OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2023-03-31-accounts

1

The Power House (Poole)

Company Number 11625271 Registered Charity Number 1190962 c/o Community Action Network, Beech House, 28 – 30 Wimborne Road, Poole, BH15 2BU

Annual General Meeting 13[th] December 2023

Chair and Project Manager Report

Introduction

This is the fourth Power House (Poole) Chair’s report written and submitted by The Power House Board of Trustees and Project Manager. The Power House was conceived in 2017 by five local people, living and working in Poole, including Alix Digby-West, who has subsequently driven the project forward, raised funding, became its first employee, and employed team members.

Period of this Report

This report covers the period since the last AGM of December 2022.

Vision and Objectives and Vision

The purpose of The Power House (Poole) as set out in its revised Memorandum and Articles of Association is to:

“Further or benefit the residents of Poole without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or political or religious or other opinions by associating together the said residents and the local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisure time occupation with the objective of improving the condition of life for the residents.”

These words agreed with the Charity Commission allow The Power House to pursue its longstanding vision and ambition of creating a high quality and prominent Cultural, Community and Wellbeing centre to both provide facilities and run programmes for local community benefit.

Progress over the last year

Since December 2022 progress with community projects has continued while focusing on the National Lottery Reaching Communities application submitted a few weeks after last year’s AGM.

The country and world have settled into a “new normal” since COVID-19 and the Russia - Ukraine war continues going into its second year. In October 2023, a new conflict within

The Power House (Poole) AGM Dec 2023 – Chair & Project Manager’s Report

2

Israel has caused further unrest in the UK. The 2021 and 2022 global increased cost of living has driven an increased inflation to 11% at the end of 2022 and gradually falling through 2023 to 4.6% in October and the lowest rate since October 2021. The UK sees a higher rate than comparable economies. These events continue to shape the landscape of society.

Closer to home, local elections were held in May 2023, with a new Three Towns Alliance being formed and taking on the Administration. BCP FuturePlaces is in the process of being disbanded to cease early 2024, with some staff taking up positions within the council. Personnel announcements are yet to be made. All conversations regarding our interest in the Holes Bay site (former power station location) are on hold.

Funding has continued to be secured for our new community garden, “Cornerstone Patch” at Cornerstone Academy.

The Power House submitted an application to National Lottery Reaching Communities on 22 December 2022 with further information submitted in June 2023 resulting in an invitation to the Final Stage in September. Our application is to employ a Community Team for three years for a community development project.

National Lottery is requesting a focus on Hamworthy community development, with The Power House staying able to connect with Poole Town organisations and deliver activities there. Due to the complexities surrounding delivering a community hub on the power station site, National Lottery has offered to fund 70% of the project costs. With the revised emphasis on Hamworthy, a front facing name of “ Love HamWORTHY – Uniquely You, Beautifully Together” has been created, coming from conversations with a local artist working with Alix to develop a small project in January 2024 to March 2024. It focuses on certain aspects of our community development plan to deliver key community facilities that would become our Unique Selling Point and has great potential to bring residents together while being integral to a sustainable community.

£10,000 Match Funding has already been secured through The Valentine Charitable Trust and Alice Ellen Cooper Dean Charitable Foundation.

At the time of this report being written, we are in the last week of submission rework to submit to December’s Panel, with a decision being given within a week of the Panel. A very big thank you and well done to trustees Maureen, Marie, and Bernard with input from Advisor Michael Armstrong who have worked extensively with Alix to reach this point. National Lottery has stated that The Power House application is a higher risk due to the large scale up involved. However, it is recognised this scale up is necessary to ensure the continuation of The Power House, and “National Lottery do fund high risk”. Should we be successful, then we will hold a small celebration in January 2024.

The Power House (Poole) AGM Dec 2023 – Chair & Project Manager’s Report

3

Staff employment

Despite funding for Alix’s role ending March 2022, community projects funding has been able to provide some funded hours while employing and contracting team to deliver activities. More detail about this will be included within activities In The last year section of this report.

Youth Project funding included project coordination hours for the Project Manager role, with Alix continuing to offer to continue working in a voluntary capacity for the wider project development to ensure its progress. Due to ongoing issues and stress our Youth Space leader Aimée resigned unexpectedly in May, Alix has also picked up that role alongside the Youth Project Coordination.

Cornerstone Patch funding has enabled The Power House to contract work out for delivery of the continued installation, while also bringing in some funding project management time for Alix

Both National Lottery Awards For All and BCP Youth Fund agreed to project and grant extensions which will be outlined later in this report. This in turn enabled our project manager role to be financially sustained between 10 and 16 hours a week with Cornerstone Patch funding until our hopeful success of the Reaching Communities application. Should The Power House be successful, the Reaching Communities funding will enable the continuation of the Project Manager paid role and employ a team to support with administration and project coordination for three years. These positions are The Power House Project Manager, Community Projects Coordinator, Administrator, and Youth Project Lead.

Discussions with National Lottery Grant Manager led to the decision made by The Power House Board relating to the Project Manager role. Should the Project Manager role be increased to a full-time position, it would be classed as a new role that would need to be openly recruited for. The trustees’ preference was to offer the Project Manager role as a 40-hour job share. We understand that the National Lottery would accept this overall slight increase in hours.

Since the initial Reaching Communities submission, The Power House has taken on an administrator for 4 hours a week to support our project manager with funded community projects coordination and administration. Naomi Whayman is a Hamworthy resident who is passionate about giving back to the community and recently employed by St Michael’s Church and Poole Missional Communities for a 20-hour post. She was appointed through an open recruitment process – the interview panel consisting of a Church Centre Manager from another local church. National Lottery agreed this was an acceptable recruitment process for The Power House and have agreed that this Administrator role can be sustained through our Reaching Communities project.

