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IMPACT REPORT April ʻ24 - March ʻ25

Creating positive spaces and opportunities for resident empowerment and wellbeing.

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About Us
C Our Trustees
O Our Staff
A Word From
Our Chair
N
T A Word From
Our CEO
E Projects
Key
N
Achievements
T
Engagement
S Feedback
Finances
Future Plans
Thank You
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ABOUT US

VISION

A diverse and vibrant community where residents are driving change.

MISSION

To create positive spaces and opportunities for resident empowerment and wellbeing.

OUR AIM IS TO:

Develop Leaders: by offering increased skills development, training and volunteering opportunities for residents. Nurture Relationships: by creating impactful relationships between residents and partnerships with the local authority, developers, NHS, schools and others.
Exert Influence: by connecting residents with decision makers to seek positive change for their community.
Support Enterprise: by growing a network of community projects and businesses led by residents to address local need.

OUR

TRUSTEES

Amina Hussein

PA, HR, Payroll & Youth Work experience

Josiah Oyekunle Co-Chair

International Wedding & Events DJ, Musician, Producer and MC

Hafizur Rahman College lecturer, Trustee of Thames View Muslim Association

Lai Ogunsola Project Officer in the Health Team at the GLA

Natalie Ogene Civil Servant

OUR STAFF

Matt Scott CEO

Lucy Lee Health Outreach Officer

Laurelle Darroux

BFF Community Organiser

Marion Hull Community Organiser

Vishal Narayan Strategic Health Officer

Zainab Jalloh

Comms & Outreach Officer

A WORD FROM OUR CO-CHAIR

This past year has been a significant period of transition for our charity, one that has fostered both growth and deeper understanding among our staff and trustees. As we navigated these changes, ensuring the long-term sustainability of our organization became paramount, alongside our commitment to continuing the impactful work we do. Through this journey, I have been continually impressed by the patience and dedication of our staff, to whom I extend my heartfelt appreciation. A special thank you goes out to Jamie, Alex, Margarida, and Nia for their years of service and the tremendous effort they’ve put into supporting our local community. Their contributions have made a lasting difference.

One of the standout successes of this past year has been our Health Outreach Programme. With each event, this initiative has grown, reaching more residents and making a tangible difference in the community. The positive feedback we’ve received underscores the programme’s impact, and I’m particularly proud of the work done by Lucy and her team. Their unwavering commitment to fostering a healthier community and bringing people together truly exemplifies our mission.

Even as our team has become smaller due to these transitions, the quality of our work has not diminished. Both the trustees and staff are united in our focus on maintaining the high standards that our community expects and deserves. We remain committed to empowering local residents and ensuring that their voices are heard. Our partners have been crucial in supporting this mission, and I want to express our gratitude for their continued collaboration. Looking ahead, we recognize that there is still much work to be done, but we are more determined than ever to move forward with our vision. Empowering residents will always be at the core of our efforts, and we know that by working together, we can achieve even greater things. As we continue this journey, let’s remember that our strength lies in our unity.

Josiah Oyekunle

A WORD FROM OUR CEO

As CEO of Thames Life, I am immensely proud of our dedicated team and the work we have accomplished over the past year in supporting our community. In 2024/2025, we have faced unprecedented challenges, particularly the impact of hyper-density development, a severe lack of social infrastructure, and the continued entrenchment of inequality and poverty in our local area. The rapid increase in high-density housing has not been matched with the necessary investment in health centres, affordable community spaces, and essential services. This has led to a famine of resources for residents while land values skyrocket, benefitting investors at the expense of the community. The stark contrast between wealth accumulation and local deprivation continues to drive our mission, ensuring that the voices of our residents are heard and their needs met.

Despite these challenges, our team has worked tirelessly to provide vital support, from community advocacy to direct services for families in need. I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our incredible staff for their unwavering dedication. This year, we have welcomed new colleagues who bring fresh energy and ideas, while also bidding farewell to valued team members whose contributions have been invaluable. Their legacy remains embedded in the work we do every day.

I also want to sincerely thank our resident trustees, whose love for our local area and selfless investment of time and support continue to guide our vision. Their leadership and passion for the community inspire us all.

As we move forward, Thames Life remains committed to fighting for a fairer, more inclusive community where resources are distributed based on need, not profit. Together, we will continue to stand for the dignity and rights of every resident.

Regards, Matt Scott

PROJECTS

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BD
CITIZENS &
RIPPLE
VOICES
EFFECT
FOR
GROUP
HOUSING
1 2
JUSTICE
GP
Locality
DROP-INS
Leads
4
3
RIPPLE
NATURE
Reselience RESERVE
GROUP
5 6(RNR)
BARKING
Residents THE
FOOD
planning RIVERVIEW
forum FOREST
7 8(BFF) 9
YOUNG
Fierce
CITIZEN
GREEN UP
dancing
ACTION
podcasts
GROUP
12
10 11
(YCAG)
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BD CITIZENS & VOICES FOR HOUSING JUSTICE

Conducted & reported by Matt Scott

Thames Life has played a crucial role in coordinating Barking & Dagenham Citizens (BD Citizens), supporting its diverse member groups and working closely with TELCO, the East London branch of Citizens UK. Our work has been driven by a commitment to empowering local communities and addressing pressing social issues through collective action.

A major focus of our work has been the Boroughwide Housing Inquiry, a listening campaign designed to uncover the housing challenges faced by residents across tenures. Through extensive outreach, house meetings, and training sessions in community organizing, we have built relational power and gathered first-hand accounts of housing need. Our findings highlight widespread dissatisfaction with housing services and reveal that community-led housing initiatives could play a key role in tackling affordability issues.

One of our most significant achievements was the successful Voices for Housing Justice event, held at the Boathouse in December 2024. With over 60 attendees, the event emphasized the need for a broad coalition to shift power into the hands of residents. Through open discussion and shared experiences, we laid the groundwork for collective action across tenures, advocating for policies that prioritize community needs.

Our work extended beyond Barking & Dagenham, contributing to a landmark event in Westminster attended by over 2,000 Londoners. Dagenham residents took centre stage as keynote speakers, sharing their lived experiences and calling for change. With Angela Rayner in attendance, the event amplified our collective demand for fairer housing policies and demonstrated the strength of community-led advocacy.

Moving forward, we are committed to implementing a Citizen Action Plan guided by our ‘Rise Up’ vision:

Regeneration
Imagination
Success (for)
Everyone
Uplifting

People

By continuing to build power within our communities, Thames Life and BD Citizens are driving tangible change, ensuring that residents’ voices shape the future of housing in Barking & Dagenham.

RIPPLE EFFECT GROUP

Conducted & reported by Marion Hull

The Ripple Effect Group began in December 2022 as a resident-led initiative to address issues of local importance. Topics such as parking, rubbish, safety, crime, and traffic quickly surfaced in discussions, as residents explored creative ways to encourage community cooperation and collaboration with the Council. Residents and Thames Life staff were delighted to support Samina Khalid’s Keep Your Kool anti-knife-violence event, which drew over 200 adults and young people to Everyone’s Warehouse. The strong community turnout and enthusiasm were evident, with 15 to 40 residents regularly giving up their evenings each week to build genuine community spirit.

Towards the end of 2024, residents received the difficult news that Everyone Everyday had been informed by Barking & Dagenham Council that its funding would not continue. As landlord, the Council required that Everyone’s Warehouse be returned and added to its commercial portfolio — the very building that had served as a hub for the group’s meetings and community activities.

