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2021-03-31-accounts

The West Area Project Annual General Meeting 2021

Starting at 5pm Thursday 16[th] September 2021, at the Lenton Centre, Willoughby Street, Lenton NG7 1RQ

Agenda

7.00 Any other AGM Business.

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Welcome to the WAP 2021 Annual Report: We would like to cheer up this report by sharing some photos of Zoe and John’s magical wedding!

Everyone at WAP and WAPACTIV2 took full advantage of the forthcoming celebration to arrange wedding themed exercises, celebratory parties and a lot of bad dancing!!! We all enjoyed choosing Zoe’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’ themed presents and some members actually managed not to tell Zoe about her presents which included teapots and cake stands!!! As a staff group; Yvonne, Tez and Kyle happily immersed ourselves in the occasion and showed people in Heanor how to party! I don’t think they will forget us!

As Trustees, members and colleagues we are all united in wishing Zoe and John a very long and happy marriage!

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Introducing again the member representatives Martin supported by Rachel:

Welcome to the WAP Annual General Meeting 2021

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1. Introduction by Martin Stiegler, member representative:

2.Manager’s Report by Yvonne Pearson

Where do I start! It’s always so difficult writing a Managers Report later in the year to report on events from over a year ago. With Covid that is an especially difficult task.

On the 18[th] March 2020 we decided to close the day centre part of WAP down due to the threat of Covid. As a project we immediately started a rota to provide home based support to our most vulnerable members which we continued to provide 7 days a week throughout the Covid period. Many of our members were not confident with computers so providing a video based service was not an option. I well remember at that time that I was angry and appalled at how much social care was being ignored nationally. It was equally hard at that time to know what the future held for WAP. There was no one at the Nottingham City Council who was leading on the Covid response so we had no idea whether we were going to have to give our workers redundancy notices. As usual the only person available to respond to any queries was John Burgin from Direct Payments who literally held the voluntary sector together. He was the only person who responded to emails and worked to try to answer all our queries when the world was so scary and uncertain.

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Equally, I would like to thank David Bingham of Space Inclusive who immediately set up a voluntary sector forum to pass on information to organisations. He offered my second lifeline as information at that time was so scarce. It didn’t matter that this group was mostly made up of County agencies, it gave me a valuable steer and offered a comparison with what was not happening with the City Council, it meant a lot.

WAP is a small organisation which has always prided itself on having close relationships with the families who use the service. Over the COVID period we were in constant touch with these families and indeed Yvonne still managed to conduct home visits to sort out various benefit queries.

It soon became clear through John that the City Council were prepared to support us in continuing with our service for at least 6 months during the lockdown period. This was welcome news and we thank the City Council for this.

WAP returned on 17[th] August 2020 to the day centre although many of our members were unsure about returning. We had a new volunteer called Romani Kakad who we were hoping to take on as part of the Kick start scheme announced by the Government in the summer of 2020. Although I was aware that most of our members were exempt from wearing masks I was determined that we would do all we could to protect our members and this meant getting everyone into the habit of wearing masks/shields. To achieve this I bought about £600 of masks and shields so they could be provided free and members could chose different protective wear for each day. I also bought an electronic temperature gauge and spent a fortune on individual sanitizers and anti-bacterial cleaner. I was a woman on a mission!

I am proud to say that having established the importance of mask wearing, it is something we all do. Frankly, I was shocked that some of our peer organisations did not adopt the same policy and it was also noticeable that there were times when they had to close due to Covid infection amongst staff or members.

WAP arrived at the New Year 2021 having run the centred based project successfully since it reopened in August 2020 with no cases of infection. Then the delta virus struck. I was nervous about re-opening but having talked to the Trustees we decided to go ahead. At this time the vaccines were coming on line which meant that I also ended up arguing with the Nottingham Commissioning Group to prove that our staff qualified for the vaccine. It seemed that they did not recognise that our service qualified in the social care category because we were a charity. When I threatened to go to the press the workers were finally allowed to get vaccinated. I then had an equal struggle to get our members vaccinated as a priority group. By this

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stage research had emerged that people with Down’s Syndrome were 8 times more likely to die than their age equivalent peers and disabled people were 50% more likely to die. Again, social care was being ignored.

