Annual Report 2005-06 ten steps to make our community thrive
ten steps… Step 1
Know your place A brief history of CCA and Chairs report
Page 4
Step 2
Start young Sure Start, Under 4s’ Playtime
Page 9
Step 3
Listen and support Junior Y.I.P and After School Club
Page 11
Step 4
Open doors The Haven Youth Project
Page 14
Step 5
Understand and motivate Senior Youth Inclusion Project
Page 16
Step 6
Keep fit Sports facilities
Page 20
Step 7
Stay active Help Elderly Local People Scheme
Page 21
Step 8
Lend your time Volunteers
Page 24
Step 9
Take pride Environment and redevelopment
Page 27
Step 10
Spend wisely Finance and Accounts
Page 28
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Know your place A brief history of CCA During 1985 local residents lobbied Camden Council for a facility to offer services to local children and older people. By 1986 they were successful and were given financial support to employ a community development worker and offered a very derelict building for development. By the summer of 1986 ‘The Old Piano Warehouse’ opened as a community resource, offering groups and activities for under 5’s, a pensioners club and an after school club. By then the Castlehaven Community Association (CCA) had become a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. Over the next 20 years the CCA has continued to grow in response to the needs of local residents. Staying true to its original aims “to respond to the educational, recreational and social needs of local residents” the CCA has developed and evolved over the years. Initially we raised funds for a purpose built community centre on an adjoining piece of land, then we had the site around the building 4
CASTLEHAVEN BUILDING IMAGE TO GO HEREAWAITING EMAIL landscaped, then we started to get really brave, we negotiated taking the lease on the whole 4 acre open space, built a sports pitch, then floodlighting, then a changing and shower facility. By the time the whole site was re-landscaped and we had acquired 2 other premises, one a dedicated IT suite and one to extend the programme of activities, the original building was beginning to look very sad; so we started again; in August 2004 our young people moved into their purpose built youth centre with its café area, recording and dance studio and counselling rooms. This year, for our 20th birthday the CCA are having the original community centre completely refurbished and the community gardens and pedestrian areas redeveloped. This report demonstrates that the CCA’s programme continues to deliver on its original aims, offering activities to local residents from our youngest member who is just 6 months to our oldest who is 95. Over my 20 years of employment with the CCA I have used many adjectives to describe my job but it has never, ever been boring! I look forward to many more fruitful years to come.
Eleanor Botwright Director 5
Chairs report 2005 has been a very constructive and busy year for the CCA and I would like to thank my fellow Board of Trustee members and the full Castlehaven Community Association staff team for their hard work and support. While the Board retains the responsibility for helping with strategic planning, policy development, monitoring and fiscal management, Eleanor Botwright, CCA Director, implements strategy, manages and coordinates the delivery of services. Eleanor works very closely with her senior team of project managers who each specialise in their area of expertise; Gaia Segal takes responsibility for children under thirteen, Frances Shank for children and young people aged between thirteen and nineteen and Tricia Richards for older people. This new structures produced phenomenal results with increased community participation in all areas. The year has seen the development of our newly opened purpose-built youth centre at The Haven Youth Café, funded by the Lottery Charities Board and London Borough of Camden, the re-landscaping of the southern community garden, funded by the 6
Liveability Fund and the redesign of the pedestrian area that traverses the site, funded by Traffic for London. Our very diverse range of projects have been funded from a number of sources including the London Borough of Camden, the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, the Youth Justice Board, the Children’s Fund, the GO Partnership, Sure Start and the Fairstead Trust. We would like to thank those and all our other funders for their support. Furthermore we have a number of other partnerships that, unfortunately, is a list far too long to reproduce here. However we would like to thank each of them for their support throughout the year. Finally I would like to thank the many volunteers who have supported our work throughout the year. They have fulfilled tasks from environmental improvements to visiting the housebound elderly, from organising community events to delivering youth services and from serving at tea dances to escorting vulnerable older people on trips and holidays – each and every one of them a star!
Brenda Gardner Chair, Board of Trustees 7
Step
2
Start young Sure Start, Under 4s’ Playtime Our drop-in is open to all parents and carers with children aged under four. We are funded by Sure Start Kentish Town and work towards Sure Start’s national aims, which are: “to work with parents-to-be, parents and children to promote the physical, intellectual and social development of babies and young children – particularly those who are disadvantaged – so that they flourish at home and when they get to school, and in this way break the cycle of disadvantage for the current generation of young children”. The Under Fours Playtime is very popular with local families. We provide a safe and stimulating play environment that aims to support and promote the developmental needs of young children. The drop-in is open for three mornings a week. Not only do the children benefit from the wide variety of activities on offer, but it is also a supportive environment for parents and carers who can come and meet friends, old and new, whilst their children play. 9
Step
3
Listen and support Junior Y.I.P. and After School Club We regularly have visits from various professionals from the Sure Start team who give help and advice on a variety of relevant services. Some of last year’s visitors include a speech therapist, employment advisor, dental health advisor and a librarian.
