ERW Trustees Meeting 19/09/24
Present Charmain, Alison, Tony, Mike M
Apols: Denise
Operational issues:
Housing needs of Family 3.
Limitations of private tenancy.
Landlord court costs. Rent deposits.
Role changes:
Denise will be taking over as Coordinator.
Is there space for volunteers?
Mother of F3 could benefit from English classes.
Alison would like to step down. Tony will be taking over as Chair of Trustees.
Finance:
The court have ordered in ??? that family 3 are liable for costs.
Fundraising needed so that we can maintain a prudent reserve. Target £5K
Obtain court costings and current balance.
Accounts signed off for both years.
Governing document : Tony to circulate final version.
Future direction:
The operational group will meet to consider whether it is possible to respond to the types of request we have had recently.
We will not be making an application to welcome another family.
Minutes of Extraordinary General Meeting of ERW Trustees held on 6/1/25.
Present: Alison Phillips (Chair), Mike McKenzie, Tony Carroll
The meeting was called to consider further a matter discussed briefly at the AGM in September 2024, namely the future and direction of the Charity. At the AGM, we decided not to make any further applications to resettle families and to focus on supporting existing families who are likely to need it, namely F2 and F3.
Alison summarised recent events concerning the eviction of Family 3 on 21/11/24 and the extensive work required by our volunteers to return the property to good order before handing it back to the landlady. The return of the keys should happen in
week commencing 13/1/25. The landlady has some justifiable cause for concern but, in the charity’s view, has undermined her position by overstating the cost of repairs and conflating wear and tear with damage.
Alison said that now was perhaps the time to think about the future of the charity. She outlined the following options:
-
a) To keep the charity going under the same title (the current remit as filed with the Charity Commission is sufficiently broad to encompass a different remit and continue to support our existing families (signposting/advice/limited practical and financial assistance).
-
b) To close and reopen with a new name and more specific remit (as described above) but continue to support our existing families.
Both options a and b would require fresh momentum and time commitment to develop the new remit and recruit new volunteers. Alison wondered whether the currently active volunteers, namely Denise and Charmain, feel able to make the time commitment to progress things in a new direction, as described above.
- c) To close the charity and offer help informally to our families as and when they needed it.
Tony reminded the Trustees that we do have 2 other volunteers (Tony S and Michael W) who offer weekly conversational English to the father of F2. Tuition is also being offered to certain children (details not to hand). Tony felt that it would be in the interests of both our families and our volunteers to retain a formal framework around whatever activities we undertake, however limited.
ERW has received some informal legal advice about action that should be taken at this point to protect its interests. Mike urged us not to act in haste and to take further advice. Alison will take this forward.
Actions:
-
1) Alison will take further advice on the matter of closing the charity and reopening with a different remit.
-
2) Tony will speak to the main volunteers, Denise and Charmain, to ascertain their views.
-
3) The Trustees will meet again as soon as the above actions have been completed.
Notes completed by; Tony Carroll (8/1/25)
Meeting of ERW Trustees 15/1/25
Present: Mike, Alison, Tony
Closure of charity/ continuation of residual functions
Alison advised that, should we close down as a registered charity, there are no realistic options to link with other existing charities; John Coleby at Caritas has moved on and CARIS only operate with Haringey.
There was a discussion of the pros and cons of closure vs. continuing as a charity. The consensus was that we would continue as a charity, focused on supporting our existing families, as needed.
Further donation:
There was a consensus that, if ERW had more funds in the bank (rather than just a prudent reserve of several hundred pounds), we would want to give Ossi (the landlady of 4 Livingstone Road) a further sum, to acknowledge specific damage: removal of carpet upstairs and burn to kitchen worktop. To date, we have agreed that she should retain the deposit c. £1800 and Alan S has completed specific DIY tasks within the home.
Alison is exploring sources of funding but, so far, has only been able to come up with a match funding arrangement, which is beyond our means.
Actions:
-
1) ERW will continue as a Charity, supporting existing families, in accordance with its remit. It will not be making a further application to resettle another family in need .
-
2) Alison will contact the Charity Commission and make them aware that there is an ongoing disagreement with a partner regarding the extent of our responsibility for and what is damage/ what is wear and tear, caused by the tenants to her property.
-
3) Alison will pursue options for donations, as discussed above.
-
4) Tony will write an email in response to Ossi’s dated 9/1/25, essentially restating our position.
-
5) Alison will liaise with Ossi re return of house keys.
Notes by: Tony
Balance sheet for year ending 31/5/25
Opening bank balance £1482-32 Closing bank balance £218-76
Income:
Donations and legacies: £2430 Other (contributions from landlord F2): £720
Total income: £3150
Expenditure: Grants to individuals: £1887 Payments to contractors (re F2 and F3 home maintenance): £2190-71 Internet/broadband (F4): £110-37 Indemnity premium: £165-48 Bank charges: £60 Total expenditure: £4413-56
Opening bank balance £1482-32
Total income £3150
Less total expenditure £4413-56
Net balance £218-76