Annual report for reNEw NE 1 April 2021 – 31 March 2022
Achievements and performance
This was a 12 month period that in activity terms was severely hampered by the continued impact of the Covid-19 pandemic
In particular a number of planned residential activities were either unable to take place or had to be postponed at late notice. These included
-
Our regular summer residential activities were unable to take place because the site managed by Scripture Union Scotland did not open at all during the summer of 2021
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Our New Year residential holiday for those aged 14+ based at Wydale Hall had to be cancelled at a late stage because of the government advice about mixing and the rise in Covid-19 infections around late December.
A number of discussions took place with key volunteers and during the summer we organised a mixture of non-residential outdoor day events and online activity to continue existing relationships with children and young people. These included joint days out for groups from Seahouses and Berwick with outdoor activities at Druridge Bay, Crazy Golf and beach games in Seahouses and Pottery and sightseeing in Berwick. Each day included Christian teaching in the outdoors as part of the day. In addition we supported volunteers who were running holiday clubs – being part of the team at Chester-le-street and organising and leading teams in Berwick-upon-Tweed and Byker.
At New Year we organised two days out – one in Scarborough and one in Whitley Bay to continue links with teenagers who we had worked with in the past. These included reflecting on the impact of Covid-19 on the older teenagers
It was agreed that we would seek to do some fundraising and begin to grow our financial supporter base so as to be on a better financial footing once the pandemic was over. As part of that one of the founders, John Stephenson, walked on pilgrimage from Lindisfarne to Durham. Volunteers from our supporter network joined with him for part of a day or even a whole day. John’s wife Lena provided the practical support to make that possible.
This has meant that we ended the year in a healthier financial state than we began the year. We also were able to write and contact supporters on a more regular basis
Future Plans
The relaxing of restrictions means that we are now in a place to begin to restart residential events in the summer of 2022. Currently there are plans for 3 residential holidays. One for 8-12 year olds, one for 12-16 year olds and a new venture for families. The last of these is a direct response to the impact of the pandemic on families. This is an ambitious programme which will require considerable grant funding as many of those we work with are from disadvantaged backgrounds.
We are also planning to restart our New Year holiday for those aged 14+ at Wydale Hall
One of the significant changes has been brought about by the war in Ukraine. Prior to the war we had considerable exchange activity with young people travelling in both directions. This is clearly not possible in the current situation. However we have links with Ukrainians here in the North East so we are beginning to explore how those ongoing relationships might be fostered during this time. We are uniquely placed due to the fact that one of the charity founders is from Ukraine and has experience of working with children and young people in Ukraine.
RENEW NE
Receipts & Payments Account
For the period ended 31 March 2022
| Unrestricted | |
|---|---|
| Notes | funds (£) |
| Period to | |
| ### | |
| Receipts | |
| Donations regular |
1,770.00 |
| Arnold Clark |
1,000.00 |
| Amazon & Easy Fundraising |
79.44 |
| Summer Activities inc pilgrimage |
1,575.09 |
| Fees for New Year event (cancelled) |
290.00 |
| Other donations |
230.00 |
| Total income |
4,944.53 |
| Payments | |
| New Year returned fees |
145.00 |
| Other | |
| Total expenditure |
145.00 |
| Surplus/(Defcit) of income over expenditu | 4,799.53 |
| Notes: | |
| £ | |
| Statement of Assets & Liabilities | |
| As at 05 December 2019 | |
| £ | |
| Bank balance as at 31 March 2021 |
5,994.58 |
| As at 31 March 2022 | |
| £ | |
| Bank balance as at 31 March 2022 |
10,794.11 |
| Liabilities | |
| Prior to the formation of the charity, fnance was contributed | |
| efectively as an interest free loan to the organisation. | |
| In the next fnancial year this will need to be repaid |
The outstanding figure is £1311.63 which is included in these unrestricted funds
| Restricted funds (£) Period to ### - - - - - - - - - - - 0.00 |
Total funds (£) Period to ### 1,770.00 1,000.00 79.44 1,575.09 290.00 230.00 |
|---|---|
| 4,944.53 | |
| - - - |
|
| - | |
| 4,799.53 |
| Unrestricted Funds | Restricted Funds |
|---|---|
| £ | £ |
| 4,753.78 ## 1,240.80 | |
| Unrestricted Funds | Restricted Funds |
| £ | £ |
| 9,553.31 | 1,240.80 |