Levels Annual Report 2025 LIVING EN4A4IN4 vOLNTEERING EMPDWERIN4 LEARNIN4 SDCIALISIN4 5,1 LEVELS
Welcome to Levels’ Annual Report for 2025
2025 has been a quiet year for Levels. Not because we wanted it to be, but because priority of compliance with the many regulatory changes in the Social Housing sector has taken up much of the time staff would normally volunteer. Levels’ focus during the year has therefore come mainly from the dedicated staff and volunteers at the Shed Project Hull.
Our plans for 2025 included combining this constituted group and its charitable objectives into Levels-CIO to make the most of our joint assets, volunteers and fundraising experience. The Shed and Levels continue making Levels a more proactive and buzzing charity at Hull Churches’ old warehouse on West Dock Street, where Groundwork and The Shed continue to do amazing community support work.
Together with our local population, we improve health and wellbeing and tackle the health outcomes gap within the city.
Events remain resident-led and asset-based, and our grassroot community development, together with a huge range of partnerships with other voluntary organisations, ensures that our communities continue to benefit from all the city has to offer.
This Annual Report captures just some of the extraordinary work accomplished by both Levels CIO and The Shed. You can read about these accomplishments and more in this report.
During 2026 we are hoping to strengthen our collaboration with The Shed Hull by formalising joint policies and processes and implementing a new fundraising strategy.
We are also hoping to expand membership so that Hull Churches Housing Association is no longer the only voting member which will open up even more opportunities for joint working and fundraising for projects and events and making the most of our combined knowledge, experience, and valuable resources to help even more people in the city of Hull.
We want to thank all the people, volunteers, and Board members that are so committed to making a real difference, along with the incredible partners, funders, and donors for their support in making our work possible.
Petra van der Zande Chair
We continue to play an active role in the Voluntary and community sector to support coproduction and co-design processes, enabling those with lived experience to make the most impact to service development, commissioning, and review.
Highlights of 2025
January
Another year for our successful project at the Shed where we prevent leftover paint going to waste. We took donation of 1735 litres of viable domestic or craft paint to Community Repaint Hull and Humber. We process it and make it available at affordable prices to schools, community organisations, and local people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
Community Repaint based at The Shed also diverted 4329 litres of paint in 2025, enabling 696 people to benefit from access to affordable paint.
April
Thanks to kind donations from local supermarkets, enabling our support staff at supported sites to deliver several bitesize Easter activities. Children were able to participate in a range of crafting and cooking events, helping develop both their healthy eating habits and social skills.
July
A tenant who has been attending the Shed for the last year has benefitted tremendously from the services at The Shed. Since attending they have learnt woodworking techniques that have enabled them to make items to decorate their home. They have also worked with the team to help inform the development of the Meat Buying Club and have gone on to become a Community Commissioner with Hull’s second Poverty Truth commission enabling those with lived experience of poverty to work alongside Civic Commissioners to deliver systemic change for the city and the lives of those impacted by poverty. The Hull Poverty Truth Commission Evaluation Report, completed in July 2024, highlights the commission's impact and the ongoing cultural shift towards involving people who experience poverty in decision-making processes.
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October
Throughout the year, The Shed offers taster sessions where people can have a go at trying something new. From woodwork sessions offered by Groundwork to sewing skills offered by Levels, the Shed has something for everyone. Many of these sessions are kindly financed through grants from several supporting partner organisations.
At The Shed, these amazing creative workshops resulted in people learning new skills, making friends and creating some amazing Halloween decorations.
December
Groundwork Yorkshire have announced the launch of a new community-led Meat Buying Club in Hull. In partnership with Nick Robins Butchers, an established Hessle Road business, Springhead Park Golf Club, Levels-CIO and Hull Churches Housing Association, the club offers a sustainable alternative to supermarket shopping. By pooling collective buying power, the club provides significant savings on essential meat products without compromising on quality.
