The Phoenix Centre, Preston Manor Road, Tadworth, Surrey, KT20 5FB
Report of The Trustees to Community Foundaton for Surrey 2023-2024
The MYTI Club was originally set up by a local Businessman, Mr Tony Britto, on Preston Estate, Tadworth, about six years ago. His aim was to provide a safe and secure environment for children from the local area, which is one of the most deprived areas in Surrey. Despite his huge personal input, and indeed enormous financial investment, the club struggled, and whilst there was undoubted need, the strategic management and direction needed support.
In late 2022 and into 2023, a group of determined people came together to support Tony, and brought about the MYTI becoming a registered Charity.
From then on the club has thrived.
However, this success can only be sustained by donations and grants and the hard work of staff and Trustees in endeavouring to secure ongoing funding.
Whilst we are indebted to East Surrey YMCA for free use of the Phoenix Centre, there are considerable and growing costs involved beyond just the ‘bricks and mortar’.
For example, if inflation rises by 4%, as has happened at times throughout the reporting period, this increases our costs by about £2000.00!
The MYTI Club Registered Charity No: 1202474
The Club received grant-funding from a number of statutory agencies and organisations such as Community Foundation For Surrey and generous donations from individuals and the local Residents Association.
It is a fact that without this financial support the Club would have closed its doors to so many vulnerable children.
As an example, a large grant from Community Foundation for Surrey supports our general running costs for our paid adult staff and our development of ‘young Leaders’-who have progressed through the club to become positive role models for the younger members.
We are also grateful to funding from Banstead Neighbourhood Fund on behalf of the NHS, relating to the promotion of health, well-being and welfare of children, makes a huge difference to the Club, and ensures that we can employ two dedicated Managers to support the Trustees and Staff in delivering the service. £5,000 of the grant pays directly towards their salary and equates to almost 300 hours of their time, or providing consistent management of the Club for about 4 months. One must add that both Managers also give up many more hours of their own time voluntarily in support of the club.
The two part-time Managers now have personal responsibility for Administrative Support, and Operational Management of the Club. They each have delegated authority in several areas, reporting to the Board of Trustees at each Board Meeting.
The active participation of Trustees, each with a designated responsibility, including Safeguarding, Financial, Business Planning and an Ambassadorial role ensures the strategic aims are met.
Thus, we have a management structure that ensures a ‘joined-up approach’ to running the club, with ‘Arm’s Length Management’ by Trustees, and devolved responsibilities to those with knowledge and understanding of the children and adults in the club.
Much of the grant-funding we receive is about the nutritional health and well-being of our children. It is a sad fact that many of our child members will not receive a regular hot meal when away from School,
The MYTI Club Registered Charity No: 1202474
or come from households where there is no guarantee of a nutritious meal. The cost of supplying each child with a hot meal, during Friday sessions and during some School holiday periods, (including packed lunches for trips) eats up, pun intended, substantial amounts of funding to obtain, and then produce over 4000 00 meals annually, obviously with the on-cost of recruiting and supporting the staff to cook and prepare them.
To equate the funding with number of sessions is difficult as one can see, but in simple terms each session costs an average of about £6-700, but this is quite variable e.g. a single holiday trip or organised activity, during the busy holiday period, can cost far more. For example to take 40 children to the seaside for a day costs in the region of £1200, inclusive of transport, staff and packed lunches.
Taken together we hope the reader understands just what a difference grants and generous donations and other funding makes to the children and their families.
We continue to successfully deliver the existing Friday evening activities and s part of our structures Staff Support processes, have now begun to introduce a structured personal development planning (PDP) process for all staff, including our young leaders.
This includes certified training for both adult leaders and young leaders including, for example, Safeguarding, First Aid, Eating Healthily, Hygiene and Food preparation, and ‘Helping Others’.
These underpin the new ethos and aim which is to improve the health and well-being of children, and in turn siblings and family members, in our area.
Already these are ‘paying off’.
Example:
We identified a need for more staff in our Kitchen to undertake the food hygiene training. They did so, and immediately recognised a number of concerns, that they then took responsibility for rectifying these.
The MYTI Club Registered Charity No: 1202474
As a direct result, when Reigate and Banstead Borough Environmental Health Food Standards Team visited and inspected, MYTI were awarded 5 Stars, an improvement on the last inspection.
This is all ongoing, but our two Managers have already identified and sourced other on-line Courses and Partnership opportunities, including with East Surrey YMCA to join in their Safeguarding training, reducing cost to the Club, and encouraging better communication/relationships.
Each member of staff now has an annual ‘Development Review’ with one of the two Managers, where a ‘SWOT’ analysis takes place, with potential training and development needs identified.
Additionally, we are working towards development of our Young Leaders, again with accredited appraisal/performance regime. This is more informal than adults, but focusses on developing their life skills and giving them formal feedback on performance-which they can use elsewhere as possible credits, or on a CV.