The Power House (Poole) AGM Dec 2023 – Chair & Project Manager’s Report

4

16 hours was deemed by National Lottery to be insufficient for the Youth Project Lead, so this has been increased to a full-time role.

National Lottery had originally stated that the full time Community Projects Coordinator lends itself to be a job share. With the increase in Project Manager hours and the new appointment of an Administrator, we have decreased this role to 24 hours a week.

The new Power House structure and relating Job Descriptions are acceptable to National Lottery to date.

Laura Clarke continues to work with Alix on a self-employed basis to hold sessions twice a week at Cornerstone Patch. A lunch club for Cornerstone Academy students, and an After School Community Session. This role continues to be sustained from September 2023 to Summer 2024 through the BCP Youth Fund grant extension.

The Cornerstone Patch team has recently been joined by another Hamworthy resident, Ben Butement, also on a self-employed basis at this time. Ben offers DIY skills and experience to complement Alix and Laura’s skillset. He will also bring support with aiding the continuation of the Cornerstone Patch installation. Ben’s personal circumstances and aspirations to extend his experience working in schools to retrain as a carpenter and deliver projects supporting the community through woodwork activities are a good fit with Cornerstone Patch and the vision to develop to set up a community workshop. Ben’s role is currently funded by monies received from Oceans To Earth CIC when they ceased trading in 2023. There is potential to develop Ben’s role and extend his hours in time and subject to funding.

All Cornerstone Patch roles are included in the whole Reaching Communities: Love HamWORTHY project plan and wider budget - though not to be funded by National Lottery.

2023 Activities

The Power House’s activities can be divided into operational and strategic.

1. Operational Activities – Community Projects

The Power House currently has five operational activities underway. These have direct benefit to the communities that The Power House serves and are in line with its Charitable objectives.

The Power House (Poole) AGM Dec 2023 – Chair & Project Manager’s Report

5

• Youth Project

In January 2023 we welcomed a new volunteer to the team, M, a male Hamworthy resident with extensive volunteering experience due to long-term health issues. This was following a futile Youth Space Session Worker advertising. M was offered the paid Session Worker position, however, due to his personal circumstances he wanted to remain in a voluntary role. M complimented the team brilliantly and was brilliant at bringing games he sourced from his charity shop work to each session. M joining the team enabled Alix to step aside from some Youth Space sessions.

M started the Level 2 and Level 3 Youth Worker Training delivered by AIM Community, through our BCP Youth Fund grant and also enabled a Cherries Community Fund Cheque Presentation at AFC Bournemouth for Cornerstone Patch in February. We were able to take Cornerstone Academy students Bradley and Isobel who were both part of the setting up of Cornerstone Patch to the celebration. M also printed up photographs of AFC Bournemouth Premiership team for each of the students to have a copy signed by player Marcus Tavernier who they met as part of the presentation. Bradley especially loved this opportunity as a reward for all the time he gives to The Power House for the Patch and Bluebell Community Woodland.

In March, Alix, Aimée and Marq took nine Youth Project Members to BCP Youth Forum Celebration. Seven were given certificates in recognition of the time given as Youth Space Young Leaders and/or through Cornerstone Patch volunteering. A short presentation on how the BCP Youth Fund had been spent and what impact it had had. Then in June, we welcomed two members of the BCP Youth Forum accompanied by BCP Council’s Youth

Engagement Officer who heads up the BCP Youth Parliament to both Cornerstone Patch and Youth Space.

Despite being in a more settled place at Youth Space by the end of 2022, we continued to experience stressful sessions due to a group of young people that were unwilling to engage with the activities we provided, and constantly caused disruption and negative behaviours that young people who have been attending Youth Space from the outset struggled with.

With her increased Social Work Degree work Aimée had planned to step down in July, however, the constant stress resulted in her immediate resignation in May. This

The Power House (Poole) AGM Dec 2023 – Chair & Project Manager’s Report

6

coincided with M being unable to continue at Youth Space to his difficult personal circumstances. After stopping Youth Space due to lack of team, some of the parents who were desperate for it to continue offered to help volunteer.

Alix contacted National Lottery Awards for All in April 2023 to request a project and grant extension in view of these difficulties. This request included the repurposing of £1000 allocated for a Fitness Instructor at the sessions. Despite exploring several avenues, we were unable to find someone. A plan to hold an activity in the community once a month, alongside a reduction in Youth Space sessions at St Michael’s Church to 2 a month.

This proposal was accepted with an extension from the end of June 2023 to 28 December 2023.

This was alongside a request to BCP Youth Fund for an extension. They decided to process our request alongside this year’s round of funding. A proposal to repurpose funding to continue to deliver Lunch Club and After School Community Sessions, which a portion for Youth Panel work. This was approved by the Youth Forum with the request we present again at their March 2024 Youth Forum Celebration.

The Cornerstone Patch Lunch Club is gathering a number of students each week, with school staff introducing them. A core of eight students is attending regularly, with two of these volunteering since May 2023 and coming to our After School Community Sessions. These two have been invited to join the Youth Space Community Activities as a thank you for all their time given. More about Cornerstone Patch later in this report.

In September 2023 we launched Youth Space Autumn Term with a Watersports Session delivered by local organisations Ripple Rebels and Watersports Library. Perfect weather, ideal tide conditions and a stunning sunset, delivered a beautiful but sad last session for Watersports Library who ceased trading at the end of their season.