While many bulk-buy schemes cater to large families, the Meat Buying Club is specifically designed to support smaller households that often miss out on supermarket volume discounts. It offers affordable weekly meat packs that come with:
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A weekly meal planner
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Money-saving tips for reducing food costs
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A food budgeting sheet
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A shopping list with ingredients and step-by-step instructions for preparing meals
Placing a value on Community Development
In real monetary terms, the services we deliver continue to appear insignificant, however, as has become customary, we continue to assess and measure also how we improve the lives of the people we support in terms of added Social Value. The ability of Levels-CIO, to create social value stems from bringing together, and coordinating activities, events and support that are already embedded in our communities, so that they can make better use of available resources and become better accessible to more people. Compared to 2024, we continued to see an increase in Social Return on Investment. This is mainly due to continued collaboration with The Shed, and a continuing increase of 11% in available volunteering hours.
Many of Levels’ activities are provided in line with a time-banking principle, thus reducing the need for high monetary investment. The key to this principle is nothing more than a group of people (our communities) and partner organisations contributing to service provision in exchange for services they may need, such as volunteering or providing training and knowledge sharing.
We feel we can be very proud of our achievement, and our success is mainly attributed to the commitment and loyalty of our many partnership organisations and volunteers, including Hull Churches Housing Association, who provide employer supported volunteering.
Levels-CIO continues to use HACT’s Social Value Calculator to provide a basic assessment of the actual social value delivered through our activities. Our Social Return on Investment Ratio for 2025 is £88.49 for every £1 invested.
| Activity | Overall budget | Overall social impact | Analysis of benefit | Analysis of benefit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budget : social impact | Net benefit | |||
| TOTALS: | £ 10,763 | £ 952,402 | 1 : 88.49 |
941,639 £ |
| Cooking up a Community | 500 £ |
72,098 £ |
1 : 144.2 | 71,598 £ |
| Online events | 500 £ |
182,588 £ |
1 : 365.18 | 182,088 £ |
| Sewing club/ Taster Sessions The Shed | 8,163 £ |
573,374 £ |
1 : 70.24 | 565,211 £ |
| Mental Health Awareness Training | 300 £ |
3,184 £ |
1 : 10.61 | 2,884 £ |
| Dementia Awareness training | 300 £ |
9,553 £ |
1 : 31.84 | 9,253 £ |
| Tooled-up | 500 £ |
95,642 £ |
1 : 191.28 | 95,142 £ |
| VSCE Assembly activities | 500 £ |
15,962 £ |
1 : 31.92 | 15,462 £ |
Fig 1. HACT Social Value Calculator – results overview 2025
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To calculate investment and SROI, the average hourly rate for volunteering is set at £13.65/hour in line with the UK Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (2024) and reflects more than 500 volunteer hours provided/ exchanged through above mentioned ‘timebank’ principle.
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For transparency of accounting, ‘timebank’ credits are not expressed in monetary value in Levels’ balance sheet and accounts below.
‘Levels’ Annual Report for the period
| Period start date | Period start date | Period end | date | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | Month | Year | Day | Month | Year | ||
| From | 1st | April | 2023 | To | 31st | March | 2024 |
Section A Reference and administration details
Levels
Charity name 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 wholeyear |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee(if any) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petra van de Zande | Chair | Elaine Morgan (on behalf of HCHA as the only voting member) |
|
| Kial- Leigh Sigsworth |
Secretary | Elaine Morgan (on behalf of HCHA as the onlyvotingmember) |
|
| Tia Scutt | Treasurer | Elaine Morgan (on behalf of HCHAas the onlyvotingmember) |
|
| Karen Tozer | Elaine Morgan (on behalf of HCHAas the onlyvotingmember) |
||
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 Elected by members of management committee constituted Trustee selection methods
Section C
Objectives and activities
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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
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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.
