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2021-03-31-accounts

Levels Annual Report 2021 LIVING EN4A4ING VOLIANTEERI N4 EMPOWERI N4 LEARWtW4 SOCIALISIN4 LEVELS

Welcome to Level’s Annual Report for 2021

A YEAR OF PIVOTING

We couldn’t have imagined a situation that would see our face-to-face work stopped for 18 months and counting.

We’ve spent the last 5 years advocating for communities to be involved in co-designing services and community development events and providing direct support to older people, families with complex needs, and children.

We were just starting to fight for sustainable and increased funding, always making the case for individuals who would otherwise be isolated, when we got abruptly stopped in our tracks and had to adapt our ways of working. Levels was never set up to work in isolation, it is meant to function within communities and networks of support.

We have, once again adapted to our new working environment, with training and encouragement and the continued support from many partner organisations to continually improve and expand the reach of our virtual presence.

As an organisation, we are still emerging from the challenges brought about by the impact of the pandemic, which has disproportionately affected individuals and communities that already face disadvantage and inequality.

This review highlights some of our projects that helped communities during the pandemic. It also illustrates how we found new ways to deliver services, introducing distance learning and creating a new online presence with new ways to share information.

As always, there is a silver lining, and we are immensely grateful for it. Our core support networks remain intact, and the larger Community and Voluntary Sector has enthusiastically embraced us, our virtual networking and events programming.

We have been able to take the time we needed, early in the pandemic, to learn the necessary skills to engage with our stakeholders online.

We would like to take the opportunity to thank our partners and board members for their support and patience through what has been a challenging time for everyone. We have really valued the understanding and cooperation they have shown and continue to show as we work through new and ongoing challenges.

Petra van der Zande

Chairperson

This makes our work mobilising practical community action against social isolation and poverty more important than ever before.

The fact that we still exist tells us that the years of advocacy, networking and mutual support within our sector have paid off.

Despite the circumstances, we have continued to coordinate and deliver some wonderful projects and initiatives to ensure members of our communities had the support they needed during this challenging time.

Highlights of 2021

April

In April, on behalf of our partner Groundworks, we launched our ‘Tooled-up’ campaign, where we collect, repair, and redistribute old DIY tools to those wanting to explore new hobbies. The aim of the project is to give unwanted and forgotten tools a new leash of life and many more years of good use in hobbies and craft activities.

June

Once again, Levels took part in Global Pride using online platforms to broadcast Pride events, including musical performances, speeches and more to represent LGBTQI+ people in our communities in a massive celebration of equality and diversity.

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August

Saw the official launch of the ‘Shed Project’ in Hull Churches Housing Association’s old workshop. Working with the local communities, Groundwork creates a community space for people to connect, converse, create and pass on skills and knowledge to others.

Levels’ volunteers are members of the working group to help set up the workshop and social areas. The project has started off with a weekly ‘Ladies that Lunch’ group organised by Groundwork Hull, making decoupage fridge magnets and is attended by Hull Churches HA tenants.

September

Following on from our successful ‘Tooledup’ project, we started a similar campaign for gardening tools. To get us in the mood, 2 of our Board members got involved in facilitating ‘Down-to-Earth’ workshops, including one on building birdboxes and one on creating bee feeder areas.

.

Down-to-Earth is one of our partners in providing training and development activities, volunteering opportunities and improved employability skills to tenants.

October

Since 2014, Levels, as part of the Older People's Partnership Hull & East Riding have celebrated International Older Peoples Day on the 1st of October by organisating a week-long celebration for older people and their carers across Hull and East Riding Villages.

The annual celebration was hosted across 3 local locations as well as online. It was a fantastic event with lots of entertainment, social activity & information on local services.

November

.

In December we received a Food Partnership Hull Award in recognition of our commitment and dedication to combat food inequality in the city. There was also an added bonus of a £500 grant for the purchase of 2 chest freezers, allowing for even more activity and involvement in our ‘Cooking-up-a-Community’ project.

Placing a value on Community Development

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Assessment and evaluation of our projects and activities is a key priority for us.

