BFCA Committee has gone from strength to strength over the past year. We have now reached the end of the �nal term. The voting process was changed this year as we felt no one was taking part in the email or online process. No individuals came forward for the 4 key roles. Present were asked if they wished to continue for a 3-year term and they all agreed. The BFCA Committee for 2023-2026 are as follows:
Chair: Mark Pennington-Field Vice Chair: Alex Stephens-Kear Secretary: Yvonne Harrison Treasurer: Ali Steeds
Sub Committee are as follows:
Marie Bowden Georgina Morgan Louise Foster
We started the year with Tara Parson and Carrie Yeates attending the BFCA Meeting to address some key issues with Carers. We also secured a new venue for our meetings at St Werburgh’s Community Centre which was deemed central for all Carers within Bristol City Council.
The Committee have maintained some very strong links within the fostering service and regularly meet with Service Managers and Team Managers. We feel we now have a very good relationship with them, and they are keen to hear our views and we are able to advocate for carers on a number of issues.
We have really focused on what we do well as a committee. Our committee is strong and all work well together. Support for Carers and Activities and
Events have been our major success and we continued to deliver this throughout the past year.
We now have both Marie and Yvonne heading up the support section. Support has grown massively to the point that I have been providing support some key carers. Report re; support will be added below this overview.
Activities and Events have also been forefront with BFCA this year and we wouldn’t be able to do this without the massive support and �nancial input from the Fostering Service. James and Tara have always listened to what we have wanted and provided the funds to make this happen for carers and their children.
Our social media presence has grown also with George coordinating our Twitter and Instagram Accounts. We even got a shout out from one of the performers in the Hippodrome Xmas Panto on Twitter.
This year we made it possible for Carers and their children to attend Bristol Hippodrome performances of the Lion King, Cinderella, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Beauty and the Beast to name but a few. The Activities Team have ensured there is an event within each school holiday. We have also had events like Lydiard Park, Bristol Waterpark, Woodhouse Park Activity Day, Puxton Park to name a few. Our annual Christmas celebrations included an event for the Teenagers and a separate Children’s Party which was very well turned out and supported from the Managers and sta�within the fostering service.
Ra�es and Hampers have also played a big part in the years events with the committee aiming to put on a ra�e every other month with big wins.
The fostering service have now taken over well-being as its important that carers see that the service is providing this for them. Yvonne and Georgina and other have worked tirelessly to ensure regular well-being events are delivered like Knit and Natter, Choir and Yoga. We also seen a fabulous
Foster Carers Tea Party and Ploughman’s Lunch which was such a hit for Carers.
Probably our biggest achievement this year thanks to Ali and Georgina is the set-up of BFCA Youth Club which runs weekly on a Tuesday in Stockwood and ran by Young Bristol. This is available to aged 8 children and upwards and has proved a fantastic opportunity. We have been successful in gaining funding for the rest of the year thanks to James Beardall and his input.
As we moved towards the end of 3-year term we re-structured the committee to ensure there was a swift management and delivery of the way we work. This now provided in sections with either Alex or Myself overseeing and supervising the teams.
As we move into another 3-year term, we have so many ideas we want to work on and provide for you and also issues we would like to drive forward with the Service on your behalf.
I am now part of the Southwest Chairs Association with Fostering Network and have been championing the wonderful work we have been doing as a committee. We appear to be leading the way in how we operate as a committee and Charity and other Chairs are very keen to meet and get some ideas.
So, with all that above I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to each and every one of you for your continued support. I love doing what I do because you are the best to work with. And, �nally, BFCA wouldn’t be BFCA if it was not for dedicated team that work towards our goals. BFCA wouldn’t run successfully without Alex, Ali, Yvonne, Marie, Georgina and Lou working together to make it what it is. Thank you to all of you and I look forward to spending the next 3 years with you………………….
Mark (Chair)
BFCA 2022/2023 Annual Accounts
| Bank Closing Balance |
|
|---|---|
| Income: | |
| Events | £455.00 |
| Trips | £3,918.58 |
| Hippodrome | £12,907.90 |
| Fundraising | £2,681.00 |
| Other/Donations | £11,837. 34 |
| Total | £31,799.82 |
| Expenditure: | |
| BFCA mtgs | £1,068.28 |
| Events | £2,466.99 |
| Trips | £8,737.65 |
| Hippodrome | £14,297.78 |
| Other | £708.99 |
Comments from Yvonne Harrison: I would like to con�rm I have supported 18 carers in the period of the last year.
5 Foster Carers from this number being serious issues and allegations. I have worked alongside two carers that has persuade to o�cial complaints with Bristol City Council. I feel without the support of BFCA these carers would be isolated in feeling unsupported.
Comments from Marie Bowden: I have o�ered advice and support to 19 carers this year.
I have supported carers with allegations, o�ered 1-1 support, attended meetings with carers, made enquiries for carers and emailed Social workers to follow things up. All this work has been recorded on the BFCA support forms. All carers have valued my advice and support and I enjoy my role being able to o�er advice and support to carers.
I have helped with the planning and organising of some of the events and trips. I lead the puxton park, Avon valley and Ninja warrior. These trips were well attended and the events were successful. It is great to see Our children and YP forming friendships on these trips and for carers to come together for a chat and cuppa.
Comments from Mark Pennington-Field:
As support back up I have supported 7 carers through various circumstances o�ering advice and support to them. 2 of these cases have been quite lengthy and complex cases.
BFCA 2022/2023 Annual Accounts
Bank Opening Balance £5,955.23 Petty Cash £158.56 Bank Closing Balance £10,475.36 £ 60.61
Income:
Events £ 455.00 Trips £ 3,918.58 Hippodrome £ 12,907.90 Fundraising £ 2,681.00 Other/Donations £ 11,837. 34 Total £31,799.82 Expenditure:
BFCA mtgs £ 1,068.28 Events £ 2,466.99 Trips £ 8,737.65 Hippodrome £ 14,297.78 Other £ 708.99 Total £27,279.69 Yearly Profit/Loss £ 4,520.13 profit (£1,125 ring fenced Tesco) (£1,125 youth club)
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Sectlon A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Bristol Foster Carers Association On accounts for the year ended 31st March 2023 Charity no (if any) 283305 Set out on pages 4 1mPmber to include i age I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity ("the Trust") for the year ended 3110312023. Responsibllities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attentlon (other than that disclosed below ") in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records Independent examiner's statement I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the words in the brackets rf they do not apply. Signed: Date: 15th August 2023 Name: Couzens Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (if any): Bookkeeper Address: 3 Holsom Road Stockwood Bristol BS14 8LT IER October 2018