Trustees Report 2023 Charity number 1180169
Avon Valley Partnership Youth and Community Trust Now also known as Avon Valley Community Matters
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Introduction
The charity had a very busy year in 2023. It reached many more people with support.
Families and Children’s work
Our Children’s and Families has continued throughout this year. Sadly we closed our smaller group as it was no longer viable but our Superstars group in Fordingbridge went from strength to strength. It was agreed to employ a Families Befriender to assist and liaise with families, and support our families work. During the school holidays we ran free children and families days, engaging families with themed activities and providing a meal. In the summer holidays these consisted of outdoor activities and a picnic, and were held in the surrounding villages. At our December Families day we provided Christmas Lunch for everyone who attended.
Our Building Together Saturdays have continued to grow.
In November we ran lantern making workshops which culminated in a parade before the town Christmas light switch on event.
Charity Shop
We opened our Charity shop in the spring and our first manager was a refugee from Ukraine who was living in the town with her family. She helped us set up the shop and recruit our band of volunteers. The aim of the shop is to generate income to fund our outreach projects in the community. We also wanted to create a warm, safe place for the lonely, somewhere they can come for a chat and a warm welcome.
Through the shop we support other charities; including Mencap, Dorset Mind Charity, the local homeless charities and run a voucher scheme, distributed by the Salvation Army and the Food Bank.
Website
We have recruited a new young person to support our website and help us with publicity.
Trustees
Sadly one of our founder trustees, who was also our Chairman and Treasurer, died, after a very short illness. She was a trustees who was passionate about the charity and worked tirelessly to ensure its future and ongoing commitment to the community we serve. She is greatly missed. We managed to fill both positions from within the Trustees.
Fundraising
We were successful in access a grant from our local ‘Co‐Op’ which we used to support the activities of our Friendship Group.
Bereavement Group
We continued to offer bereavement support through counselling. befriending and activities. We continue to work with the GP practice and many of our referrals come from the surgery. We now have 5 trained counsellors who volunteer supporting the bereaved. Our Friendship Group, which was initially for bereaved people was changed and we extended our invitation to those who were lonely. We now meet twice a month in a local pub and have between 30‐ 40 people attending on a regular basis. This year we were able to take the member on a summer outing to the Portsmouth Historic Dockyards and paid for their Christmas lunch, all through a grant.
Miscarriage Support Group
This group was started this year to offer support to those couples who have suffered a miscarriage. It is run monthly in the local community centre and is supported by two counsellors who volunteer their services.
Volunteers
At the end of the year we held a Thank You Afternoon Tea Party for all our volunteers across the charity as none of our work could take place without them.
Avon Valley ‐ Income and Expenses Summary
| Charity Shop Shop Expenditure Grants Donations Little acorns expenses Childrens Toddler Group Daisy Holidays activ. Volunteer thank Friendship Shed Administration, etc Solicitor b/fwd Bank Loans Profit/Loss |
1 January 2023 ‐31 December 2023 £ £ 52,719 45,514 7,205 940 8,638 9,578 16,783 143 1,200 325 3,141 546 175 4,150 1,254 10,934 9,534 2,664 23,132 6,349 ‐ 15,072 8,723 12,723 4,000 8,723 8,723 |
1 January 2022 ‐31 December 2022 £ £ 6365 6,365 6,365 13655 13,655 7,290 ‐ 22,362 15,072 15,072 15,072 15,072 |
1 January 2022 ‐31 December 2022 £ £ 6365 6,365 6,365 13655 13,655 7,290 ‐ 22,362 15,072 15,072 15,072 15,072 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6,365 13,655 |
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| 7,290 ‐ 22,362 |
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| 15,072 | |||
| 15,072 | |||
| 15,072 | |||
| 15,072 |
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of:
Charity Number 1180169 AVP Youth and Community Trust
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the AVP Youth and Community Trust (the Trust) for the year ended 31 December 2023.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: M Ledger
Name: M Ledger
Relevant professional qualification or membership of professional bodies (if any):
Chartered Accountant
Address: Brackendene, Lower Daggons, Fordingbridge, Hampshire SP6 3EE
Date: 29 October 2024