2025-07-31-accounts

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12 Ethel St, Neath, SA11 1BB Charity No. 1185440

TRUSTEE’S ANNUAL REPORT 1[st] August 2024- 31[st] July 2025

Ofcers: Chairperson – Irene Knight Vice-Chair – Emma Knight Treasurer – Sarah Tipping Secretary – Louise Rawlings Gardening Lead – Mairead Finn

(Officers remain in post for 2 years and are appointed by the trustees following an AGM)

Additonal Trustees: Aline Valleron Amy Morgan Andrew Jenkins Lillian Dawn Wilyeo – resigned 14.9.24 Donna Harris Dorothy Phillips – resigned 14.9.24 Elizabeth Bevan Elizabeth Jean Sharp Marcia Hughes Megan Sparkes Paula Barry – joined 14.9.24 Rosemary Bennett Sharon Rawlings XX – Trustee with Dispensation

(Trustees are decided by the members at the Annual General Meeting, or may be co-opted by existing trustees if a vacancy arises.)

The trustees have had due regard to public benefit and consider that each of the activities that the charity is engaged within helps promote the aims of the charity in respect of the purposes as defined overleaf.

F.A.N Community Alliance is a CIO governed by a constitution adopted 15[th] September 2019.

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OUR PURPOSE

“To further or beneft the residents of Neath and the surrounding area (without distncton of sex, sexual orientaton, race or of politcal, religious or other opinions) by associatng together the said residents and the local authorites, voluntary and other organisatons in a common efort to advance educaton and to provide facilites in the interests of social welfare for recreaton and leisure tme occupaton with the objectve of improving the conditons of life for the residents”

OUR VISION

We intend to create a community that is vibrant and bustling; where everyone feels included and able to participate; where people take responsibility and respect each other and their environment; where residents groups are encouraged to form; and where people have pride in, and ownership of, where they live.

We intend to create strong and resilient neighbourhoods where community spirit soars.

VALUES & BELIEFS

Everyone Can Be Included There Is No Generation Gap Collaboration Opens Opportunities

We acknowledge The Current Climate & Ecological Crises

We Only Run Projects We Believe We Can Sustain We Do Things For Ourselves But Seek Help When Needed Anti-Social Behaviour Reduces Further Through Fun Than Sanctions

METHODS of ACTIVITY (How we achieve our Objectves / Vision):

1. Holding community events and activities that give people the chance to come together, get to know each other, learn, have fun and remove barriers such as age, gender and background

2. Managing and developing the Friends And Neighbours Centre & grounds and “The Lane” Community Garden

3. Creating access to facilities and opportunities that people face barriers to

4. Providing ways for people to participate and volunteer in their local community

5. Supporting Mini FANs Youth Group to achieve their goals

6. Promoting environmental awareness, responsibility and sustainability

7. Promoting health and wellbeing activities

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FINANCIAL SUMMARY – Income Sources 2024-25

Unrestricted - £81,044

Received from:

• Membership

• Donations (inc. online, business and individuals donations, donations received through surplus food projects, clothes)

• Weekly Fundraising (bonus ball, bingo takings)

• Services (FAN Fare surplus food club, community transport, printing, fitness classes, catering/ training/hosting for partners)

• Sales (Ecohub, kitchen sales, surplus food packaging, bingo accessories, recycling schemes)

• Annual Raffles (Easter, Summer, Christmas)

• Events (Panto ticket sales, bus trips, event raffles etc)

• Core grant towards our organisational and community activities (Building Communities Trust - Community Anchor Development Programme)

Our unrestricted funds carried forward, total £91,979. Of this, £2,000 is currently kept in reserves to cover the cost of 6 months of bills for the Friends And Neighbours Centre.

Restricted - £57,187

Received from:

• £1348 raised for charity and local causes (MacMillan, WWF Cymru, Neath Little Theatre, Together for Good)

• £750 in donations from MADL (Nisa) Heart of the Community Award to support our youth activities and Food Bank

• £400 donation from the Borough Arms for Neath Gardening Group

Restricted GRANTS TOTAL

• Government funded grants (£41,688):

• BSSG Fund – provision of community transport

• Levelling Up Third Sector Growth Fund – installation of heat pump, expansion of rooftop solar and volunteer training

• Climate Conversations – to host an event alongside Welsh Government’s climate consultations

• NPTCBC Food Poverty – towards items supporting our food projects

• NPTCBC Warm Spaces Fund – to enhance Warm Hub and winter support projects

• 4TheRegion Community Growing Fund – Materials to install and fill planters, plus solar irrigation and composting equipment

• UK Shared Prosperity Fund (NPTCBC Community Facilities Improvement Fund) – ceiling replacement and solar expansion

• Privately funded grants (£13,000):

• WWF Cymru Community Grants – Great Big Green Week event

• Climate Cymru - Great Big Green Week event food

• Neighbourly – Cookery sessions for young people and food bank top-up

• National Lottery – Solar expansion and renewed EPC

Restricted funds carried forward to the next fnancial year total £71,925.

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GOING CONCERN ASSESSMENT

KEY POINTS:

• In 2024-2025 FAN has, again, successfully utilised grants without being dependent on them.

• The majority of our activities continue to operate with free, by donation / Pay-As-You-Feel options and, although donations fluctuate depending on the activity / event, collectively, they cover our basic running costs well. Even without the 4-year unrestricted CADP grant we secured in 2024, our unrestricted funds comfortably cover all our core costs, including our regular projects and events (estimated at £21,000 per annum).

