Working with and supporting children and young people
Youth Presence CIO
Registered Charity Number 1191305
Trustee’s Annual Report and Financial Report for the Period
01.09.2023 - 31.08.2024
Reference and Administrative details
Charity Name: Registered charity number: 1191305
Youth Presence
Charity’s Address Stricklandgate House 92 Stricklandgate Kendal Cumbria LA9 4PU
Names of the Charity Trustees
| Trustee Name | Office (if any) | Appointed | Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Marian Kearney | Reappointed September 2022 | ||
| 2. | Kinga Rolak | Secretary | Reappointed September 2021 | |
| 3. | Sr. Constance Cameron | Nominated trustee |
Reappointed September 2022 | Salesian Sisters |
| 4. | Rev. Hugh Pollock | Chair (April 2024) |
Reappointed September 2023 | |
| 5. | Mary Elizabeth Biddle | Chair | 2020 Resigned February 2024 |
|
| 6. | Deborah Carey | Treasurer | January 2022 (Appointed Treasurer June 2023) |
|
| 7 | Caroline D’Arcy | December 2022 |
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Objectives and Activities
Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document: To advance in life and relieve needs of children and young people, in particular (but without limitation) in the North West of England, for the public benefit through:
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a) the provision of recreational and leisure time activities provided in the interest of social welfare, designed to improve their conditions of life;
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b) providing support, activities and opportunities which develop their skills, capacities and capabilities to enable them to participate in society as mature and responsible individuals and be aware of their individual potential
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c) providing education programmes, in particular but not exclusively by, personal, social and spiritual education as a means of advancing education.
Summary of the main activities undertaken in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts.
Youth Presence has worked tirelessly over this period, making a positive difference in the lives of local children and young people.
Our ‘USP’ is our belief in the importance of presence; long term accompaniment and a relational approach with children and young people. We know our relational approach is essential in building protective factors. We see ourselves as part of a tapestry support for children and young people, alongside other services in the area.
Trustees reviewed Safeguarding policies and procedures, using NSPCC Learning resources. We have also undertaken training in Safeguarding and First Aid. We have changed provider for our DBS checks. These firm foundations have ensured we operate using best practice and provide our children and young people with safe environments.
Our Youth Presence Project Worker has continued to offer essential support to young people through our Pastoral Hub at The Queen Katherine School. The group work and 1:1 accompaniment offered by our Project Worker remains central to many young people’s support networks.
One highlight of this initiative is a food project which we have been able to continue from our previous year. Eligible young people have been able to partake in a ‘pie and fruit’ night once a week. This is always well attended. The ‘Blue Sofa Podcast’ produced by our podcast club continues to provide interesting and important content. One episode highlighted awareness of the charity Papyrus. The ‘Blue Sofa Podcast’ became award winning in June 2024. The team were ‘Highly Commended’ within the ‘Best Audio’ category at Shine School Media Awards. This is a wonderful achievement for all the young people involved.
Our Youth Presence Project Worker has started working alongside our local child centred policing team. This multi-agency approach is beneficial to all the young people we work with. We hope to develop this relationship in the future.
This project has also enabled us to listen to youth voice and shape projects accordingly. One example of this was a specialist initiative with a girl’s group entitled ‘#herpastyourfuture’. This project educated others on making safe decisions around the use of social media. Another highlight saw young people being empowered to put into action their idea of an ethical beauty products event. This was attended by over 70 young people. Our Project Worker also worked with two young people to enable their big idea of a fundraising event to become reality. Together, the group took part in a
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‘Drive Around’ visiting Premier League football clubs. These projects were incredibly meaningful and enabled young people to take confidence in their ideas, to believe in themselves and to learn valuable skills.
Our open access youth work offer has also grown. We offered monthly pizza nights during Autumn 2023 to Year 7 young people we had supported during their transition to secondary school. Young people made their own pizzas, alongside taking part in games. We have also been able to continue our youth club for children in Years 4, 5 and 6 and developed a new Youth Café provision for young people in Year 7 and 8. The focus of both youth groups is to provide local children and young people with a safe environment, where they can engage with positive activities that help them to feel good about themselves. We were able to offer an additional layer of support to local children; a place they could look forward to coming to. To celebrate the end of the year, we organised a trip where young people took part in bowling and laser quest. Children told us that the youth club was ‘fun, creative and sociable ’ and that the Youth Café is ‘a nice spot to make friends, talk about stuff and socialise’.
In December 2023, we were able to offer 2 days of ‘Holidays and Food’ provision. Children came together to take part in a wide variety of games and activities during the Christmas holidays. Children were supported in their development of social skills such as turn taking, teamwork and cooperation, as well as making new friends.
In February 2024, the Trustees of Youth Presence appointed our first Chief Executive Officer. This has contributed to the sustainability of the charity, alongside developments in partnership working and new projects.
Our CEO has been able to offer a weekly outreach project in a local primary school. This project offers children a compassionate and empathetic space. Children take part in games and activities which help them to socialise, increase feelings of happiness and build self-esteem.
A huge new initiative has been our Year 6 transition project. The aim of this project is to support local children as they navigate the change from primary school to secondary school. This is an ambitious project which focuses on personal development and connection, through activities, games and discussion. The project is designed to support children in their friendships, self-confidence, and resilience. We want children to learn more about themselves and others.
Youth Presence worked with 5 local primary schools, welcoming 41 children onto this project. We delivered weekly sessions in schools, alongside after school opportunities and a further transition day in their new secondary schools. After the in-school programme, children said:
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‘I enjoyed sharing my emotions and feeling comfortable’
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‘I loved how we could express ourselves’
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‘I liked how everyone feels they belong’
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‘I enjoyed how safe and friendly it was’
Youth Presence continued to assist the ‘Next Steps’ project, working with identified Year 7 students to support their transition to secondary school. We were also a lead partner in ‘Kendal Youth Fest’. This event took place in Summer 2024 and saw youth agencies coming together to offer a fun and formative day for local young people.
We are exceptionally grateful to all our funders who enable this important work to take place. Huge thanks to the Lupton Tower Trust, The Hadfield Trust, Cumbria Youth Alliance, Francis Scott Trust, The Freida Scott Trust, Cumbria Community Foundation, Westmorland and Furness Council, Robert Stephenson Charities and the Roselands Trust. We are grateful for the donations we receive from community fundraising events, for example carol singing and the Christmas Tree Festival. We are
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also grateful for the donations we receive from individuals. The new Mayor of Kendal chose Youth Presence as one of the local charities he will support during his time in this position. Again, we truly appreciate this. We couldn’t continue our mission without all this vital support.
The activities and development of Youth Presence are a clear testimony to the trustee board acting with integrity, courage and vision - always placing the welfare of children and young people at the heart of every decision.
Statement confirming that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit:
The trustees of Youth Presence have complied with their duty to have due regard to the commission’s public benefit guidance when exercising any powers or duties to which the guidance is relevant.
Achievements and Performance
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New projects offering long term accompaniment to children and young people.
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Working with a variety of funders, increasing our capacity for activities.
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Appointing our first Chief Executive Officer.
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Development of partnership working.
All these achievements have enabled Youth Presence to make a positive difference to the circumstances of children and young people and further our charitable object.
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Structure, Governance and Management
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Registered Charity Number 1191305
Youth Presence Financial Report 01.09.2023 - 31.08.2024
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