**Trustees’ Annual Report Leiston Town Pastors, 2020-2021** Charitable Incorporated Organisation No 1188933 Correspondence address: 11 Lime Tree Avenue, Leiston, IP16 4EH
## **Objectves and Actvites**
The objectives of the CIO are:
- To advance the faith in Leiston, Suffolk and surrounding districts and in such other parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the Trustees of the Charity may from time to time think fit and to fulfil such other purposes which are exclusively charitable according to the law of England and Wales and are connected with the charitable work of the charity.
- To promote safety and the prevention of crime for the benefit of the public by such means as the Trustees may consider appropriate, including but not so as to limit the generality of the foregoing by providing services for mediation and conciliation between persons involved in disputes or interpersonal conflicts which may lead to acts of nuisance, vandalism, racial abuse or breach of the peace in Leiston and surrounding districts and in such other parts of the UK or the world as the Trustees may from time to time think fit.
- To relieve sickness and financial hardship and to promote and preserve good health by the provision of funds, goods and services of any kind including counselling and support in Leiston and surrounding districts and in such parts of the United Kingdom or the world as the Trustees from time to time think fit.
## **Main Actvites**
The main activities of Leiston Town Pastors for the benefit of the general public and local businesses are:
- Patrolling the streets of Leiston in the night time economy on Friday nights in pairs of Town Pastors, in contact with and supported by two people in our Base in the United Church and a rota of people praying at home during patrols, though during Covid lockdowns patrols were not possible, nor needed as businesses in the night time economy were closed;
- Providing a listening ear and practical help where needed, such as ensuring vulnerable people get home safely, supplying water and refreshments, removing dangerous or harmful substances from the streets and attempting to diffuse aggressive situations before they escalate;
- Building good rapport and supporting the owners and workers in local businesses such as public houses, restaurants and takeaway establishments;
- Rarely, but when necessary, summoning assistance from the emergency services.
## **Personnel**
The Leiston Town Pastors Co-ordinator, Margaret Graver, leads a team of approximately 22 volunteers from local churches and reports to a Board of Trustees, currently comprising six members as follows:
Lesley Aldred (since 12/08/2020) Patricia Carter (Treasurer) Julia Catterwell Carol Cotton Rev Richard Finch (Chair) Amanda Taylor
Leiston Town Pastors is part of a wider organisation of Town Pastor Groups in Suffolk and Norfolk, overseen by Town Pastors Central who operate from Ipswich.
## **AGM/Annual Service of Thanksgiving**
The Annual General Meeting of Leiston Town Pastors was held on Sunday 19 September 2021 followed by a service of thanksgiving where volunteers were recognised for their selfless contribution to the work and services of the charity.
## **Achievements of the Charity**
Town Pastors have aided a number of vulnerable people over the course of the year, including escorting people home and ensuring the safety of vulnerable lone women. At a regional meeting of Chair & Coordinators, the Assistant Chief Constable of Suffolk expressed gratitude for Town Pastors groups throughout Suffolk for their contribution to safety on the streets and the link police officer for Leiston Town Pastors assures us that our patrols have indeed had a positive effect on anti-social behaviour in the town and reduced the number of occasions when emergency services might otherwise have been called upon to deal with non-urgent situations. The work of Town Pastors is also appreciated by local businesses which operate in the night time economy and is well received by the population of Leiston and visitors to the Town.
## **Training**
Town Pastors undergo extensive training and during the period of this report the following training has taken place:
- Safeguarding;
- First aid, including additional safety measures due to the Coronavirus pandemic;
- Drug and alcohol awareness;
- Safety on the streets.
DBS checks have also been carried out and updated.
## **Accounts/Fundraising**
Little fundraising activity took place during the year due to the pandemic but one donation from a local church was received, together with some funding as usual from the Police & Crime Commissioner. All other outgoings were met from reserves. However, applications for grants will be made during the next financial year to hopefully ensure this important ministry can continue.
The annual accounts of Leiston Town Pastors for the period 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021 are available separately.
## **The Trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
## **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees by:**
______________________________________ _________________________________________ Rev Richard Finch, Chair of Trustees Patricia Carter, Trustee & Treasurer Date __________________________________ Date ______________________________________
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TOWN PASTORS LEISTON
Summary Receipts and Payments account
1st April, 2020 - 31st March, 2021
RECEIPTS PAYMENTS
Total budget Total budget
(year) (year)
Donations £ Travelling £ 14.40
Church Donations £ 250.00 Staff payments £ 3,871.00
Company Donations £ 3,000.00 Uniforms £
Suffolk PCC £- Office £ 3.29
Leiston Town Council £ Training £ 45.00
Suffolk Coastal District Council £ - Base Costs £ 200.00
Clinical Commissioning Group £ Insurance £ 339.04
Supermarket Donations £ Refreshments £
Refund First Aid Training FE £ Radio/Telephone £ 75.00
Miscellaneous £
TP Central £ 100.00
Publicity/Printing £ 22.50
TP Kit/Equipment £ 110.42
Solicitors cost £1,080.00
Sub total £ 3,250.00 Sub total £ 5,860.65 £ -
balances brought forward 1st April, 2020 balances carried forward 31.03.21
Current Account £ 12,044.36 Current Account £ 9,433.71
Deposit Account Deposit Account
£ 15,294.36 £ 15,294.36
Prepared by Pat Carter (Treasurer/Trustee)
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