Charity number: 1195680
Registered by the Charity Commission for England & Wales
Safer off the Streets
Annual Report and Financial Statement For the year ended 30.6.24.
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Contents
For the year ended 30[th] June 2024
| Introducton | 3 |
|---|---|
| Our Charitable Objectve | |
| Chair’s 2023/24 Refecton | |
| Actvites & Achievements | 4 |
| Partner Consultaton | |
| Outputs & Outcomes | |
| Roles & Contributons of Volunteers | |
| The Benefts to those Experiencing Homelessness | |
| Our Partners & Supporters | |
| Looking Ahead | |
| Structure, Governance and Management | 8 |
| Type of Governing Document | |
| Statutory Declaraton | |
| Trustee Selecton Methods | |
| Trustee Development | |
| Charity Commission Submission | |
| Financial Review and Report | 9 |
| Financial Positon | |
| Principle Sources of Funding | |
| Use of Funds | |
| Grant Making Criteria | |
| Administratve Details | 11 |
| Charity Name & Registraton | |
| Charity’s Principle Address | |
| Trustees Who Manage the Charity | |
| Bank |
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Introduction
Our Charitable Objective
Our charity constitution 3.1 states:
“The purpose of Safer off the Streets is to promote for the public benefit the relief of those in need due to their experience of, or risk of homelessness in Peterborough, in particular but not exclusively through providing information on how and where to access services, supporting engagement with service providers, enabling service providers to better meet need and raising awareness.”
Chair’s 2023/2024 Reflection
The many challenges of recent years have continued to provide hardship for many, some ending up sleeping rough and many experiencing some form of homelessness. There has been no respite and hence the work of Safer off the Streets remains as important as ever.
Our organisation primarily exists to support the work and needs of our partnership network across Peterborough as they work tirelessly to directly support the needs of those who sleep rough and/or are homeless.
Over the past year, our partnership network has grown, and our quarterly, in-person only partnership (& networking) meetings are now attracting higher numbers, 30-35 regularly.
In quarter 2, 2023 we carried out consultation with our partners, asking what they really needed from Safer off the Streets. This has guided our activity over the past year. During 23/24, we have started to review best practices, completed deep dive research into the needs of those in temporary accommodation, delivered multiple learning opportunities and have also started work to rebuild our website.
I wish to thank our partners for engaging with us during and between quarterly meetings and for getting involved in our activities. Our momentum is building. We have solid plans to focus more on wider communication going forward, as well as continuing to support and scrutinise Peterborough City Council’s Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy.
Ultimately, we will only be successful, if our work enables our partners to provide improved support to their clients. Whilst this is hard to judge, we will remain close to our partners and drive activity in areas that can make a real difference.
Anna Lee Chair of Trustee Board
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Activities & Achievements
Partner Consultation
During March – June 2023, consultation took place with our partners to seek feedback, asking them what they really need from our charity in terms of support and how they believe we can add the most value to rough sleepers and the homeless across the city of Peterborough. Very worthwhile feedback was contributed, that enabled us to develop our 2023-2025 Strategic Workstreams, as follows:
We have used this as our guide during the 23/24 period. Making good progress in some workstreams.
Outputs & Outcomes
PCC Strategy & Scrutinisation
We have attended both the PCC Strategic Steering and Delivery group meetings, throughout this period, actively contributing ideas and contributions. We have taken full ownership of objectives 5.5 and 5.8., to be explained in later workstreams. We would like to see these meeting formats to develop further.
Best Practice Forum
Our aim is to take high quality national research, by respected bodies such as St. Mungos, Shelter, Crisis and Homeless Link, as well as academic institutions, on homelessness topics relevant to our partnership group and examine them in detail and share with our partnership in helpful ways.
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The topic initiated in 2024 has been ‘Principles of Best Practice Outreach’. We have held a workshop with partners, reaching consensus on our strengths and weaknesses across Peterborough. Potential improvements are being discussed and developed.
Gaps & Ineligibility
Not much to report on this workstream at this point, ideas are evolving, watch this space as we move forward.
Temporary Accommodation Support
Aside from the clinical and housing services available to those residing in temporary accommodation, we have set out to understand what else is required for individuals to move on positively with their lives. We secured a social work student from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) Dec – Apr 24 on a work placement. Meeting with partners connected to temporary accommodation provision and with those who utilise it, our student wrote a report concluding on six key areas that would be meaningful.
