– st BFCA AGM Chair Report 31 March 2022
Chair Overview of Year 2021/22:
The BFCA Committee consists of Mark Pennington-Field (Chair); Alex Stephens-Kear (Vice Chair), Yvonne Harrison (Secretary) and Ali Steeds (Treasurer). The committee’s current term if for 3 years and we are now entering the final year of term. All committee members have pledged to continue for the 3[rd] year this is recorded here within this Chair Report. We also have an additional arm of the committee which is not subject to official voting processes but acts as the Social Activities, Trips and Events Section which consists of George Field, Marie Bowden, Michelle Lormand, Lou Foster and Georgina Morgan.
The last year has been a busy year for the committee in focusing on providing support to carers and their children throughout the various lockdown’s and isolations during covid and attempting to bring some normality back with trips and events.
As a Charity, face to face meetings resumed which was important for all carers to begin to feel that connection again. The Bristol City Council Fostering Service have been supportive and provided vast funds to enable us to be able to provide this for our carers and their children. Health and Well-Being of our carers has been paramount and we have worked with service to identify gaps and support that can be provided to enhance this aspect of the fostering role.
Committee wise; we have a very strong set up now with additional members joining us to strengthen the activities and events that we intended to provide.
We secured funding with Rag Doll Foundation to provide funds to put on a pantomime which sadly could not take place due to a surge in covid infections; however, what was positive was a strong sense of community in our rehearsals and witnessing some key relationships develop as a result.
Regular online competitions on our Facebook along with Bingo games and Quiz evenings were rolled out; however, as the pandemic progressed carers craved the face-to-face contact and attendance to these waned. We intend to use feedback forms at BFCA Meetings for carers to feedback any issues as we feel the “Your Voice, Your Say” feedback never reached all carers in the way that we wanted.
A new Safeguarding Policy devised for the Charity this year and rolled out to everyone.
Fostering Service Support:
We have worked closely with the BCC Fostering Service and met with them monthly ironing out any issues that have arisen with carers. In turn, we have developed a key relationship with them assisting them in various issues and it has been helpful that they have recognised and supported us throughout. Vaccination programmes were rolled out for carers along with risk assessments for family time which campaigned for and the service acted. A hamper delivery was provided from the Service at Christmas for carers.
We have recently been working with and advising the service over the upcoming pay consultation.
Key training at BFCA Meetings have also been provided from service professionals and we have been fortunate to provide key information sessions on Delegated Authority; Staying Put and SGO. We recently had a talk on the Carers Support Group for Carers of Ethnic Minority Children. Our meetings have been held St George Community Centre; however, we have experienced issues around opening times and unreliability with organisers and have therefore secured a regular meeting place at St Werburgh’s Community Centre.
Our Secretary Yvonne has worked closely with service in securing funding for a well-being budget and looked at strategies that can be provided to better support our carers. This has been very positive, and Yvonne has worked tirelessly to secure this.
Trips, Events, Activities and Social Media Presence for the Charity:
The Charity has recently seen the introduction of additional members over the last few months as we recognised that our social presence was ever expanding along with the increasing budget which was gratefully received from the service.
Our Facebook page has gone from strength to strength with over 200 carers now signed up and this is where activities are showcased and any news items of any interest. Committee members have seen a massive increase in carer contact directly partly since they get a quick response, and it has proved a challenge to meet these needs at times as it appears some find this process a quick fix. We have risen to the challenge though and met with some great feedback over this; knowing that we can direct to the service should it be situation that needs escalating. BFCA streamlined responsibilities playing to each committee members strengths which has proved much more effective. Alex is now responsible for booking Venue's, Events, Speakers and Trainers, that will be booked in for 11am at the meetings each month. Alex provides supervision with Ali, Michelle, and George every month enabling him to support events and activities. Yvonne continues with Support, wellbeing, and secretarial duties. Yvonne will is joined by Marie who is also be responsible for support, health and well-being and also assist with events and trips. Mark supervises Alex, Yvonne, and Marie. Ali will be involved in trips and holding the position as treasurer. Louise and Michelle will help with trips and events. George will be involved with social media and panto.
Georgina Morgan has also joined the committee and will be assisting with Trips, Events and Activities.
Twitter and Instagram have been integral in getting our name out there and George oversees this increasing his focus on driving the charity forward within social media.
BFCA Book club started in the New Year and is ran by Andrea Warnes. This is an online what’s app group that discusses the love of books and currently sees approximately 8 members.
Trips, Events and Activities have played a massive part in our support of carers and their children this year and we have seen a massive shift in the way carers have interacted with us as a Charity. Key relationships have been formed between carers and, more importantly our looked after children.
