Charity report January 2024 - January 2025
SPRINGWELL COMMUNITY HUB Springwell Community Centre Lanchester Avenue Gateshead NE9 7AL
ANNUAL REPORT: JANUARY 2024 - 2025
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 center. Taking each area of our charitable work, we provide activities to help us achieve our mission. Specifically:
Responsible for planning / organizing and coordinating the daily professional operations of the community hub. Our community Center is located in the top 10% deprived areas of the UK. Our estate has an estimated population of 1681 living in 662 residences, 488 are council rented properties. 43% of these households are on low income, 26% in fuel poverty and 37% on out of work benefits and 12% suffer with overcrowding. 11. 3% of the community are from a minority / ethnic background the Gateshead average is 5.9%
Unites the community:
A place that people can connect and socialize, a multi purpose hub that offers different things for different people. A place where the community can work together, come together and be valued for their own individuality. We have a number of residents from the youngest to the oldest attending the building. We also make a number of home visits to some of the residents that we know are isolated or suffering depression. These individuals are known to us and we keep in contact on a regular basis.
Provides volunteer opportunities:
An opportunity to give something back and to do great things. A way of getting work experience and supporting a good cause. As part of our commitment to the community we have Safeguarding trained staff (Level 3). The trained staff have a vast amount of experience working with vulnerable children and adults and have strong links to the local authorities Safeguarding team. We have updated our safeguarding policy and this was adopted by the trustees. We also have our own safeguarding training for all trustees due in Spring 2024.
Support for community projects:
Springwell Hub has been working on a number of community based projects such as engaging with community clean ups and improving garden spaces. It’s all about the inside and the outside of the centre and how it’s all brought together. Our building is used by a Special Needs College on a regular basis, we work quite closely with them to engage the community and the centre plus part of their curriculum involves meeting / working with the community and we regularly have coffee mornings and pop up shop events where the community come in and are served by the students.
Combating loneliness:
Our centre is a vital place to visit for older members of the community or for people that are feeling isolated. Statistics show that 1 in 5 of the population feel lonely always or often. Having a place to visit on a regular basis is vital. It provides a routine, something to look forward to and new opportunities. 5% of the pensioners on our estate are living alone, Gateshead high is 24%. In December 2023 we introduced a Cake and Bake session for residents to attend and make cakes with one of our volunteers. This session is open to all and is part of our Warm Space project.
Positively impacts the lives of younger people:
Youths need access to a safe space to visit and take part in new activities. We provide in partnership with Youth Focus NE a youth club that is designed to bring the children of the estate together for activities and events surrounding knife crime. This session was set up after the fatal stabbing of one of our young people from the estate. We have a range of classes and events such as Dance, Gym, physical, creative or social activities arranged for the young people. This is a programme that offers countless opportunities for the young people to make friends and learn new skills. Giving the younger generation a healthy outlet for their energy will help us towards preventing anti-social behavior and nurture the individuals most positive attributes instead. In partnership with Gateshead Council The Department for Education and Dance Fusion Extreme we provide a HAF School Holiday programme for the younger children from the estate. This is usually 3 -4 days per week over the school holidays where the children come and access activities and events with a hot meal.
Of the children living on the estate 38% are living in child poverty, this could be significantly more now due to the cost of living crisis. Domestic abuse affecting children 155 with high risk domestic abuse victims 26. Domestic related crimes 34 Gateshead high is 49. Victims of crime 71 with a Gateshead high of 116 with total crime 113 Gateshead low 6 and Gateshead high 138. Young people are living in and around abuse and violence on a daily basis.
Promotes healthy living:
Offering healthy activities, dance classes and fitness classes tailored to various age groups that encourage the whole community of different age groups to come out, engage and get healthy. Our community hub puts socializing at the forefront of all we do to make fitness fun. We are in the process of applying for grants so we can include nutritional health by offering courses in cookery, food handling and holiday activities where children can get a regular meal when schools are closed. 46% of the adults on the estate smoke, highest in Gateshead. 50% carry excess weight at age 6 and 28% in reception class. Alcohol related hospital admissions 3848 over half of the total Gateshead admissions of 6869. Women drink over 3 units per day 29%, Gateshead high is 39%. Men drink over 4 units per day, 47%,
Gateshead high is 52%. Depression is 9% which is a Gateshead high. Unpaid carers 5% and the Gateshead high is 6%.
Creativity and culture:
Arts and crafts classes and cultural activities are key to engaging new members from the community. The more options available the more people will come along. We will be creating a culture of wellbeing across the social, mental and physical health of the community while linking with other social services and facilities will make a huge difference. Art classes are in the early stages of development.
Share valuable information:
What's on - provide valuable information on events, programmes and other activities going on in the centre and the community. Advertising classes, groups, events and activities all community information can be found here. We are looking to create a website for our centre where guides, brochures, flyers, newsletters, social media posts and a bulletin board will easily be accessible. Also a link where other services, organisations and operators can advertise and promote their events and stay connected with what's going on within our community.
Offer educational opportunities:
One of our main projects in 2024 was to create an adult education programme, this is mainly for the refugee population on our estate but is open to all the community. This project was established in August 2024 with government funding from the UKSPF fund. We have established a core group who attend the centre for GCSE, life skills, training and advice while also creating a community space for refugees to engage with other members of the community. Springwell Estate has the largest population of refugees in Gateshead. Due to a number of issues and different levels of commitment this project is now moving online so we can accommodate more of the female community as they struggle with childcare. Our online course offers basic skills in Maths and English with ESOL. Students can also choose from a menu of online qualifications to enhance their personal education portfolio. All students will be encouraged to join further education groups to continue their journey.
