Trustees Annual Report 31-03-2020- 31-03-2021
The objects of the CIO are
To relieve the needs of Neurodiverse children and young adults in West Yorkshire (without attached funding or diagnosis necessarily) by providing grants to assist with the provision of specialist equipment to aid and enable their access to education and the curriculum. For the purposes of this clause ‘Neurodiverse’ refers to the different ways the brain can work and interpret information. Neurodivergence includes, but is not limited to: Attention Deficit Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia and Dyspraxia.
This year has been only our second year as a charity, and it certainly has been an equally challenging year to experience in our infancy. Fundraising has still very much been carried out in a virtual manner and the lack of in person events has hampered our ability to raise large amounts of funds at one time. Therefore, we have held much smaller fundraisers in order to keep our ability to meet application requests going. As you may note, due to a relatively quiet time with our first application window in this time frame, we placed a request to amend our objectives and cover England because at the time we decided that we could support this move. This was agreed, but as you may also note, we have not made a move to change to this. As a charity, the interest and support from West Yorkshire is slowly but steadily growing and given the current financial climate and exceptional circumstances we find ourselves in, we felt it prudent not to change our geographical area at present because we realised that it
Equipped4Learning, Registered Charity in England and Wales (1184110)
wouldn’t take that many applicants to wipe our funds and we would then not be able to meet other application demands, a position we really didn’t want to be in. We also felt given the current financial climate, opening to the whole of England would potentially open floodgates of need that again we couldn’t meet. We felt it would be irresponsible of us, but it is a change we aspire to make further down the line.
In this time frame, we have managed to hold 3 applicant windows and have had 6 applications through for various specialist pieces of equipment ranging from a tablet, laptop, speech to text software, and weighted vest to an E reader pen. All 6 applications met our criteria and could provide evidence from an AHP/ SpLD teacher as to why they were needed to access their education. Parents and the schools have given feedback which suggests results are already being felt since the equipment was provided and what a positive impact it has had on the child or young adult. Feedback has also been received as to the positive experience and the speed of decisions and delivery of equipment through our charity which is fantastic. Two applicants did not meet our criteria and were therefore declined and a further two applicants were asked to provide more concrete evidence from an AHP, or Specialist SpLD teacher and they failed to come up with this and their application process was halted.
Fundraising, as mentioned, has again been challenging and harder to engage with our supporters in a virtual manner. We have not been defeatist though and have managed to think outside the box. Our fundraising has been through 2 virtual quizzes and raffles, which have gone down amazingly well, facemasks were sold last Christmas, which were kindly made and donated to us and we have had online auctions mainly for knitted items, again kindly donated to us. We have also had a Crowdfund, virtual balloon race and two events where we sold scratch card squares. We have been amazingly lucky with the kind generosity of people supporting us and donating items or
Equipped4Learning, Registered Charity in England and Wales (1184110)
their time to host the quizzes for free. This has meant all the monies raised we can honestly tell people go on our applications. We have raised just shy of £1000 ourselves which for such a small charity and given the year again people have had, is wonderful. We have also, once again been incredibly fortunate to have the support of our local Round Table, with their donation of £1000.
Looking to the next year we are really hoping to incorporate two big in person events, as we know this is what draws us the most revenue, but again we are waiting to see what the current situation is at the start of the year before booking too much in. We are also looking at events such as a garden party, more virtual races, as they were well received, and we are all looking to prioritise spreading the word more in West Yorkshire and across social media and upping our presence and profile publicly. What was really encouraging at our last virtual quiz a couple of weeks ago, was the number of new supporters we had in attendance, we hope to build on this
Having had our AGM, we have agreed to continue with 3 applicant windows a year, through the months of March, June, and October, to afford us time to fundraise in between. We have also agreed to continue for now, prioritisation of up to 3 items per applicant. However, it is made very clear in the criteria and application form that these items are not guaranteed and it will depend on funds available, and we are always very honest with what we can and cannot commit to. We are excited for the coming year and cannot wait to tackle it head on.
Nicky Bament Charity founder and trustee. 17/12/2021
Equipped4Learning, Registered Charity in England and Wales (1184110)
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Charity Accounts
NON VAT
IN OUT
DESCRIPTION DATE Crowdfund Events Donations DESCRIPTION DATE Room Hire Stationary
round table 3/9/2020 £1,000.00 weighted vest, cap and therapy ball 3/8/2020
amazon smile 8/18/2020 £7.74 Domain name 9/28/2020
amazon smile 8/18/2020 £7.74 Material for face masks 10/19/2020
amazon smile 11/13/2020 £10.98 cotton material face masks 11/17/2020
Face mask 11/14/2020 £8.00 application order ear defend/ cushion 3/21/2021
Face mask 11/14/2020 £4.00 application order lap pad 3/22/2021
Face mask 11/15/2020 £10.95
paypal masks 1/17/2020 £30.77
paypal donation 11/17/2020 £20.00
facemasks 11/19/2020 £20.00
online auction 12/7/2020 £15.00
donation 12/7/2020 £20.00
online auction 12/7/2020 £70.00
donation 12/8/2020 £10.00
facemasks 12/8/2020 £16.00
facemasks 12/9/2020 £5.15
facemask paypal 12/9/2020 £19.12
online auction 12/18/2020 £10.00
groundwork uk 12/18/2020 £500.00
donation 1/5/2021 £80.00
amazon smile 2/11/2021 £16.55
TOTAL £1,882.00 £0.00 £0.00 £1,882.00 £229.34 £0.00 £0.00
BALANCE £1,652.66
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Communication Banking Events applications
£118.71
£12.00
£20.79
£7.75
£30.14
£39.95
£12.00 £0.00 £28.54 £0.00 £188.80
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