T N E D EPEN
E L P PEO /12
IND
AL ANNU T R REPO
2011
“
CONTENTS 4-5
Financial Information
6-7
Equality & Diversity Fig
8-9
Housing and Support
10-11
Case Study
12-13
On The Outside
14-17
On The Inside
18
The Team
19
Special Thanks
1625 INDEPENDENT PEOPLE
truly is the leading provider
ures
OF housing
support
& advice
to young people in
“
2-3
Chair’s Report
the South West
Chair’s Report
Stephen Lodge
2
r for Once again it has been a successful yea rked wo e 1625 Independent People. We hav ters to in par tnership with funders and suppor meet the continue to develop new services to ice users. needs of our cur rent and future serv es to affect The tough econom ic climate continu ntaging us all, often disproportionately disadva with younger people who find themselves seek out fewer resources available to them to rk is opportunities and solutions. Our wo service increasing ly vita l in suppor ting our por t users not only with housing and sup ancy ten related to independent living and ng and sustainment, but crucially with defendi itions strengthening their own econom ic pos unities. and developing new skil ls and opport cuts in This year we witnessed the anticipated tly uen Suppor ting People funding and conseq frustrating our income. This was an immensely reasing position for us given the apparent inc far demand for our services. The cuts had and reaching impacts for the organisation had necessitated restructur ing. The Board
CHAIR’S REPORT
about last year, s lk ta e, g d o L en h le’s Chair, Step Independent Peop nd as Chair co se is h d an n io at of the organis the third full year staf f to take the tough decision to reduce anisation numbers, affecting all levels of the org e and to reflect the reduction in our incom measures protect the business. These difficult on service have allowed us to focus the business financial deliver y while not compromising our that the security. It is important to the Board ains stable financial strength of the business rem can expand and robust enough to ensure that we ahead. our services dur ing the leaner years g streams, Despite the reductions in some fundin new we have been successful in attracti ng from the sources of funding, most notably £1m remely Big Lottery Fund to whom we are ext th grateful. The funding, through the You ng in Focus Programme, wil l suppor t you ices serv up people through transitions, joining care for young people leaving custody and es. so they can achieve positive outcom s enable us Such new and diverse funding stream increasing to develop new services to meet the rs, now and and changing needs of our service use important in the future. Fundraising remains an ed to work and essential focus for us. I was delight sta last on our stand at the Bristol Bal loon Fie f and yea r, an event that offered Boa rd, staf
re service users a joint opportunity to sha public. the value of our work with the wider and es Sim ilarly we again combined forc itage, worked closely with Guinness Herm l, to to whom we remain extremely gratefu n in paddle two dragon boats in competitio rain. Bristol harbour, despite the torrential our in Such events will continue to feature to raise activities giving us vita l opportunities widely. funds and to promote our work more
“...we have been successful in attracting new sources of funding, most notably £1m from the Big Lottery Fund...” Executive, Our thanks as ever go to our Chief staf f for Dom and the fantastical ly dedicated sheer their relentless com mitment and the e shown, hard work and passion that they hav ple truly ensuring that 1625 Independent Peo port and is the leading provider of housing, sup st. We advice to young people in the South Stephen Lodge, Chair of Independent People
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FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Statement of the Management Committee These summarised accounts contain information extracted from the annual accounts and certain information relating to both the Income and Expenditure Account and the Balance Sheet.
Further information and copies of the full accounts which have been subject to an audit, and the annual report of the Management Committee can be obtained from Head Office.
They may not contain sufficient information to allow for a full understanding of the financial affairs of the organisation.
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2012
2012
2011 ÂŁ
Turnover
ÂŁ
3,361,115
3,313,515
(3,343,073)
(3,119,942)
Operating surplus
18,042
193,573
Other income
80,250
-
257
212
(10,064)
(9,463)
Surplus for the financial year
88,485
184,322
Transfer from / (to) restricted reserves
10,675
(30,638)
-
303,646
99,160
457,330
Revenue reserve at start of year
466,223
8,893
Revenue reserve at end of year
565,383
466,223
Less: Operating costs
Interest receivable Interest payable
Transfer from designated reserves
The results for the year relate wholly to continuing activities. There are no recognised gains and losses other than the results for the year as set out above.