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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, re- training, volunteering and work experience opportunities and assistance to find employment; and
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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 2025
During 2024, our focus has been on strengthening the collaboration between ‘The Shed’ and Levels CIO, with the aim of combining projects, events and activities, rather than duplicating. Levels-CIO, has at its disposal means of fundraising, not currently available to The Shed as an unincorporated community group. In addition, both benefit from more formalised collaboration as a registered independent charity, in terms of adopting the values and principles set out in Levels’ constitution, and the ability for both groups to make best use of assets and resources available to them such as additional community spaces, the generous contribution of volunteers, and formally adopting the same sets of policies and processes to assist the valuable work we do for our communities.
Increasingly we see increasing complexity of people’s mental health and wellbeing issues that require a more holistic approach. Levels and The Shed jointly aim to provide such a holistic solution through offering support in navigating the services ‘out there’, signposting, and providing advocacy whilst providing skills development and prevention of social isolation through a range of social, health and wellbeing activities that also support people keeping cost of living down.
This includes upcycling and re-use projects, improving DIY and ‘healthy food on a budget’ skills, expanding the number of warm spaces, and providing green energy advice to reduce participants’ energy bills.
We continue our work with VCSE assembly and infrastructure organisations, local councils and the Integrated Care Board, which links to the direction of travel Hull Churches Housing Association has also taken in focusing on placed-based health and wellbeing provision in an effort to close the health inequality gaps in our city.
Supporting Organisations and Grant Support for this period
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Hull Food Partnership
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Butterfly Dementia Care
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Integrated Care Partnership
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Neighbourhood Network Hull
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Asda Supermarket
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Groundworks Hull
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Hull Champions
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Forum - CIO
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Hull City Council
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Morrisons Supermmarket
Our thanks and appreciation also go to tenants, customers and staff of Hull Churches Housing Association, the amazing volunteers at Groundwork Hull and the Shed project, 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.
~~ee~~ Section D Achievements and performance
Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the year
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Through therapeutic crafting activities, Levels and The Shed have supported 131 community members to gain new skills, address loneliness, improve mental and physical wellbeing and access the right community services.
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6 training sessions on GDPR and Data Protection provided to grassroot VCS organisations.
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• Participating in a project to share mental health first aiders across VCSE organisations and providing mental health awareness training.
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3 training sessions provided on Social Return on Investment and the use of social value calculators.
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Participated in 6 city-wide social inclusion, diversity and combatting health inequality events.
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 Petra van der Zande ~~ee~~ |
Full Name Petra van der Zande ~~ee~~ |
Signature | Position Chair |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tia Scutt | Treasurer |
Date: 26 January 2025 Co
| LEVELS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Receipts & Payments for the year ending 31/03/2025 | |||||
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Previous Year | ||
| Receipt | |||||
| Donations | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 235.65 | |
| Grant Income | 0.00 | 3,000.00 | 3,000.00 | 0.00 | |
| Contracts | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Sundry Income | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 100.00 | |
| 0.00 | 3,000.00 | 3,000.00 | 335.65 | ||
| Payments | |||||
| Bank Charges | (167.37) | 0.00 | (167.37) | (184.93) | |
| Charitable Expenditure | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | (1,232.50) | |
| Indirect Staff Costs | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| IT & Communications | (40.32) | 0.00 | (40.32) | 0.00 | |
| Marketing & Recruitment | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Rates & Rent | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Salaries & N.I. | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Stationery | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Subscriptions | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Sundry Items | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Training | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Travel & Subsistence | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| (207.69) | 0.00 | (207.69) | (1,417.43) | ||
| Net receipts / (payments) | (207.69) | 3,000.00 | 2,792.31 | (1,081.78) | |
| Balance Brought Forward | 1,300.00 | 1,262.56 | 2,562.56 | 3,644.34 | |
| Transfers between Funds | 1,057.54 | (1,057.54) | 0.00 | 0.00 | |
| Balance Carried Forward | 2,149.85 | 3,205.02 | 5,354.87 | 2,562.56 | |
| Made up of: | |||||
| Bank | 5,264.87 | ||||
| Cash | 90.00 | ||||
| 5,354.87 | |||||
| Check: | 0.00 |