Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1.4.22 Period start date To 31.3.23 Period end date
Charity name: Activity Station
Charity registration number: 1165502
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
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| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | The objects of AS CIO are to support the needs of children, young people and adults with learning disabilities, their families and carers in the LBRUT and the surrounding boroughs in particular, but not exclusively, by all or any of the following means:- 1. Providing activities and social events for people with learning disabilities (PWLD), their families and carers. 2. Collaborating with other service providers and public services to facilitate and deliver activities and social events. 3. Working to increase the choice of activities available to and promoting social inclusion of PWLD and their families and carers. |
| 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 |
AS provide a choice of activities and social events for PWLD such as, sports events, music therapy and music concerts, drumming, singing, cooking, pottery and creative arts, dance and drama, discos, days out, sensory cinema screenings, gardening and rambles, free events i.e. specially adapted pantomimes, Christmas singalongs and online activites. The exclusive use of hired venues, all our activities and services promote the public benefit of health and wellbeing, social inclusion, anti-discriminatory environment, advocacy, equality (free events for deprived areas/families), independence, adult learning; encourages personal responsibility of financial budgeting. For some service users who find interaction with others difficult our volunteers can offer social support to avoid them being socially isolated. By offering a choice of activities and for the PWLD to understand the options, planning routes and transport to our events and |
| making the choice will promote advocacy. It will also encourage financial budgeting for instance if there is more than one activity to choose from. AS have the exclusive use of their venues they hire for most of their activities. Exclusive use of venues ensures an accessible & safe environment for users, carers and their families. Users can enjoy the space and make full use of the activities free from any interaction with the general public. We provide relaxed sensory cinema screenings, with subtitles, lowering of lights, reduction of loud noises. This improves health and wellbeing of the PWLD, families and carers and promotes safety by being in a quiet, safe and accessible environment. They will not be rushed when purchasing refreshments at the cafe, the cafe staff are all trained and understand to be patient. The families and carers can also relax in the knowledge that the public will not be rushing the service user or reacting to them if any challenging behaviours occur. By having exclusive use of venues and a cafe area it offers a chance to promote social interaction between service users. We have noticed friendships forming whilst communicating over lunch together. By having private use of the cafe we are able to promote healthy eating by requesting cafe staff remove unhealthy food from sight which might be tempting to buy. It also enables PWLD, parents and carers to bring their own packed lunch to eat. We have noticed this helps support those who have a special diet or may choose unhealthy food and perhaps are unable to budget for purchasing any refreshments as well. This would not be possible in a public cafe. AS help PWLD, families and carers without computers or the internet e.g. registering people for activities. AS download information for them and communicate with the support workers and care homes. |
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| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | We ensure service providers/facilitators make reasonable adjustments to their services so PWLD can access them in the same way as other people (sensory screening, panto and all our activities). We enable them to choose what activities they would like to undertake. We promote healthy eating and a choice which also promotes financial budgeting. We offer wellbeing, social, health and fitness activities and encourage them to |
participate in a safe and stimulating environment. We work in partnership with other agencies and providers to improve our service for vulnerable people. The objectives, activities, achievements and performance for the past year addressed throughout this trustee annual report clearly sets out the activities which AS undertakes for the public benefit. The trustees, in setting our aims, objectives and planning our activities have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission general guidance on public benefit.