4
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
BALANCE SHEET AT 31 MARCH 2012
2012 £
2011 £
£
£
Fixed assets Housing properties
332,749
325,735
Capital grant
(71,895)
(71,895)
260,854
253,840
604,457
650,879
865,311
904,719
Other fixed assets
Current assets Debtors
377,322
195,474
Cash at bank and in hand
296,315
473,398
673,637
668,872
(283,722)
(393,570)
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year Net current assets
389,915
275,302
1,255,226
1,180,021
(641,222)
(668,477)
Provisions
(13,975)
-
Net assets
600,029
511,544
34
34
565,383
466,223
34,612
45,287
600,029
511,544
Total assets less current liabilities Creditors: Amounts falling due in more than one year
Capital and reserves Called-up share capital Revenue reserve Restricted reserves
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EQUALITY & DIVERSITY FIGURES
Total number of young people supported in 2011/12
10% 26%
824 2%
% of young people per service
Key 36%
Bristol Housing Services Bristol Floating Support Services South Glos Housing Services
26%
South Glos Floating Support Services St George’s House
Percentages of young people who had a planned/positive move on or are still maintaining their tenancy
Number of young people who left each service Bristol Housing Services
142
Bristol Housing Services
80%
Bristol Floating Support Services
155
Bristol Floating Support Services
96%
South Glos Housing Services
100%
South Glos Housing Services
6
5
South Glos Floating Support Services
148
South Glos Floating Support Services
88%
St George’s House
79
St George’s House
74%
EQUALITY & DIVERSITY FIGURES
Gender by Service Female
Male 30%
64%
59%
62%
63%
36%
41%
38%
37%
Bristol Housing Services
Bristol Floating Support Services
South Glos Housing Services
70%
South Glos Floating Support Services
St George’s House
Age by Service Aged 18+
Aged 16/17 47%
84%
89%
100%
16%
11%
0%
Bristol Floating Support Services
South Glos Housing Services
80% 53%
Bristol Housing Services
20% South Glos Floating Support Services
St George’s House
Ethnicity Non BME
57%
62%
43%
38%
Bristol Housing Services
Bristol Floating Support Services
BME
92%
88%
8%
12%
South Glos Housing Services
South Glos Floating Support Services
74%
26% St George’s House
7
HOUSING AND SUPPORT
We continue to provide quality support which enhances independent living skills and lessens repeat homelessness for some of the most vulnerable young people.
It also includes assistance in navigating the world of benefits, budgeting and banking, cooking healthy food on a limited budget, the list could go on.
Housing and Support Services Update A summary of what’s been going on during 2011/12 It was a challenging year of absorbing funding cuts and getting ready for re-commissioning processes. The staff teams at St George’s House, South Gloucestershire, Bristol Housing and Floating Support services all showed incredible resilience, dedication and commitment. They made sure the pressure of re-structuring teams and resources did not impact negatively on the quality of services we deliver to our young people. We continue to provide quality support which enhances independent living skills and lessens repeat homelessness for some of the most vulnerable young people. This support includes building the skills to secure and maintain long term suitable housing, overcoming emotional and personal difficulties to allow focus on long term dreams and aspirations and attending positive activities such as camping to build confidence and self esteem. This gives some the chance to get out of the city for the very first time.
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One of the most important things for young people following our satisfaction survey results was the quality and condition of their homes. Improving the condition of our accommodation has been one of 1625 Independent People’s ongoing key objectives within our business plan and this year has seen some fantastic joint ventures and partnerships with local agencies and businesses to help us achieve this. Our in-house maintenance team continue to work tirelessly to provide a friendly and effective service to our residents. This year saw the following results: 100% of emergency repairs completed on time 92% of urgent repairs completed on time 92% of routine repairs completed on time.
HOUSING AND SUPPORT
South Glos and Stroud College have worked with us on four properties to date as well as our young peoples activities room at Kingsley Hall to make better environments to use and live in. More properties will be worked on and improved in the autumn. Our links with the business community are growing. This year we joined forces with teams in CAPITA, Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) and MITIE. In September a group of staff from CAPITA spent the day giving some much needed T.L.C to one of our properties. This included clearing the front and back gardens, cleaning the house from top to bottom and painting scuffed walls. They even raised funds towards nice things for the house which have since contributed to redecoration and soft furnishings such as throws. LBG spent a day sugar soaping and painting a four-storey house which had become too daunting for the residents.
