2020-11-30-accounts

Trustees' Annual Report					for theperiod
From	Period start date			To	Period end date
	Day 1st	Month Dec	Year 2019		Day 30th	Month Nov	Year 2020

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name Longbarn Residents’ Association Other names charity is known by LRA Registered charity number (if any) 1170309 Charity's principal address 1[st] floor, Padgate Library Insall Road Warrington, Cheshire Postcode WA2 0HD

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9	Trustee name	Office (if any)	Dates acted if not for whole year	Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any)
	Geoff Orange	Chairman
	Bob McLaughlin	Vice Chairman
	Paul Adams	Secretary
	Rosa Dale
	Chris Merritt
	David Pearson
	Lynn Colter- Howard
	John Hill
	Howard Klein

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)	Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of adviser Name Address
Member of town’s help and advice group	Mr Bryan Dargie	Warrington Voluntary Action, The Gateway, Sankey Street, Warrington, Cheshire WA1 1SR
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
N/A

N/A

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Type of governing document Constitution, adopted 20th October 2016 (amended (i) 9 June 2018; amended (ii) 12 March 2019)

• (eg. trust deed, constitution)

Our Asociation consists of all residents of Longbarn in north east Warrington ~ approximately 2,500 eligible members in 1,100 company) households.

How the charity is constituted

• (eg. trust, association,

Trustees are appointed from among the residents of Longbarn.

Trustee selection methods

(eg. appointed by, elected by)

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:

• policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;

• the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;

• relationship with any related parties;

• t rustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.

LRA is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO). Our 9 Charity Trustees are the members of the CIO, & delegate the day-to-day running of the Association to our Management Committee; supported by 7 sub-committees which exist to deal with specific, hands-on elements of our business (eg, communications).

We have Terms of Reference & Governing Principles for each of the 3 tiers of our governance structure which serve, inter alia, as useful training aids, as part of an induction pack, as new Trustees, Management Committee or sub-committee members join us.

All Trustees, Management Committee & sub-committee members give their time voluntarily & receive no remuneration nor other reward.

There is a Safeguarding Policy in place, & a Communications Strategy serves to maximise & maintain open, 2-way dialogue with our residents.

Public Liability Insurance is current in the amount of £10 million. LRA is a member of the National Organisation of Residents’ Associations which provides helpful advice.

LRA works enthusiastically in partnership with a range of local civic, business & educational stakeholders & sponsors, including Poulton with Fearnhead Parish Council, Warrington Borough Council, Padgate Village Club, Mukti’s Mini Supermarket, Wind in the Willows children ’ s nursery, New Horizons School, Station House Pub & Dining, Elm Tree Financial Services, Greencore Foods, Cheshire Community Foundation, Co-Op Community Fund, Lottery Community Fund, Muir Group Housing Ltd, Warrington Housing Association, TORUS Housing Association, Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service, Cheshire Police, Arriva Rail North, & The Land Trust. We have established a liaison with our newly elected MP Charlotte Nichols; & have a great relationship with Warrington Voluntary Action which provides us with outstanding advice, guidance & training services.

Section C Objectives and activities

(a) To promote the benefit of the inhabitants of Longbarn (Warrington) & the surrounding area not catered for by an adjoining residents’ association, without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, nationality, age, disability, race, or political, religious or other opinions, by associating together our community & the statutory authorities, voluntary & other organisations in a common effort to Summary of the objects of promote good health & wellbeing, advance education & to provide the charity set out in its facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation & leisure- governing document time occupation with the object of improving the conditions of life for our people; (b) to promote such other charitable purposes (charitable under English law) in the area of benefit as the Trustees may from time to time determine. Summary of the main When planning our activities for the year we have kept in mind The activities undertaken for Charity Commission’s Guidance on Public Benefit at our Trustee the public benefit in meetings. relation to these objects (include within this section Our focus is our people ~ our residents ~ with a programme of the statutory declaration that trustees have had events & activities that provides benefit for the whole community. And we have developed our logo & our strapline in that vein ~

Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)

We welcome all people regardless of background, faith, gender or personal circumstances & we passionately believe that our state of openness enriches everyone through the sharing of the life experiences of our membership, & our wonderful team of volunteers.

Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:

• policy on grant-making;

• policy programme related investment;

We empathise fiercely with the people we serve. We care intensely about the work that our volunteers do. Our volunteers are the lifeblood of our Association & without them, we would not be able to deliver the wide range of diverse events & activities to our members contained in our portfolio, nor achieve the reputation & success we enjoy in running them.

• contribution made by volunteers.

Section D Achievements and performance

Summary of the For the first quarter of the year (before Covid-19 & Government restrictions main achievements embargoed our plans), & safeguarded & supervised by our marvellous of the charity during team of volunteers, we delivered a range of events & activities which the year helped us meet our major driver for the community. That is, we believe that social participation creates mutual trust among individuals, which forms the basis for shared responsibility for our community & society at large.

O ur brand is, ‘Working together for our Community.’ We believe that community strengthens conversation & wellbeing. And in ‘normal’ times our programme of wellbeing & social inclusion, built upon local consultation & knowledge, seeks to get more families out of their homes, together (& help those who may feel isolated & on their own) & involved in the following community-wide activities ~

• Residents’ Meetings were held at 6 -weekly intervals until Covid restrictions stalled our activity, to discuss matters of interest & concern to our residents. Visiting speakers included Greencore Foods, TORUS Housing Association (reporting on progress in constructing a 97-flat retirement village in Longbarn), Cheshire Police & Cheshire Fire & Rescue. The last meeting was held 20 February 2020 & meetings are presently suspended pending an easement in Covid-inspired Government restrictions.

• With Christmas tree lights switch-on & carols at our local village club opening the festive season, we went on to deliver a good oldfashioned Christmas party for our children, with an entertainer & food & refreshments topped off with presents handed out by Father Christmas. And later, a ‘big kids’ Christmas party for adults, again with an entertainer & food & refreshments laid on. Whilst in the background we successfully sold loads of tickets for our Grand Christmas Draw, with huge thanks to residents & local businesses who so kindly provided a cornucopia of prizes.

• We delivered an educational trip to Cheshire Fire & Rescue’s ‘Safety Central’ on 8 January 2020. With 4 themed zones, our coach trippers were enabled to develop the skills & knowledge they need to stay safe & well at home, on the road & in our community.

Section D Achievements and performance

• We held a Charity Quiz Night 7 February 2020, with proceeds going to a local youngster to support her (school organised) trip to Camp Kenya, an event organised to provide the opportunity to live and work alongside local people (many of whom are living below the poverty line & don’t have access to pr oper education facilities, medical treatment or even clean water) on a wide range of initiatives designed to help improve living standards within their community. The event raised £576. • Pre-Covid restrictions, we delivered fortnightly Afternoon Teas. The 3-hour sessions provide our senior citizens with the opportunity to meet & chat, with gaming activities & refreshments & most importantly, get out of the house. • Pre-Covid restrictions, we held fortnightly seated exercise classes. The 1-hour sessions are led by Danny Wright, a local resident & exarmy instructor who guides folk through a routine of gentle exercises to help participants who've lost a step or two in their later years, or who are battling the effects of chronic pain or disability due to injury or a health condition. The exercise programme can improve strength, cardiovascular health, mobility & balance, all from the comfort of a chair. ~ And we provide transport to & from Afternoon Tea & seated exercise class for those who might otherwise be unable to take part. • Pre-Covid restrictions, we launched Footloose in Longbarn. A 2-hour dance session led by Tina Thomas, a local, qualified dance instructor, the event attracted wide participation, with broad appeal under the banner headline of, ‘Exercise is Fun.’ And then Covid-19 struck & served to postpone the majority of our face to face community activity . But undaunted ….. • Mindful we have residents who are housebound or who find it difficult to leave the house, our Chairman Geoff Orange approached Greencore Foods (a local business) & engineered the donation of food hampers which we subsequently began to distribute 27 April 2020 on a weekly basis to 50 households. Deliveries continue to this day, albeit on a monthly basis, now. Big shout out to our small but perfectly formed band of volunteers who deliver the hampers, by the way ~ Wendy Orange, Dave Pearson, Geoff Orange, Bob McLaughlan & Paul Adams. • In the absence of face to face meetings, we organised MS Teams training for those of our Management Committee who needed it (TORUS Homes kindly delivered 2 events free of charge) with a view to holding virtual meetings.

