## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
## **From July 2023 Period start date To June 2024 Period end date**
## **Charity name: Better Together**
## **Charity registration number:1183516**
## **Objectives and Activities**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|**The objects clause mentions education**
**and leisure time occupation facilities for**
**the benefit of residents of Smethwick.**|
|Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|**People whose first language is not**
**English are invited to a conversation**
**café. There is no assessment as an**
**entry requirement and simple**
**refreshments are free. Those attending**
**build confidence. This group meets**
**most weeks throughout the year.**|
|Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|**Directors (trustees) offer this activity as**
**a public benefit to residents of**
**Smethwick and the surrounding area.**
**The majority of them act as volunteers**
**to keep this activity running.**|
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
||
SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Policy on grant making|Para 1.38||
|Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38||
|Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|**The charity currently has only one**
**activity, which is dependent on loyal**
**volunteers.**|
||||
Other
## **Achievements and Performance**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|**Beneficiaries generally attend ESOL**
**classes as well as the café. Proficiency**
**in spoken/written English is not**
**measured by examination within the**
**conversation café – case studies show**
**students’ confidence grows.**
**Continuing with the activity keeps the**
**building “on the map” and students**
**come to join us at the start of term.**
**Better Together is a member of**
**Sandwell Council of Voluntary**
**Organisations.**|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|
Achievements against
objectives set|
Para 1.41|
**We rate this period as “holding our**
**own”. An increase in volunteers would**
**allow for recruiting more**
**attendees/beneficiaries, possibly greater**
**opening hours.**|
|---|---|---|
|Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|**National Lottery extended our time for**
**using the grant.**
**Further fundraising activities must now**
**follow to secure the future of this (and**
**other) activities.**|
|Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41||
|Other|||
## **Financial Review**
|**Financial Review**|||
|---|---|---|
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|**The running costs of the present activity**
**are low and we still have some money in**
**the bank.**|
|Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|**No reserves.**|
|Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|**ditto**|
|Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|**We hope to convince a funder that we**
**merit modest support.**|
|Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24||
|Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|**We are linked to the start and end times**
**of the terms of study set by ESOL**
**course providers. This activity**
**continues to survive fluctuations in**
**numbers.**|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|
The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|
Para 1.47||
|---|---|---|
|Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46||
|A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|**We have only just enough volunteers to**
**ensure that a minimum of two will**
**always be in attendance.**|
|Other|||
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Description of charity’s
trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|**CIO constitution.**|
|How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|**ditto**|
|Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|**By invitation of the existing/continuing**
**trustees.**|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|
Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees|
Para 1.51||
|---|---|---|
|The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|**SCVO plus personal links with the**
**trustees and staff of other charities**
**active within the town.**|
|Relationship with any
related parties|Para 1.51|**Our close neighbour is called**
**Brushstrokes. Their ESOL project co-**
**ordinator is a good friend.**|
|Other|||
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charity name|Better Together.|
|---|---|
|Other name the charity uses||
|Registered charity number|1183516|
|Charity’s principal address|Smethwick Baptist Church
Regent Street
Smethwick
B66 3BQ|
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## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
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20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Pauline Hylton||||
||Sandra Monica
Robinson||||
||John CraigJordan||||
||Delroy Otis
Thomas||||
||Paul Beech||||
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## – Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
## **Director name**
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
**Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year**
## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others**
Description of the assets held in this capacity
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects
Details of arrangements 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**
Sandra Monica Robinson was a founding trustee and served as secretary for many years. In June 2024 she notified us of her resignation, to take effect in just a few weeks.
## **Declarations**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
J.C.Jordan **Signature(s)** P Hylton John Craig Jordan **Full name(s)** Pauline Hylton **Position (eg Secretary,** Treasurer Trustee **Chair, etc)**
**Date**
May 2025
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