2021-03-31-accounts - Springwell Community Hub

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SPRINGWELL COMMUNITY HUB

Springwell Community Centre Lanchester Avenue Gateshead NE9 7AL

– SPRINGWELL COMMUNITY HUB CIO REGISTERED CHARITY NO. 1171744

- ANNUAL REPORT : JUNE 2020 JUNE 2021

The aims of Springwell Community Hub are to provide a safe environment for the Springwell Estate community where they can meet, find friendship, and receive help and support with a wide range of problems and enquiries.

Springwell Community Hub is situated within a highly deprived area of Gateshead in the county of Tyne & Wear.

We provide activities, events, and educational and vocational opportunities to all who engage with the centre.

This year has, again, been challenging not least because of the impact of Covid-19. We know that there are many people in the local area and beyond who have been struggling with issues such as isolation, poverty and physical and mental health challenges and have relied on the Centre in the past for support to help alleviate some of these issues. Because of the continuing circumstances which have necessitated either the closure or part closure of the community centre, we have been unable to provide many of our vital services and activities. The following is a resume of the year 2021-2022.

Relief of Poverty

Our Community Café previously operated to provide low cost, healthy option meals and drinks to residents on the estate. This initiative is especially needed during school holiday periods.

Unfortunately, we were forced to close the community centre for a large portion of the year. This included the community café which has always been regarded as a lifeline to many residents on the estate – both from a physical and mental point of view. During a small part of the year, we did provide hot drinks, but we were unable to provide hot meals as we did not have any staff to maintain this service. In partnership with Fareshare, for a short period of time, we were initially able to provide a weekly market. When restrictions were increased, the market ceased, but we were still able to provide food parcels for those experiencing hardship and financial difficulties.

Hardship & Distress

As well as the weekly Fareshare market that continued as long as we were able, unfortunately, all other drop-in sessions and facilities were cancelled.

Relief of Loneliness

We continued to be contacted by phone from some residents and we were able to provide a measure of support to those in distress or to direct them to the relevant service for further help. The centre was being run for most of the year by two of the Trustees on a voluntary basis and therefore at no cost to the Charity.

The relief of loneliness has been of major concern to the Trustees who are only too aware of the level of this problem on the estate, both from first-hand experience talking to local people and from testimony received from other residents.

Advancement of Education

This is a major element of the work carried out at the Community Hub. A great deal of work is done with permanently excluded school pupils to help get them back on track and back into mainstream education.

This has been another major hit due to Covid. During part of the time, we were closed but were able to work with pupils on-line. They were provided with on-line tutorials and were given the use of Community Centre computers to help them with their studies. We continued working in the centre with vulnerable pupils, not only during term time, but also during the holidays.

Springwell Community Garden

Again, unfortunately, all of our work at the community garden came to a standstill. It was closed for a short period of time and then re-opened with work carried out by the Community Payback Service. Work that we had carried out to foster engagement in this activity by the community was lost, and unfortunately, we have not been able to re-engage local residents’ interest in this to date. The area is quite large and requires a great deal of work. We are hoping to re-start this project when the restrictions are lifted but will probably require the services of the Payback Team in the near future to help keep on top of the project. We are grateful to them for the level of support that they have given us.

Ethnic Minority Engagement/Refugee Programme

By no means surprising, this again has had to be curtailed because of Covid and has had a major impact on the ability of our refugee community to integrate and learn new skills etc. ESOL (English as a second language) did manage to continue on-line, but no social gatherings for integration and sharing were able to take place.

Activities

During this period, most of the activities became more and more limited. We lost our fitness instructor as he took his business to on-line only.

Dancing was also seriously affected by the pandemic as classes were frequently (and limited in numbers). Individuals suffered Covid which led to more and more cancellations until restrictions were in place. On advice from Public Health, we also cancelled all of our large gatherings, including parties, etc. for Christmas 2020. This was a source of great disappointment to the local community as these had always formed part of the local celebrations.

Appointment of Trustees

Contact with Trustees has mainly been by phone, with some very short face-to-face meetings with Mrs. Lisa Loan, the new Chair. Again, the appointment of local Trustees also appears to have waned, with local residents seeming to be unwilling to take on this role.

- Covid 19

As the seriousness of the Covid-19 outbreak continued, the centre continued with its strategy to deal with the emergency. We continued to prepare the building and visitors via the following steps:

Ensured buildings were still Covid secure.
Provided hand sanitisers.
Created sanitising stations with appropriate and relevant signage. 4. Provided floor markers and door signage for social distancing.

Fortunately, we are pleased to report that we had no issues raised relating to adherence to these measures.

Finance

Our accounts remain independently prepared and overseen by Hurren & Jubb Accountants Ltd. (previously R. A. Hurren Accountants Ltd.). Our volunteer Accountant continues to advise on general financial matters.

We continue to meet our financial obligations to the Council, together with all necessary expenses incurred in order to maintain the operation of the Centre for the community. All accounts, including bank statements are available for inspection on request if required.

