ANNUAL REPORT 2025
Chipping Barnet Seniors Day Centre (CBSDC) - (Charity Reg No: 272847)
Preventing loneliness and social isolation of vulnerable older people in Chipping Barnet.
ROLE AND AIMS
Our main role and aims are:
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Prevention of loneliness and social isolation
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Health, Wellbeing and Social Care
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Advice and Information
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Our objective is to provide a club like atmosphere where elderly housebound people can enjoy a day out in a safe, friendly, relaxed and cheerful environment where they can meet and make friends, be entertained and provided with a hot two course lunch and refreshments throughout the day.
Additionally, the centre provides respite for those who daily commit their lives to the care of aged loved ones.
MANAGEMENT OF THE DAY CENTRE
The Day Centre opens to it members for two days a week (Mondays & Fridays) between the hours of 9.30am and 3.00pm. The centre has 17 members with capacity for 20 each day, which is dependent on the mobility and mental capacity of members. Currently there are 7 vacancies for Mondays and Fridays. Despite the Organiser consistently striving to maintain full membership of 20 each day taking referrals and enquiries, generated from the Website and Springwell, recently enquiries have been received from members outside of the Day Centre’s catchment area, or with needs outside of our criteria.
The Centre is run by one paid organiser and 29 volunteers, all of whom are vital to the success of the Day Centre. Average ages of our members are currently nearer 90 than 80 and a high level of practical and compassionate support is essential. The Open Door Centre has proved to be an ideal location with a warm ambience. The minibus is fully equipped for disabled passengers and those who drive/escort. It is a key and necessary asset for the Charity in delivering its aims.
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Registered Charity - 272847
The volunteers undertake various roles from general daily help to transport/escort and kitchen duties. Important jobs that the volunteers undertake are listed below, this list is by no means exhaustive.
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Minibus driving/escorting and car pickups/drop offs
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Setting up and clearing down the room
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Serving tea/coffee and lunch
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Facilitating Exercises
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Kitchen duties
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Engaging and stimulating conversations with the members
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Playing board or card games with the members
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Running quizzes/taking part in entertainment
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Providing both physical and mental support during the day
Activities held for the members are as below -
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Escorted transport is provided where necessary(limited numbers)
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Chair based exercise classes adapted to the average age group.
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Refreshments provided in the morning and afternoon
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A two course hot meal at lunchtime
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Bingo and board games played in the afternoons
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Information and advice is available and regularly given
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Musical entertainment is enjoyed
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Intergenerational activities have recently recommenced with a local preschool group, which is of great benefit to both groups.
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Outings to a local Garden Centre and also the Seaside have been arranged in the past but current mobility and age of the members has rendered this too problematic at present. We hope to be able to resume these at some point in the future.*
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Tea parties.
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Christmas and Summer Events are held with entertainment.
*Unfortunately again no outings took place in the year to March 2025, due to the frailty of most of the members however special events have been held at the Open Door throughout the year for example - A Day at the Seaside 7[th] July 2025 and afternoon musical entertainment is a monthly occurrence.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND STAFF
David Williams Chair John Ireton Vice Chair/Transport Representative* Susan Francis Honorary Treasurer Amanda Skitt Honorary Secretary
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Registered Charity - 272847
| Gillian Van Blankenstein | Organiser |
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| Bridget Sawyer | Trustee |
| Steven Hart | Trustee |
| Linda Lanham | Trustee |
| Susan Stemson | Trustee |
| Ursula Daee | Trustee |
| Gwen Childs | Member Representative |
| Gwen Knights | Member Representative |
*NB John Ireton has since stepped down as Vice Chair but remains as a Trustee only.
MANAGEMENT MEETINGS
These are held 3 times a year. The AGM was held on the 30[th] June 2025, Minutes of the 2024 AGM held on the 1[st] July 2024 were approved and Audited Accounts for the year to March 2025 were presented and approved. Updates with regards to changes in name and officers/Trustees were provided to the Charity Commission in a timely manner.
FINANCIAL REPORT (YEAR ENDING MARCH 2025)
The audited accounts together with the Independent Examiner’s report follow. The headline figures are:-
Receipts - £72282 Payments - £60880 Profit for year - £11402
Signed Amanda Skitt (Honorary Secretary)
Date :-
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