WAP returned but it soon became apparent that with the increased infectiousness of the Delta variant I could not keep everyone safe. Also one WAP worker, who was isolating anyway due to a family contact testing positive, became positive herself. So the day centre part of WAP shut down again on 13[th] January 2021. However, this time we were prepared and were able to introduce a combination of zoom sessions along with a 1 to 1 home based walking time with members.

We continued with this until we returned to the Centre on 1[st] March 2021. When we returned we decided to add to our existing Covid restrictions, these included:

As a project we are proud to say that there has been no known case of Covid amongst any of our staff and members and we have continued to do our best to provide a safe and stimulating service.

On a lighter note I applied for us to join the City Council cleaning team so we got the pick up sticks and Tabards. This is a picture of Lizzie and I rocking it!

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3. Chairperson Report by Alf Stiegler

Alf thanked the staff and Trustees for steering WAP through this momentous time and maintaining the WAP service, despite the odds.

4. Minutes of the last AGM meeting

WEST AREA PROJECT AGM MEETING held on Wednesday 28[th] October 2020

at 6.30pm at The Lenton Centre

----- Start of picture text -----
Those present: In attendance Apologies
Alfred Stiegler – Chairperson/Trustee Yvonne Pearson Fay Deller – Trustee
- Project
Farrah Athar – Secretary/Trustee Joan West –Trustee
Manager)
Russell Jays – Trustee Rita Beard Trustee
Martin Stieger –
Member Rep
Mary Harrison – Treasurer
Romani Kakad -
Ann Stiegler –Trustee
volunteer
----- End of picture text -----

Agenda Items

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M S

1. Apologies: Fay, Joan and Rita sent their apologies.

2. Conflict of interests. None were declared

3. Welcome by the member representative:

Martin welcomed everyone to the meeting which was organised in line with WAP’s COVID policy.

.

4. Manager’s Report

Yvonne talked about the difficult climate we continued to operate in as a direct consequence of:

She also mentioned how much additional work she was doing beyond her paid hours to support families with matters including their benefit applications and hospital appointments.

Introduction to AGM business:

Minutes of the last AGM Meeting:

The minutes of the last AGM meeting of Wednesday 2019 were discussed and agreed as accurate and signed by Alf and Mary

Chairperson’s Annual Report:

Alf commented on the improvement in WAP’s finances over the last year where we had moved from a £6,729 deficit to a £6,444 surplus. He said it was right that WAP should continue to provide extra support to our members and their families in these difficult times.

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Alf was pleased that the fundraising for Activ2 had been taken on by the Lenton Centre and commented he could see how important that service had become to its members in terms of supporting healthy living and activity. WAP was now responsible for co-ordinating Activ2.

Alf summarised by thanking the WAP staff for their work and commitment.

Treasurers Report

Appointment of Auditor

The Trustees accept these minutes as a true record of the AGM meeting of Wednesday 28[th] October 2020:

Signed Date

5. Treasurers Report April 2020 to March 2021

This year has been challenging for everyone in many ways, members and staff alike.

Yvonne has been proactive in ensuring that the payments received from the Council over the lockdown period have been correct, returning overpayments that we received for members who had left the project some time ago. This has ensured that our financial status is healthy and stable.

The increase in Fairer Charging payments has adversely affected some families and COVID fears are still present. Our financial stability relies on the project having enough members to generate a sufficient level of income to survive and to provide activities that enrich members lives. We all have to hope that Council budget cuts don’t make our members financial problems any worse.

The project is extremely lucky to have such excellent staff who are committed to the project and worked hard during lockdown to maintain contact with the members

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either through zoom or by visits. Thank you to them.

Due to the lockdown and COVID restrictions our bank balance at the end of this financial year was much healthier than previous years which will hopefully see us comfortably through this next year of uncertainty.

