Burley LodgeCentre Annual Report 2009-2010

CONTENTS
Burley Lodge Centre
Annual Report
2009-2010
chair’s report
chief executive’s report
treasurer’s report
kids united
united youth
volunteering
advice service
services/room hire
staff and directors list
4
5-7
9 - 10
11 - 12
13 - 14
15 - 16
17 - 18
19 - 2 0
21
CHAIR’S REPORT
Over this year there were a lot of
changes for the BLC, including quite
a few staff changes, and changes to
board membership. We wish everyone
who has moved on all the best, and
thank them for their contributions to
the organisation. We welcome the new
members and look forward to working
with you.
Funding, as always, is a limiting factor,
but we know that our work together
benefits the people in our area, and
wider afield in Leeds - and their needs
have only increased during the global
financial downturn.
The challenges facing the BLC will
inevitably continue to focus our minds
over the coming year. I remain confident
that we will face these challenges with a
positive outlook and continue to deliver
quality services to our service users and
communities.
The board is grateful to the staff and
volunteers for their dedicated hard
work, and commitment to the purpose
of the BLC, and we look forward to new
opportunities and challenges ahead.
Thank you!
Paul
Paul Tapper
Chair, Board of Directors,
Burley Lodge Centre
3 Burley Lodge Centre Annual Report
Chair’s Report 4
with excellent participation from local
young people. The highlight of the year
was the summer residential to London.
CEO’S REPORT
The Burley Lodge Centre is a value driven
organisation committed to meeting
the needs of the community through
using a multi-purpose model of service
delivery. Considerable time has been
spent reflecting on our organisational
values and finding ways to measure not
just outcomes but also our impact.
We have worked hard at building
our capacity and capability to deliver
high quality, well managed services.
We have re-examined our capacity
to engage at a strategic level in local
and city wide partnerships, increasing
our management and administration
capacity to facilitate wider partnership
working and strategic reach.
Resources have been limited this year
in some of our service delivery areas;
we have prioritised activities that we
know have the most impact. Success
in winning a contract to deliver mobile
play means that we have been able to
significantly increase some services. We
have been successful in retaining our
LSC Quality Mark in general help with
casework in Debt and Welfare Benefits.
The advice service has seen a dramatic
increase in the number of clients we work
with and we can evidence significant
positive impact on the life outcomes of
the clients we have assisted.
Our volunteering service has also had
a very successful year; volunteers have
supported all areas of service delivery
including the very successful Play in the
Park first birthday celebration. Our Youth
work provision has been well attended
5 Burley Lodge Centre Annual Report CEO’s Report 5
In terms of financial management,
we changed our bankers this year to
Unity Trust Bank; this has resulted in a
number of efficiencies and cost savings.
Like many other organisations, we
have received less bank interest than
expected and have adopted an interim
investment strategy whilst working on
a longer term plan for maximising our
income through socially responsible
investment of our reserves.
A rigorous review of our policies and
procedures has made some substantial
improvements in our operational
processes. We do not intend to become
complacent and will continue to reflect
on practice to ensure that all services
are delivered safely and to high quality
standards.
Unfortunately, we have experienced
high staff turnover this year but I am
pleased to report that we have been
able to appoint some very experienced
and skilled new staff.
Continued overleaf.
CEO’s Report 6
We know resources in the next year
are going to be stretched; there are a
number of external factors, particularly
political and economic, that will have an
impact on our ability to continue to deliver
quality community based services and
activities. In preparation for the launch
of our next Strategic Plan we will focus
on what the impact of the changes will
be and prepare for example to work in
collaboration with others who share our
values and ethos.
We have already started the ball rolling
on plans initiated by our young people
to convert our basement space into
a purpose build mini youth hub. Our
Board were keen to advance plans,
paying for an extensive feasibility
study to be undertaken in preparation
for future funding opportunities. This
decision reinforces our commitment to
developing community assets whilst
remaining committed to social action.
I would like to take this opportunity
to express my sincere thanks to my
enthusiastic and dedicated staff team
and our loyal and steadfast volunteers
and Trustees for their efforts over this
last year.
Taira Kayani
Chief Executive
7 Burley Lodge Centre Annual Report
CEO’s Report 8
TREASURER’S REPORT
In summary, the Audited Accounts for
2009-2010 show that total incoming
resources including funding for the
work of the Burley Lodge Centre
during the financial year totalled
£635,364, of which £416,274 were in
restricted funds for specific projects.
The Centre’s total expenditure in the
course of its work through the financial
year was £701,123.
Our income was down on the previous
year for various reasons. There was
a slight decline in grants received for
project work, as well as a decline in
income from room bookings in these
more difficult times.
At the end of the financial year the Centre
held restricted funds of £44,481 which
are in relation to the ongoing projects.
There was also an unrestricted balance
of £206,746 in free reserves. As noted in
the accounts, much of this is earmarked
to assist the long term stability of the
Centre in what is and continues to be,
a challenging environment.