Some Positives

During this period of disruption and challenging times, whilst only working with vulnerable children, and a very limited skeleton staff, we have used the time positively to make the centre more user-friendly. The following are areas that we have specifically addressed:

Outside Lighting

New lights were installed to improve security of the building and importantly, personal security. Residents have commented favourably on the improvement.

Fencing

This has been installed around the site perimeter. It is now a safer place for children to play. This initiative was made possible via a grant of £7500 from SUEZ.

Windows

New double glazing has been installed to replace old frames. This has helped with both heating bills and provided better ventilation, especially in the kitchen area.

New Entrance

A hairdressing salon operates out of the centre. A separate entrance was installed so that clients no longer have to walk through the main body of the centre to access this service. It is better for the salon, but importantly, greatly improves safeguarding for younger or vulnerable members who use the centre.

Repairs & Maintenance

Work has been carried out on the roof and skylights to prevent leaks and potential damage to the centre. The boiler required maintenance, and this has been carried out. Water temperature and emergency lighting has continued to be checked during this time on a monthly basis. The fire alarm system is checked on a weekly basis. The Centre’s defibrillator is also checked regularly.

Covid

We have kept up to date with any adaptations required to ensure that we were Covid compliant.

Building Adaptations

We created a small meeting room for anyone requiring a private discussion. New carpets were fitted.

A new reception area was fitted with temporary screening.

A new medical room was set up with a new medical bed. A new sink was installed.

Training

This quieter period has allowed senior staff to update training. This has included all aspects of safeguarding, fire marshalling and first aid.

This has been a very challenging period. There have been many disappointments and setbacks relating to the positive work that had been achieved. However, we remain steadfast in our belief and are optimistic that we can re-build on the foundations which we have already laid and can make a real difference to the future of the community in which we work.

E. W. Baker - Vice Chair, Trustees January 24, 2022

Charity Name N springwell community hub 1

Receipts and payments acco

Period start date

For the period from

04/01/2020

Section A Receipts and payments

Unrestricted Restricted Endowment funds funds funds

to the nearest £

to the nearest £ to the nearest £

A1 Receipts

----- Start of picture text -----
room rent 11,186 - -
grant income 15,431 - -
sundry income - - -
- - -
- - -
- - -
- - -
- - -
26,617 - -
Sub total (Gross income for AR)
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- - -
- - -
Sub total - - -
Total receipts 26,617 - -
A3 Payments
management fees - - -
rent and rates 5,362 - -
telephone 467 - -
insurance 441 - -
accountancy fees 1,152 - -
heat and light 4,407 - -
print, post and stationery 319 - -
repairs and maintenance 9,406 - -
charitable donations 400 - -
licences 216 - -
equipment hire 580 - -
sundry expenses - -
cleaning 68 - -
- - -
- - -
- - -
Sub total 22,818 - -
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
loan 19 plus c.i.c. 139 - -
equipment 229 - -
Sub total 368 - -
----- End of picture text -----

	Total payments 23,186

	Net of receipts/(payments) 3,431	-	-
A5	Transfers between funds -	-	-
A6	Cash funds last year end 7,241	-	-
	Cash funds this year end 10,672	-	-

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of

			Unrestricted
Categories	Details		funds
B1 Cash funds	funds at bank *Total cash*	*funds*	to nearest £ 10,672 - - 10,672
	(agree balances with receipts and payments account(s))		OK
			Unrestricted
			funds
B2 Other monetary assets	Details		to nearest £ - - - - - -
			Fund to which
B3 Investment assets	Details		asset belongs Fund to which
B4 Assets retained for the	Details computers and other equipment		asset belongs
charity’s own use			Fund to which
B5 Liabilities	Details		liability relates

Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees

----- Start of picture text -----
||| |---|---| |Signature|Print N| |J Gibson|J Gibs|

----- End of picture text -----

o (if any) 171744

ounts

CC16a

Period end date

03/31/2021

Total funds

Last year

to the nearest £

----- Start of picture text -----
11,186 16,344
15,431 10,000
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
26,617 26,344
----- End of picture text -----

----- Start of picture text -----
-
- -
- -
26,617 26,344
----- End of picture text -----

----- Start of picture text -----
- -
5,362 4,018
467 442
441 422
1,152 1,548
4,407 3,299
319 921
9,406 3,824
400 833
216 366
580 -
- 2,125
68 1,698
- -
- -
- -
22,818 19,496
----- End of picture text -----

----- Start of picture text -----
139 1,000
229
368 1,000
----- End of picture text -----

----- Start of picture text -----
23,186 20,496
3,431 5,848
- -
7,241 1,393
10,672 7,241
----- End of picture text -----

the period

----- Start of picture text -----
Restricted Endowment
funds funds
to nearest £ to nearest £
- -
- -
- -
- -
OK OK
Restricted Endowment
funds funds
to nearest £ to nearest £
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
Current value
Cost (optional)
(optional)
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
Current value
Cost (optional)
(optional)
3,408 -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
Amount due When due
(optional) (optional)
-
----- End of picture text -----

----- Start of picture text -----
-
-
-
----- End of picture text -----

----- Start of picture text -----
Date of
Name
approval
son 01/27/2022
----- End of picture text -----