Annual Report

Transcription

1 1 Annual Report Improving local life by bringing people together to share skills

2 Time Exchange 2 Contents: Page 3 Aims & Objectives Page 7 Facts & Figures Page 9 Projects & Activities Page 17 Company Information Page 19 Statement of Financial Activities

3 Aims and Objectives 3 The Trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the aims and objectives and in planning future activities. The aims and objectives of the Time Exchange are to advance the benefit of the residents of the socially and economically deprived area of the West End of Newcastle upon Tyne by: Operating a time bank as a means of relieving poverty, advancing education, relieving unemployment and promoting vocational training for the benefit of the public in the area. Developing the capacity and skills of the members of the community in such a way that they are better able to identify and meet their needs and to enable them to participate more fully in society. Advancing the education of the public by the provision of information and advice with reference to welfare rights and health related issues. These are the core values of the Time Exchange: We are all equally important and so is our time. Building home, neighbourhood and community is real work. Helping is best when we both give and receive. Being together means being stronger."

4 The Time Exchange runs a community-based Time Bank in the West End of Newcastle. Local residents exchange skills and services with one another using an alternative currency to record their contributions. For every hour of time that is volunteered members earn a time credit which can be used to access skills and services offered by other members. Members of the Time Exchange are also earning community credits by participating in local groups, events and environmental improvements. The Time Exchange aims to encourage neighbourliness and community spirit in the Inner West of Newcastle. The Time Exchange staff will help to develop communities by: 4 Recruiting new members from harder to reach groups, e.g. Isolated and elderly, minority ethnic groups and residents with mental health problems or physical disabilities. Facilitating the exchange of skills and services. Building confidence and developing life skills in members and the wider community. The Time Exchange also operates a drop-in facility five days a week whereby local residents can access advice, guidance and support on a variety of issues. The experienced staff team provides access to the following services: Signposting to other organisations and statutory agencies. CV and interview preparation. One-to-one support and confidence building sessions.

5 Members of the staff team are fluent in several of the community languages, including Punjabi, Urdu and Hindi. The staff team has 17 years experience facilitating exchanges and development opportunities for members. Staff members offer the following expertise: community development and capacity building, social work, mental health, minority ethnic communities, advocacy, and equalities. The Time Exchange Board comprises 6 members who represent the diversity of the community. Time Exchange Report It has been another busy year at the Time Exchange office organising daily requests for many of our varied skills and services. The drop-in service has been an essential service for local residents and we have provided access to more specialist services and agencies when needed. The Time Exchange is proud to be one of the UK s longest-established, most successful time banks. The continued demand for skills exchanges reflects not only how well time banking works within a community, but also the essential need for certain services during the current economic climate. It has been an incredibly challenging year for funding, as it is for all small charities out there. Despite having to reduce our hours last year we were able to share the great news that Tudor Trust would be funding us for two more years. This funding has enabled the Time Exchange office to maintain the 5 day/week time bank and drop-in service with 3 part-time staff posts. We hope to secure longer term funds to cover all of our core costs to maintain this vital community project. 5

6 We receive in kind support from Home Group, who provide us with the use of 235 Stanton Street. We would like to again thank Hutchinsons for their generous donation to support our work in the community. We ve also received funds for the work on Street Planters and to develop the Bike Garden, and funds to develop the Wingrove Wellbeing Walks We ve received ongoing support from ISOS helping us with our fundraising activities, and we are also raising funds through the Chronicle Wish Campaign and using the website Easy Fundraising. 6

7 7 The staff team and Trustees are working hard to ensure that there is continued funding to support all of our members and the local community. Facts & Figures The Time Exchange provides regular support to 165 individual members plus their families. There are also 34 organisations, schools or residents groups that are partnership members that both give and receive skills, expertise and advice. Time Exchange members have been exchanging a range of different skills and services throughout the year, earning a total of 3042 credits. This works out at nearly 60 hours exchanged each week. The staff team also supports the wider community by responding to daily requests for advice and guidance. We have offered timebanking advice to several emerging time banks in the area. The Time Exchange has worked in partnership with Greening Wingrove, CHAT Trust, Nunsmoor Centre Trust, Newcastle City Council, Home Group, Keyring etc helping to support local residents. Top Time Banker Congratulations to Charles Gardiner, our top time banker, who earned 297 time credits over the year.