In response, residents rallied together, showing remarkable resilience and determination. They lobbied Margaret Hodge MP, wrote letters to councillors, launched an online petition, and created a website and social media presence to raise awareness. They also reached out to other makerspaces across London for professional advice, compiled a business case, and submitted an application to register the building as a community asset, seeking help from the GLA Cultural and Community Spaces at Risk Team. Their campaign gained momentum, with press coverage, BBC TV and Radio features, and four town hall protests amplifying their message. Many residents, some nervous and new to public speaking, took to the airwaves to express how vital the space was to their lives.

Since then, the group has continued to campaign passionately for more free and accessible community spaces. Members have spoken about the empowering impact of seeing even the shyest residents — including children as young as five — confidently addressing audiences and sharing their experiences.

The Ripple Effect Group now meets every Wednesday at the Curzon Club, where guest speakers are invited to share insights and inspire continued community action. The group remains committed to advocating for free-access community buildings where residents can learn, play, find respite, and connect with neighbours. Collaborations with local partners and wider community networks are being actively pursued to make this vision a reality.

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THE RIPPLE
EFFECT GROUP
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16.

GP

DROP-INS

Conducted & reported by Lucy Lee

The Fuller stocktake report1 published in 2022 highlighted the critical role of the voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) sector in delivering integrated primary care and improving population health outcomes. It recommended that integrated care systems (ICSs) should work closely with VCSE partners to co-design and co-deliver services that meet the needs and preferences of local communities. So how is that working out?

Our work on health is best known for the GP drop-ins that have won awards, which were an outcome of a frank conversation with partners about ‘the new model of care’ that evolved from the Healthy New Towns agenda. I remember wondering out loud who would know the difference about whether the new model of care was or was not working, since it seemed rather abstract from local concerns like not having a health centre on Riverside. The challenge back was to do something – and the response back to that was the value of community events and hence a join up with the NHS and others began.

The links with the wider integrated care system and board that Fuller envisaged has not meaningfully taken place. Neighbourhood teams are a great idea but again have not been significantly progressed (at the time of writing) and the chasm between community groups and the wider health system remains a challenge. Our Localities Lead project wound down and much of our time and effort went on the GP drop ins, with other smaller projects also underway. However, the fundamental inequalities of power evident in partnerships and the deeper issues of chronic structural oppression visited on the communities we serve remain unfinished business. As one of our residents termed it, ‘we need a commission’, consistent organizing of civil society to win social justice within and beyond the health system and end the disparities between words and action.

LOCALITY LEADS

Conducted & reported by Matt Scott

Locality Lead: A Vision for True Community Power

Over the past year, Thames Life, alongside Al Madina Mosque, Disability Alliance Barking & Dagenham (DABD), Harmony House, and Kingsley Hall, has been proud to continue their consortium approach which was born out of the Locality Lead project—an ambitious effort to embed real community power in decision-making and resource allocation.

Locally Thames Life has provided a wide range of health outreach activities but also searching for a more equal way of working. At an event we held on Thames View that brought together community groups and senior council participation leads, we asked the critical questions: What are the pathways that bring system players together to scale and shift resources? What does true community power look like? And what does long-term, sustainable locality work require?

Our collective argument was clear—rather than drafting more strategies, we need direct investment in community workers, stronger coalitions, and fairer commissioning processes that move away from a winner-takes-all approach. Community forums must have real accountability, ensuring grants like community chests genuinely benefit local people rather than being absorbed into existing institutional structures.

The passion, commitment, and lived experience brought by our five organisations, developed a powerful vision although one that remains outside of the current direction set by power holders within the health system. A lot of the discussion with Learning Partners focused on this idea of system change but arguably there was a lack of appreciation that the system works perfectly precisely because there is little incentive to change. The model of change Thames Life has is that real change will only happen when residents define and set the agenda, whether it be tackling health inequalities, health centres or ‘inclusive growth’ and having done that, take an active leadership role thereafter. Anything less is tokenistic and placatory. Our community power approach although resonant with the Fuller Report desire for a locally sensitive approach, autonomy and proportionate funding is a head of its time and the risk is the ‘system’ flips back to what it knows and can control.

If we truly want to improve the health and wellbeing of our residents at a population level, build trust and belonging within communities, and ensure that public and social sector resources are used effectively in a more preventative model, we must fully value the expertise and leadership of our communities.

RESILIENCE

NETWORK

Conducted & reported by Matt Scott

Building Community Resilience in Barking & Dagenham

Resilience is at the heart of our work at Thames Life, ensuring that our communities are prepared for the challenges they face, from fire and flooding to public health crises. Our journey in resilience-building began after the Barking Riverside Fire on 9th June 2019, which led to a partnership with the British Red Cross and weekly strategic meetings to strengthen local response capabilities.

Our work gained further momentum during the pandemic, when we tackled vaccine hesitancy through pop-ups and outreach, ensuring that residents had access to reliable health information. Barking & Dagenham is a recognised hazard hotspot, with some of the highest risks of fire and flooding in the country. In response, we proudly represent the voluntary and community sector (VCS) at the Borough Resilience Forum and in 2025, we hosted the first-ever BD Resilience Network event at the Ripple Centre, attended by over 40 participants.

Thanks to the London Community Resilience Fund, overseen by the Greater London Authority (GLA) and London Plus, we have been able to deepen our efforts. Our resilience framework is built on four key pillars: engagement with the Borough Resilience Forum, active participation in the London Resilience Partnership, the development of the new BD Resilience Network, and strengthening future partnerships. We are committed to embedding resilience plans, training, and outreach at every level. A heartfelt thank you to Mandy Beacher and her team at the council for their invaluable support. Through extensive outreach, we have heard directly from residents about their concerns—many feel overwhelmed by housing issues and look to friends, family, and community networks for support. Our mission is to ensure prevention, equity, and recognition of the VCS as an equal partner in resilience planning.

RIPPLE NATURE RESERVE

Conducted & reported by Vishal Narayan

The nature reserve remains shut after the Wildlife Trust left 8 years ago. The reserve has been undergoing changes- some important cabling works by the adjacent power station has meant the Reserve was not safe for organised walks or for the general public. The Ripple Nature Reserve Committee has been meeting periodically but had stopped meeting towards winter of 2024, as many of the members were attending the online stakeholder meetings which brought together Barking Riverside Limited, The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Parks Team, National Grid, UK Power Networks and other stakeholders interested in opening the nature reserve. This group supported the re-opening of the nature reserve by reviewing tenders for a landscape architect, including some residents on the committee. This was won by Arkwood, who completed a local and borough wide consultation, ascertaining resident and stakeholder input consulting on their ideas in order to open up the reserve. This included at GP drop ins and other groups which work with Thames Life such as the Ripple Effect. In December 2025, Arkwood completed a public showcase of the complete nature reserve design to stakeholders involved in the process, featuring Thames Life staff and committee members. They said they needed a minimum of £1.6 to open the nature at the bare minimum. The final design was not available to be provided to Thames Life or the committee as BRL and LBBD needed to verify the final design before public dissemination.

Since then, there have been no stakeholder meetings. Thames Life, through my worker role intends to work with LBBD to put in a National Lottery Heritage bid, supported by Arkwood and LBBD to help gain funds to reopen the reserve and work through resident engagement for maintenance purposes. Thames Life Is currently planning to activate the reserve by performing a litter pick in collaboration with Roding Rubbish. There are plans to start to bring the wider Ripple Nature Reserve resident group back together at monthly meetings. Residents Planning Forum

This monthly session has been meeting as a core group and has been focusing on bringing in guest speakers, contributions to the Dr Pablo Sendra UCL report; the Thames View and Riverside Community Plan and working on a resident’s charter. The charter is a set of stipulations and asks from local residents, raising demands for their voices to be heard across the civil landscape across Barking and Dagenham. The charter is fashioned on work previously done by citizen’s UK and is intended to be a staple point in highlighting a framework of resident power through an agreed set of principles. Alongside this, the Planning Forum is engaged in writing in and making contributions to various planning consultations, the critical one being BRL’s proposal for 20,000 homes instead of the 8000 previously proposed. While the Planning Forum has a core group, Thames Life is proposing to try and get other residents engaged in urban planning and is thinking of ways to increase local engagement. I am also proposing a Planning Forum podcast series, based on a number of themes across planning and housing such as ‘rent’ or ‘service charge’ issues.

