2021-01-31-accounts

11 Grants Donations Registration Reimbursements for DriveryJ Interest can cheques Refund Total 4,500.00 7,380.88 3,659.00 4.21 312.80 15.9x58 Salary & Income Tax Telephonos Insurance Rent Disbutsements to Drivers Postage & Statlonery Office Equipment Mgmbgrship Fees Disabled Badges Computer Equipment Computer Software Prlntin9 AGM Recruiling Constitution Training Donation Returned Cheques Signs Pam Page Mike Page Office Refilrb Covid 19 Bank Charyes Totsl 4.680.00 623.00 496.11 1,000.00 47.00 372.57 179.05 10.00 120.00 14x17 166.07 62.00 491.97 50.00 622.22 514.95 12.50 12,995.21 lJan 1.1.21 Barclays Bank Current Account Barclays Bank Deposit Account 8,288.94 8,145AO Total Totsl 16434.74

DIDCOT VOLUNTEER DRIVERS Chairman/Trustee Report for 2021 AGM

The Management Committee has not met in person since the last AGM on February 11[th] 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions.

However as we had updated the constitution for Didcot Volunteer Drivers we were able to hold meetings electronically.

Trustee Members of the DVD Committee at present:

Trustees:

Margaret Abbott – chair

Jacqui Oldham – deputy chair

Margaret Ewen – deputy chair and secretary

Tony Semmens – treasurer

Helen Cooper – member

Georgie Elliott – member

Member

Cllr Ian Snowdon. SODC

Co-opted members:

Phil McGettigan – Organiser

Bill Major – Deputy Organiser.

The Committee held meetings in April, July, October 2020 and January 2021 using Google Meet. There are copies of all the meeting minutes in the office or I can send electronic copies. All are available on request.

In 2020 we said goodbye to drivers, Keith, Paul and Ian Watson who moved out of the area.

Bob and Ann decided to retire and sadly, Mike, a driver from 1989- 2016 passed away in October.

Our sincere thanks go to all ex-drivers, particularly Bob, who drove regularly throughout the first lockdown.

A very warm welcome to those who joined us in 2020 as drivers, Jill , Rhiannon, Taflyn, Graham, and Chris, our new office volunteer.

Throughout the year we’ve had many inquiries from those in the community wishing to help us out in the short term but unfortunately they were not able to commit further.

This is an outline of the most important events of the DVD year.

If you would prefer a hard copy please ask.

Please email me if you need further clarification on any issue.

• In March 2020 at the beginning of Lockdown1 we took a risk assessment to decide whether DVD would have to close.

• Following detailed Safeguarding advice from the Community Transport Association it was decided that whilst there was a need, our service would continue with new rules and precautions in place.

• Fortunately a stalwart group of 8 drivers managed to fulfil the small number of requests for medical appointments.

• Our wonderful group of Office volunteers Helen, Margaret E., Etta, Glenda and Georgie ably supported by Organiser Phil, kept the office open. We were not busy as most appointments had been cancelled and we were able to use the mobile to contact our oldest and most isolated clients to ask if they needed extra help. Following these calls we organised prescription collection and shopping for the few who required this service.

• Thanks to the generosity of the members of Didcot Community Gospel Choir who donated the proceeds of their Christmas concert 2019 to us we were able to pay for the design and manufacture of magnetic car plaques with our new logo.

• It was very quiet during this time and so we arranged to redecorate the office and fit new carpet. Many grateful thanks to Cllr Snowdon and Cllr Hewardine who awarded DVD grant funding, part of the Councillor Community Grants Scheme, to pay these costs.

• With the remaining money given by the SODC councillors we ordered an office sign with our new logo and later purchased a new desktop and laptop computer so that we could update our operating system to Windows 10.

• A Big Thank You to Bill for arranging to have our new DVD leaflets, car plaques and sign printed as well as contacting a carpet fitter.

• Thank you to all those who returned to volunteering during the summer so that we could meet increased demand as the hospitals tried to catch up with delayed appointments.

• During the summer, when I was struggling to check the “final” version of our computer dispatch program TransManager Tony C volunteered to manage this project. As a result of his professional expertise DVD was able to start using version 129 on September 1[st] 2020. Tony has generously agreed to continue as technical advisor for the program and has now obtained the source code from Mark, the program developer. Version 129 is based on feedback from the office operators and works more intuitively than the previous versions. Later in the year Tony was kind enough to set up and check the new computers.

• Huge thanks to client Elizabeth Roberts and organiser Phil for highlighting DVD on Radio Oxford’s Breakfast time programme.

• Didcot moved into Tier 4 at Christmas and again many appointments were cancelled.

These organisations have supported us throughout this very difficult year.

• Thank you to Community First Oxfordshire for Octabadges and advice.

• Thank you to advisors at : CTA and Age UK,

• Thank you to Volunteer Link Up for their DBS service

FUNDING.- the audited year end accounts are attached.

• 2020 was the final year of 6 years of grant funding from Oxfordshire County Council. The money paid the salary of our part-time organiser for 6 hours each week. The grant application procedure has changed and further funding is not certain so I sought other sources of funding.

DVD will apply for OCC funding, starting June 2021. I will keep you informed.

In order to be considered DVD has to have a Safeguarding Policy and Procedure in

• place. Please take time to read this attachment as it is relevant to all volunteers.

• In December, Didcot First, who have supported our charity for many years through the BACAS awards, contacted DVD and suggested they could help with running costs as a one-time offer. We were overwhelmed to receive their cheque for £5000 in January.

• Our sincere thanks go to Didcot Town Council, who are no longer able to award grants for salaries but gave a grant to pay rental and telephone/internet costs for one year.

• DVD is grateful to Didcot & Wallingford Rotary and Age UK who contributed to our PPE bills

• In January 2021 the DVD committee decided not to contact our existing clients in February to ask for a donation. It seemed unfair to ask them when so few had been able to use our service and it would have given them another problem during lockdown. Letters of registration are still going out to new clients but without a donation request.

• Our AGM is usually a good opportunity to meet other volunteers and put a face to that voice on the phone. I’m sorry that we couldn’t do that this year. We have missed all of you who have been shielding and unable to volunteer and look forward to welcoming you back when you feel safe again.

• We are still in lockdown until April but thank you all for your continuing support. At least, for the time being, drivers do not have to struggle with heavy traffic and parking problems!

Our lives have been turned upside down this year but if at all possible we’ll try to arrange a get-together so that we can all meet up for a chat and to get to know our new volunteers.

Thank you for your time and help throughout this year. Take good care.

Didcot Volunteer Drivers trustees