9 Burley Lodge Centre Annual Report
Among this unrestricted income we
have continued to be very grateful to
Leeds City Council for their ongoing
support. The free reserves balance
also reflects the excellent financial
management of the Centre by the
senior staff.
In reviewing the financial year and
looking ahead the Centre has an
excellent base from which to support
projects run from the restricted funds,
for which unrestricted funds act as ‘seed
money’ to enable fund raising. At this
time that is more important than ever.
As always the Burley Lodge Centre is
very grateful to all our funders and we
trust that the quality of work delivered
will continue to gain their recognition,
approval and ongoing support.
William Hird
Honourary Treasurer
7
Treasurer’s Report 10
KIDS UNITED
Kids United is dedicated to providing
afterschool, weekend and holiday
activities for children aged 5-13 years
old. The main areas of delivery over
the last year have been around the
provision of a weekly boys group,
BLT’s our drama group and outdoor
open access free play (mobile play).
This year we had a huge fun-filled
birthday party on Alexander Park to
celebrate our first year of delivering
open access free play on this well
attended site. The cake was cut by
Leeds Play Champion, Cllr Stuart
Golton, who spoke to over 100 local
residents, children and families about
the success of the project.
This year we won a contract from
Leeds City Council to deliver mobile
play to children further away from the
streets immediately surrounding the
Burley Lodge Centre.
My
‘
favourite
‘
It’s
exactly
what we need
because there is
nothing like that
around here’
thing to do is
face painting!
Especially your
legs!’
It’s
‘
fantastic!
We have spent time this year
establishing links with colleagues
and families in the Ireland Wood and
Iveson estate areas in the city. We have
delivered afterschool and weekend
mobile play sessions in schools and
local green spaces. The play sessions
are now very well established within the
area and we take pride in our delivery
focusing on a variety of child-initiated
play experiences and activities. Our
mobile play project introduces children
to a variety of risky play experiences,
encouraging them to gain in confidence
in an outdoor play setting.
We have established a team of
enthusiastic
play
workers
and
volunteers which, like the project,
continues to expand. In the first nine
months of delivery, we have engaged
over 200 children and been supported
by 13 volunteers. We very much hope
to continue to expand our provision and
are expecting to run up to 12 sessions
per week over 4 different sites over the
summer holidays. We aim to ensure
that the entire summer holidays are
filled with activities such as woodwork,
making mud pies, skipping and den
building.
My son will
love it’
Quotes from children and parents.
11 Burley Lodge Centre Annual Report
Kids United 12
UNITED YOUTH
Our year started with a real boost from
the Co-op Foundation who awarded
us a grant to support our project
work. Just as we’d finalised our new
plans for the year, the young peoples
steering group made 2 successful
grant applications and received funds
for a summer activity programme and a
computer suite and other equipment.
Throughout the year we have offered
opportunities to young people to
participate in our football group,
steering group and the youth café.
Additionally, we have run a mountain
bike project for 10 weeks covering safer
and off road riding, basic maintenance
and ended the project with a 12 mile
ride round Lady Bower Reservoir. Eight
young people achieved an accredited
outcome through this project. Another
project we ran this year was our ice
skating project, which was specifically
developed to tie in with our physical
health targeted work. Six young people
achieved an accredited outcome.
To round off the summer we held
another of our successful club nights
for under 18’s at The Hyde Park Unity
Day community festival.
We have ended this year with the young
peoples steering group completing a
funding bid for £156,000 to convert
the basement into a dedicated space
for local young people.
Our final activity for this year was a
Go-Kart project that was about young
people learning how to race through a
series of team trials.
Our plans next year are very much
led by what young people in the
local area tell us they want to see
delivered at the Burley Lodge Centre.
So far the young people have asked
for more accredited programmes and
opportunities to actively participate
as volunteers.
The summer was a particularly busy
time for the Centre. The weekly
activity programme included; a trip
to Flamingo Land, Quad biking and
Bungee jumping. Sixteen young
people spent 2 nights in London
where they competed in a football
tournament. They had a great day
coming 7th and 4th overall. We also
took in some of the sights including
a ride on the London Eye, a visit to
Wembley Stadium and took in the
West End show, Grease.
13 Burley Lodge Centre Annual Report
United Youth 14
VOLUNTEERING
Burley Lodge Opportunities continues
to attract generous help and support
of community members: Eighty six
volunteers new to volunteering joined
this year and over one hundred and
sixteen volunteers worked with us over
the year.
There’s been a lot to get involved in
covering all areas of the Centre’s work
with twenty four different opportunities
on offer; including in a youth activities
programme, Under 12’s boys group,
generalist advice, admin, acting as
directors, supporting events such as
our AGM and Winter Fair.
Partners from CALM joined Burley
Lodge for this year’s Winter Fair,
working alongside staff and volunteers
to ensure our annual open day was a
great success. We included workshops
for children, a visit from Santa, face
painting, circus skills workshops , a
free shop and pizza from the staff team
at Domino’s.