Mary Harrison Treasurer

Donations:

For WAP:

For WAPACTIV2

WAP ACTIVITIES 2020 to 2021

At the West Area Project we have always prided ourselves on the variety of activities on offer to our members:

Report for Dance and movement sessions with Catherine Chivers

Obviously the lockdowns due to Covid were very challenging for everyone and particularly difficult for many of the members who access WAP. During the first lockdown, although I was teaching numerous classes via Zoom, it wasn’t possible or appropriate to provide sessions to the WAP group, so sadly I didn’t actually see anyone until I visited the group at The Lenton Centre on

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26th August 2020! It was wonderful to see the staff and members who were there and obviously poignant to feel the loss of dear Brian. I was concerned about live teaching the group in such a small space, with everyone wearing masks or visors, getting overheated and struggling with social distancing. However, I was keen to return to live teaching as soon as possible and ideally in the hall, although totally understood The Lenton Centre’s need to use the hall for monetary gain. As Yvonne had secured funding for dance/fitness sessions for the group, I was very pleased to get back to dancing with the members who were able to return to the centre, albeit seated in a socially distanced circle. As I qualified to teach Seated SOSA during lockdown this was an ideal opportunity to teach the group some seated routines! Blame it on the Boogie [disco] and Chammak Challo [Bollywood moves] are still often requested by the group now that sessions are feeling a bit more normal! It was great to have a bit of a giggle with everyone again and return to the sense of community and wellbeing that the dance/exercise sessions bring.

Sadly, lockdown hit again and I had to stop teaching the group live. In November as the group were still meeting in person we decided to try Zooming the session to maintain some sense of normality and connection. This was challenging, as the group had to access the class from one laptop, but it was great to see the members and staff joining in with enthusiasmparticularly Martin! The new year lockdown was really tough on everyone and again the group were unable to meet in person for a while. It was fantastic to reconnect in March for more Zoom sessions and we all welcomed seeing each other again, albeit in strange circumstances! I reduced the length of sessions [and my fee] as it was clear that the group found it challenging to access the session from one laptop screen! It was absolutely the right thing to do though in terms of maintaining some structure and connection and certainly was beneficial for the mental and physical wellbeing of us all in the strange times we were living through. I am grateful to Zoe for persevering with the tech so that it was possible to continue to ‘meet’ on a weekly basis. Thank you to all the WAP family for continuing to make me smile and for your enthusiasm and commitment to the sessions I deliver.

Report from our Arts and Crafts tutor Deborah Clarke from Nottingham College

West Area Project- Arts and Crafts for Beginners

Autumn 2020- Spring 2021

This course aims to give the learners an opportunity to explore, develop and acquire skills in arts and craft-based learning. A practical focus using mixed media and up cycling where possible. Each member is encouraged to complete a finished piece.

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The class aims to develop the skills of the learners to understand and apply simple crafting skills e.g. cutting of card and stamping with ink pads. Learners will be encouraged to self-assess and positively feedback on theirs and other class members pieces of work. Also, to suggest next steps in their development. The course aims to actively teach the following skills and develop self-esteem:

I met all the members and staff for WAP in October for the first time, after coming out of lockdown. We all had to change how we worked, it was a big ask for some of the members and they coped very well.

The practicalities of social distancing, having individual work desks, single person use of equipment and materials, meant additional planning, prepping and outlay.

Keeping the members safe, and stress free was the biggest hurdle. The group is happy and vibrant, each member crafting in their own unique way, some with minimum guidance, others requiring one to one. We laugh and joke, and everyone is an artist just waiting to get out.

We explore multiple mediums and techniques, often practising and designing working to a theme before we complete our finished piece. We use the natural world around us, and change of seasons to inspire us, encouraging the use of up cycling wherever possible.

Some examples of learner’s work included Autumnal hedgehog and fox pictures made from leaves, Halloween gave us a mobile of witches and ghosts made from egg cartons, clothes peg bats spiders and cats. Christmas included fir cone Christmas trees, wreaths, stitched felt gingerbread men and women and of course, Christmas cards, oh so much glitter and sequins!

