Sign.com Document ID: 9286a9e94a - Page 1/16 ## **TRUSTEE ANNUAL REPORT** **REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1195177** **REGISTERED OFFICE: THE LODGE, SICKLEBROOK LANE, COAL ASTON, DRONFIELD S18 3BE** **TELEPHONE: 07484719891** **PROJECT OFFICE: PEEL CENTRE, DRONFIELD** Sign.com Document ID: 9286a9e94a - Page 2/16 TRUSTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2024-2025 ## ## **Introduction** **3** A word from our Chairperson. A look back at the year. ## **Structure Governance & Management** **4** Our Charitable Objectives, information about our Trustees, how our charity is managed and the Policies and Procedures it holds. ## **Financial Report** **8** A detailed look at our accounts, together with information on general performance. ## **Amazing Achievements** A look back at what we’ve achieved together. From Artisan Markets to our Fashion Show, craft stalls to workshops, we’ve done it all. **11** ## **Volunteer Focus** Find out about why one of our volunteers decided to work with us and why. **13** ## **Community** A round up of the workshops on offer this year and a message from one of our volunteers **14** ## **And finally** Check out our awesome numbers **16** ## **Celebrating Four Amazing Years Together!** Wow, can you believe it's already been four years? Our wonderful charity, ‘Crafting2gether,’ continues to meet twice a week to craft with a purpose. Each session, we welcome both old and new friends to share a cuppa, enjoy conversations, and create together. We foster companionship, build friendships, and support one another through challenging times. However, our primary goal is to assist individuals, families, and communities facing difficulties during these uncertain and trying economic times. For eight hours a week, along with countless additional hours at home, we knit, stitch, and crochet items that help bring comfort, warmth, and ease to those in need. We provide crafted items to organizations that cannot afford to supply them, ensuring that each piece is made with care, love, and generosity. Our skill-sharing sessions are designed to teach and support anyone eager to learn or enhance their crafting skills. Additionally, our workshops allow us to explore new crafts and activities and by participating in community events and markets, we unleash our creativity, producing beautiful items for sale while raising muchneeded funds. ## **A WORD** Sign.com Document ID: 9286a9e94a - Page 3/16 **FROM OUR CHAIR** Although our journey began during the challenging days of the Covid pandemic, it continues today with a shared vision for a brighter tomorrow for everyone. Our Trustees and Volunteers work diligently to support Crafting2gether's goals and objectives, standing united to strengthen our efforts. I am incredibly proud of the amazing people who walk this journey alongside us, and I sincerely thank you all for your unwavering support, time, and commitment. A heartfelt thank you also goes out to those who continue to cheer us on and support us in various ways. Here’s to moving forward into year five! **----- Start of picture text -----**
Shelagh
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**SHELAGH CHEETHAM** CHAIRPERSON Sign.com Document ID: 9286a9e94a - Page 4/16 ## TRUSTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2024 - 2025 ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT** crafting2gether is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and is governed by its constitution which was agreed on 14th July 2021 and amended on 26th August 2022, 24th October 2022, 15th January 2023, 15th May 2023 and 15th January 2026 to take account of changes to the Trustee Board. ## **STRUCTURE** ## **GOVERNANCE** This has been a challenging year for our small charity. We started the year with 8 Trustees, and regrettably, saw the resignations of our Treasurer, and another Trustee member, both of whom had to resign for personal reasons. We thank them for their support and wish them well. The Trustees have continued to apply robust tests against the 3-year business plan, updating it to reflect the changing priorities of our beneficiaries and ensuring our organisational structure meets the needs of the charity now and going forward. As a consequence, we now have 6 Trustees and are actively seeking to recruit a new Treasurer and as part of our regular Business Plan review, we continue to seek new members to the Trustee Board. The changes made last year following a risk review, to launch the Activity Planning Group (APG) have paid dividends, with this small, but every growing group of Volunteers leading on fundraising activities and organising the twice weekly drop in sessions. In the interim, the Treasurer role has been assumed by the Secretary. The group meets monthly and submits minutes to the Trustees, with a number of Trustees also sitting on the group. We also bade a very sad farewell to Carol Danson, one of our founding Trustees and our very first volunteer, who passed away in February. A truly remarkable and inspiring woman of many talents who will be sadly missed by our community. The APG has become an integral part of the structure of the charity and an essential component in delivering the pipeline of items which leave our charity, bound for local organisations across our region. **----- Start of picture text -----**