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The importance of consistent key/support work to aid independence
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The need for key life skill support – according to where people are on their path
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Life skill step 1 - Literacy/language skills
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The value of community
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Help with benefits and digital skills
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Help to access employment
This work has been complemented by a parallel report researched and written by one of our partners, The Light Project Peterborough (LPP), along with a second activity with the ARU. In June, along with PCC Housing and LPP, we commissioned a group of post graduates to assess the work completed year to date and to produce a report outlining solutions and funding. This work is now ready to be examined and acted upon.
Needs of Partners
One need of our partners is for top up funding. During the year we made two grants, one to Outside Links to install male and female showers into their new facility and one to the Salvation Army to buy and install new laundry equipment to support their regular homeless drop-in on a Monday, along with their three new night shelters, being run in conjunction with LPP.
The second need was to facilitate learning opportunities for our partners.
Objective 5.8 of the PCC Homeless Strategy states: “Develop a systems wide partnership to training by utilising skills within partner organisations and Housing Needs to deliver a robust training programme” We have taken ownership of this objective.
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In Q4 2023, we conducted a learning needs survey. This provided us with priority topics. From January 2024, working with specialist organisations or partners, we have facilitated several online learning opportunities, on topics such as; Stop Suicide, Priority Homeless Needs, Introduction to Trauma and Women Experiencing Homelessness. We have shared sessions from other providers on Serious Organised Crime, Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking, Personality Disorders and Strength Based Training. Attendance numbers have been good, and feedback has been positive. We plan to continue this work.
Coordinated Response
As an umbrella charity, supporting partners who directly deliver services to the homeless, we are always keen to strengthen relationships and communication between partners along with promoting collaboration. We also believe in constructive discussion and debate on key topics, across our partnership. We therefore facilitate quarterly in person only partnership meetings. These have been growing in popularity.
Objective 5.5 of the Homeless Strategy states:
“Create and produce an online directory of local services for further enhance our holistic partnership approach”
We have taken ownership of this objective.
Whilst still a work in progress, work has commenced to overhaul our existing website, to incorporate a helpful online directory. This will be launched before the end of 2024.
Communication, Awareness, Promotion, Campaigns
On World Homelessness Day in Oct 23, we held an awareness event in Bridge Street. We have started work compiling homelessness awareness for young people, that we hope to share in schools and colleges. We will ensure this work is an important part of our focus during the next year, particularly engaging the wider public more beneficially.
Looking forward we are now fortunate to have a new Communications Lead, Pauline Smith. Pauline runs her own communications agency, however, she will be helping up to put more focus on our communications in the community on a volunteer basis. Pauline has already established a new Linked In page, the signs are positive for our next reporting period.
Roles & Contributions of Volunteers
We have a small but dedicated group of volunteers who support with administration and scheduling activities and more recently have started to engage on our website update. We would like to thank them for their valuable contributions. We intend to seek further volunteers next year to enable more activity across all focus areas.
Not forgetting the time and efforts of our trustee team, who are all volunteers themselves. Thank you all for your commitment to such a worthwhile cause. As a charity we have no staff positions.
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The Benefits to those Experiencing Homelessness
As our main focus is to provide support for our partners, enabling them to improve upon their work directly with those at risk of homelessness or those that are homeless, it is hard to state the direct benefits felt by our ultimate clients. As we ramp up our activity, during the 23/24 period, the main physical benefits would have been the provision of male and female showers at Outside Links and improved laundry facilities at the Salvation Army.
Networking/improved collaboration among partners will likely have been experienced as a consequence of our learning opportunities, allowing our partners staff and volunteers and deepen their knowledge and consideration of key topics.
Our partners and supporters
Thank you to our partners for engaging with our charity and coming along to our quarterly partnership meetings. More partners have come on board during this period, they now include, drop in centres/hubs, clinical providers, temporary accommodation providers, addiction support, food and provision providers, PCC teams, and refugee support organisations.
Thank you to our supporters who have helped to fund our charity over this last period of our operation. Going forward we intend to promote other ways that supporters can help our partners and our ultimate clients via volunteering opportunities and how to donate physical goods and services, as well as funds.
Looking Ahead
Prime new areas will be around workstream 7, Communication, Promotion, Awareness and Campaigns, led by a new Communications Lead volunteer.
Work will continue on all other strategic workstreams as set out earlier in this report.
Additional volunteers will be recruited to enable us to complete more comprehensive and timely activity.
