Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1/04/2020 Period start date To 31/03/2021 Period end date
Charity name: Literacy Aid UK
Charity registration number: 1181990
Objectives and Activities
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SORP reference
Summary of the purposes Para 1.17
of the charity as set out The charity facilitates literacy, cultural,
in its governing art therapy and holistic activities to
document people impacted by low literacy,
loneliness, domestic abuse, poor
mental health, prolonged
unemployment, emotional distress,
chronic illnesses, physical disabilities,
learning difficulties.
In 2021, we have implemented an
innovative re-commerce trading model
within the charity. The profit generated
will be invested in the community, to
provide vocational skills, and foster the
spirit of entrepreneurship amongst
those furthest from the labour market.
Summary of the main Para 1.17 and
1.19
activities in relation to Diverted over 350,000 pre-loved items
those purposes for the from landfill and helped Tyne and Wear
public benefit, in area to reduce its carbon emissions
particular, the activities,
projects or services Delivered in person and via Royal Mail,
identified in the over 1,000 books to avid readers who,
accounts. for a umber of reasons (agoraphobia,
social anxiety, mobility issues), could
not leave their homes. These home
deliveries have been followed up by
telephone calls with the aim to conduct
friendly, deep conversations between
volunteers and stakeholders. This
activity has grown considerably since
last year, which is to show that more
people appreciate this free service.
Facilitated 178 ‘Shared Reading/Poetry’
online group sessions to people in Tyne
and Wear impacted by loneliness and
isolation; trained and transitioned 12 of
them to ‘Shared Reading/Poetry’
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volunteer facilitators. Facilitated 134 literacy workshops for employment, CV and Resume writing, grammar and punctuation, to low literacy users. The literacy workshops have taken place in person and online with people from Tyne and Wear, and London. Facilitated 12 ‘Expressive Writing’ workshops as a therapeutic intervention to people who have been impacted by traumatic experiences, people struggling with addictions and parents who have experienced the loss of a child. The expressive writing workshops have taken place in person and online with people from Tyne and Wear, and London. The charity has supported 13 people with multiple barriers into sustainable employment through interview skills, communication skills, negotiation skills, social media for professional development. The trustees have designed, and will implement in 2022, a new long-term project within the charity, called Growing Libraries in Developing Countries. It aims at building small libraries in developing countries, equip them with books, train librarians to deliver efficient literacy support to stakeholders in their area. Statement confirming Para 1.18 whether the trustees The trustees had had regard to the have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity guidance issued by the Commission on public benefit. Charity Commission on public benefit
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SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment
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Para 1.38 Volunteers have played an
Contribution made by instrumental role within the charity’s
volunteers activities spectrum. They have
attended meetings with trustees to
report on their delivery and give
feedback on stakeholders’ needs and
how the charity’s activities can be
improved accordingly. They have also
distributed leaflets, engaged with
community members for survey
purposes, delivered a range of
activities for the public benefit as per
charity’s services, and made home
visits to isolated older people to keep
them company and supply them with
different educational resources, food
and water, and other requested items.
Other
Achievements and Performance
SORP reference
2020/2021 was the time of exploring
new pursuits as people worldwide were
Summary of the main asked to stay indoors — and selling
Para 1.20
achievements of the pre-owned goods proved to be one of
charity, identifying the the outlets many turned to. Along the
difference the charity’s way, and as selling pre-owned items
work has made to the continues to gain popularity,
circumstances of its organisations have recognized the
beneficiaries and any major economic opportunity
wider benefits to society recommerce brings — alongside the
as a whole. added benefits of building a more
sustainable future. The charity’s saving
of pre-loved items from going to waste
has made a difference in Tyne and
Wear area’s carbon emissions
reduction, it provided people
decluttering their homes with an eco-
friendly and sustainable alternative to
that of landfill, and helped those in
financial difficulties to have access to
free, good quality household items and
educational resources. Some of the
pre-loved items will be listed on e-
commerce platforms to sell for profit,
at the beginning of 2022. The entire
profit is to be further invested in the
community. We are in the process of
securing funding to start our own e-
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commerce website where pre-loved items can be listed for sale without loosing any insertion or sales fees as per Amazon, OnBuy or eBay platforms. This project will most likely create new green, sustainable and flexible jobs for people in and around Tyne and Wear area.
The free service of home delivery of good quality books, as well as those posted via Royal Mail, has grown considerably since last year. We have reached over 600 isolated people with over 1,000 books delivered, and weekly phone-calls to help them socialise outside their immediate circle. Volunteers and trustees have noticed an incredible popularity and request for this service. Beneficiaries have stated that this type of weekly contact with the charity makes them feel more connected to others and gives them a sense of purpose, and feel that they matter.
The ‘Shared Reading’ support groups proved successful not only because of the number of people it managed to reach, but also due to the collective bonding that took place between them. Many have stated that their engagement with the project’s content, tutors, volunteers and other participants has improved their mental health considerably, and their social relationships have also become more diverse, therefore, their perception of other people and events has expanded, and now they feel they have the ability to perceive things better, more fully. Over 80% of people have reported that as a result of their engagement with the group and project’s content, has increased their self-confidence and self-esteem, and their social connections have improved considerably. The newly trained volunteers have been very active in starting shared reading support groups throughout Tyne and Wear.