The aim of this project is to provide positive experiences so as to help prevent the risk of social exclusion. Our priorities over the last year have been:
On the other two days a week we run a crèche which enables parents to take up training opportunities whilst their children are cared for. During last year we provided a crèche to support parents to take part in a CLAIT computer course, two different health and fitness classes and a childcare Level One class. The hard work and commitment by the staff team, Eva Cremona and Veronica St Hillaire, has helped us to continue to provide a high quality service where all feel welcomed and valued.
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1. To encourage a sense of ‘belonging’ to a community by an increase of inter-generational activities and by greater involvement with the local community at all levels.
Gaia Segal Project Manager
2. To promote healthier lifestyles for those young people who are living in an area that has been statistically identified as having one of the poorest health records in London. 3. To ease the difficult period of transition from primary to secondary school. This transition is known to be a trigger for academic decline and for anti-social behaviour. Confidence building activities, educational support and close liaison with schools will all be used to help make the move a positive experience. 11
These priorities have provided the focus for our activities throughout the year. As a Junior Youth Inclusion Project for 8 – 12 year olds we have taken full advantage of our base within the community centre to help our young people to identify with – and become part of – the wider local community. Our intergenerational activities “make and bake” and “the big draw” are two examples of links outside the project and across the generations that have proved very successful. During the year, we have taken our group on visits to a number of local facilities, such as The Pirate Club, Islington Boat Club, local libraries and the City Farm. Each session starts with a healthy snack, which is eaten at a table with staff members. Once a week a proper meal is cooked by the children and shared. All this helps to teach vital cooking and nutrition and social skills. Equally important to good health is our range of sports and physical activities. Emotional health is promoted and supported by our fun packed range of play activities including team games, drama, and confidence-building exercises.
in partnership with other agencies. This helps us design the provision around the needs of the children and young people, in particular those who are about to transfer to secondary school or to the Senior Youth Inclusion Programme. As well as our range of activities and off-site trips last year, we took the children on a residential trip to Sayers Croft during the February half term. This was a new experience for this group and it proved to have been so popular and beneficial that we are looking forward to the next one! We feel that this has been a year of steady progress, none of which would have been possible without the hard work and skills of a forward – thinking and dedicated team. Genuine thanks due to Peter Day, Charlie Symmons, Danielle Yapp and Hayeser Zorbas.
Gaia Segal Project Manager
We provide homework support daily. An important aspect of our job is liaising with schools and working 12
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Step
4
Open doors The Haven Youth Project The Haven Youth Project is open Monday – Friday from 6.30 – 9pm and we are also open during all school holidays except the Christmas holidays. Over the last year the project has increased its membership from 200 to 312 members.
There have been workshops and training sessions in sound engineering, video making, photography and IT skills, drugs, ‘happy slapping’, guns and knives, dealing with authority, anger management and sexual health. The Alcohol Recovery Project (ARP) is currently providing young people with weekly one-one sessions, helping them to develop personal development plans.
The Haven Youth Project has continued to involve and engage young people aged 13 –19 years in fun, safe and constructive activities and workshops. Over the last year the Haven Youth Project has worked in partnership with a number of agencies to provide a wide and extensive timetable of activities and workshops.
Our multi-skilled staff team bring to the Haven Youth Project a diverse range of skills, expertise and experiences of working with young people This enables us to deliver a diverse exciting programme in house as well as the additionally that partnership working brings.
The Metropolitan Police have provided self-defence classes; we participated in the Camden Unity Cup, and organised a youth carnival to help stop territorial conflict in the Camden area – this was a huge success.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank my staff team and volunteers who have shown nothing but commitment and support for the project throughout this very and successful year.
Inez Vassell Interventions Coordinator
The young people have organised and attended residential trips to Avon Tyrell Youth Activity Centre and an outward-bound activity trip to Wales.
