Layton Community House Annual Report 2024** 2024 was a successful year of consolidation for the House with Jamie Tonner (House Manager) and Dawn Thaw as the central personalities helping to foster the atmosphere of friendship and togetherness. We had more visitors than ever before and more activities. Our client base is more ethnically diverse and the average age younger. A major initiative launched with the support of the Nationwide Building Society was the Sewing Room, so ably set up by our House host on Mondays and Tuesdays, Dawn Thaw. Sewing skills are now being passed on to new generations free of charge with sewers who had hitherto not visited the House taking part in other House activities. The Sewing Room has helped to reduce the average age of House users and has made the population more multicultural. Another new initiative in 2024 came in the form of “Scale Model Building” on Wednesday mornings. The group started late in the year as gardening became less practicable, attendance was patchy; modelling appears largely a male preserve. Some impressive models of bridges, historical sites and military vehicles were formed. As with the sewers some modellers became interested in other House activities. The Garden Group worked tirelessly during the growing season to provide a relaxing and colourful environment for visitors and guests to enjoy, hosting an Open Day to encourage members of the local community to participate. Their hard work was rewarded by their being awarded the category of "Highly Commended" in the Blackpool in Bloom competition for the second year in a row. Otherwise the Basic Art, Trefoil Guild, Knitting, Recovery (mental health) and IT groups prospered and consolidated their progress. The Knitting group produced woolly hats which benefited, amongst others, the young families who attended on Fridays; cat blankets for a local cat sanctuary, premature baby clothes for Victoria Hospital and poppies for the Layton Cemetery armistice day. As well as giving dedicated support to families with babies throughout the year we gave seasonal help to residents of different ages by providing dehumidifiers, electric blankets and fleeces. Baby products, female products and hygiene products were provided to qualifying service users. Aware that our Friday morning sessions were well attended, Council Children’s Services employees were present occasionally and signposted other help. A Cost of Living advisor, employed by the Council, gave help to service users on benefits. We thank Blackpool Council and the Nationwide Building Society. The Birchall Trust, a charity supporting survivors of physical abuse, has used part of our upstairs space one day a week. They are grateful to have provided 55 hours of counselling support. The House has been used by many support workers of different types, introducing their clients to a relaxing and possibly therapeutic environment. A new sign was installed at the front of the House. The front window with its changing displays has been a local attraction with many positive comments made. We were pleased during 2024 to welcome new Trustees, Deborah Contessa Hargreaves and Kendrick Fowler. We have as ever been ably assisted by our administrative worker Alison Ridsdale. We enjoyed our second annual house meal in December. It’s great to have everyone together to celebrate our success. Before that many House users had a good day out in Keswick. We thank our funders, particularly the Tudor Trust, Nationwide Building Society and Blackpool Council. We hope 2025 is a similarly enriching year in which we find new guests and partners and continue to provide services to an ever widening circle of people. Martin Mitchell Chair Layton Community House Accountants report to Layton Community House on the review of the Unaudited Financial Infomiation of Layton Community House In accordance with your instruction we have reviewed the financial information of Layton Community House which comprises the Profit & Loss Account, Balance Sheet and related notes from the entity's accounting records and from the information and explanations you have given us for the accounting period 2024. This report is made solely to you in accordance with your instructions. Our work has been undertaken solely to review for your approval the financial information of Layton Community House and state those matters that we have agreed to state to you in this report in accordance with standard accountancy practice. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than Layton Community House for our report. You have approved the financial information for the year and have acknowledged your responsibility for it, for the appropriateness of the financial reporting framework adopted and for providing all information and explanation necessary for its compilation. We have verified the accuracy or completeness of the accounting records or information and explanations you have given to us. Signed _ Steven Roberts SqE So&