2021-09-30-accounts

Kennington Memory Club

Registered Charity number 1179830

Trustees' report for the year ending on 30[th] September 2021

Purpose and Public benefit

The objects of the Charity are to assist in the care of persons with the mental and physical illness of dementia in, near or within easy reach of Kennington, Radley and Abingdon in Oxfordshire and persons who are in need of respite as a result of such illness, by the provision of facilities for day care and recreation in a safe and stimulating environment.

The charity helps elderly/old people and provides relief for those in need. The beneficiaries are predominantly elderly people with a diagnosis of dementia, living within the area defined above, and who are members of the Kennington Memory Club (KMC). Their regular carers and/or family members who look after them also benefit by virtue of the respite the day care sessions provide and access to support and advice. The charity is set up specifically to meet these needs and provide these benefits.

Activities

During the period 1[st] October 2020 to 30[th] September 2021, KMC was greatly affected by the COVID 19 pandemic and the lockdown restrictions that had been imposed on gatherings of people from more than one household. The Club had been closed from late March 2020 and the three staff, Helen, the Club Organiser, Kathryn, the Deputy Organiser, and Julie, the Care Assistant, were all retained on furlough under the Government Job Retention Scheme (JRS). With a revised Health and Safety Policy and Risk Assessment in place it was hoped that reopening the Club would be possible in mid October, later revised to mid November, but rising numbers of Covid cases and the emergence of new variant strains of the disease led to a postponement. The trustees heeded the Government advice and there was anxiety about whether a Covid safe environment could be provided. This led to the decision that the Club could not reopen because of the risks to vulnerable people of mixing once more. Fortunately the JRS was continued and we were able to retain our excellent staff throughout the time of closure.

Eventually, after further months of national lockdown in Spring 2021, the Club was able to reopen in May 2021. To start with the Club was run just by the staff, with no volunteer helpers. New procedures around sanitising the building, including door handles, toilets, furniture, crockery and cutlery, were brought in and the staff became accustomed to wearing visors, instead of masks, throughout the day and testing themselves for Covid infection with PCR tests twice a week.

Sadly, during the sixteen months we were closed two of our members died and others had to be admitted to long-term care. On start-up we had a maximum of six members each session, with the whole day being spent in the large hall so that social distancing could be adhered to. This use of the building proved to be a successful move and is being continued. This has meant that there is more moving of chairs and tables into the hall to set up in the morning and vice versa to clear away again at the end of the day. The staff were helped with this once the volunteers could return in July. Volunteers were required to test themselves using lateral flow tests each time

before attending the club. From then onwards the number of members was increased to a maximum of 10 per session, so recruiting of new members was stepped up.

Soon the new pattern settled down. The norm is now up to 10 members a session which is held in the large room at Kennington Methodist Church, volunteers helping with setting up, activities, refreshments, collecting lunch, clearing up, and generally making members feel at ease with conversation as before.

The Club’s AGM, held in January 2021, was conducted on Zoom. At this meeting Gillian Cox, the Club Chairman and one of its founder members, stepped down from the role, and I took over the reins as Chairman. The business went smoothly, but the meeting did not have the same convivial atmosphere as the one held the previous year when refreshments for all had topped off the evening. Grateful thanks are due to Gillian for all she did in being part of the team which set up the Club and then leading it as Chairman since then. She has been a hard act to follow and I have become very aware of just how much she did and what is involved in the role.

Fundraising

Fundraising was another casualty of Covid lockdown. None of the previous events, sales or stalls were possible. The Club was very grateful for the continued support and donations from the Friends of KMC. Once lockdown had lifted and the club was operating again fundraising recommenced. The first event was a very successful Cream Tea and Sale of Goods at the beginning of September in St Swithun’s Church Hall and grounds. Many thanks are due to Chris Foster and Kathryn Baggott who masterminded the event and all their enthusiastic helpers. Successful fundraising has continued into the current year.

Carers’ Support Group

During the year October 2020 to September 2021 the Carers’ Support Group meetings were suspended for most of the time. Zoom gatherings had been attempted, but not proved successful. Towards the end of the year the Club restarted short afternoon meetings for carers to talk about their experiences and ways of coping with some of the situations they encounter over a cup of tea. These occasions provide an opportunity for information, support, sympathy and reassurance. They are often laughter-filled as well.

Thanks

The Club wishes to record its sincere thanks, which I would like personally to endorse very heartily, to all those who have helped establish its solid foundations in various roles during the last sixteen months as trustees, committee members, employees, volunteer helpers, fundraisers, and of course the members themselves. Without their involvement the Club would not have been able to achieve the level of security and degree of success that it has in so short a time. In particular, thanks go to the wonderful staff who have been loyal to the Club and had to adapt to the new ways of working, which they have done so willingly, whilst maintaining the wonderful convivial, stimulating atmosphere of the Club.

Isobel Birse – Chairman

Financial Report

The accounts have been prepared on a strict cash basis and reviewed by our independent examiner, a copy of whose report to the trustees is in the treasurer’s file available for inspection. As a consequence of the pandemic, the Club was unable to open for the first seven months of the financial year; staff were furloughed until 30[th] April 2021 under the government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, and the Club reopened on 10[th] May,

During the year under review the Charity received government and local government grants totalling some £12,000 which have been used to support the retention of staff, who have continued to receive their normal remuneration throughout the year. Together with Gift Aid recovered and donations received, this source of income has enabled the Charity substantially to maintain its financial reserves at the end of this financial year, having recorded a small loss of £1,151 during the year.

The Charity wishes to record its gratitude to all those who have donated so generously during a difficult year.

Notes to the accounts

1. The Charity has not given any guarantees and there are accordingly no potential outstanding liabilities in this regard as at 30 September 2021

2. The Charity has no outstanding debts secured by an express charge on any of its assets as at 30 September 2021.

Hugh Fleming - Treasurer

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period To 01￿20 21 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestricted funds Restrl¢ted Endowment nd$ Total fvnds Last year A1 Recelpts Attenoance Fee5 & MeaL% Donabons FundTaising E¥esiis Grants GiTr AKI Bank Interest 5.961 5,961 4.107 7,f83 6.835 1.491 12,079 I,B19 11. 11,923 1,025 ross inGome AR) 29A37 A2 Asset and Investmentsale (see table). A3Pa ments Employtnent Costs Meals & Refr51￿￿1$ PremEse5 Hirè Insurance EquirKnent. EstabfL8hment Trdl Miscdlanerx 21.994 21,205 1,227 1.68Q 341 149 341 149 305 Sub total 24.650 24471 A4 Asset and investment UTchas•s table Sub total Total Pa￿nents ¥471 Net of reCwpt￿{Pa￿￿entsj . AS Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end 1.151 1.151 4.966 27,050 CCXX Rl aixx)unls {SS) 01110f2021

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestiicted Restricted Endowment funds to r￿reSt£ B1 Cagh funds Total cash funds Endowme funds funds fund5 Details to nearest£ Current value Details -ITI Currentvalue ono Details B4 Assets retsined for th• harity's own use Deiails B5 Liabilities Signed by one or tsjo on behalf of all trIJst￿5 Date of CCXX R1 xcounls ISSI