This kind of hands-on support is invaluable in times when donations are less readily available and needless to say is greatly appreciated. Denise Tombs Operations Director
Headline Survey Figures 98% of service users rated the support they get as satisfactory, good or very good 84% of service users said they found their support plan useful or very useful 98% of service users said they thought our staff had respect for young people 93% were happy with our complaints procedure 85% said the amount of time they spend with their support worker was ‘about right’. 10% wanted more support. 5% said it was too much.
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CASE STUDY
In for a penny... Next year we celebrate our 30th anniversary. Many youth organisations have come and gone in that time. We’ve been working in Bristol and South Glos longer than half the population has been alive. Our service is funded to work with young people for a few hours a week for a maximum of two years. Does that sound a long time? If you condensed it into full working days – it’s about three weeks. It doesn’t seem much when you look at it like that. But it’s life changing. Not everyone needs long term support – some need a hand to get back on their own track, while others need help to find their own track. We need to be a service that works for all levels of need. We are very conscious of not creating dependency (it’s all in the name – Independent People) but we do believe that for some, the relationship they have with our organisation doesn’t need to end just because their support plan has. We talk about young people being at the heart of everything we do, but just being here and referring young people on isn’t enough – we want the organisation itself to be a vehicle towards independence.
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We have always known that stability and continuity are key to personal growth. It is widely recognised now that housing is the corner stone on which a young person can build their life. But we’re not a letting agency – we develop trusting, supportive relationships with people, many of whom have experienced abandonment in their lives. It would seem a contradiction to cut off that support just because of a date on a file. In some cases we would be guilty of causing yet another level of abandonment. So we’ve come to realise we need to embed pathways through our own organisation that allow young people to develop beyond their Support Plan in an independent way, but still benefit from the relationships and bonds they have forged – as we all do in life. In order to do this we have had to develop new ways of working to build on the initial statutory funding which funds the two years. We’ve created stepping stones such as the Peer Education project, volunteering opportunities and Youth Involvement Programme which give the young people skills and opportunity to develop within this trusting environment.
CASE STUDY
“...A winner of winners...an outstanding young person who has worked against the odds to support his peers who are thinking about leaving home at a young age.”
Take Mike He has known Independent People since its beginning and before that he was a service user with Priority Youth Housing which merged with Wayahead to create IP. We have supported him twice, at different times in his life, because of different circumstances (the difference in a person from when they are 16 to when they are 25 is huge!). We don’t support Mike anymore. Mike doesn’t have a dedicated Support Worker, or key working sessions. But we’re still in touch with him regularly because Mike trained through us to become a Peer Educator in our Upfront project. Mike’s been a Peer Educator for some time now, going into schools and youth settings to talk with other young people about the realities of leaving home. He and the other peer educators are actively preventing homelessness. Mike is a champion, yes, in the real sense, but also a Money Skills Champion. As part of the new Barclays Money Skills Champions project we’re involved in, he’s been trained to talk to other
young people about their issues handling money and finances, because let’s face it, most young people would rather talk to Mike about it than a bank manager! Just recently he helped us promote the project by talking to his local MP, Jack Lopresti, about it at an event in South Glos. Jack was so impressed by him he gave him his card and invited him to the House of Commons. Early in 2012, Mike not only won a South Gloucestershire Community Hero Award, but was also selected for a Lord Lieutenants Award for valued services to community life in South Gloucestershire.
We were over the moon for him, but not surprised! Dame Janet Trotters is the Lord-Lieutenant for Gloucestershire and South Glos (the Queen’s representative in the area) and this is what she said about Mike... “A winner of winners ... an outstanding young person who has worked against the odds to support his peers who are thinking about leaving home at a young age. This work has mushroomed and from unpromising beginnings Mike has turned his life, and many others, around.” Mike is now studying for a Diploma in Youth Work, with some support from us.We were able to put him forward because of his commitment to volunteering and because we knew him well enough. This is the kind of enhanced support, commitment and investment we are able to offer to young people who are interested and ready for it. 11
ON THE OUTSIDE
On the outside... The Summer of ‘11 was spent out there among the masses – both virtual and real. We set up the “Independent People” Facebook page and joined Twitter to increase our channels of communication and connect with people in different ways. We packed up our stand (and our wellies) and pitched our stall at some of Bristol’s biggest festivals including the Harbourside, International Balloon Fiesta and Brisfest. Armed with our t-shirts for sale, donated artworks and a very addictive fairground game, we interacted with over 3000 people face to face, one-to-one, in person. The aim? To tell people what we do, let young people know we exist and drum up new supporters. We couldn’t have managed the 12 hour days without the help of over 40 volunteers which included members of the Board, Bristol Bridge Rotary Club, service users, VIPs, staff, friends and family. To add a bit of excitement to our stall, the lovely people from Cruise Amour in Portsmouth donated a weekend cruise for two for us to raffle off.