Carol Danson
Trustee 2021 -2024
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As ever, we also thank our community of crafters, without whom none of this would be possible. It truly is a team effort! ## Sign.com Document ID: 9286a9e94a - Page 5/16 ## TRUSTEE ANNUAL REPORT ## 2024 - 2025 ## **ORGANISATION** ## **The Trustee Board** This board holds overall responsibility for the charity's operations and currently includes the following members: Shelagh Cheetham - Founder and Chairperson - Shirley Metcalfe - Trustee - Vacancy - Trustee - John Plant - Trustee, Deputy Chair and joint Acting Treasurer - Fiona Sinclair - Trustee - Julie Cousins - Secretary to the Trustees and joint Acting Treasurer - Gwen Plant - Trustee ## **The Strategy Planning Group** This group is tasked with developing the three-year business plan and includes all current Trustees as members. Responsibilities also include: Writing bids - Managing relationships with existing organizations - Identifying new partnerships - Overseeing media and fundraising efforts, pending the establishment of the Fundraising, Media & Marketing Group ## **The Activity Planning Group** This group is responsible for organizing fundraising events, which may be identified by the Strategy Business Group, the Trustees, or through their own initiatives. It also manages the storage and daily receipt of all donated items for gifting. Collaborating with all crafters, this group ensures that our gifts reach organizations in need and comprised of a mix of volunteers and Trustees, this group serves as a vital driving force for our charity. The group also organises and supports the majority of our fundraising events. ## **Fundraising, Media & Marketing** This group is yet to be established, and all related activities are currently incorporated within the Strategy Planning Group and the Trustee Board. ## **Crafters** Our most essential group! Our crafters support all the organizations we craft for, collecting materials and patterns to create beautiful items for gifting. They are the engine room of our charity—whenever we ask, they deliver! We continue to grow, welcoming new crafters and members onto the APG and every contribution matters and strengthens our work. CRAFTERS - 72 Sign.com Document ID: 9286a9e94a - Page 6/16 TRUSTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2024 - 2025 ## **FOCUS ON THE ACTIVITY PLANNING GROUP (APG)** ## **What is the Acitivity Planning Group?** As our charity has evolved, the Activity Planning Group has become a vital component of our operations. This group is integrated within the crafting2gether structure and collaborates closely with the Trustees to optimize our resources and maximise our fundraising. This synergy fosters connections with organizations, other charities, and external agencies. ## **Group Focus and Dynamics** - The group primarily focuses on the operational aspects of the charity. They meet regularly throughout the year to strategize and coordinate efforts with guidance from the Trustees - Members work collaboratively, and the group comprises both Trustees and dedicated volunteers. These committed individuals invest countless hours to plan, organize, and communicate with our crafters, ensuring our initiatives run smoothly. ## **Ensuring Effective Operations** To enable us to meet demand, it’s essential to store all materials, equipment, and finished items efficiently. The charity rents a nearby unit, and members of the APG organize storage and transport materials to and from crafting sessions. ## **Activities of the APG** - Organizing effective storage Collaborating with crafters to assess and prioritize tasks that need to be accomplished. Organizing weekly sessions and fundraising events - Working together to determine responsibilities for various tasks, such as bringing materials and equipment, setting up tables and chairs, or providing refreshments. The efforts of the APG are crucial in ensuring that our crafting sessions operate effectively and every task, regardless of size, is vital to the overall success of our charity and this teamwork highlights the success and commitment of APG members, so