In real monetary terms, the services we deliver seems insignificant, however when assessing and measuring how we improve the lives of the people we support, we show tremendous impact. The ability of Levels, as a very small charity in its infancy, to create the added value stems from offering support that is embedded in our communities, through volunteering and sharing knowledge and expertise.

As a charity working for the benefit of Hull Churches Housing Association’s tenants and their environs, Levels has adopted use of the HACT Social Value Calculator.

The calculator provides a basic assessment of the actual value delivered through our activities in terms of social impact. As a result, we are able to provide a ratio of how many pounds we generate in social value, for the amount of money invested. Our Social Return on Investment Ratio for 2021 is £69.03 for every £1 invested.

Activity Overall budget Overall social impact Analysis of benefit Analysis of benefit
Budget : social impact Net benefit
TOTALS: £ 8,100 £ 526,633
1 : 65.02		 518,533
£
Cooking up a Community 2,000
£		 79,833
£		 1 : 39.92 77,833
£
Online events 1,500
£		 82,270
£		 1 : 54.85 80,770
£
Older people partnership 1,500
£		 109,702
£		 1 : 73.13 108,202
£
Walking Group 200
£		 143,451
£		 1 : 717.26 143,251
£
Cancer Champion Training 200
£		 3,184
£		 1 : 15.92 2,984
£
Dementia Awareness training 200
£		 9,553
£		 1 : 47.77 9,353
£
Tooled-up 2,500
£		 98,638
£		 1 : 39.46 96,138
£

HACT Social Value Calculator – results overview 2021

‘Levels’ Annual Report for the period

Period start date Period start date Period end date Period end date
Day Month Year Day Month Year
From 17th June 2020 To 17th May 2021

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name Levels Other names charity is known by NA Registered charity number (if any) 1170752 Charity's principal address Studio 701 17 Princess Street Hull Postcode HU2 8BJ

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

Trustee name Office (if any) Dates acted if not for whole
year		 Name of person (or body) entitled
to appoint trustee(if any)
1
Petra van de
Zande		 Chair
2
Linda Johnson		 Secretary
3
Richard Davies		 Treasurer
4
Lincoln Marfoy
5
6
7
8

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Constitution Type of governing document Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) How the charity is constituted Elected by members of management committee Trustee selection methods

Section C Objectives and activities

The development of the capacities and skills of the inhabitants of the economically and socially disadvantaged communities of the City of Kingston upon Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire with a high percentage of social housing (“the Area of Benefit”) and in particular, but not exclusively individuals who are tenants of Hull Churches Housing Association (“Tenants of HCHA”) in such a way that they are better able to identify, and help meet, their needs, and to participate more fully in society; and

  1. To promote social inclusion by preventing people living in the Area of Benefit and in particular, but not exclusively individuals who are Tenants of HCHA from becoming socially excluded, relieving the needs of those people living in the Area of Benefit and in particular, but not exclusively individuals who are Tenants of HCHA who are socially excluded and assisting them to integrate into society in such ways as the Trustees of the CIO shall think fit; and

For the purpose of this clause 3(2) “socially excluded” means being excluded from the society, or part of society, as a result of being a member of an economically and socially deprived community.

  1. The relief of unemployment amongst individuals living in the Area of Benefit and in particular, but not exclusively individuals who are Tenants of HCHA in such ways as the Trustees of the CIO shall think fit including, but not limited to the provision of education, training, retraining, volunteering and work experience opportunities and assistance to find employment; and

  2. To provide or assist in the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals living in the Area of Benefit and in particular, but not exclusively individuals who are Tenants of HCHA who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances with the object of improving their conditions of life.

Summary of the main activities undertaken in 2021

2021 has been no less challenging than the previous year. However, we were better set up and able to adapt rapidly and to provide events and activities online. Local communities are at the heart of everything we do and delivering a successful service depends on how well we understand the needs of our tenants. It became clear very early on that we needed the resources and expertise of our partnership organisations in terms of providing technology and digital support. We were also fortunate to be able to call on the knowledge and expertise of our Board members for this.