The Watersports Library equipment is being transferred to Ocean Church to be

used in the community for a donation. We will explore a collaboration and further work with Ripple Rebels in time, and Ripple Rebels are extending their work to include inland activities, so we will look at a collaboration with Cornerstone Patch and Youth Space in due course and subject to a successful Reaching Communities application.

The Power House (Poole) AGM Dec 2023 – Chair & Project Manager’s Report

7

In October we took a group of young people to The Project Climbing Centre in Poole, with a second session booked in for December for those who were unable to make this session.

At the end of November, six young people with five parents and Alix went bowling at Hollywood Bowl for two games and a drink, thanks to a Hollywood Bowl deal. Great fun was had by all.

December sees a second Project Climbing session for those who were unable to make the first and an opportunity for a second session for others. The end of term will be a Bournemouth Escape Rooms experience with Christmas Special visiting Bournemouth Gardens to see the Christmas Wonderland and have a hot chocolate.

Alix and Naomi are going into Cornerstone Academy just before Christmas as part of our Youth Panel work. We aim to ask the same questions we have asked other cohorts of students about what is needed in Hamworthy and what activities they would want in a community hub. This work can then continue into 2024 through the BCP Youth Fund grant.

A decision is currently being made on whether we can continue Youth Space on a voluntary basis with the reduced two sessions a month at St Michael’s, using our regular donation to cover utilities and refreshments.

We are in ongoing conversations with Poole Communities Trust (PCT) who have a Youth service team funded by National Lottery Reaching Communities to see how we can work together with their provision in Turlin Moor. This collaboration also forms part of our Reaching Communities application. PCT also has plans for a Youth Forum, which we could potentially work together on with our BCP Youth Fund monies for Youth Panel until we appoint a Youth Project Lead.

Ultimately, we need a dedicated Youth Project Lead to continue delivering and growing the Youth Project to full potential. To develop our established collaborations with Poole

The Power House (Poole) AGM Dec 2023 – Chair & Project Manager’s Report

8

Communities Trust, Poole Harbour Canoe Club, Ripple Rebels, Cornerstone Academy, and have a broader reach with other schools and organisations. Here’s hoping we are successful with Reaching Communities, then lever the Matched Funding.

Youth Space Reach & Impact: Since June 2022 57 young people attend two or more sessions, with 25 attending regularly at various times throughout the grant period. Currently there are 15 young people attending Youth Space regularly since May 2023, with another three that stopped when they left Cornerstone Academy in July. Most of these regulars have been with 11 young people being with us since Youth Space first began in September 2021.

24 girls and 34 boys attended for two or more sessions, with six girls and nine boys now regularly attending.

For the Awards For All and BCP Youth Fund grants 11 young people completed an evaluation in July 2023. 91% said they noticed an improvement in wellbeing as a direct result of Youth Space.

This improvement in wellbeing looked like: improved confidence, feeling happier, being less anxious, feeling less lonely, growing communication skills.

Making new friendships, making friends with peers they would not normally connect with, having a safe space to socialise and having an adult/mentor to confide in were also part of the improved wellbeing.

The Power House (Poole) AGM Dec 2023 – Chair & Project Manager’s Report

9

When asked if there is anything else good about Youth Space “The staff, people”, “It is fun and you can do things you won't normally do”.

80% said they developed better skills and strengths through Youth space, with this improvement looking like:

“Being able to talk in public”

“Everything”

“New friends”

“Speak to more people”

“As a Youth Leader, I have had to go outside of my comfort zone and interact with new people”

Another evaluation is underway to complete the Awards For All application and relating to the new Autumn 2023 offer.

Thank you to Alan and Sam from St Michael’s Church and who run the Badminton Club. They stepped in to volunteer and played badminton using their equipment with our young people who loved it.

A very big thank you to both National Lottery Awards For All and BCP Youth Fund for making all this possible. We look forward to seeing how we can take our Youth Project forward building on the foundation of the last three years of work

and find the right person to fill our new Youth Project lead role and continue the Youth Project.

The Power House (Poole) AGM Dec 2023 – Chair & Project Manager’s Report

10

• Arts Wellbeing Sessions & Impact

The last of the BCP Living Legacy funded Arts Wellbeing was unexpectedly delivered in Hamworthy again due to a flood in the Poole Dolphin Centre, including the Gather Hub. Thankfully avoiding the art materials we had stored there! Another huge thank you to Oliver who has again helped to move the materials, and this time over the bridge – a momentous moment. We are thankful that a space has been found for us to store the materials at Hamworthy Library.

This came about through us switching the last two of our penultimate course from Hamworthy Liberal Club to Hamworthy Library due to the club being too cold. As the Gather Hub would not be available while redecorating, we held our final course at Hamworthy Library.

36 new participants from Hamworthy, Poole, Parkstone, Bournemouth, and Christchurch, with six volunteers from Hamworthy and Poole. Two of these were new as a result of the funding. This brought approximately 80 people benefitting from the funding, as the reported wellbeing of participants had a positive impact on family members.

Further funding was not sought at this time, due to our community/wellbeing artist having increased commitments to complete her final year of a Counselling qualification by Summer 2024. Considering the continued issues surrounding the Youth Project and the installation of Cornerstone Patch, it was a helpful pause.

While the funding for our Arts Wellbeing Sessions fell in our Accounting year 2021-22 with an extension until December 2022, and was still in progress at the time of writing our 2022 Annual Report

23 evaluations were completed - four of these were from volunteers – and one gave verbal feedback. Four people told us they submitted evaluations but they were not received and these had to be taken over the phone.

