Riseley Children’s Centre & Community Hub Annual Report and Accounts 2022
Chairman’s Annual Report to AGM on 4[th] April 2023
Firstly, a huge thank you to all the Trustees who developed the vision and have supported the charity over the last year, especially those who have volunteered to take on specific responsibilities. The Hub committee is now meeting monthly and has all the necessary people, policies and processes in place for safe and sustainable operation.
This has been an exciting year. After several years pursuing a location for the community centre we moved into leased premises during January. The community gym, opposite the Primary School, became available at the end of 2022 and we were able to secure the funding; sign a lease; and commence occupation from 16th January. We are extremely grateful to those who provided funds to make this possible – to Riseley Parish Council for making us a grant; individuals who made generous donations; and to the wider community for supporting fund-raising events e.g. fireworks, raffle.
In the future we plan to fund the Hub from a mix of grants, donations and hire fees to fulfil the purpose of providing facilities and support for all members of the community. The grants and donations will enable us to hire out the premises at low or zero rates to groups/activities that benefit the community but are unable to pay normal hire charges. This could be during start-up or even longer-term if they are not sustainable without support.
The Hub is already being used weekly for over 65s gym sessions, pilates and the Hatman’s Hangout youth group. At our open day on 18th March a wide range of ideas for future use was captured and several groups applied to start hiring for new regular activities.
The charity has also been active in other community initiatives during the last year. The Bus Stop Café for young people at secondary school was launched in January 2023 as a partnership between the Hub charity, Riseley Parish Council and All Saints Church. Each contributed funds and helped with setting up all the practical arrangements, and running the sessions. In addition the Parish Council transferred their youth fund to us, which will finance future activities for young people.
As a response to the dramatic increase in energy costs the Hub also participated in providing warm spaces as part of the Community Kindness initiative.
The Riseley Neighbourhood Plan has now been published and paragraph 13.4 says: ‘New facilities and improvements to existing facilities will be encouraged and supported. For example, 63 of respondents in the public consultation September 2021 indicated their support for a new Community centre. There is an established charity – Riseley Children’s Centre and Community Hub, Registered charity 1174707 – that could provide a focus for development of a “community centre” if more active support can be won from the community.’
We now have the community centre thanks to the support from the community. Our challenge in the future is to ensure that the centre is run and developed professionally for the benefit of the whole community. We need to keep listening and responding to needs as they change and refresh the vision so we continue to move forward.
Keith Williams
Annual Accounts to 31[st] August 2022
Opening balance 01/09/2021 £883.40 Income £0 Expenditure £0 Closing balance 31/08/2022 £883.40