| Summary ofthe purposes of | Summary ofthe purposes of | Summary ofthe purposes of | Summary ofthe purposes of | Tofurther or benefit the residents ofLower Green and | the |
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| the charity | asset out | in its | neighbourhood, without distinction ofsex, sexual |
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| governing | document | orientation, race orofpolitical, religious orother opinions |
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| by associating together the said residents and the local | |||||
| authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a |
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| common effort toadvance education and to provide |
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| facilities in the interests ofsocial welfare for recreation | |||||
| and leisure time occupation with the objective of |
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| improving the conditions oflife forthe residents. In |
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| furtherance ofthese objects but not otherwise, the |
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| trustees shall have power. to establish orsecure the | |||||
| establishment ofa community centre and to maintain |
or | ||||
| manage orco-operate with any statutory authority in the |
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| maintenance and management ofsuch a centre for |
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| activities promoted bythe charity in furtherance ofthe |
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| above objects. | |||||
| Summary ofthe main | activities | Activities aim to further or benefit the residents ofLower | |||
| in relation tothose purposes | Green (and its surrounding areas) in the interests ofsocial |
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| forthe public benefit, | in | welfare for recreation and leisure time occupation with |
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| particular, the activities, | the objective ofimproving the conditions oflife forthe | ||||
| projects or | services identified | residents. Sports clubs, social cubs and activity groups | are | ||
| in the accounts. | available. | ||||
| Statement | confirming | whether | The Trustees have had regard tothe guidance issued by |
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| the trustees | have had | regard to | the Chadity Commission on public benefit. |
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| the guidance issued | bythe | ||||
| Charity Commission | on public | ||||
| benefit | |||||
| Contribution | made by | The Trustees recognise the valuable contribution made |
by | ||
| volunteers | all ofits volunteers. |
| Summary | of | the main | The year saw aconsolidation ofthe start made in the |
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| achievements | ofthe charity, | previous year to establish a thriving community hub atthe |
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| identifying the difference the |
heart ofthe local community where local people can seek |
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| charles | work has made tothe | help and support with accessible facilities and activities to | |
| circumstances | ofits | improve wellbeing and prosperity. |
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| beneficiaries | and any wider | ||
| benefits | to society asawhole. | The Beehive Cafe with its toddler play area has become a | |
| popular venue in the community especially with the |
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| impact the high costofliving has had on local families. | |||
| The cafe serves low-cost food and drinks and surplus items |
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| collected from the local supermarkets are available free of |
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| charge as part ofour Community Fridge project. There is |
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| also a small food store with long life items available to | |||
| help those struggling to make ends meet. Ifneeded our | |||
| staff are on hand to make referrals to other local | |||
| organisations providing advice and support such as |
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| Citizens Advice, Elmbridge Family Centre, Homestart, CAP |
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| Debt Help, etc. | |||
| During the year we partnered with Surrey Lifelong |
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| Learning to provide a weekly drop-in advice session in the | |||
| cafe and we became a local distribution point for Stripey |
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| Stork a Reigate based charity distributing new and used |
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| children's clothes and equipment forfamilies in need. We |
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| also started hosting the Elmbridge team ofthe Kingston | |||
| based Brite Boxproject which packs and delivers meals in | |||
| a box for families to prepare together via the local schools. | |||
| The Community Centre is home tothe 3"Esher Scouts |
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| who run weekly term time sessions for Cubs, Beavers and | |||
| Scouts and on other evenings there are yoga and pilates | |||
| classes. During the year a chair-based exercise for the less | |||
| mobile was introduced and the Silver and Gold Over 60s |
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| Club returned tothe Community Centre for their |
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| fortnightly meetings. Home Instead, a local care agency, |
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| also started to hold their monthly Friendship Lunches in |
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| our cafe. | |||
| The Lower Green Preschool, which opened after the | |||
| Centre was refurbished in 2018,dosed its doors in |
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| December 2022 due to falling numbers but loca I preschool |
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| children continued to benefit from the weekly Little Green | |||
| Parent and Toddler group. School holidays play sessions |
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| were organised by Elmbridge BCand Christchurch, Esher |
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| as well as in-house Stay and Play sessions run by the | |||
| Centre staff. |
| Financial Review | Financial Review | Financial Review | Financial Review | |
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| Review ofthe charity's | The CIO is in a healthy position financially with |
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| financial position atthe end of | unrestriicted reserves ofE22,872. |
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| the period | ||||
| Statement | explaining the | The Trustees consider the level ofreserves that is prudent | ||
| policy for holding reserves | for Lower Green Community CIOto have when agreeing |
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| stating why | they are held | the annual budget. This will normally be a sufficient to |
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| cover six months running costs. Consideration is given to |
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| future strategy, potential redundancy liabilities, and any |
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| other significant factors that should be taken into account | ||||
| were Lower Green Community CIOto close or move to |
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| new premises. The specific reserves policy including any |
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| designation ofreserves for specific purposes isagreed by |
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| Trustees on an annual basis. |
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| Explanation | ofany | The Trustees have confidence in the charity continuing as |
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| uncertainties | about | the charity | a going concern. | |
| continuing | as agoing concern | |||
| The charity's | principal sources | The principal sources ofthe charity's funds are grants | ||
| offunds (including | any | from the various grant making bodies including the |
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| fundraising) | National Lottery, Community Foundation for Surrey, |
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| Walton Charity, Surrey County Council, Elmbriidge Borough |
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| Council, Surrey Community Action, Central Surrey |
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| Voluntary Action, Walsingham Care, Morrisons |
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| Foundation, Waitrose Community Matters and Co-op |
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| Community Fund. Other sources include donations from |
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| Christchurch PCCand other supporters together with hall |
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| hire income and fundraising events. |
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| A description | ofthe | principal | The principal financial risk isthe loss ofany further grants |
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| risks facing | the charity | and the loss ofrevenue ifthe Centre was not able to be |
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| hired for any reason. As a small organisation there isa risk |
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| ofover-reliance on a small number ofindividuals. There is |
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| also some uncertainty over the future status ofour |
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| building but we are confident that our landlords, |
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| Elmbridge Borough Council, will ensure the future ofour service in their plans to regenerate the area." |