Residents Planning Forum

Conducted & reported by Vishal Narayan

Thames Life focuses its community development efforts in the Thames View and Riverside Wards, areas experiencing extensive regeneration with around 20,000 new homes being built in Riverside and significant demolition and redevelopment in Thames View. Local challenges include health inequalities, the lack of a new health centre, loss of green spaces such as a nearby nature reserve, and a shortage of community and youth facilities.

Thames Life’s mission is to place residents at the heart of community development and advocacy. To support this, a monthly Residents Planning Forum is held on the first Tuesday of every month (6:00–8:00 PM) in hybrid format (in-person and online). The forum provides a platform for residents to discuss issues related to housing, community infrastructure, and green and blue spaces, learn about planning processes, and take collective action.

The core group of the Forum has been active in inviting guest speakers, contributing to the Dr. Pablo Sendra UCL Report, the Thames View and Riverside Community Plan, and developing a Residents’ Charter. The Charter outlines key community demands and principles of resident power, inspired by work from Citizens UK.

The Forum also engages with planning consultations, including critical input on Barking Riverside Limited’s proposal to increase the housing target from 8,000 to 20,000 homes. Thames Life aims to broaden participation by encouraging more residents to engage in urban planning. A Planning Forum podcast series is also being proposed to explore themes such as rent, service charges, and housing issues across Barking and Dagenham.

BARKING FOOD FOREST

Conducted & reported Laurelle Darroux

The Barking Food Forest (BFF) continues to flourish as a vital green space for the community, offering education, food-growing opportunities, and a hub for sustainability. Through gardening/permaculture workshops, and open activities for families and children, the project nurtures both the environment and the people who engage with it. This year has been a period of growth, collaboration, and community-driven impact.

Core Activities

Gardening & Food Growing: Teaching sustainable food production and permaculture techniques.
Educational Workshops: Providing hands-on learning for Riverside Nursery, Primary and Secondary school students, local families, and individuals interested. Community Engagement: Hosting family-friendly events, and collaborative projects with local groups like Roding Rubbish, and BRL.

Planning Permission: A Step Forward

After a lengthy review process, BFF was officially granted planning permission—a crucial step in securing the project’s future. Initially, the approval process faced delays due to soil testing concerns. Rather than undergo costly additional testing, an agreement was made to continue growing edibles in raised beds only, as has always been the practice.

However, the current approval is for 10 years rather than permanent status, as the land remains designated for residential use. This limitation means that while the pavilion and polytunnel can now go ahead, long-term funding opportunities—such as grants for a facilities building—may be restricted until Barking Riverside Limited (BRL) formally changes the land designation. Advocacy efforts will continue to push for this change, ensuring the long-term security and sustainability of the site. What’s Next?

Easter Egg Hunt: A fun-filled event for families, coming this April.

Weekly Gardening Sessions: Resuming 15th March, these sessions offer residents a chance to get involved, learn new skills, and connect with others.

Polytunnel build: We hope to have built the new polytunnel, a significant addition that will expand our gardening capabilities.

Summer Solstice Party: Save the date for 21st June, to celebrate the longest day of the year with a festive gathering in the Food Forest.

RIVERVIEW NEWSPAPER

Conducted & reported by Zainab Jalloh

The River View Newspaper has become a vital platform for community engagement, providing residents of Barking Riverside with local news, stories, and opportunities to share their voices. With 6,500 copies printed per issue and distributed across key community hubs—including The Wilds, Rivergate Centre, Sue Bramley Centre, and The Visitors Centre at Riverside Station—the newspaper has established itself as a trusted source of information. Complementing the print edition, the website has seen 1,500 visitors since launch, driven by search engines, social media, and the Thames Life website.

Core Activities

Local Storytelling: Sourcing and publishing news stories, interviews, and features relevant to the community.
Stakeholder Engagement: Managing relationships across the Resident Editorial Board (REB) and beyond. Your paragraph text
Outreach & Training: Encouraging residents to contribute, developing editorial skills, and fostering a culture of civic journalism.

Defining Moments

One of the most significant milestones was securing BRL’s support to create a resident-led publication in the first place, a rare achievement in similar developments. Although, it has been difficult at times for REB members to challenge perspectives, the River View remains a platform by residents, for residents.

Challenges & Future Vision

While BRL is currently the sole funder, diversifying funding streams remains a priority. Potential sources include the Arts Council and the Community Chest Fund, ensuring long-term sustainability. Additionally, to improve efficiency, having a dedicated paid staff member to manage logistics would continue to enhance operations.

Looking ahead (April 2025 – March 2026), River View will focus on reflecting on its future beyond the current partnership, maintaining editorial independence, and expanding readership (currently 18000). The goal remains clear: to keep amplifying resident voices and ensuring that Barking Riverside’s stories continue to be told.

GREEN UP

Conducted & reported by Marion Hull

The Green-Up group was established through funding secured by Alex Anthony in 2023 under Thames Life. The primary objective of the group was to bring people together for litter picking and arts and crafts activities.

The Roding Rubbish group, a voluntary organisation conducting litter picking activities, was co-led by me. Litter pickers, gloves, and bags were used for these efforts. A proposal was made to combine litter picking with yoga in order to promote both mental and physical well-being while also contributing to environmental cleanliness.

Support was provided by Vishal and Matt. The hall at the Sue Bramley Centre (Thames View Hub) had already been reserved for the Green-Up group. It was learned that yoga instruction was offered by Nikhil Rathore from the Barking Food Forest, and contact was made with him by Vishal and me. Nikhil confirmed his availability to conduct the yoga sessions, and coordination regarding payment for his services was managed by Matt and Vishal.

The first Wednesday in July 2024 marked the commencement of the combined indoor and outdoor cleanup initiative. Sessions were held every Wednesday until September, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Although attendance was initially low, numbers increased after the first week. Participation by young people was noted once the school holidays began. Approximately 10 regular attendees of various ages and abilities took part in each session. A chair was provided for one participant requiring seated yoga exercises, and another participant, who experienced mental health challenges, attended with his carer, who also participated.

Each session was begun with a 45-minute yoga warm-up, followed by approximately 40 minutes of litter picking along the Ripple Greenway. An average of six bags of rubbish were collected each week and left outside the Sue Bramley Centre for collection by the Street Cleansing team.

The local Safer Neighbourhood Teams participated in the litter picking sessions on two occasions, which proved beneficial when two dangerous knives were discovered. One of these was found by a young girl, who was understandably distressed. Immediate action was taken by a nearby police officer.

After the litter picking, participants returned to the Sue Bramley Centre for a concluding yoga session.

The sessions were well received, and inquiries have been made regarding their continuation. It is hoped that they will be resumed during the next summer period.