• There has been a reduction in donations received, although this difference is largely accounted for due to less being received from MADL awards through a local business – which has now been sold and, whilst it was never guaranteed, the income stream has now been lost.

• We switched some kitchen provisions to sales rather than donation (things we purchase due to demand without reliance on incoming surplus food/drink). It appears that this has no impact on our incoming donations, but has increased our income in sales.

• The keep fit and bingo easily cover their own costs.

• FANFare Surplus Food Club does not quite cover the full cost of Fareshare membership, but it more than covers the third of the food it uses, which excess being redirected to our other food projects.

• Yoga is almost self-sustaining with plans to do a recruit drive and offer an alternative class.

• The EcoHub is not intended to break-even as we use the stock at the hall as well as for sales. However, grants have been utilised for tasters and starter kits this year, (so very little has been spent from our unrestricted budget) and sales are up.

• Community transport is the only project that does not sustain itself – currently only raising approx. 15% of the cost of running the car (largely due to the insurance). However, our unrestricted income is still able to cover this cost.

We are confdent the charity will contnue as a going concern.

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HOW MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT IN 2024-2025

Goals outstanding from 2023-2024 AGM

1. Get a repair cafe up and running within the year

We carried this goal over again at last year’s AGM, with a few people putting their names forward, to get it a repair café off the ground, on the understanding that this is the last year that we would try. Unfortunately, once again we have failed to achieve this goal, so this goal will now be removed.

Goals for 2024-2025 as decided in the last AGM

1. Make a start on the toilet area refurbishment

It was acknowledged that it may take some time for permissions etc to be in place for this project, but with funding now in place, the goal was to complete the 1[st] step of getting plans drawn up. We have appointed an architect to oversee the project and create designs – one of which has now been agreed with the committee. These plans are now with the council and we are waiting for feedback before we can proceed.

2. Encourage more men to join the commitee

The 1[st] step towards this was to get more men to engage with FAN in general as our gender balance is still tipped heavily towards women – on the committee, amongst our volunteers, and users (including children / young people). It was hoped last year that by setting up a repair café more men may be encouraged to get involved, however, as the project did not start, this goal has fallen short. There are plans for an additional yoga class to be men only – we hope it will be successful and help towards this goal.

3. Improve volunteer support

• Volunteer packs are still under construction, however, whilst working on that, a “FAN Manual” has been created so if key volunteers are absent, it contains all the information needed to ensure our regular activities can be run by others.

We now have a well-being officer in place who checks in on volunteers who have not been to the centre in a while. This has not yet been rolled out to all volunteers.

Key volunteers have worked hard on their delegation skills this year and we now have more volunteers able to step into their shoes and give them time off, even if they remain in the periphery! The introduction of teams into the organisation is working well so far. Current teams include:

• Admin - sharing the load with paperwork, communication and advertising.

• Youth Engagement – organising and running activities for young people 11+ to give them a space to engage and become involved with FAN without parents

• Pantry team – prepping, managing and running our weekly surplus food share, and winter warm hub

• Management team – made up of our officers to enable quick decisions to be made, organisational planning and policy, dealing with contractors, bills etc

• Growing Project Leads – focussing on the management and development of the green spaces we are responsible for.

Although we still haven’t managed monthly volunteer socials, we have fit in the following:

• 6 socials, including a wrap & chat, Christmas dinner (attended by 46), quiz night, Big Lunch breakfast & evening take-away, and a BBQ

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• 41 weekly volunteer lunches, with an average of 8 volunteers attending each week

• 4 team socials (Youth, Pantry, Admin & Management teams), including meals, an escape room and an art exhibition

• 4 volunteer action days with a meal included

We acknowledge that many of these have only been possible due to the unrestricted CADP grant we are currently in receipt of, so it may not be sustainable in the long-term, but they are successful in strengthening the volunteer base and encourages to create the space and time to bond with each other. Once the funding ends we should be in a better position to carry them on, albeit in a cheaper format!

Progress Towards Charity Objectves Through Our Methods of Actvity:

1. Community Actvites & Events That Give People the Chance to Come Together

WEEKLY ACTIVITIES

• Bingo averaging 45 people each week with hot, cold and take-away food plus drinks available on a Pay-As-You-Feel basis as well as for sale, and surplus food available to take. Our doorstep community transport service provides 1 or 2 return journeys each week to enable those less mobile to attend. This year £3666 was raised for Blood Cancer UK, with additional money raised for Marie Curie and local causes. 8+ volunteers are currently involved in running the sessions each week. (also links to Methods 3, 4 and 6)

• Gentle Exercise Class (see Method 7)

• Chair-Based Yoga (see Method 7)

• FAN Pantry runs every Friday through the winter, plus term-time April-November, for people to access surplus food but also provides a social space for people to have a drink, snack and chat whilst children play games together. The Pantry has been open 37 time this year, with surplus food accessed 1523 times. The Pantry was combined with our warm hub this year and has freely provided 424 grab bags (bags of cupboard items to create a meal with), 308 hot meals and 25 cleaning product refill starter packs to struggling families over the winter. 8-10 volunteers run the session each week. (also links to Methods 2, 3, 4 & 6)

OTHER REGULAR EVENTS

• Eaglesbush Liter Pick held monthly whenever the weather permits (12 out of 12 this year!) with an average of 5 volunteers collecting just under 5 bags of rubbish on each occasion. There is a slight reduction in the litter collected this year, so we hope this reflects a reduction in the littering of the woods (also links to Methods 4 & 6)

• Monthly Surplus Café follows our monthly litter pick. It is open to the public and usually sees 20-30 in attendance of all ages. (also links to Methods 3, 4 and 6)

• Kids Crafs now held just during school holidays but starting to see a slight increase in numbers compared to last year.

