Minehead Dementia Action Annual Report 2026
The good news is that the organisation of Minehead Dementia Action is increasingly effective. Under the secretary this year we have made sure all the policies are fit for purpose and tweaked where they were not. Our treasurer has ensured that the monies are all accounted for and that the way we apply for them is transparent and clear. Big thanks as always go to all the trustees, for all the unpaid work they put in to make things run smoothly.
I said last year that I was going to step down this year, and I'm glad to say that another trustee has agreed to put herself forward for election. She has been shadowing me for a year, and I can recommend her without reservation. not only is she well qualified to take up the post of chair, but she is very nice as well and will make an excellent chairperson
The biggest challenge this year will be to find and appoint new trustees. Our wonderful secretary Barbara is going to become Service Co-Ordinator and therefore she rightly thinks she should not be a trustee. Also, our Treasurer, Debbie, is happy to continue as Treasurer but does not wish to be a trustee. We will also be losing our previous Treasurer, David, who is stepping down as a Trustee.
So, we will be looking for at least three new trustees.
Now, looking at the time since the last chair's report:
We provide social support and a meeting place for people and their carers living with dementia through activities.
It is incredible that we have done so much within the year. It is easy to just take it as normal that every week there is one if not two or three activities specially tailored for people living with dementia and their carers. Except that it is not normal, it is a huge achievement. After all Taunton doesn't to my knowledge have all these activities happening and Taunton is BIG!
All our activities have run well throughout the year powered by the continuously cheerful input of volunteers. All the different activities rely on the volunteers who are unceasingly enthusiastic and efficient. THANKYOU VOLUNTEERS.
To date the charity, MDA has run weekly activities, Memory Cafe, Singing for the Brain (in conjunction with Alzheimer's society) and monthly Amble not Ramble. The twice a week Della's Diners has recently been run by Marie due to Della's illness.
Provide one off trips to people living with dementia and their carers, at reduced prices. E.g. Christmas trip and to Monkton Elm Garden Centre
Sign posted people with information about activities, resources, people and places to go, equipment, etc. This is hugely helped by the now fully updated website, and maintained by our wonderful administrator, Sarah.
Held Fundraiser – Very successful Ball with MDA benefiting from the resulting profit.
Received many generous donations both from individuals and organizations. We thank them all and will constantly endeavour to spend the money wisely.
MDA has also successfully applied for grants from the Co-op, again! And Tesco's. Thanks are due to our administrator, Sarah.
Receipt of many donations from funerals. See the financial report for specifics
All Funds raised are all used to give information about, or provide activities, to help local people live well with dementia, engage and educate both the general public and carers about the nature of dementia,
We would like to thank all our valuable volunteers who work so hard to provide the services we offer. We are all volunteers and we rely on volunteers' help completely, so a huge thank you is due to all of us.
(New) Chair’s report.
I would like to start my first report by saying thank you to Emily. She has chaired with gentleness and humility. She will be a tough act to follow. Heartfelt thanks also go to David, our former treasurer, following his resignation. His input will be greatly missed, but I’m sure we will keep in close contact.
Barbara is resigning as our secretary. She is doing this so she can concentrate on her new role as Service Co-ordinator in which she can focus on delivering services and volunteer management.
I’m very pleased to welcome Debbie as our treasurer and to give thanks to Sarah for her continued support as our administrator.
A little bit about me- I am bringing many years’ experience as a nurse, a volunteer co-ordinator and a relative of a person with dementia. I am particularly hopeful that we will make stronger links with health services, and I will be working on my contacts. I am passionate about wildlife and nature and would love to share this passion in any way I can.
Our greatest strength comes from our committed and passionate volunteers. We all share the same purpose of delivering meaningful and enjoyable activities. We are all volunteers, trustees, officers and those leading the activities. Many of us have two roles, and I hope there will be
more opportunities for us to work more closely together. I really hope some of our activity's volunteers will consider becoming trustees- you are most welcome. Personally, I am looking forward to being involved with the Ball this year, as I didn’t have the opportunity last year. I am also looking forward to helping run the proposed new gardening group which we hope to have soon in Blenheim gardens. Feedback from our participants demonstrate how much they enjoy the activities. All respondents replied positively.
Upcoming plans for the next year include a talk for the Minehead and district Lions club, numerous awareness raising activities for Dementia awareness week, and involvement in the new Dementia insights HUB being developed by Spark. From this we hope to raise our profile, have better access to funding sources, and work more closely with other organisations.
MINEHEAD DEMENTIA ACTION
Income over Expenditure 1st December 2024 to 30th November 2025
| INCOME | EXPENDITURE | |
|---|---|---|
| Activities Phone | £72.00 | |
| Admin | £4,824.00 | |
| Advertising | £144.59 | |
| Krystal Hosting Ltd | £9.59 | |
| Word Gets Around Advert | £120.00 | |
| Volunteer Recruitment | £15.00 | |
| Amble not Ramble | £30.00 | |
| Donations | £30.00 | |
| Card Charges | £11.45 | |
| Cream Tea | £0.04 | |
| Charity Ball | £11.41 | |
| Charity Ball | £3,838.02 | £734.73 |
| Venue Hire | £80.00 | |
| Rafflee Prizes | £225.71 | |
| Catering | £229.02 | |
| DJ | £200.00 | |
| Funds Raised | £3,838.02 | |
| DBS Checks | £36.00 | |
| Della's Dinner | £642.56 | £334.89 |
| Raffle | £453.06 | |
| Xmas Meals | £97.89 | |
| Cream Tea | £135.50 | |
| Tombola Event | £54.00 | |
| Volunteer Lunches | £237.00 | |
| Equipment | £497.38 | |
| Printer - Sarah | £359.99 | |
| Printer - Della | £137.39 | |
| First Aid Training | £500.60 | |
| Venue Hire | £47.00 | |
| Training | £453.60 | |
| Insurance | £379.64 | |
| Memory Café | £154.05 | £803.40 |
| Equipment | £190.30 | |
| Memory Café | £100.00 | |
| Refreshments | £13.10 | |
| Singer | £25.00 | |
| Venue Hire | £475.00 | |
| Donations | £154.05 | |
| Monkton Elm | £405.00 | |
| Della's Dinner Coach | £330.00 | |
| Della's Dinner Meals | £75.00 | |
| Outside Donations | £6,562.48 | |
| Co-op Food Fund | £2,825.85 | |
| Eat Festival | £22.65 |
| Exmoor Motor Club Glenmore Bakery In Memory Minehead Male Voice Choir Tesco Williton Window Easy Fundraising Cream Tea Groundwork UK Tesco Donations Hodges Plumbing Printing |
£150.00 £25.20 £334.75 £84.00 £480.77 £1,230.00 £21.26 £2.00 £1,125.00 £61.00 £200.00 £131.99 |
|---|---|
| Booklets x 150 Gift Aid Envelopes x 120 Promotional Items |
£106.49 £25.50 £362.45 |
| Banners T-Shirts Rural and Coastal Project |
£243.95 £118.50 £100.00 |
| Rural and Coastal Project Social Club Bingo Night |
£100.00 £931.85 |
| Social Club Bingo Night Stationery |
£931.85 £43.41 |
| Name Badges x 20 Printer Paper Volunteer Recruitment Pad and Pens Error |
£13.99 £24.92 £4.50 £142.00 £142.00 |
| Grand Total | £12,400.96 £9,423.53 |
| Income Expenditure Opening Bank Balance Closeing Bank Balance |
£12,400.96 £9,423.53 £2,977.43 £20,958.94 £23,936.37 £2,977.43 |