Young Citizens Action Group

Conducted & reported by Vishal Narayan

The Young Citizen action group has seen a reduction in numbers from 12 to a core 8 students, this is because the former students have now reached year 10 and have various educational interventions across the school at the same time on a Monday afternoon. Recruitment of younger years has been slow as the school only provides a 5 minute assembly and a school bulletin once a week per term to get information out to students. Nonetheless, students also attend when they are not in interventions. The students have completed their young person’s charter and have been exploring ways to promote the charter in the local community to advocate for young people. They started a Tik Tok channel, and a podcast but were unable to edit and release it. The young people sent a letter to the new MP for Barking, Nesil Caliskan, asking her to consider helping to raise funds for the proposed performing arts centre and Ripple Nature Reserve. She subsequently invited them to parliament for a group discussion and tour, which they attended. Young people were inspired and invigorated by this. After this, young people have been exploring reaching out to granting bodies and trusts and have been helping to form what campaigns young people should run for the Shoreline, Nature Reserve and performing arts centre. They are helping to shape some of the ideas for the next two years of YCAG, as they will be unable to attend in year 11. Young people also made significant contributions to the Thames Road Supplementary Planning Document, advocating for youth voice within the document’s themes- providing their thoughts and ideas on the new development and how it could be improved in their eyes on behalf of other young people.

YOUNG CITIZENS ACTION GROUP

FIERCE

DANCING

PODCASTS

Conducted & reported by Matt, Lucy & Vish

This year, Thames Life launched Fierce Dancing, a resident-led podcast that offers listeners an authentic glimpse into who we are, what we care about, and how Thames Life continues to grow as a community-driven movement in Barking and Dagenham. Each episode invites open, honest and often light-hearted conversations about our lives, local issues, and the changes shaping our neighbourhoods.

The first episode set the tone, as we reflected on why each of us joined Thames Life and our personal highlights so far. We followed this with a relaxed chat about what we get up to on weekends, helping listeners connect with us as individuals. In later episodes, we turned our attention to place, discussing our experiences in Thames View and Barking Riverside, what has changed over the years, and what we hope to preserve as regeneration continues.

Community voices remained at the heart of the series. We explored what we would each change about our area and shared inspiration from a social project in New York. We also celebrated the Barking Food Forest, talking about our growing successes and introducing Laurelle, our new Community Organiser, who shared her goals and wellbeing tips. Another highlight was meeting Marion, our Green Up Community Organiser, who spoke about her work in local environmental projects and her hopes for the future.

The podcast also created space for reflection. We discussed the devastating fire at the Spectrum Building in Dagenham, sharing our thoughts on fire safety and community resilience. We closed the season with New Beginnings and Upcoming Events, marking team changes, celebrating milestones, and highlighting updates from projects such as the Youth Community Action Group and the Barking Food Forest.

Fierce Dancing has quickly become more than just a podcast; it’s a platform for storytelling, connection, and local pride. It captures the humour, honesty and heart of Thames Life, showing how residents’ voices continue to lead and inspire positive change in our community.

KEY

ACHIEVMENTS

£198,880 funding raised across all projects 15.480 residents engaged across all projects

Nature Reserve Masterplan completed xx residents engaged across all projects

Community plan for the local area

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Your paragraph text
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Ongoing funding secured from BRL for Riverview

GP Drop in Clinics Specialise

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Community plan for the local area
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First Voices for Housing Justice Event

e n g a g e m e n t

Funding Secured for GP Drop-ins: £27,819

Total Attendees: 4000

e n g a g e m e n t

Funding Secured for Riverview: £27,000

Riverview Editorial Board Members:

4 Print:

6,500 copies per issue Readership: Approx. 15,000

Unique Voices: 71%

Ad Revenue: £2,500

21.

e n g a g e m e n t

Funding Secured for YCAG: £18,000

Active YCAG members: 10 Young people listened to: 250

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19.
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e n g a g e m e n t

Funding Secured for Resilience Network: £2500

2500

21.

e n g a g e m e n t

Funding Secured for Podcasts and Planning Forum: £12,026

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2500
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e n g a g e

Funding Secured for Ripple Nature Reserve: £140,000

e n

255

2500

e n g a g e m e n

Funding Secured for Locality Leads: £570

2500

1768

e n g a g e m e n t

Funding Secured for Voices for Housing Justice:£23,196

2500

e n g a g e m e n t

Funding Secured for Food Forest: £23,788

Activities Held: 10 sports & wellbeing

Sessions Delivered: 181

Unique Attendees: 1413

Feedback: 40% gave 9 or 10 out of 10 for the activities attended

partner feedback

“I have really enjoyed working as a senior practitioner from a local practice with Thames Life. We have been able to foster some of the reviews and concerns that our patients and residents are having accessing health care at GP surgeries and some of the issues they are suffering with.”

- Dr. Jagan John, Aurora Medcare

“In terms of what we find most valuable, I'd say (in no particular order): (1) being an anchor organisation for a specific area of the borough (2) the support you provide to residents and local organisations to get involved in the borough; (3) delivering "p/Political education"; (4) having similar/overlapping values around resident participation, devolved power, and challenging power structures.”

- Cameron Bray - BD Giving

“British Red Cross has a longstanding relationship with Thames Life, partnering on a range of community resilience building activities. Barking & Dagenham has been chosen as a priority place for us, and so we want to deepen our relationships with communities, working with them to find solutions to tackle health inequalities, provide support for migrants and continue to strengthen community resilience.” - Zack Ahmed, British Red Cross

“The work that Thames Life do in terms of community development and responding to work with and understand the needs and wants of local residents in a considered, collaborative and meaningful way is in our view at BDCVS exemplary.”

- Pip Salvador-Jones - BD CVS

“I think your community garden project is simply brilliant - bringing families together, getting residents to grow their own, using it to improve the wellbeing of residents, the benefits to participants seem endless. The health clinics also appear to be doing very well. You also collaborate with the British Red Cross and other smaller organisations looking at community resilience.” - Wunmi Oyewole - Radiant Ambitions

“The food forest is a great opportunity for the nursery to extend the children's nursery learning, particularly as it is so close the setting itself. The children take a keen interest in the environment and sustainability. As we are a "Green Nursery" the food forest helps support out ethos”

- Tyler Morris - LEYF Barking Riverside

resident

feedback

“‘The best things I encountered is the foraging walks and just normal walks. The drop-in surgery and when there were cycling group it was also good as helped with physical and mental health’. ” - David Townsend - resident

“Thanks for providing the means for me to meet-up with the amazing activists around here. A truly great wonderful ‘happening’. Thames Life are doing a great job in pulling together the various strands of activism into an effective force. The developers will move on, but the community will live with the legacy.”

- Kevin Hudson - Resident & Friends Of Footpath 47

“Thames Life is very supportive to the community and community groups, in particular Roding Rubbish and the Food Forest. Encouraging residents to have a voice and get together. A lot of people have met each other through the events supported by Thames Life.”

- Marion Hull - Resident & Head of Roding Rubbish

FINANCES Turnover Breakdown 12025) ' Other income. £2Q.976.67 L)onations received*: £634.95 Gronts.. £135.468.49 Operatlng Expendlture Breakdown 12025) Wages Facilitations services Accountancy Event expenses Pensions Project expenditule Sub5CliPtions Employers Nl Computer runnlng costs De5I9ri EJ.667 Insurance Depreciation of computer equipment SundriÈs Recruitment Professional fees Repairs and renewals Advert15ing & Marketing Donations expenditure Bank charges IT services Eqijipment Health and safety Telephone E6 É350 285 É150 ElJ9 E60 15 £6 20000 40000 60000 Expenditure 1£) 800QQ iooooo

Future Plan

We’re excited about the launch the Resident Charter; a powerful document shaped by insights from over 3,000 local conversations. The Charter sets out ten key asks reflecting our community’s rights, priorities, and vision for how land development and housing should serve residents. It calls for greater participation, transparency, and accountability from those shaping our neighbourhoods. More than just a statement, the Charter is a tool for change, ensuring growth happens with the community, not to it. This launch will mark an important step towards a fairer, more inclusive future where residents have a real voice in local development.