ANNUAL EVENTS

We have maintained the following events in 2024-25:

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• Summer Fun Day – with stalls, games and refreshments, attended by over 75 people (50% more than last year) and raised over £900 combined with the summer raffle. Due to space, stalls etc are kept in house (also links to Methods 4 & 5)

• MacMillan Bake Sale – attended by 36 and raising £280 for the cause. (also links to Method 4)

• Halloween Panto – Talegate Theatre returned for another sold-out Halloween show with 93 attendees, and a second show at Easter attended by 84 people (also links to Methods 3 & 5)

• Christmas Switch-On – held on the evening of a major storm we decided not to cancel but kept festivities indoors and warned people not to travel unless safe. 44 people were in attendance, some who had been experience a power cut all day and were looking for somewhere to get hot food, drinks and charging facilities. (also links to Methods 2, 4 and 6.6)

• Christmas Afernoon Tea – Served to 22 individuals. With more youth activities available this year, we this event for adults only, in order to cater to more older individuals and people living alone (also links to Method 4 & 6)

• Children’s Christmas Party – featuring local party entertainer with a visit from Santa, gifts and food for the children. Once again, fully booked with a waiting list, attended by 39 children, (also links to Method 4)

• Member’s Christmas Party – 3-course Christmas dinner at a local venue followed by a disco. Attended by 69 people.

• Pancake Funday – Attended by over 67 individuals, more than double last year, and over 100 freshly made pancakes flipped in the kitchen. (also links to Method 4)

• WWF’s Earth Hour – not just powered by solar with no grid input this year, but our 1[st] event completely disconnected from the grid using our emergency back-up power system, so drawing power wasn’t even an option while hosting a 3-course dinner for 20 people. (also links to Methods 3 & 6)

• Easter Egg Hunt – a visit from the Easter Bunny, crafts, games and refreshments. Attended by 60 people. Easter eggs were also distributed to children through our food projects. (Also links to Method 4)

• The Big Lunch – we returned to a full day event this year, with a Big Full Breakfast to charge up 25 volunteers, before fun and games at our Disco-themed Big Lunch with 48 members of our community, then winding down the last 20 volunteers still standing with a take-away and karaoke night. (also links to Method 4)

• Summer Trip – following the disappointing turn out last year, we reduced to 1 coach for this year’s summer trip and, although the trip was free, took deposits that would be refunded on arrival. This approach appeared to work, and an almost full coach of 47 people enjoyed a day out in St Fagans. (also links to Method 3)

OTHER EVENTS

• “The Plantng of A Seed” Screening at the Gwyn & Senedd – See Method 6 (also links to Method 4)

• Bingo & Bufet – When a planned 3 week closure for refurbishment had to be extended to 5 weeks, and people were missing each other (particularly older vulnerable individuals), we arranged a venue to host a bingo and buffet event to bring everyone together. It was

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attended by 47 primarily older people. In addition, we organised a home delivery of29 portions of fish and chips for those unable to attend, plus past regulars who had stopped attending sessions due to health issues. (Also links to Methods 7)

• Climate Conversatons –See Method 6

• Green Mingle – See Method 6

• New Year’s Eve Party – In response to parents looking for somewhere quite to go with their children for New Year’s Eve, we hosted a simple gathering with games and shared food, attended by 20 people. (also links to Methods 3 & 4)

• Fridays 4 Youth – See Method 5 (also links to Methods 2, 4, 7)

2. Managing & Developing The Friends And Neighbours Centre & The Lane Community

THE FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS CENTRE (links to all Methods)

The centre has continued to be utilised this year to help provide support for people during the cost of living crisis. The café is still run entirely on a Pay-As-You Feel basis, with the exception of the items that we are asked to keep in stock (cans, crisps) or that are pre-ordered (filled rolls for bingo). We have a constant supply of surplus food available for people to take on a regular basis alongside the more formal foodbank provision. We, once again, opened weekly as a warm space throughout the winter, providing both warmth and food in a social setting.

Approximately 185 unique individuals are currently benefitting from the activities provided through the centre each week.

Physical developments at the centre this year include:

• The heat pumps are know installed and in use. They have coped well with both the winter cold and summer heat so far and made the Centre more comfortable to attend, especially as an escape from the summer heat. We feel confident that we can now be disconnected from mains gas (also links to Methods 6 & 7)

• The electricity is now 3-phase, the rooftop solar array has been doubled in size and we have an additional 11kWh of battery storage, which is capable of running parts of the building off-grid - enabling a basic provision to both maintain the hall and provide emergency community support during a black-out (also links to Methods 3 &6)

• The damaged main hall ceiling has been replaced with an insulated drop ceiling, making the space more aesthetically pleasing as well as improving the efficiency of the building and our ability to regulate temperature. (also links to Method 6 & 7)

• The “greening” of the grounds has continued with additional planters for food growing. We have cropped a range of food for use in the kitchen, food share projects and our cooking course, including: onions, artichokes, lettuce, rhubarb, tenderstem broccoli, pak choi and carrots. The space received it’s 1[st] Green Flag award this year. (also links to Methods 3, 4, 6 and 7).

THE LANE COMMUNITY GARDEN (also links to Methods 1, 3, 4, 6 & 7)

The Lane continues to be maintained as a forest garden and mini meadow although has not had the attention that we had hoped to give it, so is currently looking run down. We only managed 2 action days this year, with an average attendance of 6, on top of the days a few members of Neath Gardening Group could contribute. Water became an issue during the heat waves, which is something we are looking to address in the coming year, along more efficient onsite composting, and we have a grant in place to help with both as well as top up depleting soil levels. Despite the issues, we have still produced and shared crops of grapes and apples and the level of beneficial insects appears to have increased in both quantity and diversity. We have also replace the

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deteriorated Memorial and Big Lunch benches with long-lasting ones made from recycled plastic. The Lane has maintained its Green flag status for 2025.