None of our existing trustees were involved with setting up the original charter for our organisation, not originally a charity, in 2018. Much has happened nationally and internationally since then. In September 2024, the trustees will begin a review of our original charter and charitable objective to consider whether it is still relevant and serving our partners and end clients as effectively as it should.
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Structure, Governance and Management
Type of Governing Document
Our governing document is our “Constitution as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation” dated 23rd August 2021, revised on 19th October 2023
Statutory Declaration
The Trustees confirm that they have paid due regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
Trustee Selection Methods
All trustees contribute operational time and expertise to the charity’s activity. These are volunteer positions. The charity trustees are appointed for a period of two years and may be reappointed up to three times, before there must be a break of a minimum of one year. Kevin Dawson stood down in October 2023 and was re-elected for a third term, whilst Fay Hirel, Sean Evans and Anna Lee continued their terms.
At the end of 2023 we started the recruitment of additional trustees. Hannah Bowers, Esinam Gbekle, Joy Nwandu and Simon Kinsey have joined us.
Quarterly Trustee Board meetings commenced from August 23 to govern our activity.
Trustee Development
New trustees are encouraged to complete charity commission and other online trustee training. This has not been an area of focus during this period, more development activity needs to take place. One to one Chair and trustee reviews will be carried out going forward.
Charity Commission Submission
Our last AGM was held on 19[th] October 2023. Our next AGM will be held on 18[th] October 2024, where our Annual Report and Financial Reports will be formally approved by our members (partners). We will be submitting the required documentation to the Charity Commission during November 2024, in line with requirements.
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Financial Review & Report
Financial Position
The year in summary
| 2023/2024 | |
|---|---|
| Total income | £ 4,480.46 |
| Total expenditure | £ 9,513.93 |
| Total funds in bank as at 30.6.24. | £10,873.18 |
| Grants provided to partners | 3 |
| Quarterly Partnership meetngs held | 4in person |
Full statement of financial activities
For the year 1[st] July 2023 - 30[th] June 2024
______________
| Opening Balance | £ 15,906.65 |
|---|---|
| Charities Aid Foundation Donations | £ 3019.88 |
| Cash Donations | £ 674.77 |
| Anglian Ruskin Student Placement | £ 360.00 |
| Good Box | £ 425.81 |
| Total Income | £ 4480.46 |
| Bank Charges | £ 62.15 |
| LiabilityInsurance | £ 181.10 |
| Website Fees | £ 230.21 |
| Grant Applications | £ 7653.92 |
| SOS T Shirts | £ 132.11 |
| Leaflets | £ 868.64 |
| Roller Banner | £ 168.60 |
| A1 Posters | £ 120.00 |
| Room Hirel | £ 97.20 |
| Expenditure | £ 9513.93 |
| Closing Balance | £ 10,873.18 |
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Principle Sources of Funding
During the period of this report, our fund raising has been via regular doners, our donation point on Bridge Street and income from hosting a student placement.
Use of Funds
We have made grants to three of our partners activities via Grant Applications, this has included showers in a Drop-in Centre for people sleeping rough. We have made the grant application process easier which has encouraged partner agencies to apply for funds to benefit their work and those who they support.
We have had invoices for room hire for partnership meetings, our insurance policy, leaflets to distribute to people sleeping rough and partner agencies who support them. Work has been undertaken to promote our Charity, we have purchased T Shirts and a Roller Banner to assist when promoting our work at events.
Grant Making Criteria
Our grant making criteria was amended in August 2023 to the following:
“The funds raised will be given to grants to partner organisations for projects that enhance existing provision and/or create new ways to support rough sleepers and the homeless.
Grants will not be made to fund existing work.”
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Administrative Details
Charity Name & Registration
Charity Name Safer off the Streets Charity Number 1195680
Charity’s Principle Address
Registered office Longhurst Housing Axiom House Cottesmore Close Peterborough PE3 9TP
Trustees Who Manage the Charity
Trustees who served for the full year, or part of the year ended 30.6.24.
Fay Hirel Full year Kevin Dawson Full year (Re-appointed for 3[rd] term 18.10.23.) Sean Evans Full year Anna Lee Full year Simon Kinsey Appointed 2.1.24. (Ratified 18.1.24.) Esinam Gbekle Appointed 2.1.24. (Ratified 18.1.24.) Joy Nwandu Appointed 2.1.24. (Ratified 18.1.24.) Hannah Bowers Appointed 2.1.24. (Ratified 18.1.24.)
Bank
Bankers HSBC, Cathedral Square, Peterborough, PE1 1XL
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