IPSWICH DEMENTIA ACTION ALLIANCE AGM MINUTES
Monday 18[th] November 2024 - 3pm
Kesgrave Community Centre, Ipswich
Attendees:
Nicola Bradford – Chair Jo Reeder – Trustee Elizabeth Edwards – Trustee Jill Barton – Vice Chair & SFTB Lead Sue Burman – Treasurer Tim Lockington – Trustee Colin Kreidewolf – Trustee
Alison Pearson - ActivLives Rosemary Monteith – Volunteer Ian Freestow – Service User
Apologies:
Nicola Housden – MSC Helen Seager Lesley Holland Jane Bates
INTRODUCTION
Nicola formally welcomed everyone to today’s AGM and introduced the Trustee’s to the room. She then proceeded to introduce the three visitors. Nicola clarified that we are reporting on the period from April 2023 – March 2024.
Chair of Trustees Report – Nicola Bradford
Since April 2023 activity has been very much about the delivery of our memory cafes – we have two successful cafes running, one at the Unity Centre on the west side of Ipswich and second at Rushmere in the East side of town. With a slower start than Unity, Rushmere now has good attendance due to building relationships with local organisations, groups and GP surgeries. The Unity Café is currently running at capacity. There is space within the Rushmere group for additional beneficiaries. Most referrals come through social media, with interest being generated pre and post sessions each week, often a working age relative who makes contact through Facebook. We do also promote groups through printed marketing materials and are created through our partnership with Communities Together East Anglia. One of our Trustees, Jo Reeder is the CEO of CTEA, and through this partnership we are able to benefit from one employee, Jane Bates for 8 hours a week, with her additional hours supported through her wider CTEA role.
One of the favoured activities at both cafes is Singing for the Brain (SFTB), led by Jill Barton and supported by Maria King, pianist, who sight plays and offers incredible support and value to both cafes, enabling our guests to benefit from the power of music. In addition to the cafes, Jill and Maria also deliver SFTB sessions at local care homes with the care homes paying Maria’s pianist fee. Homes visited include Henley House, Handford Road, Bucklesham Grange and The Willows Care Home. The funding that supports SFTB is ringfenced within our accounts with the only charge for the pianist, with every other role being undertaken by volunteers. Working
There are usually up to 10 singers, sourced from a local choir. This activity is key to our delivery programme and it is acknowledged by the trustees that it is important to keep funding topped up to support this.
We went through the summer months by benefitting from the outside space where possible, and if outside was not available, we ran summer activities inside with sand pits, water and other resources. There was a summer trip to Bressingham which was funded by the charity, and was one of our largest expenditures for the year. As a result of this, there was a request for trips to continue with beneficiaries requesting to make donations to support this activity.
Clock Cricket is another initiative that is hugely popular with our groups – Sean, who is the leader delivers a seated cricket session – this is delivered monthly as a paid for activity to our beneficiaries. We are working with Sean to work with other organisations across the region.
Autumn 2023 saw Harvest playing a part in our activities, including bread making, celebrated Remembrance and at Unity Café, guests started to as for a longer session – as a result of this, times were extended to 9.30am – 1pm including a light lunch, which initially was supported by volunteers to deliver this. Over this period, a working relationship was built with Combat2Coffee who deliver the community café at the Unity Centre which has resulted in the café now providing the light lunch and drinks – for just £2.50 per head.
We were invited to be the charity beneficiary for the Notoriety Café – and a group of participants enjoyed the concert, which resulted in a generous donation made to support the work of the charity. The singing activity continued at the Golden Days Café at Ipswich Town Football Club.
Following Christmas, we gifted a calendar to all of our participants, containing photographs of different activities throughout the year. Sadly this sees faces we have now lost, but this is looed on as a cherished memory. This activity has continued this year with the calendar going to print for 2025. This year the cost of calendar production will be covered by the participants at their request. The photographs have been chosen by the groups.
In the New Year, we lost some participants which has resulted in the four widows affected, continuing to attend the group, keeping in touch each other and maintaining the friendships forged over a period of time with continued support. This has shown the importance of the role of the carer and the support that they receive from the group – not just the person living with dementia.
Towards the end of the financial year, due to the challenges within the sector around funding, we found that we had used the majority of our reserves to continue our delivery. Trustees had to review this and talk about ways to safeguard the future of the work started – with the main impact being the staff member which provided the consistency of delivery which was viewed to be extremely important.
This instigated the start of a donation based as for beneficiaries alongside a corporate as to local businesses, resulting in a significant partnership with a local freight business – Elite Universal.
During this period, the first Suffolk Dementia Marplace in May 2022 – with two of our trustees involved with the planning and organisation of this event. This also gave IDAA an opportunity to
offer a “mobile” version of our memory cafes, with an activities room being offered as support route for families living with dementia.
Healthwatch Suffolk’s report “A roundabout with no signposts” was integral to raising awareness around dementia – IDAA have been involved with the production of this which has subsequently led to a Suffolk wide strategy for dementia and action plan.
Financial Report – Sue Burman
Sue presented a summary of accounts for 2023/24, showing the financial activity throughout the year. The accounts clearly show that the cushion of reserve surplus has now been expended and subsequently the importance of continuing to generate funds to support the wor of the charity. The accounts show a donation of £2,000 from Elite Universal prior to them supporting us through their annual golf day.
Role of the Trustee
Nicola asked all Trustees if they are prepared to stand for a further year – all current Trustees were in agreement.
An application has been received by Helen Seager as a Trustee, but to support fundraising activity. All Trustees in favour.
Any Other Business
No other business raised.
Ian raised his thanks to the IDAA for his personal journey and the support that he has received.
AGM formally closed with thanks to all for attending and continuing to support IDAA.
Ipswich Dementia Action Alliance ACCOUNTS April 2023-March 2024
Charity Reg 1187944
| INCOME | ||
|---|---|---|
| Donations - Individuals | £ | 310 |
| Donations - Community orgs | £ | 1,128 |
| Donations - Business sector | £ | 2,450 |
| Donations - Café participants | £ | 120 |
| Grant - Utley Family Fund | £ | 1,000 |
| TOTAL | £ | 5,008 |
| Restricted Funds | ||
| Singing for the Brain | £ | 1,450 |
| Reserve | £ | 10,000 |
| EXPENDITURE | ||
|---|---|---|
| Admin/Marketing | £ | 1,118 |
| Group trips | £ | 981 |
| Grant made to ActivLives | £ | 2,000 |
| Memory Cafes | ||
| Staff/Mileage/Consumables | £ | 8,247 |
| Venue Hire | £ | 972 |
| Pianist | £ | 925 |
| Clock Cricket | £ | 420 |
| TOTAL | £ | 14,663 |
| Restricted Funds | ||
| Singing for the Brain | £ | 925 |
| Reserves expended | £ | 10,000 |