THE GALV COMMUNITY ORCHARD & MEADOW

Neath Boys and Girls Club have now resumed management of the Galv Site.

3. Creatng Facilites & Opportunites That People Face Barriers To

The facilities and opportunities we create fall into 2 categories:

• I. BRINGING NEW EXPERIENCES TO THE AREA

• Fridays 4 Youth – See Method 5

• Tempo Time Credits – See Method 4

• Adult Learning – (also links to Method 1)

• Creatve Cooking on a Budget - working with Neath Port Talbot Food Partnership, we designed and delivered our 1[st] training course, to give people the skills to cook with what they have available and stretch their budget. A trial run was held with 7 volunteers before being delivered as a 4-week course for 5 individuals who between them created 16 unique and varied dishes using surplus food and items commonly received from a food bank (also links to Methods 1, 6 & 7)

• Online Safety Course – This year we began working with NPT Adult Learning to have a range of courses delivered at the Friends And Neighbours Centre. 11 people attended the 1[st] course, with more courses planned through the summer and next year. (also links to Method 1)

II. IMPROVING EQUALITY OF ACCESS:

• Warm Hub (also links to Methods 1, 4 & 6) Our Warm Space, returned through the Winter months, combine with our Pantry surplus food share to support people struggling with the cost of living crisis, but open to all. One day a week was dedicated to the project, the basis of which was self-funded, but included enhancements through funding from NPTCBC Food Poverty Grant, NPTCBC Warm Spaces Fund and Nisa Heart of the Community Award. Together, it included:

• A warm meal from our surplus café serving 13-14 people on average each week

• Unlimited self-serve drinks and snacks

• Table-top games and colouring for children (and children at heart!)

• FAN Pantry drop-in (see below) attended by 45 people on average per week through winter.

• Free access to internet and charging

• 25 sets of cleaning product refill starters provided free to regular attendees

• The distribution of 424 free Grab Bags (cupboard items that can be used to create a

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complete meal):

• Emergency Food Bank

• Although it is used infrequently, we continue to operate an Emergency Food Bank, filling the gaps for those who will run out of food before being able to access a traditional food bank, or are unable to attend one in person. 18 substantial parcels were delivered to the recipients’ doorstep, containing a mix of fresh, chilled, frozen and cupboard food.

• Gardening (also links to Methods 1, 2, 4, 6 & 7) With more food growing planter on site, there is a greater opportunity for people to get involve with gardening, as well as to try freshly cropped fruit and veg, including things they may never have tried before.

Neath Gardening Group hasn’t met much this year, but have helped to maintain the Lane community garden and have lead plant and seed swaps as part of larger events at the Friends And Neighbours Centre

• Surplus Food Projects (Also links to Methods 1, 2, 4 & 6) These continue to run alongside each other to ensure they all remain sustainable. They are designed to focus on the issue and impacts of food waste, and remain open to all to ensure that anyone in need of food, but reluctant to reach out for help, is still able to access food comfortably. The projects also allow people to try new foods without worrying about spending money on something that will end up in the compost, and enable them to play a bigger part in reducing GHGs. Although the types and amounts of food received are unpredictable (and currently less than in previous years), the projects collectively sustain themselves financially & practically. We have received a higher amount of catering only food items this year which has been challenging for a kitchen of our size. However, by offering some items as loose refill products we are managing the change as best we can.

The projects currently consist of:

• The Surplus Café – used by 60+ per week on average on a PAYF basis, including at least 30 hot meals per week

• Surplus Food Club – for a nominal monthly fee, 21 members currently receive a weekly parcel with an additional 9 members benefitting when there is excess.

• FAN Pantry – usage varies between 23 and 51 individuals per week accessing ambient, fresh, chilled, frozen and cooked food, free or by donation. Regulars include families with children at a nearby school and local refugees.

Surplus food available to us has reduced again this year, yet despite this we have redistributed over 11 tonnes of food; the equivalent of approx. 22 tonnes of CO2 (plus additional methane if it had gone to landfill), or around 26,400 meals!

• Re-Homing (Also links to Methods 4 & 6) Our clothes rail and bookshelves operate for people to bring unwanted items and take as they feel. We have also utilised a “Take What You Want “ table during the Pantry food share for non-food items that have been brought in.

• Community EV Transport (Also links to Methods 1, 4, 5 and 6) Our eV Community Transport operates 2 runs each week for the bingo as well as for the occasional hire with and without drivers provided. In addition, the vehicle is used to deliver

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12 food parcels each week to our Surplus Food Club members, along with any emergency food bank requests.

• Liter-Picking Hub (Also links to Methods 1, 4 & 6) We continue to operate under Keep Wales Tidy’s banner to facilitate people carrying out litter pick by offering free equipment hire and guidance. We have supported both individuals, and other organisations over the past year.

• Local, Natonal and Internatonal Representaton (Also links to Methods 1, 4, 6 & 7) Locally we have attended a CVS networking event for local food banks to learn from each other and overcome challenges

We have been involved in a number of campaigns this year that helps give a voice to hard to reach communities, including Welsh Government’s Climate Conversations consultation, the Warm This Winter Campaign, Global Justice Now’s Fossil Fuel Treaty, and we remain the only Climate Cymru partner in Neath.

