## **CHAIRMAN’S ANNUAL REPORT – 31 MARCH 2025** 

We reached our 5-year milestone at The Living Rooms – Northallerton (TLR) in December 2024, which was duly celebrated by all at TLR and our community. This was acknowledged by our local MP The Rt. Hon. Rishi Sunak MP who wrote to us with his congratulations. In his letter he wrote: 

_‘The Living Rooms has become such an important part of our community in Northallerton. Having visited the project, I know what a difference it makes to those members of our community who need the welcome support you provide. Be assured that the work you do is very much appreciated by me and all the people who benefit from it.’_ 

TLR has continued to serve and support those in most need in Northallerton and the surrounding areas by being a community hub in the centre of town, open to all. We particularly support those with poor wellbeing and mental health and the lonely, isolated and social excluded, by being a place of welcome, care and hospitality – at the core of which is our Renew Wellbeing service where it’s ‘ok not to be ok.’ 

Our culture at TLR is that every individual counts and is of immense value and although we serve an increasing number of adults and young people, we are ‘there for the one!’ 

Our adult wellbeing sessions, run every weekday have seen an increase in attendance over the past year and consideration is being given to more opening times going forward. Our amazing volunteers, of whom we have 40 have given 4,116 hours of their time over the past year hosting 2,452 individual visits. We truly appreciate and thank all our volunteers, without whose dedication, commitment and heart for TLR we would simply not be able to operate. 

Weekly ‘Unwind’ sessions for 11 – 18 year-old young people are now into their second year and the numbers attending have increased. Mental health issues with young people are widely known and we believe our offering is playing a part in providing support and care. 

One of our young visitors to these sessions is Hannah, who told us: 

_‘I enjoy coming to Unwind to spend time with people who I don't normally see, having fun trying new games (there's an endless selection!!) and spending a little bit of time reflecting on my week. When I come to Unwind, I always feel a warm welcome and there's always someone to ask about how my day was, there's also hot chocolate and toast and we do so many fun activities including baking and crafts. My favourite part is at the end of the session spending a little time together sharing how our weeks were with everyone. I love Unwind for all the friends I've made and the fun we have together.’_ 

Another new initiative has been that of hosting monthly meals for local asylum seekers, where 45 have attended. These have been of great help in embracing visitors from different countries and cultures and making them feel welcome. 

A reorganisation of our staff took place last summer with Jo Swain our Hub Coordinator retiring. Jo has been a key part of TLR from the outset and has done a magnificent job in running our day-to-day operations. 



We thank Jo for her dedication and passion and wish her well in her retirement. Chloe Hickford has been appointed Centre Manager and is supported by Robyn Miller our new Administrator and Paula Taylor our new Development Officer. All our staff are part time and are greatly valued. They always go above and beyond in serving our visitors and the vision TLR has for our community. This team has enabled us to accelerate a number of initiatives, including the development of our new website to be launched this summer, greater funding opportunities and strengthen our partnerships with statutory and voluntary organisations. 

We are extremely grateful for the continuing support of the ONE Northallerton Churches and the fruitful partnerships we enjoy with other compatible organisations both statutory and voluntary including Jubilee Debt Advice, Hambleton FoodShare, Hambleton Community Action, North Yorkshire Council, the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioners, the NHS and many more. 

Plans underway for the coming year include: ‘Artists in Residence’ weeks where specific arts and crafts sessions led by experts will run each day; trips to external places of interest; Family Renew Wellbeing sessions, Youth activity trips and a development of our youth wellbeing work into local schools. 

This year we said goodbye to one of our Trustees Jeanne Logan, who will still remain as a valued host. We thank Jeanne for her work as a Trustee. We have welcomed 3 new Trustees – Andy Bayston, Howard Ellis and Ian Butler (our Treasurer). We are so grateful to these new Trustees for being willing to give of their time in this way, along with our existing Trustees for their continued commitment and dedication. The strengthening of our Trustee Board is a key strategic objective for TLR and I believe this is now well underway. 

Our finances over this year saw a small surplus with an income of £53,963. Our cash balance at the year-end also saw a small increase to £64,573. For full details please see the Financial Report and Accounts. We thank our volunteer Treasurer, Ian Butler for his work in managing TLR’s finances so well over the past year and are very grateful for all grants and funds received, in particular a grant of £20,000 from The Awards for All (National Lottery). Also, we are so thankful for the valuable donations from local voluntary organisations, some local churches and the ‘Friends of The Living Rooms’ programme. Funding is always a challenge, and we could so much more if we saw an increase in our income. So, we are always on the lookout for ways to achieve this. 

The work at TLR is motivated by our faith in God and our desire to serve our community by showing his love in our actions. We remain committed to work hard to maintain the high standards expected by our community and the statutory and voluntary sector organisations with whom we partner. 

It continues to be an honour to serve you all and our community in my capacity as Chair of Trustees. On behalf of the Trustees, I wish to express my sincere thanks to all our volunteers, partners and staff. 

Steve Cowie Chair of Trustees www.thelivingrooms.org.uk 

Registered Charity number 1181883 



THE LIVING ROOMS NORTHALLERTON
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Independent Examiners Report
I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above
Charrty for the year ended 31st March 2025.
As the charity trustees of the TLR. you are responsible for the preparation
of the accounts in accordan￿ with the requirements of the Charities Act
2011 ( the Act)
I report in respect of my examination of the TLR'S accounts carried out under
Section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed
the applicable Directions given by the Charty Commission under Section 145(5)b
of the Acl.
I have completed my examination. I confrim that no material matters have come
to my attention in Connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe
that in, any malerial respect:
*Accounting ￿COrdS were not kept in acordance with section 130 of the Act or
'The accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with
the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper
understanding of the accounts to be reached. I have not checked the petty
cash balances held at the year end.
B K Adams
Chartered Instituts of Public Financial Accountsnts
4 Carroll Close
Northallerton
30th April 2025