2017/18 Annual Report

Community Care North Bucks : Charity Number 1172135

Trustees Annual Report 2017/18

Community Care North Bucks (CCNB) is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (charity number 1172135) operating in North Bucks.

A Board of Trustees, appointed by the membership of CCNB, oversees the governance and management of the Charity. There are currently eleven Trustees:

Keith Croxton, David Jackson, Jacqui North, Sue Watkins, Gerry Bluck, Margo Jackson, Lauren Taylor, Beverley Trevitt, Brian Hirst, Carol Penny, Ros Hutt

They govern the Charity within the object set out in the Constitution, which states: –

“To promote any charitable purpose for the benefit of the inhabitants of North Bucks, and to advance education, protect and preserve health and relieve poverty, sickness and distress.”

To fulfil this object the Charity currently has four activities: –

• A Hospital Car Service
• A support group for adult carers (aged 18 plus)
• A support group and club for young carers (for carers under 18).
• Open House, a support group for ex carers and people who live on their own.

The Trustees confirm they have referred to the public benefit guidance issued by the Charity Commission when reviewing and monitoring the activities of CCNB. All Trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no private benefit from the work of the Charity. Services provide benefits which are either free or subsidised to ensure anyone can access them.

The Trustees review all the policies and procedures of the Charity annually or earlier if needed. These include a risk assessment so that risks to the Charity are identified and managed.

The Charity is run by volunteers: there is one paid member of staff and there are 75 volunteers involved.

CCNB is funded through grants, local fundraising and subsidised charges from patients using the Hospital Car Service.

The economic landscape continues to be uncertain and Trustees have kept the finances of the charity under constant review.   It is good to report that the finances do remain in a good position. Income for the year was £54,865.08 with expenditure at £57,016.07 leaving a small deficit of £2,150.99.  With the reserves of £39,247.58 we are carrying forward £64907.93 which equates to 14 months expenditure

The aim of Trustees is to ensure CCNB remains sustainable and Trustees have an agreed reserves policy which is reviewed each year. The funding received by CCNB is not consistent throughout the year. Grants applied for can be unsuccessful as well as successful. Trustees have determined therefore to work towards maintaining a charity reserve of two years expenditure. A specific action plan is required if the reserves fall to 6 months.  At present the reserves stand at 14 months

This level of reserve will provide a sufficient buffer to maintain the service provided should funding decrease or cease for a period

We are grateful to those who have supported us financially during the past year.  Full details of all those who have supported us during the year will appear on our new web site later in the year

The following key objectives were agreed for the 2017/18 years:

1. To complete the introduction of the new web site and develop its potential
2. To establish the procedures to ensure the CIO is operating in accordance with the governing document.
3. To develop a marketing and communications strategy
4. To actively pursue recruitment of volunteers. including within the marketing and communications strategy
5. To recruit a Trustee with current HR experience
6. To achieve a surplus budget within the current reserves policy

I report on each of these:

1. The website was fully implemented and is growing steadily – further development needed to fulfill its potential.
2. The CIO is now well established and procedures are in place. It is operating in accordance with the governing document.
3. The communications strategy had made good progress with the website and newly designed leaflets
4. We have been able to maintain the volunteers needed to run the charity but we need to do more via the web site.
5. We have not met this objective and it will carried forward to the coming year. It is proving more difficult than expected.
6. The accounts show a small deficit for the 2017/18 year but the reserves remain robust.

The following key objectives have been set for 2018/19 :

1. To continue to seek a Trustee with HR experience
2. To develop further a marketing and communications strategy
3. To implement policies and procedures to meet the GDPR requirements
4. To achieve a balanced budget for 2018/19 
5. To ensure reserves  do not fall below 12 months expenditure

Reports from each wing of the Charity will be presented at the Annual General Meeting and attached to the minutes of the AGM.

The Hospital Car Service made 1361 trips in the year; there were only two months when there were less than 100 trips made. Current figures suggest the number of trips in 2018 could exceed 1400. The pattern of trips is also changing with an increase in weekend requests and longer journeys being made to centralised hospital services. There are 37 drivers at present.

The Open House group was established to meet the needs of former carers needing support to move on with their lives and people who live on their own to alleviate their social isolation.  Social isolation has been identified as a major cause of illness and premature death in the older generation. The group continued to grow during 2017 highlighting the need that is involved.

Adult Carers continues to provide an excellent and much needed service to those with caring responsibilities. Days out and social activities as well as speakers providing important advice are all part of the service provided.

Young Carers continues to deliver a much needed service which is well supported. There are currently 53 member aged between 7 and 18 years. A creative programme was run throughout the year with targeted activities for the 26 Senior and 27 Junior members. The demand for this service continues to grow which reflects the increasing number of children and young people in caring situations.

The need for the services we provide continues to increase as public expenditure remains tight and national and local government service provision is withdrawn or curtailed. The challenges of funding and volunteer recruitment are constant but the local community is supportive which is a great encouragement. A reflection of this was being nominated during 2017 by a local resident for the Queens’ Award for Voluntary Service 2018.

It was announced on June 2nd 2018 that we had been awarded the Queens’ Award for Voluntary Service 2018.  This award speaks volumes of the willingness, commitment and dedication of all our volunteers.

I want to place on record the thanks of the Trustees to our volunteers who have worked so tirelessly to help others.  Without the selfless commitment of our volunteers week in week out we could not run the services we provide to so many in our community.

Keith Croxton

Chair of Trustees