We have participated in the BCT Manifesto ahead of next year’s Senedd election, to ensure the views of organisations like ours are put before parties and candidates.

In addition, our film, the Planting of a Seed has now been screened internationally, bringing the voices of our volunteers to film festival screens in both Europe and America, as well as closer to home in the Gwyn Hall and hosted at the Senedd by Sioned Williams, MS.

4. Providing Ways For People To Partcipate And Volunteer

FAN emphasises, promotes and facilitates community participation and responsibility. Everyone is involved in our organisation in a voluntary capacity – we have no paid staff. Without volunteers, FAN would not exist. However, at the same time, many members of our organisation do not consider themselves volunteers in the traditional sense. Volunteering with FAN is more of a mindset than a role, as our path is one of “active citizenship”.

ROLES

Volunteer activities within FAN vary but could be anything from joining the board of trustees, cooking, litter-picking, gardening, organising events, cleaning or even becoming the Easter Bunny.

Most of our volunteering roles are fluid with people taking up whichever roles are needed at the time. However, we have:

• A pool of drivers who are able to pick up food donations, deliver, parcels and provide community transport

• Individuals trained to work the kitchen and café front of house

• Teams for management, youth engagement, admin, Pantry and gardening

• Individuals confident enough to lead our monthly litter-picks

BONDING

We have continued to put a great deal of time and effort into encouraging our volunteers to bond, strengthening both our organisation and their individual support networks, as described above in response to last year’s goals

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• Lunch that brought the information from the former event together, and a Fun Day prep day with chippy supper.

TRAINING

We have tried to support our volunteers to access any training they feel would benefit them or their roles, as well as encourage as many as possible to complete training we deem most important for all volunteers. This has included:

• First Aid (7 attendees)

• Organising a Climate Conversations event (2 attendees)

• Minute Taking (1 attendee)

• Safeguarding (8 attendees)

• Safeguarding Lead (3 attendees)

• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (2 attendees)

• Data Protection (1 attendee)

• PAT Testing (1 attendee)

TEMPO TIME CREDITS

We have worked harder to promote Tempo Time Credits amongst the volunteers this year. We have had approx. 60 individuals volunteer at some point through the year, aged from 6-93 years old. Of these, 33 have signed up to receive Tempo Time Credits through us – an increase of 13 from last year. We now have Tempo cards to distribute, enabling people who are not online (particularly our volunteers who are still very young or of an older generation). Our younger volunteers have been excited to earn their own credits, whilst older individuals seem to like being able to gift them to others, plus the odd show here and there! We also arranged one of this summer’s youth activities through Tempo, making it free for all attendees with no cost to FAN either.

5. Supportng Mini F.A.Ns Youth Group

Mini FANs have not met this year after losing a number of members and those remaining becoming disheartened. We felt that the best way to support Mini FANs, was to help them find a larger, more diverse pool of potential members, and encouraging older children and young people to get involved with FAN, where over the past few years there have predominantly been very young children involved and reliant on their parents.

We have continued to close the Pantry during school holidays from April to December (which were normally quieter periods), in order to keep that space and our volunteers’ time available for our Fridays 4 Youth project. We are focussing on young people whose families are already part of our wider network, even if they themselves do not normally attend the centre. In the same way we do with all our other activities, by bringing them together we are hoping they will bond, feel at home at the centre and with our volunteers so that, when ready, Mini FANs could be re-established.

Our youth activities this year have included:

• Fridays 4 Youth Summer Actvites – (also links to Methods 1, 3, 5 & 7) A series of weekly activities, with something for everyone, held throughout the summer holidays, attended by 24 unique young people.

• Film Night

• Bushcraft

• Raft Building

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• Wildflower Papermaking

• Games night

• Trip to Swansea for Laserzone, Ninja Warrior and Bowling

• Karaoke & Just Dance night (1[st] session of 2025)

• Oakwood Theme Park – an after dark Halloween event with 21 attendees, for some of whom it was their 1[st] time attending a trip with us without their parents.

• Youth Cooking Course – requested by young people after a session at the start of summer. The 3-part course was run twice and saw them prepare and cook a main meal and a dessert to take home in the first 2 sessions, then in the final session they worked together to make a communal meal for themselves.

• Axe Throwing – attended by 20 young people followed by a film and pizza back at the centre

• Cinema - We hired the whole pod at the Gwyn Hall to see Minecraft The Movie, enabling young people to bring friends with them. Attended by 32 young people

• Pizza and Games – Held as a relaxed consultation event with our newly instated Youth Engagement Team. We aimed to start to give the young people more ownership of our youth activities and start planning for the Easter and Summer holidays.

• Youth Engagement Team Meetng – These are scheduled to be quarterly, with the 1[st] one held in May 2025. 3-4 youth representatives (rotating if there are more wanting to take part) are invited to join the meeting and give input into the detailed plans of upcoming youth activities, and raise any issues or requests with the team formally. 4 young people attended the 1[st] meeting, contributed well throughout and by the end had finalised half term details and created a schedule of activities for the summer. Over time we hope the representatives will take more of a leadership role.

All activities were free for young people to attend and included food to help prevent holiday hunger.

6. Promotng Environmental Awareness, Responsibility & Sustainability Climate Declaraton:

FAN acknowledges the connection between the climate and other environmental crises and the threat of current and future homelessness, disease, food and water shortages and poverty for millions of people around the world, as well as the major damage being caused to our natural ecosystems.

We recognise that we are in a climate & ecological emergency and it needs to be treated as such. We therefore identify that we have a responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint to net zero, along with any other harmful effects our activities have on both the local and global environment by 2025.