The introduction of ‘MYTI Merit Certificates’ for the children attending encourages them to take part, and enjoy the ever-increasing number of activities provided at the Club.
The MYTI Club Registered Charity No: 1202474
These include all the ‘normal’ activities in childrens and youth clubs, but also such activities as ‘Zumba Classes’ where every child, regardless of ability, joins in. This becomes fun, and simple but effective exercise, something that many children do not do on a regular basis. Mixed Football sessions, supported by a Coach from Chelsea F.C. have been introduced and are already paying dividends in terms of female inclusion in all aspects of the Club.
And it’s taken seriously!!
The MYTI Club Registered Charity No: 1202474
Likewise, holiday time activities, which include daytrips to such places as Chessington World of Adventures, means that many children who are from quite disadvantaged backgrounds have an opportunity to experience a day of fun activity, with friends, all supervised and supported by our staff.
We look to give children an experience that many would not have outside MYTI-it sees to work!
Its fair to point out that these trips are not cheap - to take a group of children to Chessington World of Adventurescan cost £1200, depending on us ‘negotiating a large discount on the entry fee, per trip!
The MYTI Club Registered Charity No: 1202474
Less costly, but entertaining and instructive, is our engagement with other wildlife charities and the opportunity for children to have ‘once in a lifetime’ experiences with animals, birds and reptiles..........
A unique and memorable experience for one of our children
The MYTI Club Registered Charity No: 1202474
Each session we have a great team of adults working with children in the Arts and Crafts Room. What they produce is often extremely good and highly creative. The underlying purpose is to allow them to use their imagination and creative skills, in a relaxed and supporting regime.
This would not be possible without the generous donations from some of our supporters and support from staff.
The MYTI Club Registered Charity No: 1202474
With friendly, accredited, and supportive Kitchen Staff, the children are encouraged to be more ’involved’ in meal preparation, so they understand nutrition and cooking.
The Kitchen serves as a place of informal learning giving children the confidence to ‘have a go’ under the guidance of our excellent Kitchen Staff.
Grant funding has enabled us to purchase and fit a new commercial oven-capable of providing the dozens of meals, at one time, which means everyone can sit down together at the mealtime-good for the children in terms of a learning experience!
The MYTI Club Registered Charity No: 1202474
We encourage our younger children to get involved as it teaches them many informal skills which can easily transfer to home.
Hence our motto – ‘Where Children can be Children’...
We often have children who struggle with ‘normality’, have difficulty making friends and lack confidence.
Our approach is simple – inclusivity and support aren’t just words in a ‘Mission Statement’.
‘Hayden - (not his real name) I enjoy MYTI so much as its different to anything else I do.........’
For some children, including those from refugee families, it is the safe and secure ‘place to go’ on a Friday afternoon and during the holidays. The message is clear to them – ‘We Care’.
Eamon (not his real name)-left the club to go home and found there was no one at home. He immediately returned to the club and found
The MYTI Club Registered Charity No: 1202474
one of our adult leaders and remained with us until it was safe to go home.
We are also building other partnerships via the successful ‘Getting Connected’ Organised by RBBC, and via our local Church, St. Marks in Tattenham Corner, with other local and community organisations.
Our excellent relationships go far beyond just the usual and our safeguarding partnerships with local schools enables us to share and act upon ‘appropriate’ information, saving time and effort, often leading t positive outcomes for the children.
We have an excellent relationship with our local Community Development Worker – who works tirelessly for the local community. With her guidance the children are involved beyond the club and under supervision are involved in such community initiatives as Litter-picking.
Of course, its not just the physical effort involved in litter-picking, it’s the sense of responsibility that occurs, as its ‘their’ area, and they take pride in what they do.
The MYTI Club Registered Charity No: 1202474
This year has seen the first steps in a Partnership between Surrey Police, Surrey University and MYTI called ‘Positive Futures’. This project is about actually asking children what would the things that make their lives safer and more comfortable. It starts with a questionnaire and interviews of a number of children and feeds into a multi-agency ‘Problem-solving’ outcome. This is ongoing.
The establishment of a “The Friends of MYTI club” (to assist with fundraising and additional management support and to consider the additional activities and events that will aid the retention of older children), has been slightly more challenging as often happens in areas of deprivation, but is slowly developing into a group who are not only involved in strategic thinking and planning, but also problem-solving.
One issue we involved them in was investigating potential holiday and other projects for the children to experience. This is still ongoing.
The team worked hard to recruit more local people businesses into this group.
Next year we are working in partnership with Walton Heath Golf Club, who are looking to sponsor the club, raising funds and giving children opportunities to engage with professional people in a setting that the vast majority have never experienced.
Taken together the Trustees firmly believe that once we have this part of the Club structure complete, it will complement the rest of the organisation and take on more responsibility that supports the sustainability of the club.