vital in moving us forward. Thank you! **GWEN PLANT - TRUSTEE AND CHAIR OF THE APG** Sign.com Document ID: 9286a9e94a - Page 7/16 TRUSTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2024 - 2025 ## **OUR CHARITABLE OBJECTIVES** OUR COMMITTMENT AS A CHARITY ## **VISION** _**Where we want to be**_ Our Vision is to provide opportunities and activities through the medium of crafting that enhance the physical and mental wellbeing of all participants and beneficiaries **OBJECTIVES** _**What we intend to deliver**_ 1. To actively connect with, retain and support local volunteers and service users, providing equipment, technical support, friendship and premises in which to learn, improve and impart their crafting (and other) skills. 2. To promote the benefit of crafting within the local community, (including schools and other organisations), preserving and nurturing lifelong and portable skills through the provision of practical crafting sessions which connect and strengthen relationships across our community and enhance overall learning experiences. 3. To provide volunteer made, hand-crafted goods, free of charge to Charities and Organisations which demonstrate a particular need and where the produce is required to support or improve the quality of life of their service users. 4. To promote volunteering and participation by signposting to Charities or Organisations delivering projects that they may wish to support and to provide a safe and welcoming base for service users, volunteers and members of the community to engage in crafting and other activities, aimed at developing individual skill and competence Sign.com Document ID: 9286a9e94a - Page 8/16 ## TRUSTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2024 - 2025 ## **POLICIES AND PROCEDURES** ## **Read all about it!** As part of the regular Risk Assessment Process, the Trustees highlighted the need to bring together all essential safety, security, compliance and general information. In October, we launched our Essential Handbook, a digital and printable guide that puts everything in one place for everyone involved in the charity. It’s a one stop shop for health and safety, information and safe working in the charity. We also saw the need for a clearer, more reliable way to share news. Whilst our WhatsApp group encouraged lively discussion, important updates could be missed. To support better communication, we set up a ‑ push message Broadcast Group and developed a digital and printable Quarterly Newsletter, shared by email and WhatsApp. It shines a light on the charity’s work and keeps everyone up to date. **Risk Assessment Findings and Commitment to Our Community** All policies, procecedures are reviewed in line with published review dates and all risks are assessed as part of the standard meeting agenda. A recent Risk Assessment has once again highlighted a skill gap in Media/Marketing and Bid Writing and although successful in securing 2 generous grants from Morrisons and Arnold Clarke, we have unfortunately, not yet been able to acquire these skills with the necessary depth and consistency. However, we firmly believe that our crafters and volunteers are our greatest asset and have therefore, directed our communication strategy toward keeping them as informed as possible, while simultaneously exploring new methods to fill this gap. The individuals we craft with and for are at the core of everything we do. As Trustees, we remain dedicated to fostering a safe and secure working environment, alongside nurturing informed and engaged supporters. Sign.com Document ID: 9286a9e94a - Page 9/16 ## TRUSTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2024 -2025 ## **FINANCIAL REPORT** ## FINANCIALS 2022-2025 **----- Start of picture text -----**
Income 22-23 £11649
Costs 22-23 £8399
Income 23-24 £10754
Costs 22-23 £8753
Income 24-25 £12200
Costs 24-25 £9979
£0 £2000 £4000 £6000 £8000 £10000 £12000 £14000
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Our total income for the year 2024-2025 was £12,200, which included all gifts, grants, sponsorship, fundraising and donations. Our expenses were £9,979, leaving our reserves at £24,504, an increase of £2,221. Overall, our expenses have experienced a slight increase, mainly due to the demands of our current pipeline which requires new wool instead of donated fabric, alongside rising rental costs for our premises, however, on a more positive note, we received grants from Morrisons plc and Arnold Clarke, both of which supported this year’s Schools Community Project and we thank them for their generosity. Our total income increased by 12% which has ensured we were able to meet our costs and add to our reserves. This year has been yet another amazing journey filled with creativity