KINGSLEY MSVF HALL FUNDERS & PARTNERS UK Power Netwoths CREATIVE Balking & D4wnham Givln9 Aurora Medcare THE BARTLETT SCHOOL OF PLANNING @oo 8ARKING.DAGENHAM BARKING RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY FUND SUPPORTED BY MAYOR OF LONDON ELBA MCLAREN Trust for London 1'kgP9Tty In¢qulIY COMMUNITY ORGANISERS COLLECTIVE •kn:good Partnership Learning L•aureus SPORT FOR Imperial College London IIVERSIDI SCHOOL old for london Breathe London BritishRedCross HARMONY HOUSE LONDON SPORT Made to Play ¢8Y.o Leyr Nurseries iua RODING RUBBISH ••y.Q III.MAIINA MiwvF. BARKIVI.. •OA%NG&oAGENH*I CHANGINGPLACES CHANGING LIVES CITizens I[] LVCr-_ NHS

Address: Thames Life, Thames Community Hub, Bastable Avenue, Barking IG11 0LH Email: info@thames-life.org.uk Website: www.thames-life.org.uk

Thames Life Community Development Trust is a registered charity in England & Wales (1189743).

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1189743 REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 FOR THAMES LIFE Clemence Hoar Cummings Chartered Accountants Riverside House 1-5 Como Street Romford Essex RM7 7DN

THAMES LIFE CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 202S Page Report of the Trustees Independent Examiner's Report statement of Flnanclal Activities Balance Sheet Notes to the Financlal Statements 9 to 19 Detalled Statement of Ftnancial Activities 20

THAMES LIFE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 The Trustees are pleased to present their annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the period ending 31 March 2025 OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES Our purposes and activities The object of Thames Life (CIO) is, for the public benefit, the promotion of urban regeneration in areas of social and economic deprivation. This is focused on the London 8orough of Barking & Dagenham, with a specific focus on Thames View and Barking Riverside estates. It Is also realbsed through the following means Of.. a) the rellef of poverty or financial hardship. b) the advancement c>f education, training or re-training. cl the provision of financial and technical assistance. d) the provision of recreational facllities for the publlc. e) the protection of conservation of the environment. Our vlslon, misslon and aims Our Vision: A diverse and vibrant commljnity where residents are driving change Our Mlsslon.. To create positive spaces and opportunities for resident empowement and wellbeing Aims.. o Development of leaders.. by offering increased skllls development, training and volunteering opportunities for residents. o Nurture relationships.. by creating impactful relationships between residents and partnerships with the local authority, developers, NHS, schools and others. o Exert influence.. by connecting residents with decision-makers to seek positive change for their community. o Support enterprise: by growing a network of cotnmunity projects and buslnesses led by residents to address local need. Publlc benefit The Trustees have referred to the Charity Commissic>n's general guldance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's purposes and objectives and in plannlng Its activities for the year. In particular, they have considered how planned activities will contribute to the purposes and objectives detailed above. The trustees are satisfied that the charity Meets the Charity Commission's guidelines with regard to delivering public benefit. Page I

THAMES LIFE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Review of the year Thames Life continues to champion resident leadershlp, ampllfy community voice, and strengthen partnerships across Barking Riverside and Thames View. Durlng 2024-25, we consolidated programmes, delivered high-quality projects, and navigated organisational change, all while advancing our mission of sustainable and equitable regeneration. Key Achievements Community Projects & Resident Leadership Barking Food Forest.. Established a six-member Resident Steering Committee. delivered weekly gardening sessions,. installed a Polytunnel,. received initlal BRL funding and submitted additional grant applications,. hosted an Autumn Garden Party and planning for an Easter Egg Hunt. developlng corporate and NHS partnerships to support green social prescribing. River View Newspaper- Produced three issue5 this year- secured £26,000 funding for 2024-25,. maintained an active Resident Editorial Board,. ongoing efforts to amplify youth Vol5. Residents Planning Forum.. Monthly sessions wlth UCL ctsllaboration. contributions to Thame5 View & iverslde Community Plan; developing a Resident Charter- engaging resldents In planning consultations, including the local developerfs 20,000-home proposal. Ripple Nature Reserve.. SLtpporting the planned but as yet unrealised reopening through resident engagement, stakeholder collaboration, and with planned actlvation events including litter picks and community engagement sessions. Young Citizens Action Group (YCAG).. Weekly sessions delSvered' developed Young Person's Community Charter. contributed to Thames Road Supplementary Plannlng Document,. engaged with local MP and parliamentary discussions; initiated TikTok and podcast channels for yOLJth advocacy. Ripple Effect Resident Campaign Group.. Regular weekly meetings with guest speakers; resident-led campaigns on housingi green space, and social infrastructure; community events including Christma5 party, quiz, and collaborations with Be First and UCL research projects, Health, Sport & Safety Delivered sports and active lifestyle programmes and SeCud funding through partnerships with Sport England and the Football Foundatlon. Implemented health projects including GP pop-ups, deslgn groups, and prototype initiatives. Engaged residents in resilien and emergency planning with British Red Cross, LBBD, and GLA. Including leading on the first Resilience Network in January 2025 Planningi Housing & Environment Supported resident campaigns through Planning Forum and Rlpple Effect, focusing on housing density and greening initiatives. Progressed asset transfer and community-led spaces, including an exploratlon of bulldlng redevelopment in discusslon wlth a range of support organi5ations including Meanwhile Spaces CIC. Communications & Marketing Maintained website, newsletter, and social media content; delivered quarterly River View issues; ongoing bi-monthly newsletter and blog updates. Developed comms and marketing strategy. Integrated communications with project actlvltles to highlight resldent-led stories and campaigns. Govemance, Operations & Finance Strengthened internal systems in HR, finance, and PDlicy compliance. Embedding core admlnbstrative roles during staff transitions. weekly staff meetings and weekly meetings with external book keeper updatlng accounts meetlngs and financial planning. Developed internal policies and administrative frameworks to support organisational resilience. Fundraising & Income Generatltsn Secured multi-year funding streams while pursuing grants from local stakeholders, Trust for London. Esmée Fairbairn, Paul Hamlyn, National Grld, and many others. Explored revenue opportunities through corporate partnerships, advertisingi and potential community space Ljtilisation. Page 2

THAMES LIFE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 CEO Reflections & Challenges Key challenges identified include.. l. Returning to charltable purpose amld unsustalnable houslng developments. 2. Preserving and enhancing team culture and esprit de corps. 3. Holding tension inherent in power-shifting community organising. 4. Strengthening anti-oppression and anti-poverty initiatives. 5. Internal organisational systems and governance. 6. Securing long-term revenue to reduce reliance on short-term grants. 7. Navigatirig developer and council command and control cultures. 8. Staff support, 5tructLtre, and wellbeing. 9. Enhancing trustee engagement and shared time. 10. Ensuring legacy, succession, and distributed leadership within staff and trustees. Thames Life 3.0 l.'O (Oct 2017-Oct 20201.. First Lottery grant, charity setup. 2.0 (Mar 2021-Mar 20241.. Second Lottery grant,. consolidation of delivery. 3.. 0 (Mar 2024~present)'. Established programme deliveryi diverse fundbng, and strengthened organisational systems. FINANCIAL REVIEW Financial position Total income for the year was £205,968 (2024.. E407,2431 of which E205,182 was deemed as restricted funding (2024.. £405,038). Total expenditure for the year was £220,260 (2024.. £319,590) r>f which £219,843 was spent on restricted activities {2024- £319,590). Reserves carried forwvard at 31 March 2025 were £178,018 {2024- £192,310) of which £129,960 were deemed as restrl¢ted (2024.. £144,621)- Reserves policy Our reserves policy is to hold unrestrlcted funds equlvalent to six months, operatlng expenditure. Slnce the majority of salaried p05t5 are funded by restricted funding, the operatlng expenditure needs only to cover the redundancy costs at a minimum, plus any further operating costs. The unrestricted funds balance more than satisfies this criteria as at 3 1.03.25. The charity is able to meet its current worklng capltal requlrements based on the cash flow generated and modest operational surpluses. There are suffbcient cash reserves to manage cash flow on a day to day basis Going concern The trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 month5 frorn authorising these financlal statements. The budgeted income and expenditure is sufficient with the level of reserves for the charity to be able to continue as a going concern. Page 3

