Work Together
Are Enterprising
2021 - The Pandemic Edition
Put You first
Have Integrity
Just before the year 2020-2021 began the pandemic was in clear sight. Here at People Matters we took a turn at representing the third sector in Leeds at the city’s Health and Well-being Board. We heard about the preparations that were being made. The message was that everyone needed to support their community. We got out our emergency plan to help us get ready. The team built up stocks of personal protective equipment (PPE) as shortages were already happening. All our staff did infection control training. We had to make difficult choices that we had never imagined would really be needed. All our groups stopped meeting face to face and we closed the office. There was new software for virtual meetings. The world around us went very quiet as so many stayed at home. Lots of people became very worried as the news got worse. The council was ringing us regularly for news about how we were doing. We wanted to keep staff safe so we stopped them using public transport. With not enough testing any staff with symptoms had to isolate to keep everyone else safe. We got grants so we could pay these staff their full pay. We knew that members who had support from People Matters had different needs. We did shopping for some and supported a few in their homes. We worked out whom from all our groups needed us to keep in touch with them most. Our phones, tablets and laptops became essential to support members and we shared our equipment too.
Susan Moreland – Chair
Our groups went virtual with members becoming experts on Zoom, Facebook and Whatsapp. We were fortunate that no members became very unwell with Covid. We kept busy and it felt like the world had stopped. No infection here at People Matters week after week. Then it happened a member of staff fell ill, and so did her family. Although she was ill for weeks she recovered and no one else caught the virus. Slowly infection levels in the country went down and the weather got better. We started doing more support face to face with members going for walks first. We worked to open the office and then start groups meeting face to face again. As autumn got closer the infection levels went up and we all know that the country closed down again during the winter. We carried on, then vaccinations started. We were determined to make sure staff and members could get these quickly. In the end over 90% or our staff were vaccinated, higher than many other places. Our story for the year is very different from the other annual reports we have done but our message is that we came through the year well. It’s been tough but we wanted to do things right. We now hope that the future will continue to be better. We could not have continued to support our members without the dedication of the whole staff team. They have learnt new skills and changed how they work. It’s been important to keep focussed on both keeping people safe and maintaining as far as possible everyone’s mental health and wellbeing.
Tina Turnbull – Chief Executive Officer
Our Aim:
Is to create opportunities for those experiencing disadvantage (particularly learning disabilities, autism and other hidden disabilities) to be more independent and enjoy life in the same ways, and in the same places as anybody else.
“Covid-19 was very scary and frightening at first!
A Member’s View of the Pandemic
My life changed when the pandemic hit because I couldn’t do my usual activities. It made me really sad but People Matters started doing online activities to help members stay occupied. Now things are finally getting back to normal. People Matters has enhanced my life since I started with them. It’s amazing that they put members before themselves in the pandemic, and kept us happy, content and safe. People Matters have been an inspiration, and people’s lives have changed for the better when People Matters are involved in their care. It’s time for People Matters to think about themselves too! I know that most people get the Covid-19 vaccine. Taking the vaccine was quite worrying and scary for me. Having the vaccine has still been a blessing and it has helped us to get back to normal life – that means a lot.”
Outreach Support
68
adults and young people supported across two services.
100%
Support with accessing technology and improving digital skills.
Support to reengage with the community through meaningful activities and using public transport post covid/ lockdown.
Support that continued for
of the members that required it throughout lockdowns, tailoring the service to their changing needs.
Support with big life events such as moving property, starting work placements and support through a bereavement.
Information Advice & Guidance Available for all!
32,000 Over
hours of support and a service that grew by nearly 40%.
100% of staff had infection control training, and...
90%
became vaccinated as well as a member vaccination information project that supported informed choices with easy read and video diaries.
All staff kept off public transport during lockdown by partnering with other organisations and offering electric bikes.
Tailored support to reflect changing needs with a focus on health and wellbeing.
Advocacy on behalf of members for complex decisions and issues.
Support to maintain tenancies and finances.
Group Activities
125
Group activities
Approx 400 members, staff and volunteers offered nearly 44,000 hours of support & activities!
117
enrolments on adult learning courses
Blended support available for all groups from September (face 2 face when safe and online)
Online activities in social groups led by members and using different platforms Opening Barkston House again included members agreeing to test weekly to help keep everyone safe Story-telling, song, art and more to help keep strong
Members worked with job coaches to build resilience and get ready for the job market opening up Trainees involved in rebranding and relaunching Nourishing People snacks ready for sale
places on online social and activity groups during lockdown
Technology shared and telephone support offered to group members facing barriers to inclusion
4
Picnic in the park events over summer allowing members to meet face 2 face for the first time since March Virtual mindfulness group made available for all members
Staff View of the Pandemic:
A
though, I knew that I was protecting myself and the people around me.