Then lockdown again- into summer, we managed Spring/Mother’s Day cards, paper flowers in jars, papier-mâché Angel fish, window butterflies that shimmer and Loo roll Flowers, and so much more.

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Please see photos of members work below: 13

Review of Activ2 by Zoe Beardsley Activ2 coordinator:

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This will be a very short report and this is because for the entirety of the financial year included in this meeting Activ2 has unfortunately been closed. Activ2 closed on the 17[th] March 2020 which was just the day before the Trustees decided to close the day centre. The decision to close was prompted by the combined concerns of both the TLC and WAP staff about being able to maintain the safety of our vulnerable members with the arrival of the Covid virus.

Equally, because of the nature of the Activ2 service it was difficult to offer alternatives, team sports like cricket and Volley ball on zoom just sounded like a disaster! Also many of our members and their families did not have access to zoom or any social media alternatives. Many of our Activ2 members have spoken about how they felt isolated and cooped up during the lockdown and have said it had a detrimental effect on their mental and physical health, this was down to not only Activ2 being closed but also the closure of other day centres and activities they would normally attend. The members themselves have said that they, in common with the majority of the population have not only put on weight but have become inactive.

It is to be hoped that in future Activ2 will not have to suffer any more closures and on opening Activ2 will work to combat all the physical and mental health problems which have accumulated during the Covid period.

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WEST AREA PROJECT Statement of Assets & Llabllltles Year Ended 31 March 2021 2021 Perfod 01.10.2019 to 31.03.2020 Fixed Assets Fumlture & Equipment Depreciation for Year 1,142 1.001 1,142 954 141 188 Current Assets Trade Debtors Prepayments Cash at Bank & In Hand 340 338 Loss Current Llabllltles Creditors Accruals (489) 480 (1.972) Net Current (Liabllltl•syAssets Net (Llabllltles)IAssets 18,921 9,038 Represented By.. Unrestrlcted Funds Opening balance Surplus l (Defiut) for the Year 9,038 9.883 Total Unrestricted Funds 18.921 9.038 Approved by the Board of Trustees on......................... LOXI Signed on its behalf................... ..Chairperson

Incomt & Expendlture Account Y•ar End•d 31 Marth 2Tr21 2021 PerlqKI 01.102tst9 to 31.032020 R•c•lpts Sery4ce Contracts Refvnd8 LoanlFund R¥islng 115,551 112,8391 9,6¢)0 65.024 T*)tsl Unr•th¢tsd In¢•m• 112.312 65.024 Totsl R•ulpts 112,312 65,024 Lem P•>Tnent Salaries & NICS Premlsgs Office & Admln U5ws Outtngs & A(thUes ,509 5,938 2.789 13,146 46,703 4.736 8.572 Totsl P•>rnnt• 11Y2.382 f￿.898 Surplu4 I ID•fFcttl for th• Y•ar (Xh•r Movèm•nts Depreciatson 9.930 4.126 (47) 131) Totsl Surp1￿ I ID•fi¢lt) for Y• 9.883 4.095 pprovad bytho Board ofT st￿$ on.............................. . ...... Signed on Its behalf....... . J i.

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the truste8 members of WEST AREA PROJECT On accounts for the year onded 31 March 2021 Charity no (If any) 1182653 Set oirt on pages 1&2 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ("the Trust.) for the year ended 3110312021. Responslbllftles and A5 the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basls of rèport of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the AcV>. I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Acl and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(51{b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below ') in Connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. accounting rewrds were not kept in accordan￿ with section 130 of the Acl or the arxounts do not accord with the accounting records Indgpendent examlnerfs statsment I have no con￿rnS 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 Èe reached. ' Please de18te the words in the braGkets rfthey do not apply. Slgned: Dats: Name: Neil F South Relevant professional qualiflcatlon(s) or body lif any): FCA Address: Clayton & Brewill, Qawley House, 149- 155 Canal Street, Nottingham, NG17HR IER October 2018

Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts.. directlons and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any Items that the exaffllner wlshe3 to d18close. IER October 2018