Annual Report April 2023 - March 2024
Adult Activities
Our activities have been going from strength to strength over the last few years. We introduced a weekly Move to the Beat session in May 2023 run by Sian Kenrick which has proven extremely popular and very well attended
We continue to successfully run Arts & Crafts, Coffee Morning, Drama, Dance Aerobics, Evening (Jubilee Club) social club and Youth Club sessions on a weekly basis
We celebrated the King’s Coronation with a party at Jubilee Club and various Coronation themed activities at our daytime sessions
June, saw our Dance troupe performed at Tesco
Continue to use Fairway Hall & Allum Hall (WD6) to run our sessions.
Youth Club
Our Youth Club continued with Alyson Gnessen and several volunteers till mid-March 24. Adam Pratten-Stone and Susannah Shackleton took it over for the last week of March 2024.
Every 3 months we went on a trip; we visited Glow in One, Wicked in Theatre, Toby Carvery & Topgolf. On average between 10-15 members attended. Each session continues to be supported by a session leader and by dedicated volunteers
Lunch Out
Wednesday 16th August, we started our monthly Lunch Out sessions at the local Weatherspoon’s Pub
Around 16 members attend (along with support workers)
Registered Charity Number 243871
Members took part in: Radlett Rotary Funday in May along with volunteers, and the Rotary North London’s Disability Games in October 2023, winning several medals
Registered Charity Number 243871
To celebrate Learning Disability Week 2023 Karen Clissold, Jason Gunn and Courtney Burke became Hertsmere Mencap Reporters and expertly interview people who are connected to the Society
LD Forum
We hosted three Learning Disability Forum’s on behalf of Hertsmere: June 2023 – Online Bullying Sept 2023 – Healthy Eating Dec 2023 – Safety on our Streets March 2024- An Introduction to Citizens Advice Hertsmere
Other talks at Coffee Morning
We ran a Building Positive Relationship's talk at Coffee Morning in July welcoming speakers from the Learning Disability Nursing Team with a Relationship Counsellor and a Hate Crimes Officer
Sky Studios presentation 12th April 2023
Laughter Therapy Jan 24th 2024
Purple folder update
Drama workshop
Trips
Daytime session trips included a magical visit to Harry Potter World in July and a visit to the Pantomime in December
Registered Charity Number 243871
Christmas Adult Party December 2023:
We had a great turnout (nearly 100 people) at our Hertsmere Mencap Christmas Party, held as always in the big hall in Allum Hall. Will Smith and family provided a wonderful disco and the food was enjoyed by all. Our thanks go to all the volunteers who helped make the party such a success.
New members:
In the year to 31 March 2024, we welcomed 23 new members to our daytime activities and averaged around 12-20 members per session.
Awards
The Elisabeth Spector Award for Volunteering was presented to Steve Chesterman for his dedication to Hertsmere Mencap
The Roy Pursey Award for a member’s contribution to the Society was presented at the Christmas party to Courtney Burke for her growing confidence and contribution at daytime activities
Registered Charity Number 243871
2023 Annual Rumble Awards, organized by Pioneer Approaches saw Derek Drown received two awards; the Kind-hearted Special Soul Braveheart award as well as being honoured with the overall Special award winner.
Simon Ingram received the Dedicated Healthy Motivator award and Neil Hoskin, a past Rumble Award winner was asked to present the awards.
In October 2023 Neil Hoskin became a Royal Mencap Trustee.
Mencap’s Employment Training Programme
In January 2024, we began building an Employment Training course to prepare our members for employment. The course aims to equip learners with the skills and confidence to join the workplace and will begin piloting the course in the summer of 2024.
Children’s Activities
We welcomed Susannah Shackleton to the team in August 2023 as our new Children & Youth Coordinator. Susannah oversees all Hertsmere Mencap Children and Youth activities.
Registered Charity Number 243871
Holiday Club
The Easter Holiday Club 2023 scheme ran from 4th -12th April, over 5 days. We accommodated 23 children in total . We were able to accommodate a max of 13 children a day and had a pool of 19 members of staff.
A very successful recruitment campaign was implemented prior to Summer Holiday Club 2023, which resulted in recruiting 12 new staff members, enabling us to accommodate more children. On some days we were at full capacity of 16 children, and 22 staff. In total, we accommodated 36 children with 35 staff members and 3 volunteers over 20 days, with between 6-14 children each day. 3 of our Volunteers for 2023 were HM members!