To do this we have 6 focus areas and in 2024-25 have taken the following action:

• I. Reducing Carbon Emissions

2024-2025 is the year that FAN’s scope 1 & 2 emissions achieved beyond net zero

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meetng our 2019 climate target on tme

We have exported 6500kwh more to the grid than we have consumed through both electricity and gas. In addition, our electricity consumption is slightly lower than last year despite the installation of heat pumps.

Our latest EPC report has rated the Friends And Neighbours centre as “B”, a huge improvement to the “E” rating that we started with, and now puts us on par to a new build of a similar property. Although we were a little disappointed not to receive the A+ that would show us as achieving net zero, we were advised that due to the formulas used for the EPCs we would never achieve higher as there is no heating in a third of the building so the calculation automatically fills it in as being gas heated. This is reflected in the fact that we have already carried out many of the recommendations the report generated.

• ELECTRIC

• Last year, the centre was 72% solar powered. As expected, with the installation of the heat pumps, this percentage has reduced. However, due to the switch to 3- phase electricity, the improved insulation in the ceiling and the expansion of our solar array and battery storage, we have only dropped by 4%. This is despite the fact we had 4 months in the winter with the heat pumps running, before the completion of the solar expansion. In addition, our solar export has increased by more than 350%, even with the completion of the solar expansion not occurring until March 2025. To translate into monetary terms, as of the end of July, our 2025 energy bill to date (electricity, gas and standing charges) will be approximately £-300. Even with winter coming, we are set to be owed money by the end of the year. (Also links to Method 2)

• GAS

• As a whole, 2024-25 has seen a further 75% reduction in our gas use compared to 202324, and a 93% reduction compared to baseline. However, the vast majority of what remained occurred prior to the finalisation of the heat pump and solar expansion projects. The first 7 months of 2025 show a 93% reduction compared to the same months in 2024.

The gas is currently only in use for the hot water for the restroom sinks. Once the refurbishment of this area is complete, the water will be heated with electricity and the gas disconnected. (Also links to Method 2)

II. Reducing Waste & Recycling (in favour of re-use / rehome)

In order to help combat waste at the centre, we do the following:

• Have a range of Terracycle streams that are included in our public drop-point. (also links to Methods 2 & 3)

• Use a “Zero Waste” box for a variety of waste items generated at the centre that cannot be recycled through the council or free teracycle schemes

• Re-use boxes and bags through our food projects to ensure cardboard remains below 2 sacks per week (also links to Method 3)

• Have a volunteer that takes cans to crush and weigh in, keeping tins and plastic remain below 1 sack per week (although it goes out closer to once per fortnight)

• Use plastic free recycled toilet paper

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• Offer a range of free reusable sanitary products, which has become more varied by working with NPT Period Poverty

• Use a supplier for our refill products who offers a closed loop system

• Run FAN Pantry and utilising the community fridge & freezer to minimise food waste (also links to Methods 3 & 4)

• Compost as much as possible on site (also links to Methods 2 & 4)

• Keep our general waste bin small and away from the public, who have a sorting crate(present at all events and activities) to ensure as much is recycled as possible without contamination.

• Utilise donations of books, cuddly toys, bric-a-brac and surplus food as prizes in our fun day activities.

In addition, our clothes re-homing rail and free to take bookshelves and kids bookcase remain popular. The Dragon Bags bin remains in place for clothing that is not taken from the rail. (also links to Method 3)

III. Reducing Water Usage

With the increase in food growing, we have had no option but to increase our water consumption this year. However, we have increased the number of water butts on site to help compensate for this next year. We now have 10 waterbutts either connected or waiting to be connected, plus 2 pumpable SuDS planters. (Also links to Method 2)

Behaviour changes in the kitchen continue to see improvements around saving water and energy when doing the dishes. (Also links to Method 4)

IV. Improving Local Biodiversity (preventng species loss)

• Cleaning products used at the Centre, and available through our Eco-Hub, are ecofriendly, vegan approved alternatives that are refillable on site. (also links to Methods 2, 3 & 4)

• Toiletries sold through our eco-hub and distributed with emergency parcels, and other forms of support, are all plastic free and eco-friendly. We promoted these along with the impact of commercial toiletries on biodiversity at this year’s Great Big Green Week (Also links to Methods 1 & 3)

• Monthly woodland litter picks continue, helping to protect wildlife from the dangers associated with littering, as well as aquatic life by preventing It entering the waterways. (Also links to Methods 1, 4 & 7)

• We have been growing our food using permaculture methods and this year have spotted an increase in predatory insects this year that eat pests which, along with a dose of nematodes, have kept problematic species better under control. (Also links to Method 2)

V. Raising Awareness

• Climate Conversatons Event - Family friendly event to bring community voices to the Welsh Government climate consultations. Attended this year by 41 people, an increase of 50% compared to last year. We helped people engage through photo

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booth signs, a facilitated people’s assembly, 1:1 interviews and a “Protect the House from Climate Change” challenge for the kids (Also links to Methods 1, 3 & 4 )

• We repeated our Family friendly “Green Mingle” for Great Big Green Week 2025, funded by WWF and Climate Cymru, bringing together a number of local and national organisations to speak and share information with the public. The event included a “Cosy Speaker’s Corner”, “Cost of Being Clean” Challenge with freebies, eco-crafts, a potted woodland workshop, nature meditation and fully vegan buffet. (Also links to Methods 1, 3, 4 & 7)

• We continued promoting the Warm This Winter campaign until the end of January, encourage people to engage with politicians for a Green Transition where nobody gets left behind. They spoke at our Gwyn Hall Screening and were featured alongside all publicity. We held a tombola style prize draws through our winter Warm Hub for everyone that engaged with the campaign questionnaires. We also included a campaign stall at our Climate Conversations event. (Also links to Method 3)

• Along with our Earth Hour event, we held a raffle and online competition to help publicise the campaign and raise awareness of climate issues. (links to Method1)

• Our climate film “The Planting of A Seed” continues to make traction on the festival circuit, with a number of laurels now attached to its name. The YouTube video has now been viewed over 700 times (compared to just over 100 last year). Climate Cymru has also been promoting the film, screening it for their partners and sharing within their wider networks. We have also provided speakers for both their Ethnic Minorities group and Partner meetings to share our way of working, bringing climate issues to hard to reach communities.

