## **Annual Report January to December 2020** ## **St Thomas’ Community Project (CIO registration 1170109)** ## **Principal Office and Trading address** St Thomas’ church and community centre 239 Garretts Green Lane Garretts Green Birmingham B26 2SA ## **Trustees** Revd Paul Bracher (chair) Revd Susan Larkin (Treasurer) Sue Round Jo Holyoak Michele Twelftree Linda Nugent ## **Structure, governance and management** St Thomas’ Community Project became a Charity Incorporated Organisation in October 2016 but has existed as a constituted body since 1992. There has been no change in our to our board of trustees during 2020. Due to the pandemic project and community activity has been limited. Our Trustees have kept abreast of all Covid legislation and guidelines and ensured they are implemented. We continue to operate in St Thomas’ Church hall and St Thomas’ Community Centre and in this period on line. ## **Financial Review** The turnover for this year was £24,865 and at the end of the financial year we have reserves of £35,258. All expenditure has been made for the delivery of activities in line with the aims and objectives of the charity. The Statement of Financial Activities will show the funders and the balance of funds at the end of the year. With a turnover of under £100,000 the charity does not require an audit but the accounts have been independently examined. ## **Funds held as custodian trustee on behalf of others** No funds are held on behalf of others. ## **Public benefit statement** In planning and delivering our activities for the year the trustees kept in mind the Charity Commissions guidance on public benefit. There have been changes in the services provided and the way they are delivered because of Covid guidelines and restrictions between April 20 and December 20. ## **Main activities undertaken to further our charitable purposes for the public benefit.** 1. Working with local families - Our Stay and Play group for parents and carers ran successfully until we closed in March due to the lockdown and remained closed for the rest of the year. This was in order to comply with Covid Restrictions and keep families and our volunteers safe. Demand for this provision remains high and we will review re-opening in due course. - Similarly, our partnership with the Local Children’s Centre to host a range of provisions was also interrupted after the 1[st] quarter and we will look to resume this once Covid restrictions are lifted. - When Covid restrictions were eased in the Autumn we held a Covid safe Harvest event to which 10 families were invited. - In December we organised an outdoor Christmas themed trail around the local streets; this proved very popular with families and the wider community who hosted the various stations; 31 families representing 117 people joined in. 2. Working with local children - On Monday evenings our weekly provision of two children’s groups during term time continued for the 1[st] quarter of 2020. For the remainder of 2020 we continued with a group of children via Zoom providing fun, games, challenges, socialisation and support on-line. - As we were unable to run any Holiday Clubs or Play Days, we created themed activity bags for each week of the summer. These were collected from the church hall doorway and includes resources for games, crafts, activities, cookery, physical exercise, puzzles and stories. Our themes were : nature, the seaside, animals, circus and sea life. 26 children registered and received packs. 3. Working with local young people - Our Monday youth club for local young people aged 12-18 has developed into a group for young adults as most of those attending are in the 18+ age bracket. This group met weekly for the 1[st] quarter of 2020 then on-line through lockdown. As most of the group are experiencing mental health issues, we were able to reopen between September and Christmas within Covid Guidelines (but returned to Zoom only in the 2[nd] lockdown in November). 4. Working with the older people and vulnerable adults - The men’s group ceased meeting after the first quarter of 2020 but they have kept in touch via the telephone throughout the rest of the year. - An exciting development in 2020 was the employment of a part time development officer engage with people in the 50+ age range. Her employment commenced at the start of lockdown so our work through 2020 has largely been keeping in touch by phone, doorstep visits, delivering newsletters, resources and treats, shopping and collecting prescriptions. As restrictions eased we have begun to meet in small groups with a view to having a whole day set aside for this age group to meet together and to encourage volunteers. Other activities will also develop through consultation with participants. The purpose of this work is to keep people aged 50+ active and involved in the local community. - The only community events held during the year were a community a Burns Night party in January and two outdoor bake sale in October and December. 