Outdoor mobile play sessions for 6- 13
year olds are proving to be a popular
opportunity for volunteers and this
year saw a well-attended first birthday
celebration of the project with a party
on Alexander Park.
The volunteering project was externally
evaluated in November. Volunteers
reported the benefits of volunteering both
for themselves and the local community.
Once again we thank our volunteers and
funders, Big Lottery, for their continued
support of the volunteering scheme.
In the coming year we will be working
with over one hundred local new
volunteers, in addition to renewing our
Investors in Volunteering quality mark.
We very much look forward to having the
opportunity to demonstrate that Burley
Lodge Opportunities is a volunteering
programme of national standard, right
here in the heart of Burley.
We’d developed several successful
partnerships this year; we worked
closely with extended services in
Inner NorthWest, Find Your Talent and
Manyroots theatre. Running children’s
theatre workshops; forty eight children
from two cluster areas joined the
project. Ten new theatre volunteers
benefitted from working with the
children over four days to develop a
showcase for parents and supporters
around the theme ‘Hello World- this is
me’.
15 Burley Lodge Centre Annual Report
14
Volunteering 16
ADVICE SERVICE
Burley Lodge Centre Advice Service
(BLCAS) continues to be very busy,
with all the news reports about the
economic recession, we are sure you
can appreciate a lot of our work in the
last 12 months has been in relation to
debt advice.
Over the last 12 months, we have
handled over £5 million worth of debt,
on behalf of clients.
We have funding from the Financial
Inclusion Fund for 3 full time debt advisers;
the British Gas Energy Trust provides
funding for a part time generalist worker.
Additionally, we work in partnership
with Leeds CAB and Chapeltown CAB
to provide generalist advice sessions
across the city at Children’s Centres
for pregnant women and families with
children under 5.
The funding we receive has allowed us
to maintain our service and continue
offering advice on a range of issues,
including debt, benefits, housing and
fuel poverty to people in the local area.
Also, we now offer outreach services
across the West and North West of
Leeds.
In December BLCAS was audited by
the Community Legal Service and
successfully retained its Generalist
Quality Mark in advice.
Over the last 12 months we have
seen some staff changes to BLCAS,
however the team remains committed
to assisting all clients that approach
us with the aim of making a positive
difference to their lives.
We try, wherever possible, to take a
holistic approach to clients’ problems.
Our aim is always to empower clients,
enabling them to take a long-term
approach to resolving their issues for
the future. We await the upcoming
general election and the impact of any
changes this will have on our funding
streams.
17 Burley Lodge Centre Annual Report
Advice Service 18
SERVICES/ROOM HIRE
The Burley Lodge Centre continues
to provide a variety of services to the
community including photocopying,
printing and faxing.
We also offer a variety of rooms for hire
which are used for all sorts of things
from meetings to dance groups to kids’
parties. We provide a friendly efficient
service and a welcoming environment.
We continue to enjoy a range of
regular bookings from local people and
groups, voluntary organisations and
businesses. This helps us to generate
income and makes the Centre a busy
and interesting place.
Jim, our full-time receptionist, is in charge
of room bookings.
Call him on 0113 2754142.
Email [email protected] for more
information or a bookings brochure.
We are in the process of implementing
an online room booking system, so
that you will soon be able to see what
rooms are available on our website
www.burleylodge.org.uk
Watch this space!
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Services / Room Hire 20
STAFF 09/10
CEO:
Taira Kayani
Volunteer Services Manager:
Joanne Jobling
Advice Service Manager:
Ann Richardson-Greaves
Saima Akram
Matthew Beckham
Lesly Best
Corinna Calori
Paul Carter
Laura Davis
Jamie Doddsgriffin
Veronica Driver
Laura Elson
Ria Foster
Jemma Garland
Alicia Harney
Carolyn Henshall
Anne Hepworth
Lesley Hoff
Emma Jackson
Philza Kayani
Rachel Kennedy
Sylvia Kershaw
James Lee
Anne-Marie Loveridge
Christopher Lightfoot
Patrick McCusker
Amie McKinley
Michaela OBrien
Julia Marie OReilly
Pritesh Parmar
Hannah Pemberton
Nicola Ramsden
Eleanor Rogers
Michaela Shaw
Tia Shaw
Kellie Simmons
Helen Simpson
Ursula Slaughter
Catherine Tonge
Brian White
Rebecca Wignell
DIRECTORS 09/10
Chair: Paul Tapper
Treasurer: William Hird
Penny Ewens
Martin Hamilton
Ann Miller (resigned 09/12/09)
Pritesh Parmar (resigned 21/10/09)
Jenine Poyser (joined 10/03/10)
Jack Smith (joined 10/03/10)
Sally Taylor
Shaheen Yousuf (resigned 08/09/09)
21 Burley Lodge Centre Annual Report
This is a web version of our Annual
Report 2010, for a hard copy please
contact us on the details above.