and generosity. - We established a partnership with Royal Primary Care, one of the largest Foundation Trust owned GP organisations in England, serving over 50,000 patients across eight locations. - At the same time, we continued our support for Baby Basics (Sheffield), contributing more than 1,200 items. - We’ve also expanded our crafting and volunteer community, with even more people eager to receive our newsletter and stay connected. - We’ve crafted an sold at 6 events this year and we’ve sold surplus stock at the annual craft market in Chesterfield, raising much needed funds and releasing storage space Another year or strong performance and consolidation and despite rising costs, we have successfully increased our reserves, leaving us well positioned us to achieve even more in the upcoming year. Sign.com Document ID: 9286a9e94a - Page 10/16 ## TRUSTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2024 - 2025 Sign.com Document ID: 9286a9e94a - Page 11/16 ## TRUSTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2024 - 2025 **AMAZING ACHIEVEMENTS** This year, we’ve delivered 5783 items free of charge to 25 organisations and we’ve also had another wonderful fund raising year. Here’s just a reminder of what we’ve been up to. ## **GIFTING TO OUR COMMUNITY** We ended last year with a new partnership with Royal Primary Care, a group of 8 GP surgeries across Chesterfield and Mansfield. Part of Chesterfield Royal Hospital Foundation Trust , these surgeries have a wide demographic and take in some of the most underpriviledged areas of NE Derbyshire. Emcompassing wide ranging tertiary services, these surgeries are major health hubs in their areas and our winter warmers have simply flow off the shelf with over 400 hats, scarves, shawls, draught excluders and blankets donated. We’ll be doing more in this coming year. Building on our collaboration with Doncaster Hygiene Poverty, we’ve also extended our efforts to Fanshaw Secondary School in our local area and expanded our initiative to Stocksbridge High School in Sheffield, successfully delivering 658 hygiene bags to support girls when at school. And let’s not forget our feathered friends! We've been busy bird architects, crafting cozy nests for swifts to keep their young safe and sound. Plus, (cue the collective "awwww") we’ve donated training blankets for a litter of adorable guide dog pups! Not our usual gifts, but they’re tremendous fun! At the same time, we’ve continued to support the ever wonderful Baby Basics (Sheffield) with 2542 items donated this year, still our largest beneficiary, receiving 45% of all items made. Whatever the organisation, there is joy and fun to be had in the activity of crafing. Skills have to be learned and organisation is key to ensuring they can all be delivered in a timely fashion. Cumulatively, Chesterfield Royal Hospital (exluding Royal Primary Care) received 1106 items, making this our second largest beneficiary this year. We love working with them, the diverse range of our crafting is certainly challenging! From drainage bags to bonding hearts, theatre hats, to premature baby wear and everything in between. You name it, we supply it! **----- Start of picture text -----**
Royal Primary Care Staff
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That’s why we love hearing from our volunteers. Here’s Fiona’s story. ## **FIONA’S STORY** Fiona is a Trustee, Crafter and Volunteer who now acts as our liaison with Chesterfield Royal Hospital. But it wasn’t always the case..... “I joined crafting2gether in 2022 after my Social Prescriber suggested it could be beneficial for my mental health. I could barely knit, and my sewing machine sat in the corner, nervously watched by me. Since that day when I shyly stepped into the Peel Centre, I’ve never looked back. I’ve discovered a truly rewarding outlet for my creativity, as helping those in need is what I do best. Delivering the items we create for Chesterfield Hospital is incredibly uplifting. Witnessing the gratitude on people’s faces is a beautiful sight. I’m now a Trustee of crafting2gether, and honestly, how could I have refused! “ Sign.com Document ID: 9286a9e94a - Page 12/16 ## TRUSTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2024 - 2025 We don’t do it for the thanks, but we love to get feedback and here’s a few words from some of the organisations we support. “ _I am writing to express my gratitude. I am told you and your crafting team have made 200 hygiene pouches for Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School! I have never forgotten how amazing you all were during COVID, with the thousands of face-coverings you provided for out staff and students, and now you have helped us again._ _Trudie Davies, Acting Headteacher, Dronfield