THAMES LIFE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 FUTURE PLANS l. Community Projects & Resldent Leadershbp Fully develop Barklng Food Forest and secure capital funding. Reopen Ripple Nature Reserve wlth heritage fundlng and activate resident engagement. Expand YCAG and Residents Planning Forum to increase partl¢ipation and civic influence. Strengthen Ripple Effect campalgns on houslng, green space, and social infrastructure. 2. CommunicatSons & Marketlng Streamline comms strategy and dlgital presence. malntaln continuity. Develop storytelling and targeted campaigns to promote awareness, projects, and resident voice. 3. Income Generation & Sustainablllty Secure larger, long-term funding streams. explore revenue opportunities vla advertlsing, partnerships, and community spaces. Continue pursuing grants from statutory and philanthropic sources. 4. Governance & Organisatbonal Systems Strengthen internal governance, finance, HR, and operatSonal systems. Support trustee5 Wlth oversight, succession planningi and dlstributed leadership. Review staff to ensure stability and retentlon. 5. Impact & Storytelllng Develop a conslstent impact framework to measure and communicate outcomes. Highlight resident-led successes and demonstrate the community's role in driving change. 6. Partnershbps & Advocacy Continue strategic collaboratbons wlth local authoritles, developers, statutory bodies, and voluntary networks. Maintaln proactive accountability mechanisms for housing and regeneration projects. Secure Community assets for accessible, resident-led spaces. Thames Llfe remalns commltted to empowerlng resldents, Sustainlng impactful prograrnrnes, and ensuring that community voices are central to regeneration and planning in Barking Riverside and Thames View. STRVCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governlng document The Charity Is controlled by Its governing document and constitutes a Charitable Incorporated Organi5atlon ICIOI. Prlor to the CIO being established the charity ran as Thames Ward Community Projeet, this ceased activlties on l October 2020 and transferred all funds to Thames Life. Rwsk management The trustees have reviewed the major and flnancial risks that impact on the work of the charity. The systems that have been establlshed enable the trustees to review and take necessary step5 to lessen these risks. The trustees consider the following to be the principal risks that the charity faces- Maln rlsk #l: securing ftjnding to maintain core activities. In mitigation trustees review finances at board meetlngs and monthly executive meetings to ensure strategies and actions are undertaken. Trustees and staff are also proactive in seeking a balanced portfolio of funding sources as a progression from heavy reliance on one slngle funder, i.e. the Lottery Reaching Communities Programme. Main risk #2.. turnover of staff and trustees. In mitigation regular support, supervision and one to one meeting5 are planned with both staff and trustees to ensure good communication, a relational culture and speedy Identlflcation of people disengaging. We also seek to broaden and diversify our staff and trustee cohort by reaching out to less represented groups. REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DEfAXLS Registered Charlty number 1189743 Page 4

THAMES LIFE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 Principal addre55 Riverside School Renwick Road arklng Essex IGII OFU Trustees L Ogunsola A Pollard J Oyekunle A Hussien N Ogene (resigned 6.3.25) H Rahfflan l Ferreria D L Lismore {appolnted 6.3.251 Independent Examiner Lee Blunden FCCA cfA Clemence Hoar Curntnings Chartered Accountants Riverside House 1-5 Cofflo Street Romford Essex RM7 7DN Approved by order of the board of trustees on December 17th 2025 and signed on its behalf by.. J Oyekunle Trustee Page 5

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THAMES LIFE Independent examlner's report to the trustees of Thames Llfe I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Thames Life (the Trust) for the year ended 31st March 2025. Responslbllltles and basis of report As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responslble for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act,). I report in respert of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under Section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examinatlDn I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charlty Commission under Section 145{5)Ib) of the Act. Independent examlner's statement I have completed my examination. I confirm that no materlal matters have come to my attentlon in connection with the examination glving me cause to believe that in any material respect.. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act; or the accounts do not accord with those records,. or the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content ot accounts set out in the Charitie5 (Account5 and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examlnatlon to which attentlon should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Lee Blunden FCCA CTA clemen Hoar Cummings Chartered Accountants Riverslde House 1-5 Como Street Romford Essex RM7 7DN Date.. ..1.7. De<¢rt.b.¢f.. to?S.... Page 6

THAMES LIFE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 2025 Total funds 2024 Total funds Unrestricted fund Restricted funds Notes INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Charitable activities 634 638 I,iio Charitable activities Community Projects 152 205,178 205,330 406,080 Investment income 53 Total 786 205 182 205 968 407 243 EXPENDITURE ON Charitable actlvltles Community Projects 417 219 843 220 260 319 590 NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) 369 {14,661) (14,292) 87,653 KECONCILZATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 47,689 144,621 192,310 104,657 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 129 960 178 018 192 310 The notes form part of these financial statements Page 7

THAMES LIFE BALANCE SHEET 31ST MARCH 2025 2025 Total funds 2024 Total funds Unrestricted fund Restricted funds Notes FIXED ASSETS Tangible assets 2.965 2,965 4,075 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors Cash at bank and In hand io 24,943 105 143 24,943 235 103 25,927 168 876 129 960 130,086 129,960 260,046 194,803 CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year {84,993) (84,993) (6,5681 NET CURRENT ASSETS 129 960 175 053 188 235 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 48,058 129,960 178,018 192,310 NET ASSETS 129 960 178 018 192 310 FUNDS Unrestrirted funds Restricted funds 12 48,058 129 960 47,689 144 621 TOTAL FUNDS 178.018 192 310 The fl ancial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on and were signed on Its behalf by: J Oyekunle Trustee L Ogunsola Trustee The notes form part of these financial statements Page 8

THAMES LIFE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 ACCOUNTING POLICIES Basis of preparing the flnanclal statements The financial statements of the charityi which is a publlc benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charlties SORP {FRS 1021 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities.. Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charlties preparing their accounts In accordance wvith the Financial Reporting Standard applicable In the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) {effective I lanuary 2019),, Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland, and the Charities Act 2011. The flnancial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. Income All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activltles once the charity has entitlement to the funds, It is probable that the Income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. For donations to be recognlsed the charity will have been notifled of the amounts and the settlement date in writing. If there are conditions attached to the donation and thls requires a level of performance before entitlement can be obtained then Income is deferred until those conditions are fully met or the fulfilfflent of those conditions is Withln the control of the charity and it is probable that they will be fulfilled. Income from government and other grants are recognise¢Y at fair value when the charity has entitlement after any performance conditions have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. If entitlement is not met then these amounts are deferred. Expenditure Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it 15 probable that a transfer of economic benefits wlll be reouired in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to partlcular headings they have been allocated to actlvitles on a basi5 consistent with the use of resources. Expenditure on charitable activities includes those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activitie5 and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs allocated directly to such ctivities and those costs of an Indirect nature necessary to 5UPPOrt them. Tanglble fixed a55ets Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to wrlte off each asset over Its estimated useful life. Computer equipment 20WD on cost Taxation The Charity is exempt from tax on its charitable attlvltles. Fund accounting Unrestricted fund5 can be used in accordance with the charitable objertlves at the discretlon of the trLJStees. Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objetts of the charity. Restriction5 arlse when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for partlcular restricted purposes. Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the flnancial statements. Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits The charity operates a defined contrfjbutbon pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charity's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Flnancial Activities in the period to Page 9 contlnued..

which they relate. Page 9 continued...