5. Relief of Poverty - Our Place of Welcome closed at the end of March and has not reopened in its original format. However the activities that happened on Wednesday morning have been revised and will be provided differently once Covid restrictions are lifted. The art group will meet on Wednesday morning but moving into a larger space to allow for growth. New provision will be developed on Thursdays for people in the 50+ age group (see above). The “knitters” who have been busy knitting at home will be encouraged to resume meeting on Thursdays. - Access other provisions on site e.g. shower and laundry facilities, use of telephone and internet, help with completing applications continues on Wednesday morning alongside the FoodBank. - Our independent Food Bank has remained open every week on Wednesday mornings throughout the whole of 2020 though procedures have changed to be Covid safe for volunteers and clients. Usage decreased during the period NHS food parcels were being delivered and there was a top to Universal Credit. Donations from the local community have increased and our volunteers have doubles from two to four. In addition to basic foods we delivered Christmas Food Hampers. - We hosted two training courses for local people to prepare for job interviews with National Express. ## **Achievements and performance** - Average weekly attendance at Place of Welcome prior to lockdown and restrictions was 28 - Prior to lock down 28 children accessed Stay and play on a regular weekly basis and 19 dipped in and out making a total of 47. - A total 30 children attended our children’s club prior to lockdown and restrictions; average weekly attendance was 16. - A total of 21 teenagers attended our youth club prior to lockdown and restrictions representing an average weekly attendance of 13. - 9 children joined us via Zoom on a weekly basis for on line activities during lockdown. - An average of 8 young adults joined our weekly group prior to lockdown and as allowed when restrictions were lifted. During lockdown they joined on line. - 130 children’s Summer Activity Bags were delivered to 26 households - We delivered 4 Covid safe family events – 2 indoors and 2 outdoors - 137 food parcels issued - 38 home deliveries, visits and phone calls were made each week to those in isolation - We normally have 22 regular volunteers (including 6 young leaders); 7 of these volunteers have been active throughout lockdown. ## **Public Benefits** Our work with families with pre-school children provides opportunities and encouragement for parents and children to have fun and learn together through play. Children begin to develop social skills that make a sound foundation for school and parents are less socially isolated. The focus of our children’s and youth work is the planning and delivery of a varied programme of activities and events to stimulate and develop them physically, mentally and emotionally. This benefits the children and young people by developing their self-confidence, self-esteem, social skills, increased resilience and raises aspirations. During lockdown and Covid restrictions some of this work was delivered via Zoom and activities to do at home. We welcome all children and young people and we belief the experiences and opportunities they have enriches their personal lives which then impacts on their family, their school life and the wider community. Our provision for older and more vulnerable people has increased during lockdown and restrictions to maintains their physical, emotional and spiritual well being and social isolation through visits and provision of resources to use at home and offers of practical help where needed. Our work to address and combat poverty contributes towards physical and social well-being helping people towards more independent living. Our work with volunteers of all ages utilises skills from within the local community and further develops and equips people. St Thomas Communlly Projocl Statement of Finan¢lal Acilvities For the period from 01 January 2020 to 31 De¢emb¢r 2020 Prlor year total funds lunds fvrtd$ funds Incomlng resourees Inwming resou￿9 from geTh￿ated fijnds Voluntsry Income A(Mlg8 for gomrallng funds Inve&tment Incow,e Intxmlng rasourtss from cl)8ritabb fifth￿.88 Other 1neLYfi￿9 resour￿$ 8,411 8.411 2,072 19,399 181 1,(*2 2,657 14.021 18,730 Total InGomlng rn$OU￿ 11601 11.364 24,866 37,372 Resources v58d Cost of gènera*ing thnds Investrnent Manage￿nI costs Chartabb act.'vths Othèr r880urc88 Used 717 717 570 24.703 570 16.578 3,952 32,602 8,124 Totsl r¢wuTC85 Lwd 17.867 8,124 25.991 38.916 Net Income I lexperkdlturel 14.3661 3,239 11.126} 466 Gros5 transfers belw8en fil￿S- In Gros5 tsansfets belwn fvnds- out 12,363 112,3631 Net I Iwondltur8} 143681 11,1261 456 Otherro¢ognl$8dg8ln81loss8S G2in% I108se8 on investment assets Gains on revaK'alvJn, f￿d a55ets. (*ariiVs use Nrt movement In fvnds 3839 11.1261 Rew4clll8don olfunds Totsl furKI8 brought foryrdrd 24021 11363 ,384 36,928 Total funds carrièd fonvard 19,656 15.602 35.258 36,384 Thwemayben71nordt5crepwJcles hp thg Iptsl$ 1fth*￿ce are notbelngshow 23 AwJu$t 2021 Page 1 I have been given full access to the books aThJ records of St. Thomas, Community Project, and in my opinion the Receipts and Payments Account and the Balance Sheet reflect the transacttons and position of St. Thomas Communty Project year ended 31 St December 2020 Sl nalure Name Date y) ZDL nature (Deputy Chair) Name Date