Trustees Annual Report September 2019 - 31st March 2021
The Memory Matters Foundation Charity Number: 1185367
Trustees: Hilary Cragg – Chair of Trustees, Paul Kennelly, Graham Knapman - Treasurer
The Memory Matters Foundation was set up as a charity on 18th September 2019 with the aim of supporting those affected by Dementia and other long-term conditions by the
team who run Memory Matters and Moments Café in the southwest. The Charity was set up to enable a transparent fundraising path to build on the needs of the community. The charity is a separate entity from Memory Matters and Moments Café and is governed by trustees under the guidance of the Charities Commission; they do, however, work cooperatively together albeit with separate roles and responsibilities.
The charitable aims of the Memory Matters Foundation are:
“The relief of those affected by dementia and other long term and chronic health conditions by the provision of advice, support and education and raising public awareness of such health conditions.”
All funds raised enable us to provide support to those issues, as needed by those affected.
The Year Operationally
The Trustees met a total of 6 times during this operational period to discuss and implement the setting up of roles and responsibilities, opening of a bank account and recruitment of trustees. A small amount of funds was raised during this period totalling £677.00; however, the foundation is set to ensure fundraising can start early within the 2nd period of operation.
This period included the onset of the pandemic, and no amount of risk management could have readied us for the reality of a global pandemic or the impact of lockdowns and restrictions which undoubtedly slowed the progress of the charity fundraising efforts during this period. However, Memory Matters Foundation has worked alongside Memory Matters Southwest CIC and Moments Cafe, which are run by a dedicated staff team who are multi-skilled, flexible and
responsive to ensure that there was always support available to beneficiaries during this time.
The trustees actively review the major risks that the Foundation faces on a regular basis, consequently the Board is confident that the Foundation is in a fit state and able to move towards growth and continue to support Memory Matters and Moments Cafe over the upcoming years.
Future Plans
There are plans to update the Memory Matters Southwest CIC to include details of Memory Matters Foundation and to include a donation page to encourage funding activities. We have been informed that we have been chosen as Plymouth Lord Mayors charity for next year so the board will be working closely with the Lord Mayors fundraising team to maximise income.
The Board would like to support the work of Memory Matters Southwest CIC by providing the funds to continue the free Dementia Information and Advice Hub from June 2021 as at this time current grant funding comes to an end. We will do this by raising the profile of the charity and applying for appropriate grant funding. The Board will actively recruit further members to increase diversity and skills of the board and to include representation of lived experience.