THAMES LIFE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS- continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 CHARXTABLE ACTIVITIES 2025 2024 Donations 638 INVESTMENT INCOME 2025 2024 Deposlt account interest 53 INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES 2025 Communlty Projects 2024 Total activities Grants SLA Consultancy fee5 142,552 41,171 262,555 103,365 205 330 406 080 Grants recelved, included In the above, are as follows.. 2025 2024 The National Lottery Trust for London Communlty Resources Community Chest UK Power Networks London Plus London Marathon Charltable Trust The Social Change Nest Dr Pop Ups People's Health Trust Cit12en5 UK Wellness Roadshow Grant Barking Food Forest Red Cross Be First Disruptlve Explorers (Houslng) Esmee Fairbairn Foundatlon 149,192 37,600 17,500 11,073 10,000 5,000 17,530 14,660 40,199 1,915 12,026 23,197 1,965 9,500 2,500 15,000 15,000 142 552 262 555 Page 10 continued..

THAMES LIFE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS- continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS Support costs (see note 6) Direct Costs Totals Community Projects 203 030 220 260 SUPPORT COSTS Governan costs Community Projects 17,230 TRUSTEES. REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS There were no trustees. remuneration or other benefit5 for the year ended 31st March 2025 nor for the year ended 31st March 2024. Trustees, expenses There were no trustees, expenses pald for the year ended 31st March 2025 nor for the year ended 31st March 2024. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES Unrestricted fun Restricted funds Total funds INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Charitable activities I,iio I,IID Charltable activlties Communlty Projects 1,042 405,038 406,080 Investment income 53 53 Total 405 038 407 243 EXPENDITURE ON Charitable activitie$ Commtjnity Projects 319 590 319 590 NET INCOME Transfers between funds 2,205 85,448 24 360) 87,653 Net movement in funds 26,565 61,088 87,653 RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought ft)rward 21,124 83,533 104,657 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 144 621 192 310 Page 11 continued...

THAMES LIFE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31SY MARCH 2025 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS Computer equipment COST At 1st Aprll 2024 and 31st March 2025 DEPRECIATION At 1st April 2024 Charge for year 1,471 At 31st March 2025 NET BOOK VALUE At 31st March 2025 At 31st March 2024 io. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 2025 2024 Trade debtors Accrued income Prepayments 21,998 24,004 438 CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHXN ONE YEAR 2025 2024 Trade creditors other credltors 3,316 2,471 Page 12 continued...

THAMES LIFE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS- continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 12. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS Net movement in funds At 31.3.25 At 1.4.24 Unrestricted funds General fund 47,689 369 48,058 Restricted funds Built-ID NCIL Trust for London Community Resources Networked Neighbourhoods Project Lottery Reaching Communities Rivervlew Newspaper London Marathon CT Climate Klckstarter Locality Lead Barking Food Forest Communlty Chest UKPN Rlpple Nature Reserve Dr Pop Ups LBBD Coproduction Shaftesbury Foundation Stscial Change Citizens UK Disruptive Explorers (Houslng} Esmee Fairbairn Foundation Harrow Hub Health Outreach BS4C Sports Development People's Health Trust Red Cross Wellness Roadshow Grant 2,863 10,489 18,940 2,863 202 15,489 (10,287) (3,451) 1,244 6,248 20,289 12,021 1,969 16,450 7,732 6,577 10,000 21,721 loo 3,623 4,355 (45) (6,248) 7.355 (5.373) 1,199 27,644 6,648 1,969 (16,450) (4,386) (3,003) 3,346 3,574 10,000 13,619 50 410 4,420 2,825 7,724 13,002 4,000 1,788 1,380 3,703 2,140 {8,102) (50) {3,213) 65 2,825 7,724 13,002 4,000 1,788 1,380 3,703 2,140 144 621 14 661) 129 960 TOTAL FUNDS 192 310 14 292) 178 018 Page 13 continued...

THAMES LIFE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS- contlnued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 12. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS- continued Net movement in funds, Included In the above are as follows.. Incoming resources Resources expended Movement In funds Unrestrlrted funds General fund 785 (416) 369 Restricted funds NCIL Trust for London Community Resources Networked Neighbourhoods Project Lottery Reaching Communities Rivervbew Newspaper London Marathon CT Locality Lead Barking Food Forest Community Chest Dr Pop Ups LBBD Coproduction Shaftesbury Foundation Social Change Be First Citizens UK D15ruptlve Explorers (Housing) Esmee Fairbairn Foundation Harrow Hub Health Outreach B54C Sports Developrnent People's Health Trust Red Cross Wellness Roadshow Grant 200 40,200 (10,487) (43,651} (10,287) (3,451) {45) (6,248) (20,245) (5,373) (16,450) (15,948) {2,565) (35,921) (50) (3,213) {45) (6,248) 7,355 (5,373) (16,450) (4,386) (3,003) {8,102) (50) 13,213) 65 27,600 11,562 (438) 27,820 65 15,000 23,197 15,065 21,253 4,000 1,788 1,380 12,026 2,500 {15,000) (20,372) (7,341) (8,251) 2,825 7,724 13,002 4,000 1,788 1,380 3,703 2,140 (8,323) (360) 205 183 TOTAL FUNDS 205 968 220 260) 14 292} Page 14 continued...

THAMES LIFE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - contlnued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 12. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - Contlnued Comparatives for movement In funds Net movement in funds Transfers between funds At 31.3.24 At 1.4.23 Unrestricted funds General fund 21,124 2,205 24,360 47,689 Restricted funds Built-ID NCIL London Borough of Barkbng and Dagenham Trust for London BD Glving Community Resources Networked Neighbourhoods Project Lottery Reaching Communltles Rivervlew Newspaper London Marathon cr Climate Kickstarter Locality Lead Barking Food Forest Community Chest UKPN Ripple Nature Reserve Dr Pop Ups LBBD Coprodurtion Lckndon Plus GLA Shaftesbury Foundation Social Change 3,089 {226) 2,863 10,489 10,489 3,290 10,873 6,168 (3,2901 1269) 8.336 (6, 1681 18,940 6,900 14,002 8,664 6,244 (6,263) 11,653 12,021 1,969 (11,941) 7.732 6,577 10,000 21,721 loo 5,000 3,623 (11,900) (1,4911 128) 1,244 6,248 20,289 12,021 1,969 16,450 7,732 6,577 10,000 21,721 loo 30,547 (2,156) (5,0001 3,623 85,448 24 360) 144,621 TOTAL FUNDS 104 657 192 310 Page 15 continued...

