Charity report January 2025 - January 2026
SPRINGWELL COMMUNITY HUB Springwell Community Centre Lanchester Avenue Gateshead NE9 7AL
ANNUAL REPORT: JANUARY 2025 - 2026
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 2026
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 centre is now open every morning for a cuppa and toast. We are building a regular time table so we can offer other charities to come in and meet our community and offer their services.
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 January 2026 we introduced a coffee morning for anyone from the community. This is a way for us to support the community to combat loneliness and provide a safe, warm and welcome space. Cake and Bake sessions are making cakes for the cafe to sell and raise funds. Will be starting in January 2026.
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 also created a 2nd junior youth club that is ran by the parents and members of the community. We continue to hold a range of classes and events such as Dance, Gym, physical, creative or social activities arranged for the young people. These programmes offer 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 all of 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 are 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 - We have created a website, facebook and whatsapp group where we 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. Our website shows the centres activities where guides, brochures, flyers, newsletters, social media posts and a bulletin board are 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:
We now have a refugee project that is based in our building and delivering a range of activities and training opportunities to the refugee community. These opportunities are available to anyone, not just the refugees.
One of our main projects in 2025 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. When funding finished we continued to support this group and continue the great work that had already been achieved. Based on the great foundations we have now 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. Refugee 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 school term time where students come and litter ouck tidy the garden area and enjoy the cafe space to socialize. This partnership allows the students to gain valuable experience and work experience and attend coffee mornings to develop their social skills. This group also help develop our garden
area 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.
Provide unique and much needed facilities:
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 we continue to host Reed in Partnership and their Diabetes Awareness Programme, this is very popular and we are looking to add a 3rd group in February 2026. 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 again funded the centre and the money has been used to keep the building operational as we continue to have roof problems, boiler issues, increases in gas and electricity and the cost of compliance checks. 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. This is now complete and has vastly improved the feel of the building.
Springwell Community Hub 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 We have been adding new activities to the timetable and this will be reflected on the web page as soon as groups have confirmed.
Springwell Community Hub has appointed a member of our volunteers to open up the centre for the regular cafe sessions and one off events plus to also monitor the heating system. Our groups continue to 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.
Springwell Community Hub have had an energy performance assessment carried out on the building to assess the energy use and to put forward solutions. We have now started to apply for grants to support the removal of old windows, fluorescent lights and to install solar panels, along side an app controlled thermostat that will control the heating remotely.
Our junior Youth Club continues to develop and is full to capacity every week. This group continues to run alongside our Youth Focus NE youth club. Youth Focus continues to work
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. We are using this service more and more as the Springwell Hub offer develops.
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, Designated Safeguarding Lead. John Gibson Safeguarding. All trustees are to complete a safeguarding course and update DBS certificates Spring 2026. Updated safeguarding policy updated and accepted by the trustees September 2025. 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: Cafe- Cuppa and Toast / Junior Youth Club / Youth Focus Youth club / Cake Baking reducing isolation and mental health support / Warm space / Bingo (financial support from our local councillors) HAF project / Dance Fusion Extreme dance school / Refugee Support and Education / EMZ’s Hair and Beauty (Community Hair Salon) Wellness sessions / Reed in Partnership (Diabetes Prevention Project)