The literacy workshops facilitated in person, via Zoom and telephone, helped over 200 people in Tyne and Wear, and London, to develop CV/Resume writing skills, communication skills, interview
preparation skills, and other literacy related skills. These beneficiaries have stated that they feel they are more in control of their personal development and professional journeys as a result of having developed the above skills, and have also developed a love for reading with their children for pleasure. Some parents stated that this activity helped them develop a stronger bond with their children.
This year we have also moved forward with our ‘Expressive Writing’ workshops, and have facilitated different group sessions to a number of 36 adults struggling with an array of addictions, survivors of traumatic experiences, and parents impacted by the loss of a child. These workshops lasted for three months, with three sessions per week. At the end of it, people have stated that taking part in the project was an emotionally trying experience, and it helped them to deal with past traumas, build resilience, and has also positively impacted their connections with family members. Most of these participants surveyed at three months after taking part in these workshops, stated that they have developed a daily routine of writing about their feelings, which makes them feel happier and less negative than they felt before writing. This practice, in their words, has ‘brilliant positive psychological and emotional effects’.
This year the charity has supported 13 people with multiple barriers into employment. These beneficiaries have been referred to us through partner organisations, and during a period of four months, they have received support with online job hunting, digital skills, communication skills, social media for professional development. All of them have managed to clear their debt shortly after employment start date, they stopped claiming Universal Credit, and are now able to support financially their extended family members.
In Q1 of 2021, the charity has recognised an opportunity in exploring the possibility of trading pre-loved items on e-commerce platforms, in
order to bring about profit that is to be re-invested in overlooked communities. Volunteers have started an inventory process of most profitable items, using Amazon and eBay as guideline for potential value. Online selling platforms, such as Amazon, eBay, OnBuy have been considered as possible e-commerce platforms for trading, however, only eBay has been selected for future trading activities. The trustees are currently in the process of securing funding to build the charity’s own e-commerce website. Both eBay and the charity’s own e- commerce website have the potential to create green and sustainable jobs, and help the planet by diverting millions of items from landfill, every year.
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Achievements against Para 1.41
objectives set
Performance of
fundraising activities Para 1.41
against objectives set
Investment performance Para 1.41
against objectives
Other
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Financial Review
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Review of the charity’s Para 1.21
financial position at the The charity has been awarded a
end of the period discretionary grant fund of £10,000.
The charity has not started trading for
income.
Statement explaining the Para 1.22
policy for holding The charity does not have holding
reserves stating why they reserves.
are held
Amount of reserves held Para 1.22
No reserves.
Reasons for holding zero Para 1.22
reserves The charity has decided to spend the
entirety of the discretionary grant in
the benefit of the community and its
volunteers.
Details of fund materially Para 1.24
in deficit The charity holds no funds.
Explanation of any Para 1.23
uncertainties about the The charity has not identified any
charity continuing as a uncertainties/concerns.
going concern
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The charity’s principal
sources of funds Para 1.47
(including any
fundraising)
Investment policy and
objectives including any Para 1.46
social investment policy
adopted
A description of the Para 1.46
principal risks facing the
charity
Other
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Structure, Governance and Management
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Description of charity’s
trusts:
Type of governing Para 1.25
document Memorandum and Articles of
(trust deed, royal Association
charter)
How is the charity Para 1.25
constituted? CIO
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)
Trustee selection Para 1.25
methods including details The charity is recruiting trustees via its
of any constitutional partners. It is only the chair that
provisions e.g. election to identifies suitable candidates and
post or name of any informs the rest of the trustees at the
person or body entitled board meetings. New trustees receive
to appoint one or more an induction and information pack and
trustees spend time in the offices in
Sunderland. The trustees are actively
engaged with the charity’s strategic
direction and policy. They discuss and
approve a strategic plan every year.
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Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction Para 1.51
and training of trustees
The charity’s
organisational structure Para 1.51
and any wider network
with which the charity
works
Relationship with any Para 1.51
related parties
Other
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Reference and Administrative details
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Charity name Literacy Aid UK CIO
Other name the charity N/A
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uses
Registered charity 1181990
number
Charity’s principal 27 Norfolk Street, Sunderland, SR1 1EE
address
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Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
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Name of person (or body)
Dates acted if not for
Trustee name Office (if any) entitled to appoint trustee
whole year
(if any)
Catalin 27 Norfolk Street, Catalin Constantine
1 Constantine SR1 1EE,
Sunderland
Walatta Israel
2
Trew
Dan Makaveli 27 Norfolk Street,
3 SR1 1EE,
Sunderland
4 Sarah Robson
5
6
7
8
9
10
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12
13
14
15
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20
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Corporate trustees – names of the directors at the date the report was approved Director name N/A
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole
ear NIA
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets N/A held in this capacity Name and objects of the N/A charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements N/A for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of Name Address adviser
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees Signature(s) Catalin Constantine Full name(s) Catalin Constantine
Position (eg Chair Secretary, Chair, etc)
Date 30/12/2021