Bodmin Community Association (Charity No. 1196016) Trustees Report for period
1st April 2023 – 31[st] March 2024
Trustees
Fintan Roland Bowler Irwin Susan Joy Tune Thomas Frank George Thrussell
Project ended to provide premises for community group use.
At the beginning of the period BCA was facilitating the premises at 81a and 81B Fore Street as a community space. The Skillshare initiative of the Light and Life Church and the Bodmaxx creative team from intoBodmin CIC were two of the not-for-profit organisations using the space. The premises is now changing ownership and this project has been concluded.
Financial
Opening balance for this period was £24,281.88.
The final transfer of cash from the old Bodmin Community Association of £596.32 was made in October 2023. Costs for the period were £2807.15 with the utilities bills for 81a and 81b and consultant fees for the research to be undertaken about community groups and spaces being the main costs. This included a donation of £380.99 made to the Blue Tits, a local not for profit volunteer group, to repair bench seats that had been damaged. The closing balance for the period was £22,568.03.
Community Space Audit and research about community groups
In 2023, the BCA completed a thorough audit of the supply and demand of community space venues available in Bodmin. The resulting report has been used as input to local planning work and has been made available to community groups to be used as evidence for grant funding bids to meet unmet needs in the town.
Building on this we undertook research into the community groups that exist in the Bodmin area. This research has enabled us to develop a new programme called Bodmin Working Together, that offers practical support and encouragement to existing and start-up community groups.
The plan is to recruit more Trustees to enable the charity to further its mission and contribute to the community, in alignment with our values and collaborative approach. The aim is to provide more help for residents of the Bodmin area by building a stronger, more connected community in Bodmin. The BCA is one that values collaboration and this will be a critical aspect of the work of the BCA as we develop our programme.
BCA believes that grass root community groups form the bedrock of a strong community. They empower communities and minority groups by providing them with a voice. They have a deep understanding of local problems and can quickly spot unmet needs. They can work together with other organisations to find solutions that work effectively in a local context.
At their best, being part of a group provides social connections, friendship, and practical and emotional support. They can help us see the world in new ways and provide perspective. Involvement in community groups can enrich the lives of people and help individuals overcome obstacles and find their place within their wider community.
However, setting up and sustaining small community groups and helping them grow and flourish is a difficult task. When speaking to community group leaders in our recent research we found much anecdotal evidence to support our belief that people wanting to start community groups face many problems to start out and sustaining the groups can be a struggle too.
The vision, and principal aim, for the new programme will be to build social capital in Bodmin by facilitating, initiating, encouraging, and enabling collaborative charitable, voluntary and community activities. Building social capital will develop a happier, healthier, kinder, safer, and more prosperous community in Bodmin.
Many charitable and voluntary organisations based in, and active in, the Bodmin community area, share similar aims and would benefit from the opportunity to work collaboratively with others. Resources in such organisations are usually scarce and ensuring that all resources are used as efficiently and effectively as possible would benefit everyone in the community. Time is one of the scarcest of resources of all and it is not always possible for organisations to spend precious time, sharing plans with others. This can result in missed opportunities for collaborative efforts which can result in wasted resources and an inability to achieve the desired aims.
Bodmin is blessed with some great people who work hard to facilitate positive changes in the community and the outcomes of these efforts could be enhanced and optimised with prompt and practical support. Simply put, by working together we believe that we can achieve more with less.
| Transaction Date | Transaction Description | Debit Amount | Credit Amount | Balance | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13/10/2023 | EON NEXT ENERGY | £295.87 | £22,568.03 | Utilities | |
| 13/10/2023 | BODMIN (770910) | £596.32 | £22,863.90 | Tranfer of cash from old BCA | |
| 01/09/2023 | CAROL RANDALL | £625.00 | £22,267.58 | Consultant fee for research | |
| 06/07/2023 | THOMAS THRUSSELL | £17.45 | £22,892.58 | Accounting software | |
| 05/05/2023 | CORNWALL COUNCIL | £88.21 | £22,910.03 | Council tax refund | |
| 05/05/2023 | CORNWALL COUNCIL | £53.16 | £22,821.82 | Council tax refund | |
| 04/05/2023 | SOUTHERN ELECTRIC | £719.31 | £22,768.66 | Utilites | |
| 03/05/2023 | SWALEC | £355.61 | £23,487.97 | Utilities rebate | |
| 02/05/2023 | CAROL RANDALL | £625.00 | £23,132.36 | Consultant fee for research | |
| 26/04/2023 | SARAH J HORNE | £380.99 | £23,757.36 | Donation to Blue Tits for bench repair | |
| 11/04/2023 | CORNWALL COUNCIL | £89.18 | £24,138.35 | Council tax | |
| 11/04/2023 | CORNWALL COUNCIL | £54.35 | £24,227.53 | Council tax |
Opening balance for period April 2023 to End March 2024 Closing balance for period April 2023 to End March 2024
£24,281.88 £22,568.03