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference |
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| 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 | All AS volunteers are inducted and trained before they start. They are expected to read and understand all aspects of the AS policies i.e. safeguarding, health and safety guidance and risk policies. They contribute significantly to the success of AS by offering additional support and encouragement. With the help of our volunteers it gives families and carers respite. The volunteers know when to support and when to allow the PWLD to do a task on their own which encourages independence and confidence to grow. They support with access & registration on arrival of attendees and work with our service providers to ensure activities are well prepared, inclusive to everyone, & also help with support encouraging our users to take part and have fun. |
| 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 | In April AS were nominated for the Queens Award which is for voluntary organisations. We were very pleased to receive the award in June and celebrate all the wonderful support we have had from the many volunteers over the last 10 years and continue to run our voluntary organisation and offer our service for PWLD. We offered our service free to Ukrainian families and have introduced a new environmental and educational workshop which is gardening and woodcraft run by a local Barnes environment charity. AS ran 29 activity sessions (2 sessional days were cancelled due to covid and traffic issues due to boat race) reaching 386 people and not including their families. Quantitative results have shown from our data that due to returning to live sessions, after covid,we are not reaching as many participants as we were when exclusively online as we deliberately keep attendee numbers small for our live sessions to allow for positive and safe experiences by all of our service users. We have noticed a larger number of newcomers. AS often have sold out events and keep a waiting list. Qualitative information has shown a positive request for certain activities such as music and cookery which is very popular, keeping the recipes nutritious and healthy. We also run classes to offer fitness and wellbeing. From completed AS evaluation forms, our service has been described by users, parents and carers as excellent and includes very positive comments and feedback. We have had many people give us positive responses from conversation analysis. We have service users attending that have been referred to us by other parents and carers, and local care homes accessing our service. Existing partners and organisations (which includes, Mencap Richmond and Hammersmith, Crofters Club, RUILS, SEN family support group Richmond and SEN group Chiswick social work & disabled teams, Skylarks, Richmond CVS, RHLT, Achieving For Children, Elysium Healthcare and SeeAbility carehomes) promote our activities and have recommended us to new organisations and parents/carers increasing our network. Since covid an increase in the number of activities for PWLD of different ages whilst offering an online service and the introduction of free events throughout the year has made our activities more accessible with an increase of service users from other boroughs. We have been |
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able to offer our service to Ukrainian families in the borough. Fundraising We are starting to research ideas since having to stop due to covid. After receiving a nomination for the Queens Award for voluntary services in the borough we were pleased to receive the award and demonstrates what has been achieved due to the support of our funders all our volunteers over the last 10 years. Going forward this will help when applying for more funding. Plans for the future Increase the number of free events at key calendar dates during the year. Evaluate user and carer views of our service and identify unmet needs. Increase current programme of days out and the possibility of more respite for families and carers.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 |
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| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | In this financial year we have received a number of private donations from individuals and we will be applying for grants from organisations such as Barnes Fund, the Richmond Voluntary Fund and the Lottery. Expenditure has supported our key objectives of providing activities and social events to people with learning disabilities with the majority of payments being made to events (60%) and the remainder on overheads (40%). Fundraising events on hold due to covid19restrictions. |
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| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | We continue to implement our reserve policy. Our activities and social events programme is flexible and can be tailored to run any number of activities at any given time out of an annual ‘rolling’ planned programme. In the event of uncertainty of future income we can reduce the number of activities and also remove activities which are more expensive to run and introduce new less expensive ones. As a small charity that does not have fixed assets or overheads such as staffing costs, the amount put aside in reserves is considered to be low risk. We seek to maintain a reserves policy of approximately 50% of the total expenditure used. Currently £10000 has been agreed by the trustees to be put aside for reserves. This will allow for at least 6 months to develop new sources of income or to reduce the number of activities we run accordingly. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
The charity’s principal sources of funds (including Para 1.47 any fundraising)
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | |
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| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
Activity Station’s governing document is a ‘Foundation model constitution Whose only voting members are the charitytrustees |
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| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Activity Station is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) |
| 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 | Appointed by charity 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 |
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| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
Charity name Other name the charity uses Registered charity number Charity’s principal address
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
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| Christine Chittick | Chair/Financial Manager |
30.01.16 | Activity Station | |
| Sam Hurst | Founder | 30.01.16 Resigned Jan 2019 |
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| Heidi Mansfield | 21.04.16 | |||
| Hester Larkin | 24.02.17 | |||
| Coral Allen | 11.05.17 | |||
| HumphreyHawksley | 21.2.20 | |||
| Claire Eaves | Founder | 30.01.16 | ||
– 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
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc)
Date 11.1.24
Charity Name No (if any) Alara Foundation 1183849 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the period Period start date Period end date To from 4/1/2022 3/31/2023
Section A Receipts and payments
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| A1 Receipts - - - - - - - - - - Sub total - Total receipts - A3 Payments - - - - - - - Sub total - - - Sub total - Total payments - Net of receipts/(payments) - A5 Transfers between funds - A6 Cash funds last year end 524 Cash funds this year end 524 Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ Sub total(Gross income for AR) A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
to the nearest £ Restricted funds |
to the nearest £ Endowment funds |
Total funds to the nearest £ |
Last year to the nearest £ |
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Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B5 Liabilities B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees |
Details Details Details Details Details Signature Kmann Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) |
to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - 524 - OK OK to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Print Name Kate Mann Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) |
to nearest £ Endowment funds |
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| to nearest £ Endowment funds |
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| Date of approval |
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| Kmann | Kate Mann | 6.2.24 | |