On 11th June we had a fun day at the Meadow Park fair with around 35 children and their siblings enjoying free rides.
Holiday Club 15 – 19 (February half term)
Club 1 5-19 is a new Holiday Club venture for children and young people aged 15-19 with a learning disability . A pilot scheme was planned in February half term to gauge interest and to inform proposed funding from HCC to be included in the Tender.
The pilot scheme was a success, with positive feedback from CYP and their parents. Staffing was provided by senior Holiday Club staff, and a robust and age-appropriate environment was planned to include gaming, arts and crafts, cooking, ball games, quizzes, badminton, table tennis, football and more. We had 12 attendees for the pilot.
Christmas 2023
Our yearly trip to the Panto and the Christmas party was held for Holiday Club children.
The Panto forms part of the SBLO funding through HCC, and for 2023, we had 14 children attending.
The Christmas party was very popular with over 30 Holiday Club children, plus siblings and parents.
We fulfilled 79% of our 2023/24 contract with HCC, which is a very positive outcome.
Registered Charity Number 243871
Under 11’s Activities
Inclusive Stay & Play
Saturday 11th November, we started our monthly Inclusive Stay & Play Children (under 10 years), along with their parents attend at a local Borehamwood church hall
Various age appropriate Activities are available for the children to enjoy
It is a joint venture with the already established Up! Community, who fund the sessions
On average 12 children along with their parents attend Susannah Shackleton and Adam Pratten-Stone host alongside with a founder member and volunteers from Up! Community
SEN Soft Play
Saturday 27[th] January we started our monthly SEN Soft Play. Potters Bar Councillors funded our sessions at the Furzefield Centre and, on average 30 children attended.
Adam Pratten-Stone and Hayley Bentley hosted the event We had 3 regular helpers to support the children in the Play Frame
Volunteers
We continue to receive a lot of interest in volunteering with Hertsmere Mencap and have recruited 16 new volunteers this year . Each one of our dedicated volunteers plays a huge role in the success of our activities as well behind the scenes and we are very thankful for their support.
Those volunteers support us in a range of ways through our daily activities, driving our minibus, administration and IT support.
Our volunteers are finding us through Caritas Volunteer Service, Communities 1[st] , GoVolHerts, JVN, word of mouth and through Facebook. We are extremely fortunate to have a cohort of over 40 volunteers.
We celebrated 2023 Volunteer Week by sending each of our dedicated volunteers a special keepsake poem to say thank you.
New volunteers were offered training in First Aid, Epilepsy and Introduction to Learning Disabilities courses, which were taken up. Most volunteers looked to do it in period from April 2024 onwards.
Registered Charity Number 243871
Communication & Networking
We continue to ensure members, support workers and prospective members are able to reach out to us. Our easily accessible website is regularly updated and our Facebook and Instagram pages are updated daily.
Hertsmere Mencap staff are always available to answer new enquiries and guide prospective members towards joining. We take time to ensure all prospective members understand our unique and special offerings .
We continue to send out a lively monthly newsletter to around 900 people featuring photos and news from the month.
Represented Hertsmere Mencap at:
Elstree & Borehamwood Town Council AGM – March 2023
Aldenham parish coffee morning in February.
We continue to build relationships with HCC Social Services team, meeting quarterly.
Paul Moser Chairman
Registered Charity Number 243871
April 2023 - March 2024
Financial review
The Trustees believe the charity is operating on a sound financial basis. It had an income in the financial year of £173,345 an increase over the previous year of 41%. Expenditure for the year was £165,580, an increase of 30%. The Trustees therefore report a surplus for the year of £7,764 against £10,795 in the previous year.
Contract & Grant Income
We received a total of £106,699 from Hertfordshire County Council, Hertsmere Borough Council and Elstree & Borehamwood Town Council and from a number of charitable organisations.
Golf Day and other fundraising income
Our 2023 Golf Day was again our major fundraising event of the year and showed a net income of £41,839.
We received donations through the year of £4,637, including online donations.
Reserves Policy
The reserves that we have set aside provide financial stability and the means for the development and continuation of our principal activities. We intend to maintain our reserves at a level which is equivalent to at least six months expenditure of our running costs and £85,000 towards a property development reserve.