THAMES LIFE NOTES TO THE FINANCLAL STATEMENTS- contlnued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 12. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS- continued Comparatbve net movement In funds, included in the above are a5 follows.. Incoming resources Resources expended Movement In funds Unrestrlcted funds General fund 2,204 2,205 Restricted funds London Sport NCIL Trust for London BD Giving Communlty Resources Networked Neighbourhoods Project Lottery Reaching Communities Riverview Newspaper London Marathon CT Climate Klckstarter Locality Lead Barking Food Forest Communlty Chest UKPN Ripple Nature Reserve Dr Pop Ups LBBD Coproduction London Plus GLA Shaftesbury Foundation Social Change Communbty Food Growing Programme 5,000 20,000 37,600 15,000) 19,511) 129,264) (6,168) 10,489 8,336 (6,168) 2,000 149,193 27,150 17,566 1,969 45,979 12,315 12,901 10,000 31,462 550 5,000 9,999 4,355 4,244 {155,456) (15,497) (5,545) 6,244 16,263) 11,653 12,021 1,969 (11,9411 7,732 6,577 10,000 21,721 loo 5,000 3,623 4,355 {57,9201 {4,583) {6,324) {9,741) (450) 16,376) 12 000) 405 039 319 591) TOTAL FUNDS 407 243 319 590} Restricted Funds are to be spent as outlined below.. Built ID Funding to be spent on community arts activity. NCIL Fund5 for community gardening. London Borough of Barking & Dagenham Funding for resldent-led activities Trust for London For community outreach and communbcations BD Giving Funding for resldent support and fire safety Community Resources Network Nelghbourhoods Project Resilience fundlng Lottery Reachlng Communities Funding of core staffing of the Charity Page 16 continued...

Riverview Newspaper Production of resldent newspaper Page 16 contlnued...

THAMES LIFE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS- continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 12. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS- continued Climate Kickstarter Funding to implement rainwater harvesting and solar energy into gardening projects at Barking Food Forest and Riversbde Bridge School Locality Lead This initiative is a borough-wide partnership that works across the health system to provlde triage, develop prototypes and design groups and take part as a learning group to test innovative practice. Barking Food Forest Funding for community garden site leased to school from BRL Community Chest social prescribing communlty chest secured via LBBD UKPN Ripple Nature Reserve Funds held for Ripple Nature Reserve resident steering group donatbon olven from UK Power Network Dr Pop Ups Funds secured to run health events where resbdents can access a GP and community advice and support LBBD Coproductlon Funds received from LBBD for resident attendance and participation London Plus GLA Funds reiVed for CEO participation on resilience and civil contingency support Shaftesbury Foundation Funds to support Young Citizens Artlon Group and related local campaigns shaped by young people Social Change Funds received in lieu of worker attendance at BD Collective events Be First To do outreach and research, engaging local residents, businesses, etc on the Thames Road transformatlon (note.. Thames Road is adjacent to Thames View estate where we are based. We were paid a5 consultants to produce a report detailing our findlngs and recommendation). Citizens UK This was a secondment where we were working as Citizens UK local chapter lead for Barking & Dagenham, approximately 2 days a week, supporting members of BD Citizens, and the exec group on local campalgns including a houslng Inquiry and preparation for meetings with the council leader. Disruptive Explorers (Housing) This was to hold 2 events on housing (called Voices for Housbng Justice) and 5LlPPOrt a worklng group of local community expertS- the events both had around 60 attendees each, keynote speakers from across London and generated priorities for future campaign5 bringing people together acros5 tenures - prlvate renters, leaseholders, council tenants etc, as an merging social movement. Esmee Fairbairn Foundation Key Outcome I: Increased community engagement In local campaigns to deliver equitable change Outcome I Progress indicators.. Indicator.. ten community events organized per year Page 17 continued.

Indicator.. 100 residents actively engaging per year Page 17 contlnued...

THAMES LIFE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continuad FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 12. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS- contlnued Key Outcome 2.. Increased communlty engagement in social enterprise and regeneration actlvlties Outcome 2 Progress Indlcators Indicator- ten community events organized per year Indicator.. 100 resident5 actively engaging per year Key Outcome 3: Increased communlty engagement in arts and culture. Outcome 3 Progress Indicators Indicator.. ten community event5 organized per year Indicator.. 100 resldents actively engaging per year Harrow Hub This was fundlng to be a learning partner, specifically drawing on a community development expertise, looking at a hub for young people, many of whom were new migrants, and writing report with findings and recommendations. The role worked alongslde the College and 2-3 core voluntary sector partners, and ranged from supporting the holding of events for young people, drawing out leaning themes, meeting other stakeholders as future partners and refining the hub offer. Health Outreach This supported the work of our health outreach worker, and mainly focused on the GP drop ins, which engaged with a range of health practitioners and wider community groups whilst meeting the need5 of resldents who typically struggle to see their GP due to masslve pressure on services. BS4C Sports Dévelopment Small ptst of funding to look at a consultancy and support role, supporting the Barking Sports 4 Change coalition and its leadership groupi drawing out the approach of the coalition and t5 governance - fiduciary, strategic and generative aspects of governance and with a focus on equity and strong demo¢ratlc practice. People'5 Health Trust Th55 funds our work wSth the Young Citizens Action Group which meets weekly during term time at Riverslde School where young people develop leadership skills and focus on campaigns, including proterting the shoreline and reopening of the Rbpple NatL¢re Reserve. The young people also met the MP in Westminster to talk of their priorities. The fund also supports our work on the monthly resident plannlng forum which has worked with UCL to develop a community plan based on workshops and research and has a wider remit to respond to planning consultation. Red Cross This supports our weekly meetings wlth Red Cross and LBBD Civil Contingency team to strengthen responses to emergencies - fire, flood etc and build reslllen. It also supports our work on the borough Re$llien Forum and wider Resilience Network. Wellness Roadshow Grant This funding enabled our health outreach worker to work wlth local residents and groups to develop pro3ects via creative ideas, to promote better health, especially for women and girls, and to be able to create a project that can be taken from place to place as a roadshow - hence one of the ideas was of Hal's Moving Castle, of an Imaginary space that people could explore issues around health. Page 18 continued...

THAMES LIFE NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS- continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 13. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31st March 2025. Page 19

THAMES LIFE DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 2025 2024 INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS Charltable actlvitles Donatlons 638 I,iio Investment income Deposlt account interest 53 Charitable activities Grants SLA Consultancy fees 142,552 41,171 262,555 103,365 205 330 406 080 Total incomlng resources 205,968 407,243 EXPENDITURE Charitable actlvltles Wages Social security Pensions Computer costs Subscriptions Health & safety and tralning Insurance Sundrles Project costs Computer equipment 112,899 4,721 6,396 3,805 4,730 35 1,664 2,407 65,264 200,687 4,007 13,879 917 4,217 85 1,488 2,921 72,790 203,030 3D2,100 Support costs Governance costs Accountancy and legal fees Total resources expended 220 260 319 590 Net (expenditure)Ilncome 14 292) This page does not form part of the statutory financlal statements Page 20

which they relate. Page 9 continued...

Riverview Newspaper Production of resldent newspaper Page 16 contlnued...

Indicator.. 100 residents actively engaging per year Page 17 contlnued...

2025-03-31-accounts

IMPACT REPORT April ʻ24 - March ʻ25

ABOUT US

VISION

MISSION

OUR

TRUSTEES

OUR STAFF

Laurelle Darroux

A WORD FROM OUR CO-CHAIR

A WORD FROM OUR CEO

PROJECTS

RIPPLE EFFECT GROUP

Conducted & reported by Marion Hull

GP

DROP-INS

LOCALITY LEADS

RESILIENCE

NETWORK

RIPPLE NATURE RESERVE

Conducted & reported by Vishal Narayan

Residents Planning Forum

Conducted & reported by Vishal Narayan

BARKING FOOD FOREST

Conducted & reported Laurelle Darroux

Planning Permission: A Step Forward

RIVERVIEW NEWSPAPER

Conducted & reported by Zainab Jalloh

GREEN UP

Conducted & reported by Marion Hull

Young Citizens Action Group

Conducted & reported by Vishal Narayan

YOUNG CITIZENS ACTION GROUP

FIERCE

DANCING

PODCASTS

KEY

ACHIEVMENTS

partner feedback

feedback

Future Plan