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“We set up the Independent People Facebook page and joined Twitter to increase our channels of communication and connect with people in different ways.”
ON THE OUTSIDE
i-people December 2011 saw the launch of our new magazine “ipeople” – written by young people for young people. We needed a regular channel to be able to let young people know what has been happening and to advertise future events. The quarterly magazine is published online and a hard copy given to every young person. It includes reviews, recipes, puzzles, current affairs and interviews.
UWE to the rescue In the early part of 2012 we found ourselves pitching in a different way as the annual hustle for a final year Media Student Team from UWE came up. Lots of organisations apply to have a team of media students take on a challenge for their charity. We were delighted to hear we’d got a team and their challenge was to help us improve our online presence. The team outdid themselves! We set a hard task to create a brilliant Facebook Welcome Page and to conduct a review of our website. They produced a 58 page report which we are implementing.
VIP – Volunteering at Independent People Our VIP scheme keeps on growing. We took on a “Volunteer Coordinator” to help recruit and look after our volunteers and started a “Volunteer Pool” for people who want a flexible arrangement around volunteering. As part of our VIP scheme we have worked with teams from HBOS, the Rotary Club, DTZ and CAPITA to help set up our community garden in Eastville. The garden allows us to host “Grow Club” – gardening and building sessions for young people. 13
On the inside
“
BY MEETING YOUNG PEOPLE’S NEEDS,
EVERY YOUNG PERSON
ACHIEVES A POSITIVE
OUTCOME AS A RESULT
“
OF CONTACTING US
On the inside Youth Board
Peer Support Steering Group
Our Vision Statement says, “By meeting young people’s needs, every young person achieves a positive outcome as a result of contacting us.” The Youth Board is just one way we are moving towards our vision. If we can make sure young people are involved at every level of the organisation, they can tell us about young people’s needs, help us develop services that meet them and hold us to account.
The Youth Board have prioritised Peer Support as the single most important thing they want to have input in. They have set up a Peer Support Steering Group chaired by a young person. The Steering Group is working on an action plan for implementing Peer Support at Independent People.
In January 2012 we held our first Youth Board meeting. The Youth Board meets bi-monthly and feeds directly into the Management Board. Young people decide which issues they want to table. Around five young people, a Youth Involvement Worker, Board member and SMT have been present at each meeting.
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“More than just a landlord” The Youth Board have also set up a sub-group to focus on the theme of “more than just a landlord”. Other priorities for development and improvement are: moving-on options and processes improving our properties the complaints process and outcomes.
On the inside
Youth Involvement Programme The ‘Involvement programme’ was a pilot project designed by the Independent People’s Participation service. The aims of the programme were to improve the level of engagement young people have with the service, improve the way the Participation service is delivered and to improve outcomes for young people. The programme puts young people at the centre of providing positive opportunities to their peers, whilst furthering their own skills and personal development. The programme ran over a 10 week period and targeted young people not in employment, education or training who were willing to commit to the full duration. It also targeted those service users who would benefit from attending a positive activity rather than being involved in the planning and delivery. 32 young people took part, either running the programme or attending activities organised by the programme.
Those young people running the programme benefited from: Hard skills
Soft Skills
budgeting
teamwork
equal opportunities/ barriers to involvement
team building
advocating/negotiating
creative thinking
promotional methods
confidence/ self esteem
risk assessing/ health and safety presentation skills
communication skills
self worth social skills.
researching planning and prioritising IT skills administration and procedures.
What outcomes did it achieve? After the programme one young person found work, one went for a job interview, three signed up for training courses, one became a Peer Educator through our Upfront project and one starting volunteering. 16 of the young people who attended activities were introduced to and became involved in other Independent People projects like the Forum, Cookery classes, Youth Board, Recruitment Panels and Peer Support Group. We think that was a success. The programme will run again.