Henry Fanshawe School_ _I am contacting you on behalf of The Archer Project to thank you for your kind donation of handmade items – we sincerely appreciate it. Your support has enabled us to continue helping people to progress away from homelessness through holistic_ _care._ - _[It has been an] incredibly difficult year at The Archer Project, we are greatly impacted by the rise in homelessness and the cost-of-living crisis. So far this year, we have already supported 1,099 individuals._ _We have also served over 20,000 nourishing meals, supported 28 Partner Volunteers (people with lived experience of homelessness) with 5,725 volunteering hours and facilitated 244 therapeutic activities for 67 participants._ _Your donation will help us support more people to progress away from homelessness._ _I just wanted to each out and say a very big thankyou for the donation of the latest twiddle muffs. These are very gratefully received here at Chesterfield Royal Hospital and a very valuable resource for our patients – young and old!_ _Many thanks for your continued support._ _Clare Dawson,Library & Knowledge Service Manager,Education Centre | Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS FT_ _Thank you to crafting2gether.org.uk for your your thoughtful and caring donation to the school._ _Stocksbridge High School_ Thank you so much for another incredible donation of beautiful period pouches. We appreciate how much time and effor you put into these. Hygeine Bank, Doncaster Hygeine Bank #thankyouthursday this week is for Shelagh and her Crafting 2gether volunteers who regularly donate huge numbers of beautifully handmade items such as these. We are always excited when this delivery arrives as we know our boxes will be full of beautiful blankets and bags to use in our referrals. We know that the families we support will cherish these items made with love for them. Baby Basics Sheffield “ Sign.com Document ID: 9286a9e94a - Page 13/16 **----- Start of picture text -----**
TRUSTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2024 - 2025
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Christmas is a really busy time of year for us. It’s when our winter warmer season comes to a head and when we’re at our busiest crafting to raise funds at Christmas Markets in our region. This year, thought we’d make it even more festive and we again partnered again with Dronfield Junior School to create something just a little special. Here’s a look at what this year’s Christmas season brought. ## **Helping Hands** This year, seven amazing crafters collaborated with seven new knitters from Dronfield Junior School to create seven delightful snow buddies for our Christmas Tree, which will be displayed at St. John’s Church during the beloved Dronfield Christmas Tree Festival. For every snow buddy or angel crafted by the children, our crafters produced one of their own and donated it to the Den at Chesterfield Royal Hospital. The children wrote their own heartfelt messages and were able to keep the beautiful buddy they created, along with a certificate of merit for being absolutely fabulous! A special thank you goes to Dronfield Junior School for making this project possible and to our dedicated volunteers: - Margaret Patti - Kate Suye Fiona Shirley Gwen Without their support, none of this would have been achievable. To find out more about our project, go to: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17phuADZpz/ Sign.com Document ID: 9286a9e94a - Page 14/16 ## TRUSTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2024 - 2025 ## **OUR COMMUNITY - WORKSHOPS** Workshops are a fantastic way for our crafters to come together to learn or share a skill. The organiser, Shirley Metcalfe is a crafter, member of the APG and a Trustee. We’ve had another wonderful year of crafting, with all session costs remaining at last year’s prices. These are both competitive and are set to encourage wider participation. This year, we’ve run 40 diverse workshops, along with several skill-sharing sessions. The workshops have spanned an impressive array of crafts, with leaders exploring 17 different disciplines. How fantastic! Themes this year have included hand embroidery, crochet, various knitting techniques, needle felting, painting, paper and fabric piecing, card and paper making techniques, pyrography, memory journals, Dorset buttons, rug hooking, sewing experiences, book folding, and macramé, to name just a few. Our group is brimming with talent, resulting in numerous enriching experiences and valuable learning opportunities. A total of 54 individuals have participated in the workshops, with attendees engaging in anywhere from 1 to 12 sessions. This demonstrates our desire to accommodate a wide range of