Section D Achievements and performance

• For the second year running, & maintained by one of our subcommittees (Friends of Padgate Station, led by our Vice Chairman Bob McLaughlan), Padgate Station was accorded a top award as one of Cheshire’s Best Kept Stations at a ceremony attended by the Lord Lieutenant (David Briggs) & other dignitaries from across the County.

• We bought & erected on lamp posts along the length of our local through road, 32 large plastic poppies, to commemorate Armistice Day & all those we’ve loved & lost in worldwide conflict , & then sought sponsorship for each of them from local residents & businesses. The total subsequently donated to Royal British Legion amounted to £865. An incredible show of generosity, acknowledged by RBL with a certificate of thanks.

• During the Summer, our annual Sunflower & Scarecrow Competitions produced eye-catching entries, with winners in the adult & children categories being presented with prizes.

• We have worked tirelessly, bullishly, & rather successfully with Warrington Borough Council in securing additional double yellow lines to alleviate long-suffered illicit car parking problems across our community, for a second year running.

• We have a team of trained & certificated First Aiders dotted around the community; & a defibrillator located at the local village shop in the heart of our community. And what a Heaven-sent piece of kit it has proved to be, having been called upon to deal with 3 medical emergencies during the year.

• We have worked successfully with LiveWire & Poulton & Fearnhead Parish Council to extend the lease on our LRA office at Padgate Library.

• New Horizons is a school for children with special educational needs & disabilities located in Longbarn & Dave Pearson, a member of our Management Committee, meets regularly with the school both to discuss areas of common interest & concern & to recognise & include the establishment as part of our community.

• Our team of volunteers, led by our horticulturist-in-residence Wendy Orange, have maintained the 24 planters dotted around our community (including one nurtured by the kiddies at our Wind in the Willows Nursery), weeding & stocking & watering the plants.

• We have lots of grassed open space across Longbarn. Our team of volunteers have kept them mown, & our litter pickers have kept them tidy, throughout the year.

Section D Achievements and performance

• We’re big on tidiness in Longbarn! And bought 2 additional council spec litter bins, securely erected for us by Warrington Borough Council on Harper’s Road, our main through road & a favourite haunt for our pedestrian exercise & dog walkers.

• By far the most ambitious community project in our short but eventful history is the design & build of Fallowfield Grove Play Area. At one of our open forum Residents’ Meetings in June 2018, residents invited LRA to champion the cause of a play area on the South side of Harper’s Road, the significance of the location being that it would avoid main roads & thereby provide safer access for our youngsters living in that part of our estate. The play area will enable us to engage much more evidently with our youngsters, our future, & meet a significant need highlighted by our residents. The design of the play area provides a facility which meets the play needs of younger children & consequently will provide a fun experience, encourage adventurous play & include educational elements all within a safe environment. With land gifted by Warrington Borough Council, & after a long & torturous journey, we have finally achieved planning permission & are set, now, to pursue funding options.

• Our Secretary Paul Adams made 5 successful bids, to The National Lottery, Co- Op Community Fund, Warrington Borough Council’s Community Initiative Fund (2) & Parish Council, generating funds enabling us to maintain some semblance of business as usual & perpetuate LRA Land as a place to be proud of.