The Power House (Poole) AGM Dec 2023 – Chair & Project Manager’s Report

11

The number of people benefitting reported below is of the number of participants. The number of people in participants family and social circles benefitting indirectly is approximately 80: 57 family members or cared for people that we know of, with one Carer being a professional carer for multiple people. Five participants also work delivering wellbeing and community activities for others, so the secondary indirect number of people benefitting from this funding is considerably more, potentially another 200. An estimated 250 people, and potentially more, benefitted directly and indirectly from this funding.

We were disappointed by the low number of participants, however, the positive impact and value for money for each participant was excellent.

22 reported improved mental health or wellbeing

22 reported a reduction of stress, anxiety and/or symptoms of depression

20 reported increased resilience and/or self-care

35 reported increased self-esteem and confidence

3 reported reduced substance misuse and addictions

18 reported that they feel better able to maintain healthy relationships

16 reported improved social networks

11 reported that they feel an increased sense of belonging in their community

13 reported that they feel less lonely

Some comments:

“Helped me cope with all problems and I think I improved as a carer for my partner."

"Looking after a child with ADHD can be challenging. I needed some 'headspace' and the project helped with time out."

"I LOVED attending the sessions, as and when my health allowed. It was good making time for myself. I have learned that self-care is not a luxury."

"I was able to have a “me time” just being away from home and the daily caregiving in those few hours."

"Taking time out for meditation and learning really made an impact."

"More energy, wanting to do more things, so motivation for life."

"Helped me cope with all problems and I think I improved as a carer for my partner."

"I definitely felt stronger within myself. Reengaged with a much loved arts technique and grew the skills I learnt at school 30 years ago. I can see the positive impact on my home and work life."

"I am better at acknowledging that I need to make more time for myself and to be more ‘present’.”

"Just to enjoy being with other Carers who understood the challenges of being a carer.” Sylvia (81) said that "even people [her] age need a sense of belonging.

The Power House (Poole) AGM Dec 2023 – Chair & Project Manager’s Report

12

• Thrive Sessions

With the art materials now at Hamworthy library two community contacts expressed an interest in joining Alix to hold weekly Arts & Crafts Drop-Ins there. The community room was free of charge as these were open access sessions for the community. We have regular attendees, and one has a vision for a Repair Café which aligns with TPH’s vision and ethos around sustainability.

All but two participants live in Hamworthy

and Upton. Elizabeth, has a moderate Learning disability and already volunteers at Hamworthy Library. The group support her and suggest creative activities she can do. The other is an artist who connected to TPH during our COIN Open exhibition and has stayed in touch with TPH since. He is is keen for a community arts hub to overcome his own isolation.

Since our first session on 25 April eleven community members have attended making their own projects, while collaboratively coming up with ideas to make together, and invite the wider community to participate in.

The idea of a Hamworthy Community Blanket was suggested, and a theme of a Wildflower Meadow. A basket was donated, and a selection of wools and needles from TPH’s art materials was put out on a table in the library inviting people to knit or crochet 10cm squares.

We have had a fantastic number of squares being knitted, which in turn inspires our “Thrivers”.

One Thriver, T, made fabric brooches and this inspired the group to enlarge the patterns to make embellishments that were attached to the blanket. Offering another medium for the community to contribute through.

The blanket will include a tree, and in October Half Term we invited the community to make leaves to be stitched on together for the tree and this will continue in early 2024, inviting more to create other embellishments.

The Power House (Poole) AGM Dec 2023 – Chair & Project Manager’s Report

13

Cordelia (55) has recently moved to Hamworthy from out of the area. She is about to start a Masters in Fine Art at Arts University Bournemouth. Knitting is Cordelia’s therapy, and she offered to knit batches of colours for a tree trunk and sky. Her focus for her Masters is aligned with TPH and from February 2024 she will be engaging more with us. We have invited her to lead a workshop with the core group to collate all the squares and create the finished design with us. This workshop will be part of our mini “Love HamWORTHY” project running January to March 2024 at Hamworthy Library thanks to a small grant from the BCP Cultural Development Fund. Cordelia tells us that having this task within the community has helped with her settling, and the topic for her Masters fully aligns with TPH’s values and vision and is going to use her time to work more with us for her thesis. While going through our selection of wool, upon seeing our array of colours, Cordelia’s idea is for a counterpart blanket with a nightime seascape. Both designs celebrate Hamworthy’s natural heritage.

Alix and other Thrivers have been helping Elizabeth choose and make embellishments for the blanket. Over several weeks, 4 matching birds have been made by Elizabeth, who shared with us that she “must have her got her creativity from her Grandad”, and as we chatted about this, it turns out her grandmother was a seamstress and sewed parachutes in World War II. And this explains why she is so good at sewing and remembered how to do a blanket stitch after only being shown once the week before. Elizabeth has valued feeling part of the community and having an opportunity to contribute to the community when she is unable to knit or crochet while valuing the process of creating something together and having her own creative choices. We have all enjoyed Elizabeth’s creativity.

With thanks to BCP Council and the Hamworthy Library staff, especially Penny Denyer who enable us to connect with the community in this way.

• Hamworthy Growing Together & Cornerstone Patch

Building on AFC Bournemouth’s Cherries Community Fund £1000 grant and thanks to Dorset Community Foundation and Sheriff of Dorset’s Nature Heals £1000 grant and lever funding to run sessions, we were awarded £5000 by BH Coastal Lottery to enable us to complete the installation of the raised beds. Eco Sustainable Solutions gave us a charity discount for their super soil.