interests and depth of learning. Additionally, 12 different individuals, both from within our group and from outside, facilitated workshops this year, taking the plunge to teach others and acquiring a new skill of their own into the bargain! Our free to use sessions provide access to the crafts and skills we need to fulfil an order. That could be crochet, bag making, sheet hemming, all of which helps us to create efficiency in our pipeline and to deliver on our promises. New timetables are regularly released, and participants can sign up through WhatsApp so it’s easy to access. For now, our sessions are targeted at our own community of crafters and volunteers, however, friends and family are always welcome. Importantly, we’ve raised a total of £1,430.60 this year and this money will help sustain all the wonderful activities our group undertakes to support others and provide a welcoming meeting space for many. A huge thank you to everyone, this really does make a difference. ## **SHIRLEY METCALFE- TRUSTEE & WORKSHOP ORGANISER** Sign.com Document ID: 9286a9e94a - Page 15/16 ## TRUSTEE ANNUAL REPORT 2024 - 2025 ## **OUR AMAZING PEOPLE** **At the core of our efforts are the amazing individuals who make it all possible.** **Our dedicated crafters and volunteers put their hearts into creating beautiful items that will be cherished by their recipients and their hard work and dedication helps raise vital funds, ensuring our continued growth and success.** **Each contribution holds immense value and every story of how individuals came to join crafting2gether is distinct and special.** **Yet, what truly binds us together is a shared passion for crafting, creativity, and friendship.** ## **Here’s Jan’s story** ## **JAN** ## **JAN’S STORY** Jan is a dynamic force of energy. You can find her every Tuesday and Thursday at the Peel Centre, where she diligently ensures our pipeline is wellstocked. She organizes “Big Stuff” days to guarantee that our hundreds of draught excluders arrive at their destinations just in time for the chilly weather. Despite her busy schedule, she also collaborates with the APG to coordinate fundraising activities. You’ll often see her at our storage facility, alongside other volunteers, sorting, sifting, pricing, and keeping the stockroom tidy and don’t get us going on the ironing!! While Jan is not alone in her efforts, and every contribution is deeply valued, we have invited Jan to share a bit about what volunteering means to her. **“** Although I don't reside in Dronfield, I attended the Christmas Tree Festival at St John's Church in Dronfield in 2022, where I discovered a leaflet about crafting2gether. Fast forward three years, and here I am as a volunteer! Volunteering has provided me with a sense of purpose. I enjoy socializing and crafting at the Peel Centre twice a week, which allows me to do both! Creating crafts for other charities that support vulnerable and less fortunate individuals is incredibly fulfilling and offers a wonderful outlet for our beautifully crafted items. Each week, I assist the charity by repurposing fabric, sorting and counting crafted items for distribution, and collaborating closely with machinists to ensure that item requests are met. As a volunteer, I also participate in decisionmaking to help advance the charity’s goals and through the APG, meet regularly to discuss fundraising and brainstorm new ideas to keep the group thriving. It can sometimes be difficult to encourage members to commit to volunteering, which is challenging at times, but everyone pulls together and I’d say that we’re a great team!” Sign.com Document ID: 9286a9e94a - Page 16/16 ## **AND FINALLY...** ## **£12,200** ## **5,783** Funds raised through workshops, artisan markets, surplus stock sales, bring and buy, bake sales and donations Beautiful giftted items hand crafted, lovingly designed, packed and delivered to 25 organisations ## **40** ## **20,607** Crafting workshops, giving everyone an opportunity to try a new craft or hone a skill. became a charity on 14th July 2021 **THANK YOU!** Amazing gifts crafted and donated since we became a charity on 14th July 2021 |Name of signee|Role of signee|Signature|Date| |---|---|---|---| |Shelagh Cheetham|Chairperson||01/24/2026| |Name of signee|Role of signee|Signature|Date| |John Plant|Trustee||01/25/2026| |crafting2gether|||| |Registered address:|||| |The Lodge, Sicklebrook|Lane||| |Coal Aston|||| |Dronfield|||| |S18 3BE|||| Telephone: 07484719891 Registered Charity Number: 1195177 CC16A END OF YEAR STATEMENT 2024-2025 Itknakn &fls. 1513 3.7 IGrwts ,,FI￿ Ra 1,1>) 971 9.131 112tyJ 10.751 9.131 10.754 ',stsff Costs ,PremisesC05ts Supplies ond 5eTrice5 'Fund Ralsl Costs 42•J 22•2 132 1J2 18 337 6T1 zzz 8.1>5 8.753 18.$33 19. 20283