Springwell Community Hub is a safe place to learn a new skill and further an individual's education is a fantastic resource. 40% of the Springwell estate have no qualifications, 30% of the children are persistently absent from school. 57% have good development at age 5 with 31% requiring early help. 46% of children are classed as vulnerable. Every Sunday Springwell Community Hub hosts a GCSE booster group where children from all over Gateshead attend classes in Maths, English and Science. Qualified tutors deliver lessons to a number of children aged 11 - 16.
Our centre continues to host a Special Needs college during term time putting our building to good use during our most quiet time. This partnership allows the students to gain valuable experience and work experience by hosting coffee mornings, arranging events, creating pop up shops and gardening all in conjunction with the community. This project demonstrates the impact that community centres have on every life stage of the community from the infants right through to the adult education and activities for the elderly. Working with the college and the community we have been funded by The National Garden Scheme to develop our
community garden area and use the facilities to encourage the students and local community to see the physical and mental benefits of gardening and the fulfillment gardening can bring. We also secured funding from Tesco to develop another garden area, part of the community hub grounds. With the funding and a donation of block paving from Travis Perkins Building Supplies our project is slowly coming together but due to the weather and a shortage of volunteers we have fallen behind with this project.
Sport England Springwell Community Hub was awarded £15,000 by sport England to replace the flooring so we can offer a wider range of activities. This funding is also to create storage space and fund new groups that are looking to start up. We have established a Badminton group, Table Tennis, Line dancing and Karate. We are also discussing a new boxing club with personal training. Dance Fusion Extreme continue to use the centre for their dance school and are really happy with the new flooring.
Hire of the centre for family activities, birthdays and events continue but at a reduced level due to the uptake in other groups wanting access to the hall. Twice a month Reed in Partnership attends the building to host their Diabetes Awareness Programme, this is very popular and we are looking to add a 3rd group in February 2025. Hire of the venue is invaluable for people who want to organise social events and activities and need a base in which to do this. We are also a Polling Station and provide the local authority with a centre where the community can come and vote in local and general elections. Funding from The Ballenger Trust has been used to keep the building operational as we have had roof problems, boiler issues, increase in gas and electricity. With the extra groups attending the wear and tear on the building has increased.
The National Lottery Community Fund has awarded Springwell Community Hub with funding to support the increase in utilities costs (Gas Water Electric) and a portion of the funding is to decorate and renew areas in the centre including the cafe, kitchen, toilets and hall. New flooring in the cafe, kitchen and toilets. New cupboards and worktops in the kitchen and all rooms painted.
Springwell Community Hub now has a website developed by a member of the community to promote and support the centre. Our website shows the community what we are doing and when. We have a timetable that shows when groups and activities are on with relevant contact details. This is a huge development for us as we now have a focus point to demonstrate what we can offer. www.springwellcommunityhub.co.uk
Springwell Community Hub has appointed a member of staff to open up the centre for one off events and to also monitor the heating system. Our groups constantly turn off the heating or turn the heating up and then leave the building. The knock on effect is a very cold building in the morning or an extremely hot building. This problem has led to a huge increase in our energy use and this is not sustainable. Our member of staff works out much cheaper than continuing with our current situation. We have also appointed a member of staff to manage our junior youth club. We are looking to develop a second digital youth club for a different demographic so we can offer a variety of activities to the children from the estate.These 2 clubs have received funding from Asda, The Barbour Trust and Gateshead Council . This funding is to provide equipment and staff to create a fun, safe and entertaining youth club.
These groups run alongside our Youth Focus NE youth club. Youth Focus works with a number of hard to reach children from our estate and guides them towards activities that promote positive outcomes.
Springwell Community Hub has developed strong links with Connected Voice for advice, guidance and signposting. Their service is excellent as they can offer a number of services from training to legal advice to advertising.
Lisa Loan / Louise Lambert / John Gibson / Natalie Story / Shellie Simpson / Kayleigh Newton / Danielle Gradner all continue as trustees of the Springwell Community Hub. We are actively looking to add a few more members to our board to give us a more diversity.
Safeguarding training: Lisa Loan / John GIbson Level 3 Designated Safeguarding Leads. All trustees are to complete a safeguarding course and update DBS certificates Spring 2025. Updated safeguarding policy updated and accepted by the trustees September 2024. All trustees are aware of our recording and reporting process if a safeguarding issue is raised.
Banking and Signatories
Lisa Loan (chair) and John Gibson continue as joint signatories on the Springwell Community Hub bank account. We will be looking to move our account to a different bank as our current one is not offering us a good service.
We are pleased to report that we remain financially viable. Our accounts are independently reviewed overseen and prepared by Hurren and Jubb accountants Ltd
Activities (New) Cedars College / Youth Focus Youth club / Cake Baking reducing isolation and mental health support / Warm space / Bingo (financial support from our local councillors) Activities (Continue) HAF project, Dance Fusion Extreme dance school / refugee support / EMZ’s Hair and Beauty (Community Hair Salon)
Events: Macmillan Coffee morning Birthday parties Vigil and memorial events for Thomaz Olashk (Victim of knife crime) HAF activities (Easter / Summer / Christmas school holidays)
Room rents: Youth Focus, knife crime awareness youth club EMZ’s Hair and Beauty Cedars College Dance Fusion Extreme Line Dancing Junior Youth Club Babminton GCSE Booster Groups Education and Employment project Reed in Partnership - Diabetes Prevention Programme
Karate Table Tennis Yoga
Management, activities, legalities, cleaning and security of the Springwell Community Hub are managed by 19 plus cic. A monthly management fee is paid to cover the above requirements.
We are pleased to report that we remain financially viable. Our accounts are independently prepared and overseen by 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.
L.Loan Chair of Trustees January 2025