The Power House (Poole) AGM Dec 2023 – Chair & Project Manager’s Report

14

We held a Bake Sale coordinated by Youth Project Member and Power House Ambassador Emma Roberts. Funds raised from this bought our wheelbarrow.

From April Poole Men’s Shed and community volunteered time to construct nine raised beds over a series of work parties, which Laura named ‘Saturday Socials’ as they proved to be perfect for building friendships. A very big thank you especially to Rob King, Martin Bartlett, Chris and Kevin Sullivan from Poole Men’s Shed, with Elaine and Bryan Sullivan attending most sessions. We loved hearing from Elaine who used to swim in the pool when she attended Herbert Carter School. Elaine shared some of our fragranced sweet peas with her group of friends who also attended the school.

While continuing to install the structure for our community garden, we started to grow in the first of our completed beds.

The Nature Heals funding enabled us to deliver:

17 Lunch Sessions

14 After School Sessions

11 Work Parties including Big Help Out

3 Muddy Boots Sessions

1 Hamworthy Scouts Session

1 Values Day sessions for Cornerstone Academy

106 Beneficiaries 61.6 hours of community activity

25 volunteers across all work parties

7 regularly attending Lunch Sessions

2 regular After School Community Session adult volunteers and 2 young people.

81% of those completing an evaluation told us they experienced an improvement in their wellbeing, with 12.5% saying they may have experienced an improvement.

An improvement in wellbeing looked like:

The Power House (Poole) AGM Dec 2023 – Chair & Project Manager’s Report

15

The Power House (Poole) AGM Dec 2023 – Chair & Project Manager’s Report

16

For the King Charles III Coronation we were joined by Muddy Boots Children’s Nursery for their first session on 5 May as we held a Cornerstone Patch Coronation Tea Party. As

well as enjoying Laura’s homemade cupcakes and other treats Muddy Boots brought, 21 children sowed pumpkins and courgettes that were eventually to be planted out in their two lower raised beds.

On Monday 8 May, we organised a last-minute Coronation Big Help Out and registered our event, with Radio Solent who promoted us on their show. A family from Broadstone came to help and our shout gained 12 volunteers.

Cornerstone Patch has an Elderflower bush, and students enjoyed making cordial in a Lunch Club session, named Cornerstone Cordial: Elderflower.

Since May, Year 7 students Madds and Jesse attended diligently attended our weekly After-School Community Sessions, during holidays too. Jesse especially loved our Cornerstone Condiments: Chutney! Cornerstone Academy student Sophia Edwards designed an exquisite Cornerstone Patch logo.

A grant of £782 from the Asda Community Foundation was awarded by Asda Poole’s Community Champion, Vikki Ekema. This funded the timber and roof for a shelter to

harvest water and for a tool shed to provide regular volunteers to access tools other than those for the school’s Nurture Garden.

We made an application to Kew Gardens’ Grow Wild fund, and were shortlisted, but unfortunately were not one of the seven projects selected. However, we received very positive comments on the project, with Grow Wild saying they will be keeping up to date with our progress through our socials.

Through Dorset Community Foundation we were then awarded £2500 for the Patch water harvesting and irrigation system, and a further £2500 from BUPA Green Communities through Groundworks enabled installation costs. A very big thank you to Tim of HomeWorx Dorset for constructing a very sturdy structure. Poole Men’s Shed have offered to help with installing sides, and Tim has suggested installing second-hand UPVC windows so the Patch can be viewed from within the shelter.

The Power House (Poole) AGM Dec 2023 – Chair & Project Manager’s Report

17

Muddy Boots with Cllr Brian Hitchcock, Madds and Jesse came to harvest the pumpkins with more squash and courgettes.

Our growing season culminated in an Autumn Celebration on 21 October. Rain didn’t stop play and even stopped for the Work Party time. Tim and his family helped prepare the ground for the gazebo, and four Hamworthy residents including two lads, with Michael from Grounded Community filled the last 1 ½ raised beds to enable us to have all nine beds filled this season, ready for Winter growing.

Neighbour Tom came to connect our first water container to the one in his garden running off a shed.

Transition Town Poole’s Gwyn Jones helped with their apple press we hired and we look forward to developing this element for future events.

Asda Champion Vikki joined us with Poole Men’s Shed so we could say thank you to all our funders. Laura and Alix made some delicious food to be shared together. Cornerstone

Courgette Soup, stuffed Patty Pans, and chutney.

The Power House (Poole) AGM Dec 2023 – Chair & Project Manager’s Report

18

In November, we then held a Shared Community Meal to share our produce. The two students came with their parents and one little brother. One mum told us “I never eats food like this, I’m very fussy, and it was scrummy!”

Cllr Brian Hitchcock popped in to try some of the food and we are delivering him a jar of Cornerstone Condiments: Chutney soonest!

Cornerstone Academy now has a new Principal Chris Phillips who has been at the school since 1997. As a keen gardener, he wants Cornerstone Patch’s water harvesting and irrigation system to be an exemplar to the

The Power House (Poole) AGM Dec 2023 – Chair & Project Manager’s Report

19

community. The school has requested for specific elements to be progressed such as landscaping and fencing around the pool edge to ensure safety. This aligns with our plans and a budget is being prepared to seek funding for Phase 2 Cornerstone Patch installation to for landscaping, safety features, and accessibility ramp and paths to enable us to open up community garden sessions to local care homes and for social prescribing. A conversation with Chris Allenby of Poole Quays Forum (PQF) has highlighted a misunderstanding about community access, which changes how they would process an application to the PQF Neighbourhood CIL fund so we will apply to them for a portion of this, alongside an invitation to apply to another fund in Hamworthy.