Krishna Chandak Treasurer
Registered Charity Number 243871
| April 2023 to March 2024 | |||
| Income | Description | Amount | % |
| Fundraising | Donations | 46,476 | 27% |
| Grants and Other Income | Contract Income & Grants | 106,698 | 61% |
| Grants and Other Income | Income from Activities | 16,932 | 10% |
| Grants and Other Income | Interest Income | 3,238 | 2% |
| 173,345 |
Income: April 2023 to March 2024
----- Start of picture text -----
2%
10%
27%
Donations
Contract Income & Grants
Income from Activities
Interest Income
61%
----- End of picture text -----
Registered Charity Number 243871
| April 2023 to March 2024 | |||
| Expenditure | Description | Amount | % |
Activities Costs |
Activities StaffingCosts |
77,896 | 47% |
| Activities Costs | Activities Materials & Other costs | 18,826 | 11% |
| Activities Costs | Activities Administrative & Other Costs |
17,332 | 10% |
| Administrative & FundraisingCosts | Salaries | 28,364 | 17% |
| Administrative & FundraisingCosts | Administrative & Other Costs | 22,353 | 14% |
| Administrative & FundraisingCosts | Depreciation | 809 | 1% |
| 165,580.00 |
----- Start of picture text -----
Overall Expenditure: April 2023 to March
2024
1% Activities Staffing Costs
14% Activities Materials & Other costs
47%
17% Activities Administrative & Other
Costs
10% Salaries
11%
Administrative & Other Costs
Depreciation
----- End of picture text -----
Registered Charity Number 243871
| Recei | and | ents accounts | ents accounts | CC16a | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | Forthe period from |
01-Apr-23 | To | 31-Mar-24 | ||||
| Section A Receipts | and | payments | ||||||
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted | funds | ='l;XJ:""t | rotar | rundsLast year | |||
| to thenearest t |
to thenearestf | tothenearestI | tothe nearestt | to thenearestt | ||||
| A1 Rece | ||||||||
| Grants | 25.650 | 81.049 | 106,699 | 75,028 | ||||
| Fund raisingactivities | 16.931 | 16,931 | 7,065 | |||||
| Donations | 4,637 | 4,637 | 2,984 | |||||
| Goli day | 41,839 | 41,839 | 40,570 | |||||
| lnterestondeposits | 3,238 | J,4J6 | 953 | |||||
| tncome | ||||||||
| AR) | 92,296 | 81,049 | 173,345 | 126,600 | ||||
| A2Asset and investment sales | ||||||||
| Other | ||||||||
| Totalreceipts | 92,296 | 81,049 | 173.345 | 125,600 | ||||
| 43 | ||||||||
| Charitable activities& grantexpenditure | 2,317 | 111,737 | 114,054 | 55,458 | ||||
| Management&administration | 40,247 | 11,275 | 51,526 | 60,347 | ||||
| Sub | total | 42,564 | 123,016 | 165.580 | 115,805 | |||
| A4Asset and investment | ||||||||
| purchases,(see table) | ||||||||
| S.rb | total | |||||||
| Totalpayments | 42,564 | 123,016 | 165,580 | 115,805 | ||||
| Netofreceipts/(payments) | 49,732 | (41,967) | 7,764 | 10,795 | ||||
| A5Transfers between funds | ||||||||
| A6 Cashfundslastyear end | 140.616 | 47,146 | 147,762 | 1t6,967 | ||||
| Cashfundsthis year | end | 190,348 | 5.179 | 195,526 | 187,762 |
| Unrestricted | Restricted | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nlr:,;ri+s | Beraiic | funds tonearesta |
funds tonear€st€ |
funds tonearestt |
| B1Cashtunds | Cashatbankand in hand | 192.148 | 5.179 | |
| Termdeposit | ||||
| Otherdebtorsbalance | ||||
| Totalcashfunds | 192,148 | rc | ||
| Details | funds tonearest€ |
funds tonearestf |
funds t0nearestf |
|
| 82 Other monetary assets | ||||
| Oetails | Fund towhich | Cost(optional) | Curfentvalue | |
| B3lnvestment assets | ||||
| Details | Fundtovr'hich | Cost(optional) | Currentvalue | |
| 84 Assets retainedforthe | Minibus | Unrestricted | 2.428 | |
| charity's ownuse | ||||
| Fund towhicil | Amountdue | When due | ||
| Details | relates | |||
| B5Liabilities | Other creditors | lJ nrestrlcted | 4.228 | |
| Signedbyone or two trusteeson behalfoiaii the trustees |
Signati:re | Print Fkycu |
Name s44t{,{L |
Dateof |