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Step
5 Understand and motivate Senior Youth Inclusion Project The Castlehaven Senior Youth Inclusion Project’s ethos is to “Encourage, Involve and Empower Young People”. To enable us to address this philosophy our programme is open 5 days a week Monday – Friday 6.30 – 9pm (Haven and core members) and Tuesday & Thursday 4 – 6pm (core members only) and for school holiday schemes. During 2005 the Senior Youth Inclusion Project went through many changes. We settled into the newly built “Haven Youth Café” and welcomed new staff members Inez Vassell, (Interventions Coordinator), Veronica O’Leary and Michelle Brillout (Key Workers). Throughout the year the staff team worked hard to engage the core 50 (13 – 16 years olds) and reduce youth crime and offending behaviour within the Castlehaven area by ensuring that the most at risk young people were given a structured interventions plan that addressed their individual needs and risk factors. The interventions programme included one-to-one support, educational support, a 17
residential trip to Avon Tyrell, life skills, personal safety, gun and knife workshops, LIFE Course, tutoring sessions, girls group, boys group, trips, Unity Cup Youth Festival (which involved over 200 young people from different youth clubs within the Camden area), music, dance, self defence, arts and crafts and, more recently, an anti-violence music and film project in response to the recent murders of two young men in the community. The Youth Justice Board continues to fund the programme and has secured funding until 2008, which is great news. We continue to work in partnership with the Youth Offending Team, who have supported us throughout the year, and also the Schools Involvement Team, police, Social Services, schools, Positive Activities for Young People, the Alcohol Recovery Project, The Roundhouse, Hopeful Monsters, Big Steppers, and street wardens. To my staff team, our volunteers, parents and young people I thank you all for your continuing support, which has been invaluable.
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Frances Shank Project Manager
Step
Step
6
7
Keep fit
Stay active
Sports facilities
Help Elderly Local People Scheme
The Castlehaven Community Association are the proud owners of one of the few truly affordable sports facilities in the borough. Children’s groups and schools are offered a heavily subsidised (often free) access to both the pitch and shower facilities, whilst adult groups are charged a minimal rate – we aim only to cover the cost of maintenance of the site.
Castlehaven H.E.L.P.S provides a service that focuses on the mental and physical dexterity of older Camden residents. It aims to tackle loneliness, isolation and exclusion, by offering positive and inclusive activities, events and classes to it’s 300+ members.
Consequently the site is in heavy demand by both local residents, schools and local teams. Although the site can accommodate a number of sports including tennis, basketball and netball, it is principally used for football and multi-sports coaching. Some of the events held on the site in the past year have included the Unity Cup, established to challenge racism in sport, and the Camden Schools Sports Association Football League, which involved 13 primary schools and the Castlehaven Youth Festival. Working with the Camden Sports Development Team local young people are offered regular free multi-sports coaching and training in the Community Sports Leaders Award. 20
During the past year we here at Castlehaven H.E.L.P.S have worked with many other service providers to deliver a number of very successful projects. Here are just three examples of work we have undertaken: 1. The ‘Older Men’s and Winter Warmers Cook-4-1 On A Budget’ course with Camden’s Primary Care Trust. ‘I have done all types of training in healthy living since attending the men’s cook-4-1 course, it was down to H.E.L.P.S that I am now so busy! Thanks’ Mr N, 77yrs. 2. Partnership projects with Well & Wise, Haverstock School, the Haven Youth Inclusion Project and the Charlie Ratchford Resource Centre 21
on a project called ‘Streets Ahead’ dealing creatively with street safety issues in the local area. ‘H.E.L.P.S always has something to look forward to, so I am not on my own all the time, meeting new people and having lots of fun!’ Mrs B, 76yrs. 3. The ‘Big Draw’ project, where 14 H.E.L.P.S members and 12 Haven After-School Club children were paired up to create portraits of one another. This project was the genesis of a number of intergenerational friendships that still last. ‘It was really fun being with the children and I learned how to draw.’ Mrs P, 90yrs As 2005 was the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, many events and activities were arranged for members to get involved in, and enjoy, reminiscing their experience of Europe during that troubled period. These have included: • a day trip to a commemorative event to celebrate VE Day in Chatham Historic Dockyards. • sessions to record memories and stories of the war on the BBC World War II website. 22
• work with a local school history project. • an amazing VE Day celebration tea dance, with over 100 attendees. • a long weekend in Normandy, France, to visit war graves and the landing beaches. During 2005 H.E.L.P.S also organised 12 theatre trips, 12 exciting day trips and holidays to the Lake District and Hampshire. There were also many different classes, including Iraqi elders chair based exercise class, line dancing, bridge for beginners class, complete beginners computer course, and our volunteer led walking club. In the future we will continue to organise projects, events and activities to keep H.E.L.P.S members socially active, happy and involved in this thriving, positive and enjoyable environment. ‘H.E.L.P.S has made me feel an equal member of society, has given me self-worth and improved my confidence. I have a happier outlook on life as I am accepted as me.’ Mrs H, 71yrs
Tricia Richards H.E.L.P.S Project Manager
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Step
8
Lend your time Volunteers The true hero’s of the CCA are the volunteers! From the Board of Trustees, who hold responsibility for the whole organisation, to those who help with project delivery and environmental improvement. Our volunteers include those who visit vulnerable housebound elderly and/or escort them to hospital, on trips and holidays, those who help with events such as tea dances, walking and cinema clubs, and others who help with project administration. And of course those who volunteer to help with youth club sessions, sports coaching and organising fundraising events. Our gardens are looked after by our team of ‘litteratie’ who turn out every Sunday to ensure the site is litter free and corporate bodies such as the ‘Railtrack Team’ who offer a seasonal blitz on our 2 community gardens. Thankfully there are too many of you to name, but I know each of you knows how treasured you are and how much you’re hard work and commitment is valued! Thank you - where would we be without you all?