The Power House (Poole) AGM Dec 2023 – Chair & Project Manager’s Report

20

2. Strategic Activities

Once again, due to capacity and the change in BCP Council Administration in the May elections, this year has been mostly about bringing forward the community projects, and to connect and engage to drive and shape any hub we bring forward. There is still strong support for a community centre in Hamworthy. This community development work will guide strategic development of The Power House.

Holes Bay site & FuturePlaces

It has now been decided to close BCP FuturePlaces and bring the development of the power station site and a reduced number of other development sites as council run. All FuturePlaces staff were offered jobs within the Council, and it is unknown at this point who took up this offer. There has been no further progress with the Holes Bay site, with The Power House being told the opportunity for a Meanwhile Hub on the site originally planned for the end of 2024 now potentially delayed.

BCP Council faces major financial difficulties and is on the brink of bankruptcy with much funding being cut from key services. Sadly, Hamworthy Library’s opening hours are being significantly reduced.

Towards a Meanwhile Hub … and more?

Our proposal submitted for 106 High Street was not taken up and offered to a preferred applicant.

We are thankful for the opportunity to hold sessions and store our arts materials at Hamworthy Library, however, this comes with restriction and an inability to programme our own activities.

Reaching Communities have specified Hamworthy for our project. They recognise one of our key aims is to connect Hamworthy and Poole Town communities, and also support our continued work in Poole Town in collaboration with other organisations. National Lottery has stated the need for an office in order to build team relationships and efficient working, with this being ideally in Hamworthy if possible.

So we keep looking!

3. Secured Funding Synopsis

Funding since the last AGM:

The Power House (Poole) AGM Dec 2023 – Chair & Project Manager’s Report

21

Conclusion

Cornerstone Patch has been a key community project for us, it gives us a space to engage with the community while providing a demonstration and learning experience to set up a capital project. We receive many comments from Cornerstone Academy, members of the community, and funders on how inspiring this project is, especially to repurpose an old swimming pool,

The Reaching Communities application process has been helpful to hone our community reach and develop a plan for the next three years. It has been challenging as The Power House team needs to expand to meet the size of vision and to transition to the next level, to continue our work, and develop into an efficient community business. At our last AGM, Advisor Michael Armstrong expressed his concerns over our project manager’s capacity. When applying to Dorset Community Foundation’s (DCF) Neighbourhood Fund in January, our application was to employ an Administrator to support Alix’s role to deliver the community projects and general Power House work. However, this was unsuccessful as DCF Trustees wanted to see a more diverse income stream and were concerned about facilitating a new role to be sustained.

The Reaching Communities application is to meet these concerns and employ a Community Team to work with our Project Manager job share roles. This will enable The Power House scale up, galvanise and develop our internal processes and procedures, including a more effective evaluation and monitoring system. We now have a good reputation created over the last 6 ½ years, and with this strong foundation can build a sustainable community business, and therefore be less dependent on grants.

The Power House (Poole) AGM Dec 2023 – Chair & Project Manager’s Report

22

While we know and accept that our work is not to focus on a building, having our own premises will also enable our ability to generate income. Should we be successful in finding an office, it would be ideal if this could include a space in which we can programme community activities. Let’s see what the outcome of Reaching Communities will be and which premises open up in 2024.

We welcomed Marie Pandolfo to the Board of Trustees/Directors in April 2023. She brings a wealth of experience and skills in funding strategy and organisational risk management, and sustainability.

Trustees decided at the last board of Trustees meeting on 23 November 2023 that the Chair of Trustees position will be a rotating position until such a time as we find the right Chair.

Maureen La Frenais Trustee & Co-Founder

Alix Digby-West

Project Manager & Co-Founder

Bernard Uzzell

Trustee & Treasurer

The Power House (Poole) AGM Dec 2023 – Chair & Project Manager’s Report


Micro-entityBalanceSheetasat31March2A23
Notes 2023 2022
f f
FixedAssets 470 944
CurrentAssets 32,426 21,436
Prepayments and accrued income
Creditors:amountsfallingdue
withinoneyear		 (s,156)(340)
Netcurrentassetsfliabilities) 27,270 21,495
Totalassets lesscurrent liabilities 27,744 22,036
Creditors:amountsfallingdueafter
morethanoneyear		 (2,986) (2,773)
Provisionsforliabilities 00
Accrualsanddeferredincome (2t"723)(17,908)
Totalnetassets(liabilities) 3,031 1,355
Reserves 1,031 1,355
egs
 egs
 re
,ffi
Notes totheMicro-entityAccountsfortheperiodended31March 2023
I Employees
2023 2022
Average mrmberof,employeesduringthe
period		 2 aJ