Laura Thinking back to the start of the pandemic, initially I was very concerned about the rising infection rates and how this would impact on everyone’s lives. When I was offered PPE kit by managers it helped give me the confidence to go out and support people face to face but it also reassured members that we were doing all we could to keep them safe. At first it was difficult wearing masks on a daily basis and maintaining a safe-distance, especially when supporting face to face within peoples’ homes. I soon adjusted to the changes
Life during the lockdown was certainly very different in the sense that things we take for granted in every life were suddenly curtailed. So rather than meet face to face, we often had to discover new ways of connecting with colleagues/ members and maintaining good communication. I think one of the challenges that I struggled with, at first, was getting to grips with using new digital platforms. At the time, I felt a bit out of my depth, setting up Zoom meetings and thinking of new ways to keeping members active and busy, which was important for their well-being. Sometimes it was just being present that helped members and knowing that we were available, despite not being there in person. I remember during the first stage of lockdown in 2020, another support worker and a member of staff set up WhatsApp call for a member just so we could wish her
happy birthday and remind her that although we couldn’t be there in person, we could still share her celebrations. People Matters were very supportive and I felt that despite not being able to go the office I was able to speak to my manager or work colleagues via phone calls. If I felt I was struggling with something, I knew that I wasn’t alone and that helped a lot. One of my main concerns across the pandemic was based on unknown fears such as what would it be like returning to a ‘new kind of normal’, how would members cope with the restrictions and what would happen when members and staff eventually returned to social groups. Nevertheless, since being vaccinated, I have felt much more comfortable travelling by public transport and meeting members in town. I think, one thing I have particularly looked forward to has been enabling members to return to their social groups and reconnecting with friends. Despite the many different challenges faced during the pandemic, being a part of People Matters has enabled me to become more resilient and confident when coping new situations and being more open to change.
8%
1% 5% 3%
Staff costs: £661,918 83%
Administration £61,762 Expenses £38,680
Income Total £858,887 Expenditure Total £796,645 Unrestricted Balance £194,784 Restricted Balance £20,192 Total Balance £214,976
Income
Expenditure
Property Costs £23,439 Legal & Prof. £10,846
Things that have been Important for us this year
Unrestricted
In our last report we told you that we spent more than we earned. This meant it was really important we managed to save more this year.
We do a staff survey and the results said that their pay needs to increase. We told our funders about this but money is always short.
Our goal is to have a balance which covers three to six months without any income. This is our reserves policy. We are near the bottom of this.
The National Lottery Community Fund kept the Teens and Twenties project going for longer. They wanted to help us keep everyone safe and well, physically and mentally.
The pandemic was difficult to deal with but it was important that we didn’t cut staff pay even if they were ill to keep everyone safe. We managed to find some grants to help us do everything we needed to during the pandemic. From buying PPE to helping with staff travel to keep people safe. We even managed to buy three electric bikes for support workers so they didn’t need to use public transport as much.
Lloyds Bank Foundation also supported us with a grant to carry on with developments during the year. This meant we managed to apply for new funding for our Employment Service. It is important for us to increase our savings for these reasons: So we can do new things in the future, we want to move to a better building and this will cost us money. We also want to
Restricted
Total
If you would like to see the full report about our money then you can ask in the office. It includes all the financial information which has been checked by an independent accountant. The full report has also been sent to the Charities Commission. You can download this from their website. There is no charge for this.
better support the mental health and well-being of members and staff. So we can still manage if one or more of our funders changes their mind about working with us in the future Our bills often arrive before we get paid by funders so having enough savings means we don’t run out of money. So we can carry on supporting the two adult groups which are unfunded apart from the monthly membership charge which does not cover all the costs.
How we make a Difference
Mission Education (Employment Focused) Job Club In-work support
Self Referrals
Social Enterprise Nourishing People Adult & Community Learning
Social Services Assessment
People Matters Information advice Guidance
Outreach Individual Support Social Groups Teens and Twenties Adult Groups Volunteering
Referrals from: Organisations & Professionals
Our bank Co-Operative, PO Box 250, Delf House, Skelmersdale Our Insurers Ansvar Insurance, Ansvar House, 31 St Leonards Road Eastbourne Our accountants Anna McClean Lee & Company, Photon House, Percy Street, Leeds
Improved... Confidence & Aspirations Employability skills Demonstrable Work Related Experience Independence Decision making skills Social Relationships Life Skills Health & Wellbeing
Digital & Remote Support Referral to other Organisations Partners Employers
About Us
Layout & Design @AnythingButBecky.design
Trustees over the period S Moreland S Carter (resigned 3rd December 2020) J Cravitz R Firth R Herbert C Hirschhorn M Hirschhorn K Masters (appointed 3rd December 2020) G Turner
Member Voice & Feedback
To be more independent and enjoy life in the same ways as anybody else.
Our Registered Address 41 Barkston House, Croydon Street, Leeds LS11 9RT TEL - 0113 234 6896 www.peoplemattersleeds.co.uk People Matters (West Yorkshire) is a charitable Incorporated Organisation Reg No. 1170724 and is registered with the Care Quality Commission ID 1-3997439113
@PeoplematterLds