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On the inside
At the end of March 2012, Amy, a student studying Food Management with the organisation Slow Food came to Independent People to conduct some research with our service users.
Amy’s Kitchen Her aim was to help us find out the best way to use food to promote independence. Our brand new kitchen at Kingsley Hall was funded by the Funding Network and is fantastic. It’s such a huge improvement on what was there before and is well used. 24 young people took part in Amy’s research. Amy taught and showed them round the kitchen,
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produced healthy, easy and fun food – many of them enjoyed it so much they would now consider a career in catering but that wasn’t her aim. Amy spent weeks researching the best ways for an organisation like ours to use our facilities. Should we start a business? Should we get young people running a market stall? Should we get outside catering training?
“ 100%
On the inside
OF PARTICIPANTS EXPRESSED
IMPROVED UNDERSTANDING
OF HEALTHY EATING
“
The Outcome In the end her recommendation was to use it in-house to teach young people how to cook for themselves, do it in groups and use the whole process as a therapy. Get together, learn, cook, plan, bond, eat, socialise. Keep it simple. 100% of participants expressed improved understanding of healthy eating.
“Our brand new kitchen at Kingsley Hall was funded by the Funding Network and is fantastic.”
A majority of participants expressed benefiting from: improved confidence in budgeting and meal preparation improved dietary habits post cooking session gaining ideas for the future trying something new having fun finding a new interest meeting new people breaking boredom gaining confidence learning about team-work gaining motivation.
Get out of bed Barny Haughton is a chef, restaurateur, food educator and teacher. He runs the Square Food Foundation in Bristol and teaches at the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Pollenzo, Italy. He once said – “What’s the first thing you have to do if you want to make an omelette? Get out of bed.”
All that just from making some simple good food. 17
THE TEAM
Senior Management Team 2011-2012 Chief Executive Dom Wood Operations Directors Denise Tombs and Howard Symonds Service Improvement Director Jamie Gill
Volunteer Board of Management 2011-2012 Chair Stephen Lodge Vice Chair Karen Ross Treasurers Meirion Rushworth and David Clowes Board Members Nat Selman, Ann Thorne, David Morgan, Barbara Berryman, Donna Johnson and Sally Cordwell
Permanent Position Volunteers 2011-2012 Display Co-ordinator Duwayne Douglas Marketing and Events Volunteer Emma Loui Volunteer Coordinators Leonna Chambers and Sarah Golding-Keanne ipeople Magazine Donough O’Malley Marketing Volunteer Kit Kafele
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SPECIAL THANKS
Finally, A Big Thank You For services/donations/acts of kindness between April 2011 - end March 2012 Aardman
Look Again Photography
Art Express
Lush
At Bristol
Me Time Beauty
Avon and Somerset Police – Beat Team
Mendips Raceway Ltd
Barclays Bank
Merlin Housing
Big Lottery Fund
Minuteman Press
Bluefin
MITIE
Bristol Bridge Rotary Club
Nemesis Paintballing
Bristol Charities
Old Market Community Association
Bristol City Council
Osbourne Clarke
Bristol City Football Club
Places for People
Bristol Rugby Club
Prince’s Trust
Bristol University
Quartet Community Foundation
BSDAS Transitions Service
Solon South West Housing Association
Business in the Community
Solsoft
Burges Salmon
Southern Brookes
CAPITA
South Gloucestershire Council
Caring at Christmas
South Gloucestershire and Stroud College
Charities Information Bureau (CIB)
South West Consortium
Cruise Amour
Studio 2 Printers
DTZ
The Funding Network
Fareshare
The Sofa Project
Frank Buttle Trust
Trinity Arts
Help! Counselling
Tuffin Ferraby Taylor
HBOS
University of the West of England
i.e. Intelligent Marketing
Urban Outfitters
Jephson Housing
Wellbeing Service
Knightstone Housing Association
Young Peoples Substance Misuse Service
Learning Partnership West
Youth Justice Board
Lloyds Banking Group
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The leading provider of housing, support and advice to young people in the South West of England Kingsley Hall, 58-59 Old Market Street, Bristol BS2 0ER 0117 317 8800 www.1625ip.co.uk
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