TOTAL
AS OF MAR31,2023 ASOFMAR31,2A22{PYl
FixedAsset
Tangibleassets
EquipmentandMachinery 474 %0
TofialTanglbleass* 8470 8940
TotalFix€dAssst t470 s940
Cash at bank and in hand
Current AccountatLloyds Bank 32,276 21,436
Total CaEh at bankardinhand f3,2,276 921,436
Debtors
Debtors 0 0
TffilDeMors 80 80
Cunent Assets
LoantoEmployee 150 0
TotdCunent Assets sl50 80
NET CURRENTASSETS f3,2,4* 821,436
Creditors: amounts falling due within oneyear
TradeCreditors
Creditors 5,100 210
TotalTradeCmdibrs !5,'l00 8210
Current Liabilities
Accrual Jor Harbour AmbitionShares 0 0
Acctuals forHoliday Pay .2,996 2,773
Payroll Liabilities 56 130
Pre-Paid lncome Accrual 21,723 17,908
TaxProvision 0 0
TdalCunentLiabllltes e4,76 820,811
Total Crcditore:amountsfalllryduewffinonoyoar t29,866 f21,021
NET CURRENTASSETS(LtABtLtTtES) 82,561 stl5
TOTALASSETSLESS CURRENT LIABILITIES €3,m1 81,S55
TOTALNETASSETS(LrABrLrTtES) gt,03t 813ss
Charityfunds
Retained Earnings 1,355 166
Surplus/(Deficit) 1,676 1,188
TotalChadtyfurds €3,001 91,355