Grants (secured) Ballenger Trust £10,000
Events: Macmillan Coffee morning Birthday parties Memorial HAF activities (Easter / Summer / Christmas school holidays)
Room rents: Youth Focus, knife crime awareness youth club Wellness services Refugee Education and Support services EMZ’s Hair and Beauty Cedars College (work experience)
Slimming World (TBC) Dance Fusion Extreme The Bread and Butter Thing (TBC) Junior Youth Club Babminton GCSE Booster Groups Education and Employment project Reed in Partnership - Diabetes Prevention Programme Karate Table Tennis
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 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 2026
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGND AND WALES sprlngwèll communlty hub Recei ts and ments accounts CC16a For the perlod frorn To 0110412024 3110312025 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds to the rwarest Restricted funds 10 tho n•am$t £ Endowment fund8 Total funds Last year to the n•am8t £ to thè n¢are$t £ to the n•ar8st £ A1 Recel ts roorn rent grant Income donations misc Income 38,873 36.873 SS,144 20,995 43,195 500 so 65,144 mss Income or AR) 36,873 ts8,144 92.017 64,740 an See table . Inveg ment Sa e8, Total recolpts 92,017 40 A3Pa ments rent and rates tèlephone Insurance Oountan¢Y le¢s transport PA)81s heat and light salaries print. posi ènd stationery rep8irs and maini&n8nce charitable donaiions licences ond subs¢ripbons equipment hire Sundry expenses admin costs cleaning 5.139 459 93S 1,288 609 5,648 459 935 1,288 1,706 6SO 1.288 689 14,612 3,289 11.B21 134 16,442 8,632 11,921 11,821 134 21.039 4,597 2,966 1.144 1,144 443 316 594 10,743 2,619 36,985 365 1,875 1,682 44.773 56$ 10,932 1.682 67,568 9.057 Sub total 22,795 A4 Asset and Investment loan 19 lus c.i.c. computers and other equiprnant 4,897 4,897 4.897 4,897 Sub total 3,246 44,773 27,692 72,465 40,231 Net of receipts/(payments) AS Transfers between lunds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end 7,900 27.452 19,552 24,509 27,326 46,878 19,426 27.452 27,326 CCXX R1 accounts ISSI 03ffjS2026
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted funds to noarost£ Restrictsd funds to nrt£ Endowment fundy to nearest £ Cètegories Details B1 Cash funds funds at bank 19.426 27.452 Total cash funds 19.426 27.452 legm bal8nces wfth rétsipts P8ymtni$ •GGountlsll Unrestrlctèd funds to nreSt £ Rèstrlctod funds to neaigst £ Endowment funds to n1£ Detai15 B2 Other monetary ap/dets Fund to whl¢h a8Set belon Curr•nt v•lu• tlonal Details Cost loptSonall Fund to whlch Current valu• Details computèrs and oth&1 equipment Cost loptlon•ll 9,155 B4 Assets retsln8d for tho charity's own use Fund to whS¢h Amount duè Whèn dug Details B5 Liabllitles Signed by one or Iwo trustees on behaff of all Ihe trLtsteoS Signature Print Name Date of roval CCXX R2 accounts ISSI 0310212026
Independenl Examiner's Report lo the Trustees of Springwell Community Hub Charity Name.. Springwell Community Hvb Charity Number: 1171744 Report of the Independent Examiner I report lo the trustee5 on my examination of the accounts of Springwell Community Hub for the year ended 31 March 2025. As the charity's trustees. you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011. I have carried out an independenl examination of the accounts in accordance with Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 and confirm that I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145{5){bl of the Act. My examination was carried out in accordance with the Independent Exarninalion of Charity Accounts (CC321. An examination includes a review of Ihe accounting records kept by the charily and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consid8ration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and the seeking of explanations from you as trustees concerning such matters, My role is to state whether any material matters have come to my attention which give me cause to believe that.. 1. Accounting records were not properly k&pt, 2. The accounts do not accord with those records, or 3. The accounts do not comply with the applicabl8 accounting requir8ments of the Charities Act 2011. Independent Examlner's Stalement In the course of my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which give me cause to believe that the accounting records were not properly kept. the accounts do not agree with the underlying records, or the accounts fail to comply with the relevant ststulory requirements. I have found no issues of concern, and l am satisfied that the accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and comply with the Commission's requirements. Independent Examiner.. Narne.. Shaun Jubb ACA Qualificalion.. ASSOCale Chartered Accountant IACA) Address.. Unit 2-4 Protection House, Albion Road, North Shields, Tyne & Wear, NE30 2RH Signature: Date: glz z6