VI. Prepare for Life on a Warmer Planet

• The extension to our solar array has enabled us to export much more power to the grid to help ease pressure.

• Our additional water harvesting capacity and the greening of the hall is helping to reduce run-over and local flooding.

• In addition to our portable batteries, the solar panel and storage we now have connected to the building will see us through black-outs. We are now able to operate a basic emergency community support provision, offering hot drinks, basic hot meals, light, charging facilities and more.

• Between the heat pumps and improved insulation, the hall was easily kept cool through the summer, offering respite from the heat. We are now in a position to offer a summer Cool Space as well as a winter Warm Space.

7. Promotng Health and Wellbeing Actvites

• Gentle Exercise Classes (also links to Methods 1, 3 & 4) Aimed at older people and those with limited mobility, this lively class is attended by an average of 15 per week. Our instructor and substitute instructor are both volunteers. Although it is advertised as a keep fit class, the sessions are just as much about preventing isolation and promoting friendship. The group have also organised 2 meals out together over the year, with

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an average of 19 attending each.

• Yoga with a Qualifed Physio (also links to Methods 1 & 3)

• 45 weekly chair-based yoga classes have been held with an average of 8 people per class. The class is no longer in receipt of funding, and although numbers remain steady, they are still not quite high enough to fully sustain the cost of the class (although we currently make this up from unrestricted funds). The classes are blended, so people have the opportunity to join virtually if they prefer. We also provide refreshments for before and after the class. Regulars of the class still express increasing improvements to their flexibility, mobility and overall health.

Yoga and meditation sessions with BetterWay2Be have also been included into a number of events.

DECLARATIONS

The trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees’ Report for 2024-2025 contained herein.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:

Signature(s)

Name(s) Irene Knight Sarah Tipping Positon(s) Chair Person Treasurer Date 10th September 2025 10th September 2025

18 an average of 19 attending each. Yo awltha uallfled Ph 510 (also Ilnk5 to Method5 1 & 31 45 weekly chair-based yoga classe5 have been held with an average of 8 people per class. The cla55 is no longer in receipt of funding, and althovgh number5 remain steady, they are still not quite high enough to fully 5U5tain the cost ol the cla$5 (although we cvrrently make this up from unrestricted funds). The cla55es are blended, so people have the opportunity to join virtually if they prefer. We also provide refreshment5 for before and alter the class. Regulars of the cla55 still express increasin8 improvements to thelr flexlbillty, mobility and overall health. Yo8a and medltation 5esslon5 Wlth BetterW3y2Be have also been included Into a number of events. DECLARATION The trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees. Report for 202￿2025 contalned hereth. Slgned on behalf of the Iharitvs trustee5: Slgnaturelsl NamÈlsl Irene Knight Sarah Tipping P05itionlsl Chair Person Treasurer Date 10th September 2025 ioih Septèmber 2025

stafr￿CuVilLtAForjhe YRarEDded 31sLluiyZQ25 Notes Unrèstrltted Fund9£ Rèstrieted Funds£ 2025Total Fuods£ 2024 Total Funds£ INCOMEAND ENDOWMENTSFROM Donat10ns and Legacies 5,593 1,150 6.743 9.169 CHARITABLE ACTivmES FAN CommunityAiliance 74,301 56037 130,&38 119,709 TOTAL 79,894 57,187 137,081 128.878". EXPEND(TURE ON CharitableActi¥ities FIN Communityhlbance 63.503 21,240 134.743. 102.292 NET INCOME 16.391 -14.053 2.338 26.586 RECONCILLATIONOFFUNDS TotalFvndsBroughtFornard 69,025 92540 161.566 134.980 . TOT￿ FthNDSCPJUUED FORWARDS 163,gM 134.980 Note5 Unre$trlcted Funds E Restricted Funds 2025Total Fund$ 2024Total Funds FIXEDASSErs Tan&bieAssets ' 42,863 42863 56,360

CUflRENT ASSErs Debtors Cash arBank 2,382 121041 103,538 105920 119,OSO 1,991 CREDITORS Amounts fallingdUe￿thln oneyear -439 NEfcuRRENT ASSETS 119,050 1.991 121,041 105.206 TOTALASSEfs LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 119,050 44.854 IW.904 161,566 NET ASSETS 163,904 161,566 FUNDS UnrestrKied Fund5 Restricred Funds 119.050 68,768 44.854 66.212 TOTAL FUNDS 163,gJ4 134.980 Thefinancial statementswere approve¢ bythe BoardolTiustees and authorisedfor issue on . andwere signed on itsbehalf by. Irene Kni8ht-Chalr Person