We have regular inputs from Surrey Police Neighbourhood Officers who engage the children in a wide variety of self/community protection issues.
Such is the success of the Surrey Police/MYTI partnership that last year MYTI were awarded a Surrey Police Community Safety Award, attributed to the work done by MYTI in keeping children off the streets and reducing reported anti-social behaviour on the estate by 65%!
The MYTI Club Registered Charity No: 1202474
MYTI are working hard to replicate that influence on local behaviours, but unfortunately there is little consistency in local Policing following the retirement of an excellent Neighbourhood Officer.
We intend to improve that through Positive Futures.
The behaviour aspect and personal responsibility to be part of a team or group and part of growing up is reflected in the expected behaviour when attending the Club. It is simple but effective – and seems to work!
We are fortunate to have some dedicated and credible staff and managers, who set an excellent example. We have identified their training needs and will do our best to reflect these in our Development Plan in the coming year and beyond.
Funding for young people’s activities and Clubs is always a challenge and so it is with MYTI. We are encouraged by the grant funding from Safer Communities Surrey, and Active Surrey, plus small donations, which mean that we can continue to provide a specialist service in such a deprived area. However, applications for organisations such as Children In Need and Postcode Lottery Funding have failed as their criteria is very limited and our demographics don’t necessarily match their requirements. But we will continue to seek funding at any opportunity.
One challenge we simply cannot overcome – Definition of ‘Social Deprivation’....
It is unfortunate in one way, that whist we love welcoming new families to the area in a large number of new build housing developments in the Local Council Ward, we suffer from the definition of ‘Deprived’ and ‘disadvantaged’ - which our children most certainly are....
Because these new developments are almost all ‘owner-occupied’ and not social housing, it affects the demarcation/balance of the area as
The MYTI Club Registered Charity No: 1202474
being ‘deprived’. – which automatically excludes us from some funding streams.
Our support of the children, and in turn their siblings and families, continues throughout the year and we are acutely aware that some families are living in desperate situations.
But thanks to the generosity of local businesses were are able to provide a Christmas Goody Bag. Each Christmas session every child attending receives a Goody Bag, containing foodstuffs, sweets, fruit and vegetables and items of clothing such as gloves.
A selection of the hundreds of items we collect each year for the ‘Goody Bags’.
The MYTI Club Registered Charity No: 1202474
Facts and Figures:
Some statistics to show the success and development of MYTI this year:
Number of member Children aged 5-15: 300+
Average Friday atendance: 60+
Average daily holiday atendance: 40-60
Number of adult leaders (including Catering Staf) : 10 – Paid hourly, per hour of duty, including Training. Non-contracted.
Volunteer Adult Leaders: Variable-depends on need and availability. No new volunteers recruited this year.
– Number of Youth Leaders: 6 Paid a small amount per session, including training.
Number of Friends of MYTI: 6
Total Number of meals supplied in reportng year (approx.): 4,200
The MYTI Club Registered Charity No: 1202474
Some quotes from MYTI Club Members:
(others appear in the MYTI Heart at the end of this report.)
Ethan – Aged 9, ‘MYTI is where I can talk to the adults, and they listen to me. They really care about me. Last week I went to Chessington with MYTI, and I loved it. I don’t think I would ever get the chance to go there if it wasn’t for MYTI.’
Emmanuel – Aged 14 – (Downs Syndrome). ‘I love coming here. There’s always something to do and everyone is so friendly’.
Paige – Aged 16 – (Young Leader). ‘I really enjoy coming here. I’ve learned so much that’s going to help me in the future. I’m trusted to help all the children in whatever they are doing and I find it great fun as well’.
Morgan – aged 15 – (Severe Allergies). ‘I love coming here and when they allowed me to cook a special curry that I can eat safely, it was great. My Mum thinks MYTI is fantastic’.
Sam – Aged 14 – ‘I’ve been coming to MYTI for some time. I really enjoy it here. The staff all care about the children and because they care the children are well-behaved and make more friends.
It would be quite remiss of the Trustees not to highlight our team of adult and Young Leaders. They make MYTI.......Mighty!
Our success in building one of the largest Children’s/Youth Clubs in Surrey, if not the South East- which is free to join and be a member, comes at a price. That is finding the funding.......As always!
We cannot do what we do without grant-funding as out core means of financial support!
The MYTI Club Registered Charity No: 1202474
In summary, the Trustees believe that the transformation of MYTI into a Charity has been very successful and can only look forward to enjoying more success in the future and making a positive impact and difference to so many lives.
Finally, on behalf of the Trustees I am pleased to report there have been no serious incidents this reporting year warranting reporting to The Commission.
Jeffrey Harris (Mr). Jeffrey Harris (Mr.) Honorary Chairman – The MYTI Club July 2025
The MYTI Club Registered Charity No: 1202474
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