TOTAL
APR2O22 - MAR 2023 APR 2021 - MAR2022(PY)
lncome
Aclivities andEvents (Fundraising) 38
Donations-Restricted 1,496 1,700
Donations-Unrestricted 2,832 1,071
Gift AidTaxRefund 125 253
Grants-Restricted 30,468 28,023
Grants- Unreslricted 500
MembershipFees 35
Salesof Product lncome 324 97
Tdallncome 85,780 s1,181
Direct Expenses
Consumables 2,817 2,385
Direct EmploymentCosts 5,333 5,443
Direct Expenses 't,114 577
EquipmentorRoom Hire 1,713 644
Event Promotion 2180 768
Subcontractors 18,329 6,090
TotalDiractEryenses *s;787 915,907
TOTAL 85994 215,275
Expenditures
Advertising/Promotional 912 316
GeneralAdministration& Office Expenses 920 1,283
lndirectEmploymentC6ts 855 'to,2M
lnsurancEs 3S9 561
LegalandProfessional Fees
RoomorFacilities Hire		 618
'14		 1,118
144
TotalEryendfures 8,848 813,666
NETOPERATINGINCOME g2,1il6 8,1,609
OtherExpenditures
Depreciation 470 470
ProvisionforTaxation -50
TotalOherEperditrcs u70 g42o
NETOTHEHINCOME fl-470 t,420
NETTNCOME/(EXPENDTTURE) f1,676 tl,r8g
=N
'"N
EO
B6t
=6
8E		 oo
(:IQJ		 oo
(t,1		 ot 1r)00
FQ{ql
s
q{		 -1rlOrO
g)F-O-
qJoon
^iri(.l
ut{		 ooo
(+lEIqJ		 ooo
(+lEIqJ		 sto
F-O
o_o-
-O
ql-
GI		 oo
o_
F-
(+l
E;
Eo
(J
>N
Lq{
'-Noo
=N
N!		 -c,
F-O
vt'
(tlqJ		 oh
SF
!.-
tq{
ft.t		 o NOO
trro
(ono
-jq o
(.l
u		 ()o
6lo
-O
$Jsi'
QI		 F)A-
r,		 f,
c.I-ry
6l-N
$l(.l		 sl
o_
(..l		 (0
o_
c')
q.t
N=
r8-
I'I
oo> cN
-,-N
_c?-r
o YN
FgR
i, Ei
Ego		 oo
qJ(.l		 os
NGI		 oqt oo
oo
o-o-
(t()
q{ qt		 No-
Ngt		 oo
mo
o_c)_
r)o
s{e(+t		 to
@-
6Nol
(!N
EOkN
}E		 ro
FO
\ti,-
otQ.l		 orf)
OF
oo
o
ql		 Q'l Gtc)o
@EO
crroo
ci(.l d
d
trt		 FOO(t
oUdF
do
(.l		 (\l
q{ ol
oo
on
CIN		 oo
qlq		 NNN.
Nc.l
(r.l
.Foo
z?
a
e
dl
ot
#Es
I!ov'		 oN0-
oql		 oo
(0
lr_
(\t
kt		 (t
O_
(.t		 @{
(',o,
(r?
oloi
ql		 n.f
rt
ql
(,)
(oo-$ot		 N
N-
sl
(.{		 sttry
6$l
gJ
;,8
ie
lu
5
oo
oo
c)F
r:(+l
(+J		 olr,
N-		 (}l eoonrr)
AU-dA
q.t
ooo^		 oo
o_o
q.l
ooo_eql
o
QJ		 eNrclr$ UUU-d
rN
NO
o_{._		 qt moo
((OO
c,-o-tr)-
l$oAt
(}l-sl
(.{		 AJ ,OOOFOAIO
ooo6060
oooooNo
--smosloi
(.iq.lqt&.1qJ
4l		 tcl ootqJ
=
LL		 (o
q{
=o
lY>
o'6
rB
?60a
o		 o
N		 oo
stN
6ioo
oz		 OO-O
r-NN
oc
c
0r=o5
(h-a<		 a, Oe-O
N(\INN
AA**
od)XX
aavv		 fiiil$ils
EgE"hgE		 -NN
NNN
-a.,
.!
=sg		 NNmO60000
C{SlNNNNNNN
oo=!Ecc=x
ool9(t)::::x
(,)O>lIa?-		 -v o
N
.o
ruIr		 C{
-
qc
.9
o
E'5
E-3
aof
c:@
ov^
D=6
EE
O
<c€
riL
5vO
to=		 c
(E
oz6		 E(,z
oo
nc
oo
o-o
co		 $ lt)
-tr
Lr
.l.
6<<
o
:arBE8'
OEEFY
.Ei--
eb
EO(E6.=;
*!cc=u
iE€.Ebs
:E::S=		 e
.9
=oso_
o?
E-.'s
?EO
i o't
E c o.ti
EA=s
r.rQ r-r{
o 6o-J
oaaoz		 fo
tL
Jz		 {1),:)
ooo(,
6
.=oo
LL
o0,
g_-s
!-
=5--
tro-
oo
om		 c--
b=^
T=Y
=o
F
€e(5e
F,fEe
E
-E$iEEE*E
Ebf;3EH€€3
El:)<m@a<55rn		 lt
I		 -
==.D
.=o
oI
.9
E
o)
oa		 !tSe
N!2u-
6;
o9
o!
eOo=
0td
o'5
io
-o-
F()
i.o		 tn
G
6I oo = =o ao =3o oF
EX
?,(f
EN
=€
8E		 ooo
otqlo]		 oooo
(cqI(}t		 (}l o(fr(o
ql tf t-
\o_
ot
{rl(rl		 o(fr(o
ql tf t-
\o_
ot
{rl(rl		 o(fr(o
ql tf t-
\o_
ot
{rl(rl		 oooo
!,tqJt4l		 ql OOOeO
glof{os
o- 6- o-<,)_
-voN
ag.lql ql		 c)o
oo
c)-o-
slGt		 @
_(o-iN
([a
zz
-o)6
Eo
o
>r{-
tLc,{
c(')
'-N		 ooo
(}lEJq		 6000
gIQJQI		 AI (roo
(.l(}I(}I		 oooo
(+l .rJtul		 ql ooooN
(tac.lct(*at(+l		 oo
(c(.l		 Ntf
c}l
oo5N
N8.
ii.xU
(o
6)> c{-
-'-
N
.(EX.i
9;N
PEii
ii Ei		 oo
oo
o-o_
66
(		 ](+l oNooo
o€oo6
OtsOAN
ciglAi(lJ
gl
ql		 6i
Cll		 ooiql
E
E(,
6R
:6O
!N		 ooo
(c qt(}l		 oooo
C+lql6l		 Cl r,(o
tF-
i.-- o_
(')t
QJqI		 oOf)-
doN@
o^l.)-6-
F\tC'J
(rl qlcrt		 oo
oo
6-O-
t-
crlql		 (.)
C\l
l',--
0l
(.{
'f
<*
=ao
o
o
E
o
E		 oo
oo
OF-
deI
4l		 o
6F-		 (.] crocro.o
ql 4l -
q.l<+l
q.l
ooo-		 o60
auu
ooo"()
ql
oo
c)_		 $F(!-
uuola
-
c.1
NO
o-q		 o
o-o
{rI		 rJ)
g,l		 C',<,c,
(ooo
o--m
60N
(.IFan
ql		 (+I qql
(')
an
Or
oco
o-o-
ro(',
clcl
NOO
€oc)()
F-O6
c.t6i(rl
st		 oo
cr-
$tl		 o6!'qJ
f
LL		 a0
(,.l
E9
og
g)o
;fiil.
o		 oto oo
NN
tJ>
rDo
62		 OO)-fi)
clc c
ro=(!f
U)--<		 cD (f--O
NNNN
o o-
x
EE65		 REESNN
BgE$$E		 -o,lGt
sry$ =sg		 NNOOOOOOO
NNNNNNNNN
oo
!!
E E E=:i
ool!o:ff=x
(rO>l!---'v		 (r,
N
,,clo
l!		 (Y)
N
?
t(,.:
a,
a,ou
6
I
o
o
.9
tho
G
Io.ts		 E
_o
6e
-o;
E€
<c
=d
:o
o
I		 6
ozoo
o
-E
oi
.!r,H
o'v
CE
24
o
(J		 c6(,zoO
oc:oO
(Lo
co		 (Eo
:LL
l.L
J.
6<<
O
:EBBEE
.OqEE:
EH;;
PE
.:i-6EEEur
iE€€bsr
:3EES=
tso		 eo
6:
=d
e=
.=,4
@E-
5 6-
io'>
9-m,Y
Ea=;
u-Qr-r(
O6or
6cl(d)az
=		 ?
fx6()
>E
-o,
'55
Oo
ol:f9
<5
/E		 .9o
N()
o_
N-E
c6
o=>o
ILIL
oo
oo		 c
o		 o
.=
J
@
(5ooEoor
=_sgB
q,r.oE5
.9556
u--<
O-trO-E
qr(Joo
o
-g.Do6=
E		 o
o
g
oc
oo		 trE
oi
T!
=4
F
EE8
eh,SEe
B-Eoo-'q-
:E:PEX"H
=I sPc 4=
Eg,EsBEN
*oY-.o.=+i1?
u[-L(JOO<
o<coco(,<=		 o
(5
=x
a)o
o)3		 I3 Ecfl,L
oo
E5
o
o-o
co		 o
6
o
F

17[th ] January 2024

The Power House

March 2023 Independent Examiner's Report for the Year to 31[st ]

I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31[st ] March 2023

Respective responsibilities of Trustees and examiner

As the charity Trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts; you consider that the audit requirement of Section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the Act) does not apply. It is my responsibility to state, on the basis of procedures specified in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under section 43(7)(b) of the Act, whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent examiner's report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:

to k p accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the Act; and

to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the Act;

have not been met or; or

to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Date ...... 17/01/24 ............. .

......[Seu!3f/. ] ............................... .

Sue Wintle FMAAT

27 Bascott Road Wallisdown Bournemouth Dorset BH11 8RJ