Crossings Community Group
Report of the trustees for the year ended 31st December 2021
The trustees present this annual report and financial statement for the year ending 31st December 2021
Reference and Administration Information
Name: Crossings Community Group Registered charity number: 1887739 Principal address: 6 The Leazes Newcastle upon Tyne NE15 8QH
Board of Trustees
Rosemary Louise Wellington James Robertson Vanessa Cope Nihal Rubendiz Burns Jonny McAreavey
Structure, Governance and Management
Governing Document -
CIO-Foundation Constitution registered with the Charity Commission 4 February 2020 under Registered Charity Number 1887739.
Organisational Structure
The Board consists of a chair, secretary and treasurer plus two other trustees who are responsible for the management of the charity. The Chair liaises between the trustees, paid staff (who are responsible to the chair), and volunteers. The board meets approximately ten times year, usually monthly, to make decisions regarding management and future strategies.
The chair and trustees are elected at the AGM, the chair for a term of five years, and trustees for three years. At present they have all been recruited from our members who attend sessions on a regular basis and have a good knowledge of the needs of the organisation. We have previously occasionally advertised for trustees, and may do so again when looking for trustees with specific skills or abilities.
Objectives
The objectives of Crossings Community Group are to benefit the public, in particular migrants, asylum seekers and refugees, through the art of music. Specifically we aim to promote integration with local communities, and by forming supportive relationships with others, shared positive experiences can improve their sense of well-being and mental health.
Activities
The activities we use to fulfil these objectives are weekly drop-in music sessions where participants can learn to play a variety of instruments, contribute to song writing or sing in a choir. Our experienced tutors facilitate both adult and children’s groups, and there is no requirement for any previous experience. As many of our beneficiaries are on very low incomes, instruments are provided and travel expenses up to a certain level are refunded. We also provide some light refreshments.
We differ from many organisations that offer support to refugees, migrants and asylum seekers in that we do not provide a welfare service, although we do direct those in need towards the appropriate service which can help them. Our aim is to provide a relaxed welcoming space where people can come together to participate in making music without any pressure to achieve a certain standard or pass an exam.
The universal language of music is a wonderful way to promote interaction between both tutors and participants. Everyone involved benefits from the exchange of songs and music which happens quite spontaneously and creates a genuinely multi-cultural environment. Public performances are a way of showcasing what we do to local communities and our repertoire always includes music and songs learnt from our members.
Our main venue is shared with The Comfrey Project in Gateshead which has a similar client group, but uses gardening as a way of engaging and helping their members. This relationship is very beneficial for us as we are able use the premises free of charge and we are very grateful to them for this facility.
Volunteers
Many of our members contribute to sessions on an informal basis by helping with the serving of refreshments and supervising activities with the younger children while their parents are taking part in sessions.
Achievements and performance
Following the period of lockdowns, and restrictions on how sessions were run, attendance figures were initially low but are now back to previous levels. From June to December attendance at our Gateshead venue varied between 24 and 32 people. Not everyone came regularly but in total 80 individuals came through the door. We continue to hold our regular sessions, guitar, percussion and violin, and in addition, due to the increasing number of children wanting to learn guitar, we now have a very successful children’s guitar group. At present we run six sessions a week, four in Gateshead and two in Newcastle.
A virtual concert featuring many of our members plus musicians who have connections with the charity was shown at our AGM via Zoom and was much appreciated. It is now available on our new and much improved website:
www.crossingscommunity.org.uk and YouTube.
In November members from all the sessions participated in a sell-out concert at the Summerhill Gardens and Pavilion in Newcastle which both raised money for us, and helped to publicise our charity.
Financial review
Income and expenditure
The gross income for 2021 was £18,403, comprised of £17,523 grant income, £286 from donations and £594 from other fundraising. £12,703, the bulk of our expenditure, was used for paying our dedicated tutors, and our invaluable Project Coordinator. Project costs were £1,618, governance costs, £488.
Principal funding sources
Grants are our principal source of income making grant applications is one of the main duties of our Project Coordinator. Our principal funder at the moment is The Peoples’ Health Trust which recognises the benefits of our project to improving the mental and emotional health of our participants.
Fundraising activities such as public performances generate a small amount from ticket sales and donations. Most of our main beneficiaries are living on very low incomes, (those who are asylum seekers are not permitted to work), and so we cannot expect them to make any financial contributions.
Reserves
At present we have a restricted reserve of £14,681. This money is ring fenced because funding grants are given to cover specific costs outlined in the funding application and can only be spent as stated in the grant application. We do have a very small amount of unrestricted reserve money, £486, from other sources such as fundraising or donations which is used for various costs occurring which are not covered by grant funding.
Future Plans
We intend to continue applying for grant funding from any appropriate body as this is the most reliable way of obtaining the amount of money needed to cover the operating costs of the charity. Donations and fundraising activities can certainly contribute to these costs but are nowhere near sufficient to sustain us.
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees by
Rosemary Louise Wellington (Trustee)
17th October 2022
Crossings Community Group CIO
Unaudited Financial Statement for the year ended 31st December 2022
Income Statement for the year ended 31st December 2021
| 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |
| Grant income | 17,523 | 21,768 |
| Donations | 286 | 169 |
| Other fundraising | 594 | 0 |
| Loan | 0 | 500 |
| Staf costs | (12,703) | (8,510) |
| Project costs | (1.618) | (955) |
| Governance costs | (488) | (696) |
| SURPLUS | £3,594 | £12,276 |
Crossings Community Group CIO
Unaudited Financial Statement for the year ended 31st December 2022
Balance Sheet 31st December 2021
| 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|
| £ | **£ ** | |
| FIXED ASSETS | 0 | 0 |
| CURRENT ASSETS | 15,617 | 12,377 |
| CREDITORS | (500) | (500) |
| LIABILITIES | 0 | 0 |
| NET ASSETS | 15,117 | 11,877 |
| RESERVES | 15,117 | 11,877 |
| Reserves: | ||
| Restricted | 14,681 | |
| Unrestricted | 436 |
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees by
Rosemary Louise Wellington (Trustee)
17th October 2022