We continue to be active in Hull’s Voluntary and Community Sector Liaison group, the Older People Partnership- Hull and East Riding and CCG’s Hull 2020 Champions group. The lived realities of the people and communities with whom we speak reaffirm for the need to amplify our voice – speaking about the impact of local policies and practices on some of the most vulnerable groups in society, so in addition we have become an active member of NorthBank Forum, allowing for even better integration in and collaboration with Hull’s communities and the Community and voluntary Sector.

Our ambition for 2022 remains to extend our fundraising activities. We have made strong foundations but there are still challenges ahead. Our plans to focus on providing training in writing bid and grant funding applications for Hull Churches Housing Association’s support workers and housing management staff were once again put on hold during 2021 but are most certainly not off the agenda.

Supporting Organisations and Grant Support for this period

OPP-HER Hull Food Partnership Neighbourhood Network Hull Groundworks Hull Hull Clinical Commissioning Group – Hull2020 Champions Asda North Bank Forum

Our thanks and appreciation also go to tenants, customers and staff of Hull Churches Housing Association, the Supporting and Membership Organisations’ staff and volunteers from Older People Partnership Group and Groundwork Hull, who have given their time freely in support of the Charity’s objectives and events throughout the past year.

Section D Achievements and performance

Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year

Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves

We follow the recommendation in the Charity Commission guidance RS3 which states our Reserves Policy must quantity and explain the purpose of any designated funds, along with the likely timing of that expenditure. Additionally, that the amount of any funds held as designated funds is appropriate to the purpose or use for which the funds have been designated.

Details of any funds materially in deficit

NA

Further financial review details

See attached Statement of Financial Position.

Section G

Declaration

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

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Full Name Signature Position
Petra van der Zande Chair
Richard Davies Treasurer

Date: 20[th] January 2021

Balance at a glance

LEVELS

Lloyds Account Number: 77855168

Sort Code: 30-65-22

Date Ref Details Fund Category Money In Money
Out		 Balance
Unrestricted Balance Brought
Forward		 £2,729.48 £2,729.48
06/04/2021 337065457 Service Charges Unrestricted Bank Charges £15.00 £2,714.48
04/05/2021 340017898 Service Charges Unrestricted Bank Charges £15.80 £2,698.68
24/05/2021 7345496683354697 Amazon Smile Unrestricted Donations £6.99 £2,705.67
01/06//2021 342122092 Service Charges Unrestricted Bank Charges £15.00 £2,690.67
05/07/2021 345190210 Service Charges Unrestricted Bank Charges £15.37 £2,675.30
02/08/2021 347778865 Service Charges Unrestricted Bank Charges £15.00 £2,660.30
17/08/2021 5969466753958936 Amazon Smile Unrestricted Donations £7.56 £2,667.86
31/08/2021 349993186 Service Charges Unrestricted Bank Charges £15.00 £2,652.86
10/09/2021 PPRD00000000A88AE PayPal Giving Fund
Authentication Code		 Unrestricted Donations £0.01 £2,652.87
04/10/2021 352361890 Service Charges Unrestricted Bank Charges £15.37 £2,637.50

LEVELS

Total Receipts & Payments for the year ending 31/03/2022

Receipt
Donations
Grant Income
Contracts
Payments
Bank Charges
Charitable Expenditure
Indirect Staff Costs
IT & Communications
Marketing & Recruitment
Rates & Rent
Salaries & N.I.
Stationery
Subscriptions
Sundry Items
Training
Travel & Subsistence
Net receipts / (payments)
Balance Brought Forward
Balance Carried Forward
Made up of:
Bank
Cash
Check:
Accounts Prepared by:
Accounts Approved by:		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
14.56
14.56
0.00
0.00
14.56
14.56
0.00
0.00
0.00
14.56
0.00
14.56
(106.54)
0.00
(106.54)
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
(106.54)
0.00
(106.54)
(91.98)
0.00
(91.98)
2,808.00
11.48
2,819.48
2,716.02
11.48
2,727.50
2637.5
90
2727.5
0.00
Tia Scutt
Date:
Date:		 Previous
Year
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
(82.82)
(8.69)
(927.50)
(40.32)
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
(1,059.33)
(1,059.33)
3,878.81
2,819.48
25.05.2021