2021-03-31-accounts - Woody's Lodge

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Chairman’s Report 2020/21

Cited by one of our private sector supporters “Woody’s, large enough to cope, small enough to care”, I believe defines us especially in these unprecedented times.

It’s hard to believe that just 6 years ago Woody’s was a community group meeting on a weekly basis on a pier building in South Wales, with a kettle and 12 mugs to its name. We now work out of 3 green hubs in South, West and North Wales, supported by 13 urban based drop-in centres.

During the COVID crisis, our hubs remained open, although with reduced capacity, but our drop-in centres had to close. I am glad to say these are now beginning to re-open as restrictions start to lift.

I can only wonder and applaud, the resolute and dedicated way Woody’s staff and volunteers remained at post and delivered weekly “virtual” coffee mornings and food and pharmacy delivery services. Partnership working with local agencies such as “Feed the Need” in South Wales enabled us to deliver vital support and contact.

Along with my Board of Trustees, I give our absolute thanks to our Welfare Team, who maintained face to face support for those in crisis, working under some significant restrictions and regulations. In the last 18 months, this team again has helped access over £600,000 in welfare and disability benefits, as well as war pensions for our veteran community and their families.

As we look forward:

we are set to develop our referral pathways enabling seamless working with statutory agencies such as Department of Work and Pensions; Local Authorities; a working brief with the wider NHS and developing partnership working with the Defence Transition Service and Defence Welfare Service.
To a growing relationship with the ambulance and police emergency services and enabling frontline officers and “back of house” staff, access to Woody’s support and surroundings.

Our fundraising continues to grow with Nigel’s Walk for Woody’s and Steve Owen’s walk from Amelia Trust Farm to Penlan Farm, not only raising invaluable funds but increasing the charity’s profile. Our corporate support is steadfast with continued support from Masons are Moving, Oncre, Pinnacle, and recently the Kingspan Group. We are also so fortunate to have key donors such as C and P Murphy and Dr R Mottershead, without whom Penlan Farm and Ty Gwalia would have been a dream. Now a dream come true and supporting many hundreds of veterans in West and North Wales.

Our thanks also to the Armed Forces Covenant Charitable Trust and Royal Navy, Royal Marines Charity for their support.

In 2021, we can re-start our Families and Service Children’s work with TGP and SSCE respectively; look to launch a unique Flat Holm Island Project with Cardiff City Council and closer working links with Her Majesty’s Armed Forces in Wales.

So, a heartfelt thank you to you all and the many not mentioned, for making Woody’s a truly inspirational place to work and see grow…. not forgetting our special pets and animals.

Dr David Trotman Chair April 2021

Chief Executive Ofcer’s 2020/2021 Annual Report

This is my second annual report as CEO of Woody’s Lodge, and I am pleased to share with you details of the hard work carried out by our team in support of the Armed Forces Veterans, Reservists, Emergency Service personnel and their families.

Having just taken over from Dr David Trotman in April 2020, the country was placed into an enforced lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although industries and the general community were unsure of the future, we at Woody’s continued to work throughout the lockdown, keeping in contact with our beneficiaries and providing much needed support to those who required it. This proves that Woody’s remains a key element in the support provided by 3[rd] sector organisations to our Armed Forces Veterans and their families. We are stronger now than before the pandemic and plan to continue with growth of the organisation in the future.

Our hubs in North, South and Mid-Wales continue to provide a safe, quiet space for our beneficiaries, with 8 satellite drop-in centres in North and 2 in Mid-Wales now open. The team in South Wales are supporting a drop-in run by the regions Armed Forces Liaison Officer in Caerphilly. We have plans to open a rural hub in North Wales, which will provide several outdoor activities such as gardening, walking, art, photography etc. and will allow partner organisations a safe space to work with their beneficiaries.

Since April 2020, Woody’s have supported 3332 veterans while working collaboratively with Local Authorities, Statutory Agencies and other Armed Forces Support organisations. Our Welfare Team has continued to work closely with veterans and their families.