8 8 We would like to say thank you to all our members for their hard work, support and commitment to the Time Exchange and for making all of our achievements possible. Most Popular Types of Exchanges Gardening, Environmental Work & Litter picks Cooking & Vegetable & Salad bags Cleaning & Housework Shopping & Errands

9 In addition to all of these exchanges members have offered many other skills and services including teaching languages, hospital escorts, sewing and car lifts. The Time Exchange office has earned more than 300 credits by offering the following services to local residents: Providing reference letters of support for housing and employment. Providing regular crisis intervention for a number of residents. Signposting to specialist organisations and agencies for housing, welfare rights, family support, domestic violence, financial support and social care. Providing 1-1 emotional and personal support. 9 Projects & Activities The Time Exchange has also been involved with various other projects and activities throughout the year. Environmental The gardening team have been running regular gardening sessions in the Bike Garden. Through additional funding, we have been able to run an ongoing programme of activities including Food Growing and Children s Gardening sessions. There have been a number of seasonal events including a Wassailing event, Easter and Summer activities and the recent Apple Day. Thank

10 you to Kerryanne, Una, Helen for organising and running all of the sessions in the garden. 10 The Community Food Growing Project continued with the regular gardening sessions and workshops and a plant and seeds list for local residents. Helen provided ongoing advice and support. We were involved with several Reclaim the Lanes events, with Helen providing plants, advice and support for local residents.

11 The Time Exchange is working in partnership with the Greening Wingrove CIC and POW (Proud of the West End) to deliver environmental improvements in the area. Volunteers are supported to carry out simple garden maintenance to the brick street planters and litter picking. Tools and equipment are provided. The Time Exchange has been encouraging local residents to adopt street planters near their homes. The Time Exchange gardener is able to offer advice and assistance, seeds and plants and loan of gardening tools for those wishing to take on the maintenance of planters. Thank you to Helen, Matt and Charlie for their continued their work on the street planters in Arthur s Hill. 11

12 Skills Café 12 This year we trialled a new initiative to facilitate group skills exchanges. Time Exchange members were involved in planning sessions, discussing ideas and finding out which skills people would like to learn and share in a group environment. Following on from this we have held sessions focussing on food & cooking, crafts & sewing, languages & learning.

13 Wellbeing Walks 13 The Time Exchange has worked with members to design a series of healthy accessible local walks to provide opportunities to make friends and get fit. The group have mapped out several healthy local walks and include places of interest in the area as well as giving details about all the different services on offer to local residents. The Time Exchange organised monthly walks with a walk leader.

14 Other Events, Activities & Exchanges 14 The Time Exchange has organised and facilitated various different events, activities and exchanges over the year giving members the opportunity to earn additional credits and meet up with many other members. These have included festive card making and cookery workshops featuring a curry making session and cheese making. The staff team have had a busy year too, supporting the daily dropin and setting up daily exchanges for members. We officially welcomed Rachael to the team after volunteering so much of her

15 time providing essential support earlier in the year. Saima is taking extended leave to spend time with her young family. We hope to see her back soon. 15 Time Banking UK The Time Exchange acts as a Regional Mentor for Time Banking UK and can give advice to anyone interested in setting up a time bank in their local community. We have offered advice to several emerging time banks in the area.

16 Newsletter & Website 16 We continue to produce the monthly newsletter letting people know what's going on in the area as well as giving members the opportunity to put forward their own articles. We would like to thank Geoff Brown for his regular work on the newsletter. As well as the Time Exchange s website, which features regular news and information about offers and requests, the Time Exchange uses Facebook, posting events, information, offers and requests, and pictures of member exchanges. Theresa Ball - Project Manager

17 Directors: Time Exchange Ltd Company Information 17 As well as being local residents, the Time Exchange Directors are all members of the Time Exchange. They are: Staff: Dominic Robinson Tamara Syeda Begum Ann Atkinson Marc Barber Shamaila Riaz Helen James Clare Philbrick Project Manager Timebank Assistants Environmental Theresa Ball Sunnie Mann Saima Arshad Mahmood Rachael Hales Helen Dawe Una Bradley Kerryanne Higgens Matthew Kelliher

18 Time Exchange Funders 18 We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of our funders: The Time Exchange has generated additional income through fundraising activities from: Newcastle Evening Chronicle Easyfundraising Hutchinson s Fruit & Vegetables

19 Accounts 19