• We have maintained open, 2-way communications with our residents throughout the year with a combination of our 6-weekly Newsletter (distributed by volunteers to every house on the estate), our website, & on social media (we have our own Facebook, Twitter & Instagram accounts), enabling LRA to keep our people up to date with news, fun & free competitions & what’s on; & ask The Big Questions, too.

Section E Financial review

Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves

We have 2 accounts with Barclays Bank: a current account which we maintain to the tune of £2K to provide for petty cash. And a ‘Restricted Funds’ account in which the monies are earmarked for specific activity or outlay (eg, seated exercise classes, Community Fun Day, Fireworks Extravaganza).

Our policy on reserves is simply that we have none. Our Treasurer is a qualified accountant; works for a local accountancy firm; &, with our Management Committee & Trustees, we plan & cost activity & spend within our means.

Details of any funds materially in deficit

Not applicable

Further financial review details (Optional information)

• You may choose to include None additional information, where relevant about: • t he charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);

• how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;

• investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.

Section F Other optional information

As Secretary of our amazing Association, I’m as well placed as anybody to reflect on our activity & achievements during the last year. Well, almost ….. I’ll close this Annual Report with a big shout out to our Chairman Geoff Orange & his wife Wendy. Geoff inaugurated LRA 19 July 2012, & was instrumental in our gaining charitable incorporated organisation status 20 October 2016. The couple work tirelessly, harder than anyone else concerned with LRA, for our Association & our people. And for that our Board of Trustees, our Management Committee, & our community at large are hugely grateful. Geoff will baulk at these words. He positively shuns personal accolades. But I’ve been & gone & said it. So there!

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature Full name Position Date
	Paul Adams
	Secretary & Trustee
	24 June 2021

LONGBARN RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

SUMMARY INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE FOR THE PERIOD 1ST DECEMBER 2019 TO 30TH NOVEMBER 2020	INCOME AND EXPENDITURE FOR THE PERIOD 1ST DECEMBER 2019 TO 30TH NOVEMBER 2020
	£
INCOME	15,138.96
EXPENSES	6,612.26
SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) FOR PERIOD	8,526.70
Balance brought forward	28,731.13
FUNDS TO CARRY FORWARD	37,257.83
Represented by:
Bank - current account	3,300.50
Bank - reserve account	33,957.33 37,257.83

LONGBARN RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE FOR THE PERIOD 1ST DECEMBER 2019 TO 30TH NOVEMBER 2020

INCOME Grants Ticket sales Donations - Raj Shop - Amazon Smile - Other donations - Poppy appeal - Gift Aid Exercise Other (raffles, events, afternoon tea etc.) TOTAL INCOME EXPENDITURE Rent Room hire Event costs Landscape & gardening Fallowfield Play Area Office supplies and printing Health and safety Website Exercise instructor Footloose instructor Station mural etc. COVID Support Costs Equipment Donation RBL - Poppy Appeal Accountancy fees (donated) Insurance (see note) Sundry expenses TOTAL EXPENDITURE SURPLUS/DEFICIT

Sep-20 Oct-20 Nov-20 Total 0.00 0.00 0.00 10,025.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 35.00 20.00 30.00 220.00 0.00 0.00 16.72 50.11 0.00 310.00 487.00 1,462.00 0.00 525.00 340.00 865.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 290.85 0.00 0.00 0.00 219.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,007.00 35.00 855.00 873.72 15,138.96 0.00 0.00 0.00 200.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 180.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,260.34 12.15 180.98 268.38 1,424.91 0.00 512.92 0.00 512.92 0.00 0.00 0.00 525.02 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 300.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 90.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 36.69 0.00 0.00 337.01 0.00 0.00 0.00 200.79 0.00 0.00 20.00 45.00 0.00 0.00 865.00 865.00 0.00 300.00 0.00 300.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 11.98 40.00 371.27 48.84 1,005.88 1,193.38 6,612.26 -13.84 -150.88 -319.66 8,526.70

Note: We have been given 3 months insurance cover for free due to COVID, therefore, no payment is due until January 2021