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Step
9
Take pride Environment and Redevelopment To help celebrate our 20th birthday the Castlehaven Community Centre is currently under renovation. This very busy building has been looking very jaded over the recent past. Thanks to a capital allocation from Sure Start we will soon be the owners of a ‘brand new’ ‘old’ building. Our close proximity to Camden Lock meant that the nooks & crannies in our garden have been used as a haven for anti-social behaviour, especially drug & alcohol abuse. Thanks to funding from the Liveability Fund the garden is being completely restructured to design crime out of our area. A wide, open and hostile pedestrian pathway traverses the Open Space. Thanks to funding from Traffic for London this area is being landscaped to offer a visual link between the two halves of the site, with benches, trees and other planting. Our 20th birthday ‘gifts’ are all scheduled for completion by April 2006.
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Reserves policy: The Board of Trustees have established a policy whereby the unrestricted funds held by the charity should be between 6 & 9 months of the core grant offered by the London Borough of Camden, which equates to between £39,000 and £58,000 in general funds. At this level, the Board of Trustees feel they would be able to continue the current activities of the charity in the event of a significant drop in funding. It would obviously be necessary to consider how the funding would be replaced or activities changed.
Step
10 Spend wisely Finance and accounts Transactions & Financial Position: The statement of financial activities shows income for the year of £803,122 with expenditure of £791,023 leaving a small surplus of £12,099.
Incoming Resources: (notes) Local Authority Grants Activities to generate funds: Investment Income Other Income Donations Community Fund Outgoing Resources: Activities to further the charity’s objects: Charitable Costs (A) Capital Projects (note 17) Governance (B) Net movement in funds Transfer between funds Balance brought forward Total Funds - 31.3.05 28
At present the unrestricted and undesignated reserves, which amount to £33,775, do not reach this target and the Board of Trustees are considering ways in which additional unrestricted funds may be raised.
Unrestricted Funds £ 77,937
Restricted Funds £ 0
Designated Funds £ 0
2005 £ 77,937
2004 £ 74,311
6,141 47,527 180 0 131,785
0 461,644 0 209,693 671,337
0 0 0 0 0
6,141 509,171 180 209,693 803,122
3,105 596,613 10 193,413 857,452
180,629 0 19,228 127,857
436,862 198,446 27,858 663,166
0 0 0 0
545,491 198,460 47,086 791,023
457,905 302,860 45,235 806,000
3,928 -1,929 31,776
8,171 1,929 21,489
0 0 40,000
12,099 0 93,265
51,452 0 41,813
33,775
31,589
40,000
105,364
93,265
There were no gains/losses other than as recorded on the left. The annexed notes form part of these statements. All activities were continuing. 29
Castlehaven Community Association is supported by
Charity number 295829 Company number 2069107 Funded by Central Government, Camden Council and a number of Charitable Trusts.
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Castlehaven Community Association 33 Hawley Road London NW1 8RU T 020 7485 3386 F 020 7267 5762 E
[email protected] H.E.L.P.S Over 60’s Projects T 020 7692 2238 Youth & Y.I.P Projects T 020 7284 1540 Finance T 020 7692 2298 Under Fours Playtime T 020 7692 2293 www.castlehaven.org.uk