The team moved away from the annual beach trip last year due to covid restrictions and provided activities throughout the summer holidays and other half term holidays which proved a fantastic triumph.
Some of trips and activities provided are as follows: Thorpe Park, Longleat, Brean Leisure Park, Picnics at Vassals and Blaise, Laser fusion, Bristol Aquarium, Wookey Hole and Puxton Park.
We delivered our annual Christmas Party differently this year which was successful. We provided a Xmas Disco for primary age children and provided bowling for the teenagers.
We have also received an overwhelming response from carers and their children in implementing tickets to Hippodrome Productions and this has been greatly received enabling carers and their family members to attend different productions namely Mama Mia, Panto, Billionaire Boy, Bedknobs and Broomsticks etc
BFCA have also joined forces with Bristol Rovers and secured a Seasonal Family Ticket and opportunities for our children to become Mascots for the Football Club.
BFCA 2021/2022 Annual Accounts
Bank Opening Balance £7,131.64 £189.56 Bank Closing Balance £5,955.23 £158.56
Petty Cash
Income:
| Income: | |
|---|---|
| Bristol City Council | £ 9,000.00 |
| Ragdoll Foundation | £ 133.00 |
| Quartet Community Found £ 3,000.00 | |
| Amazon/Paypal donations £ 152.86 | |
| National Citizen Scheme | £ 824.91 |
| Go Fund/Donations | £ 268.83 |
| Rafes | £ 263.00 |
| Theatre refund | £ 450.00 |
| Trips | £ 2,353.58 |
| Hippodrome trips | £12,842.00 |
| Total | £29,288.18 |
Expenditure:
| Gazebo | £ 195.99 |
|---|---|
| Puxton Park x 2 trips | £ 903.00 |
| Blaise / Vassalls | £ 155.45 |
| Sports equipment | £ 229.96 |
| BFCA T-shirts/hoodies | £ 158.97 |
| Brean | £ 1,585.00 |
| Crealy | £ 648.00 |
| Hampers | £ 58.35 |
| BFCA mtg refreshments | £ 249.19 |
| BFCA mtg hall hire | £ 200.00 |
| Panto costs | £ 1,306.31 |
|---|---|
| Wookey hole | £ 1,142.16 |
| All aboard watersports | £ 600.00 |
| Hippodrome tickets | £19,348.23 |
| Laser fusion | £ 765.00 |
| Aquarium | £ 576.00 |
| Teenagers Xmas bowling | £ 688.60 |
| Childrens xmas party | £ 451.88 |
| West Midland safari | £ 1,202.50 |
| Total | £30,464.59 |
| Yearly Proft/Loss | £ 1,176.41 loss |
(ragdoll panto grant of £1,230 was banked in 2020/21 but spent in 2021/22 year.)
BFCA 2021/2022 Annual Accounts
Bank Opening Balance £7,131.64 £189.56 Bank Closing Balance £5,955.23 £158.56
Petty Cash
Income: Bristol City Council £ 9,000.00 Ragdoll Foundation £ 133.00 Quartet Community Found £ 3,000.00 Amazon/Paypal donations £ 152.86 National Citizen Scheme £ 824.91 Go Fund/Donations £ 268.83 Raffles £ 263.00 Theatre refund £ 450.00 Trips £ 2,353.58 Hippodrome trips £12,842.00 Total £29,288.18
Expenditure:
| Gazebo | £ 195.99 |
|---|---|
| Puxton Park x 2 trips | £ 903.00 |
| Blaise / Vassalls | £ 155.45 |
| Sports equipment | £ 229.96 |
| BFCA T-shirts/hoodies | £ 158.97 |
| Brean | £ 1,585.00 |
| Crealy | £ 648.00 |
| Hampers | £ 58.35 |
| BFCA mtg refreshments | £ 249.19 |
| BFCA mtg hall hire | £ 200.00 |
| Panto costs | £ 1,306.31 |
| Wookey hole | £ 1,142.16 |
| All aboard watersports | £ 600.00 |
| Hippodrome tickets | £19,348.23 |
| Laser fusion | £ 765.00 |
| Aquarium | £ 576.00 |
| Teenagers Xmas bowling | £ 688.60 |
| Childrens xmas party | £ 451.88 |
| West Midland safari | £ 1,202.50 |
| Total | £30,464.59 |
| Yearly Proft/Loss | £ 1,176.41 loss |
(ragdoll panto grant of £1,230 was banked in 2020/21 but spent in 2021/22 year.)
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