Sarah Tlpplng-Treasurer Notesiothe Financialstatements 2 DONAMONS AND LEGACIES 2025-£ 2024-É 5966.99 Donaons 9,169 3 INCOME FROM CFL4RITABLEACTIVlnES 2025-£ 2024-£ GeneralFundraign8 Raffle5 CornmunityEvents 6043 670 4,871 1,244 7041 5,230 577 Sales 2595 ExiernalCharityFundraislng Grants 109351 102,436 TOTAL INCOME 137.080 128,858 GFantsTeceiveO, included in the above are asfouvws.. CommunityFoundaiion Wales NPTCBCFoo(¢PovertyGrant NationalGrid CommuntyMattei$Fund BvsSÈMce$￿pport Grant Newbourty Thirdsector Grt7Yth Fund- UKSPF 3,918 3,000 9,925 5,111 1,500 22,822 4952 3285 1500 1141

Local Nature Partnetshlp Climate Con¥ersaiioTrs Third SectorDiscretronaryCosiof LI￿naGrant Scheme Upliftlwam This Wintei CommunityAnchor D￿elopmentpm8r8rnrne 4TheRewon NationalLorteryComrnunltyFund NPTC8C CRF-UKSPF NPTCBC-WamiSpaces Fund 7,390 390 8,ee8 10,000 29.013 i￿0 54662.5 3400 10300 24725 2285 iooo 200 Climate c￿ru. GBGW 109.351 101.937 6 TANGIBLEFIXEDASSEts Fixture$& Motorvehicles Cornputerequipment Totals AI I Au￿￿24 itson5 41,922 2,017 47,536 9.858 87.897 2,017 l Wst2025 43,939 47,536 89.914 DEPAEaAnoN At I ALguM2024 ljarge foryear 19,422 8,788 16,243 4.754 7,291 1.972 27.846 15,514 A131 Juty2tr25 28.210 20.997 9,263 5&470 NET BOOKVALUE At31JLtly2025 15,729 26,539 595

At 31 July 2024 225¢X) 31293 2￿7 7 DEBTORS.. AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 2025 2024 8 CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONEYEAR 2025 2024 714 INCOMEAND ENDOWMENTS 2025 2024 Donats"ons and legacres Thakn0￿s 5967 9169 CharitstAe Actiwiies generalfundraislng rnlnes communityevents serwces 4891 1244 670 7041 2595 5230 sales e￿er￿a1chartrylundra￿$Ing grants 577 109351 131114 137081 102436 TOTALcharltable actl, Trfai% 128,878 EXPENOITVRE 2025 2024

Charitable Actiwtles 2 Communityevents 3 eharity donations 4 ¢leanlng& re￿se 5 Li¢en5es& subscripDons 6 repaits &equipment renewals 7 equiprnent purchased Itanwble assets removed) 8 catering&food projects 9 IPPEI 10 Youth 11 Gardening 12 Comrnufifycar 13 VoiunteerApFrfeciation 14 (￿rnate 15 Ecolwarm Hub 16 Fitnes5ActMties Depreciation otTanwble FixedAssets 16494 8737 4192 166 735 1301 15382 295 1124 5204 6271 145 7864 3961 8551 717 1193 1403 40457 2859 2295 15514 125336 28015 11717 1517 15.110 ptKffiCosts Nallagerrni 22 Tents. iates&water 23 Insurance 24 light & heat 25 phone &inwnet 26 Office 27 sundries&trainln6 41 2046 190 133 581 4105 225 875 L57 524 899 1352 1148 7249 2382 714 8259 Fina[￿¢ 28 8ankchaTges 121

(Govemance C051sI IAccountapcy& legalleÈs1 Toial Resou￿*$ Expended 135346 102292 NET INCOME 1735 265e6

IndopendBnt E¥amlner'8 Report totho Tru•leo• QI F.A,N. Communlty Alllonc Ind•p•nd•nt •M•mln•r'• r•port to lh• tru•t••• ol FA.N ComfflunltyAUl•no• l ￿port to the ch8rlty truste98 on my ox8mln&(lon Lil lh• •ccount• ol F.A.N. C<JmmunSty*JiJ8nco Ithe Trust) lorth•year endÈiJ 31" july 2025. R•spon•lbliltl•• •nd b••l• ol r•port As tM cha￿tyt￿9teB5 ollh• Tiu8t you are responglbl• Irjr the pf•p8i•tlon olth• accoril&n¢e Yhth the requlrements ol thg Charltle8 Act 2011 I'tho Act"). I report In of the examlnatlon of the Trust's accounts rBrfieil out undei s•etM)n 14501 the Act and in C8r1￿n8 out rny examlnation I h8vefollowed 811 appllc8ble Directlow ¢brtn tylh• Ch8rityCommlsslon under Section 14515llbl ollhe Act. Ind•p•nd•nt •xamlnor's $tat•mont I h8v8 eompleted my 9xgmin8tion. I confirm th8t no matertal matters have come to nry allerthi in Connection wth the ex8minoiion 8¢vlng me cause to believethat in any m8teri81 l Accounting records were not kept in ¥espect tsf the Tlusi as rèquired Lry Section 13 of Ihe 2 The &ceounis do not accord with those r8cord5', or 3 The accounts do not cofnplywth the applieable requirements con¢emingthefomi and content of aecounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulat￿nS X4)8 otherthan any wuirementthat th8 accounts give a true 8nd fairwewwhich is Thxa matter considered as part ol an independent examin￿lOn. I have no coneems and have come across no oth8r matters in connection bwth the examin•i to which atteniion should be drawn tn this report in 0￿ert0 enable a proper un(Jerstsndingot the accounts to be r•aehed. Mr D S Broughton 2 Geoffr8y Street NEATH SA11 1HU Date.. PBg• 3