We are now a referral pathway for Social Services, NHS, Emergency Services, and the Probation Service as well as our 3[rd] sector partners, which shows just how the reputation of Woody’s has grown since the birth of the charity. Homeless veterans have been placed in veterans’ hostels, families suffering financial hardship have been signposted to the appropriate organisations, and those leaving prison have been mentored by our team ensuring the correct level of support is provided. Our work in support of a variety of mental health services continues and those requiring specialist mental health treatment are referred to the most appropriate service provider.

The welfare of our armed forces veterans, reservists, emergency services, and their families remains our priority and will continue to do so in the future. We continually review our staffing structure to suit the needs of the organisation and those we support, which enable us to provide the high level of service that Woody’s has and always will give. The training requirements of our staff and volunteers is always evaluated and in fact our Welfare Team, along with senior management, have qualified in Mental Health First Aid and as Trim (Trauma Risk Management) practitioners, providing the correct level of care to those presenting in crisis.

As a former Royal Marine and Police Officer, I am so proud of what Woody’s Lodge has achieved and working with such a passionate and energetic team on a day-to-day basis is something money cannot buy. Knowing we have improved the quality of the lives of so many is such an emotional and happy feeling. I am proud to say that I continue to hear from several veterans, “Woody’s saved my life”.

Graham Jones CEO

April 2021

CHARITY (OMMISSION FOR ENGIAND AND WAIES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner s Report R•port to th• trust•1 m•mb•rs of On accounts fèr th• y•ar •nd•d 31/31aJ Charlty no Ilf any /17575-a Sot on pag•s &/P/ S /* I report to Ihe truste8s on my examinab'on of the accounts of the above harity (Iho Tnjst'l for the year ended31 02 aoa K R•sponslbilltl•s and basis ol report As the charity's twstees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 1.the Act.) I report in rospgct of my oxamination of the Trust's accounts carried out under sedion 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followéd all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under sedion 145(5)(b) of the AGt. Ind•p•nd•nt tThe charty's gross income exceeded £250.000 and l am qualsfied lo •xamin•rf8 8tat•m•nt undertake th8 examination by b8in9 a qualrfied member of linsert name of applicable listed bodyll. Delete I l rfnol applicable. I have COMpted my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come lo my attention in connection th the examination (other than that disclosed below ') whith gNes me cause to believe that in, any material respect. Ihe aoUntIng records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act,. or the accounts did not accord with th8 accounting rewrds.. or the accounts did not compty th the applicable requirèments con¢emirvJ the fomi and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a Irue and fair, view which is not a matter consthred as part of an independent examination. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection wrth the examinats'on to which attention should dravm in this pOrt in order to enable a woper understsndirKJ of the accounts to be reached. . Please delete the words in the brackets rfthey th) not apply. Slqn•d: Dat•: Name: Relevant professional quallficatlonlsl or body IER O¢t 2018

Ilf anyp: Addrgs5: Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight rnalerial matters of concern {see CC32, Independent examination of chanty accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). Glve here brlef d•talls of any It•ms that th• •xamlnerwl$h•s to dlsclos•. IER Oct 2018

CHARITY WMAIISSION FOR ENGiA140AND WALES Receipts and payments accounts CC16a fr¢ 310)3kl Section A Receipts and payments funds funds T¢tsifvnth LMty4 A1R• 2.71• 1•2.712 J•1 J•1 AR) r+x•itwpts 1.1 7J11 J) ln l•J11 Ip.J?? Sub totsi 11¥,•71 rchu•• •• tsb Sub trrt•i 116.254 141 10,8SI AS Tr4Dil•rn b•tw••n fvnds A6 iqsty••r•nd C•sh lund• thls ywr•nd 311 181.428 40.13 CCXX R1 0nI(SSj 0711LV2021

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Endo¥ty)nOM fun lunds funds 81 Ca•h fundB T&•1 c••h lund• 31179 1B1.428 fun lund fund¥ Det•rfs -"•444 - Za40 Det¥ils ¢h•ilty'• o¥m u DÈtsls 86 u•1# ]7)Aff/4J CCX¥ R24cuuNJ{SS) 07MW2021