Caring All together on Romney Marsh
Annual Report 2013/14
Our Mission:
“…to support people living on Romney Marsh and its surrounding rural areas who
are socially isolated. Through this support we aim to improve people’s wellbeing, to help people remain independent for longer and to enhance the quality
of life of the rural communities where we operate. In pursuing this Mission we
will treat people with dignity and respect.”
Caring All Together on Romney Marsh
The Appledore Christian Centre
The Street, Appledore
Kent, TN26 2AE
Tel: 01233 758122
Email: office@carmromneymarsh.org.uk
Web: www.carmromneymarsh.org.uk
Registered charity number 1067189
Management Committee 2013/14
Trustees:
Ms. Philippa Harris - Chair
Dr Ruth Smith - Vice Chair
Mr. Colin Potts - Treasurer
Mrs. Bridget Baker
Mr. John Graves
Mr. David Jackson
Mr. Clive Looker
Mrs. Edith Martin
Mr. Matthew Parkin
Mr. Roger Robinson
Adviser (non-voting):
Mrs. Janet Johnson
CARM Staff
Helen Mattock
Kerry Fuller
Fiona Godfrey
Rhia Hayward
Benedict Potts
Beryl Swift
Zena Pyott
Emma Wiltshire
Manager
Administration and Finance Officer
Our Memories Matter Co-ordinator
Temporary Befriending Scheme Co-ordinator
Befriending Scheme Co-ordinator
Safeguarding the Older Person Co-ordinator
Meeting Points Co-ordinator
Befriending Scheme Co-ordinator (currently on
maternity leave)
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all organisations, grant givers
and individuals for their financial support during 2013/14, some of whom are
listed below:
Big Lottery Fund, Mercers Trust, Kent County Council, Garfield Weston Foundation,
Roger De Haan Charitable Trust, New Romney Town Council, David Baker - KCC
Councillor, Shepway District Council Community Chest, Sainsbury’s Staff and
Customers, Kent Community Foundation: The Brook Trust Fund – Little Cheyne
Court Wind Farm Community Foundation - The Brissenden Fund – Surviving Winter
Fund.
….and all the other group donations and donations from individuals which are very much
appreciated.
July 2014
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Chairman’s Report
This year has certainly been more stable than last in terms of management and
staffing and as a result much has been achieved in the period, as I think you will
agree when you read through the various reports made here.
We have started to build stronger partnerships with others for the future, have
built our profile significantly, added an innovative service to our portfolio with
other new ideas for the future, and continued to manage the financials well.
Whilst all this has been going on the staff and volunteers have continued to
ensure that all the services we offer have been delivered to CARM’s usual high
standard – successfully supporting over 250 people struggling with social
isolation across the rural Ashford and Romney Marsh area.
At the outset of the year we identified individual giving as a key focus for CARM
for two reasons: firstly, government funding is likely to diminish over the next
few years and needs to be replaced, and secondly, funds of this nature support
the everyday activities of the charity and often cannot be secured from the
statutory bodies and outside trusts or foundations.
This focus has led to a range of activities being organised by individuals on behalf
of CARM which have brought in a total of over £4,000, with the added benefit of
increased coverage for the charity. Karen Turner ran the London Marathon in
memory of her Grandfather, a CARM client who really enjoyed the ‘Our Memories
Matter’ sessions, and raised an incredible £1,200; I cycled 100 miles from
Northampton to Essex and collected around £600; two company ‘dress down’
days at Orbital Marketing Services, a company based in Ashford collected another
£200 or so; and Roger and Sue Robinson ran two of their ever-popular quiz
nights and added a further £650, plus there were a whole host of other individual
events. Many thanks to everyone who joined in and/or donated. It was a great
result for a first year!
We were also lucky enough to receive a Kent County Council Member Grant of
£2,000 towards our befriending service.
All of the above has raised CARM’s profile significantly amongst people who have
previously not heard of us and has been in addition to our ‘flagship’ activity of
the year - being chosen as Sainsbury’s ‘Charity of the Year’ at their New Romney
store. This has proved to be a very successful partnership – we have had a
permanent display within the store telling all customers about the charity as well
as lots of events throughout the year from Foyer Days, to a sponsored walk, a
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sponsored haircut, bag packing with the local scout group, a Christmas raffle and
carol singing. Very many thanks must go to Sainsbury’s for their support and
the enthusiasm of their staff.
Both the individual activity and the Sainsbury’s support have led to a very
welcome influx of new volunteers and so more people being befriended. Good
news all round.
This year CARM’s most successful innovation has been the introduction of
‘Musical Memories Matter’ sessions to complement our long-standing ‘Our
Memories Matter’; prompted by the donation of a ‘Sing for your Life’ music box
and other associated costs funded by Shepway District Council Community Chest
Funding. And for next year we are exploring ideas like ‘Group Befriending’ to
increase the number of people we can reach so further reducing social isolation.
For the future and as we noted last year, the funding landscape is changing and
health and social care funders will want a complete solution to the issue they are
trying to address, not wanting to deal with a range of different smaller
organisations. With this in mind, we have started developing partnerships with
others to ensure we can respond to potential opportunities effectively and with a
strong possibility of a positive outcome – we see this as the only way forward for
a smaller organisation like CARM and will continue with these conversations into
2015.
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Finally, I must say a special thank you to three groups of people. Firstly, to our
many caring, dedicated local volunteers who give up their own time willingly and
without whom our clients would not experience the valuable support that we
give.
Secondly, to our staff who support the volunteers and are equally
dedicated and caring. And lastly, to all my fellow Trustees who have served on
the Committee – they also give of their time and energy freely.
Let’s look forward to the challenges that the next year will bring; CARM is more
than ready to make the most of the opportunities it is given to ensure that social
isolation amongst older people in rural Ashford and Romney Marsh is reduced yet
further.
Philippa Harris, Chairman
Treasurer’s Report
The year to March 2014 saw the first full year of Helen’s management of CARM
and the impact she has had on the charity. She has reduced overall operating
costs through overhead control and reduced salary costs whilst expanding the
services and helping more isolated and vulnerable people.
Funding has also improved with a greater focus on individual giving and
fundraising that has raised the profile of CARM, notably with the link with
Sainsbury’s for the year. This is a difficult area to raise funds in and through the
work of both the fundraising and marketing committees we have made good
progress. Legacy leaflets have also been created and will be issued during the
year.
This is in response to the recognition by the Trustees that our major benefactors
KCC and Big Lottery Fund have other good causes to fund and their support to
CARM may diminish in the future although we hope not and are sure that they
recognise the good work CARM does.
We will continue to seek funding from current funders and new funding by being
active in the areas we serve so that public awareness of CARM for the
recruitment of clients and volunteers, as well as fundraising continues.
Last year we commissioned an independent study of our well-being at home and
reminiscence services from which we were able to identify areas for service
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expansion and also to benefit from how others in the charity sector raise funds.
We will continue to learn from this work.
In summary, funding for the year to March 2014 improved by £6,756 to
£147,727 and running costs reduced by £15,974 to £127,283 leaving us with a
surplus of £20,444 which has been added to reserves.
Total funds stand at £132,609 which includes £54,158 which is attributed to
general reserves which are sufficient to cover six months administration and
support costs.
I am pleased to present the draft CARM accounts for the year ended 31st March
2014. Unfortunately we have not been able to get the accounts audited in time
for the AGM, they are in the process of being audited and will be finalised by the
end of September.
I have reviewed the financial controls and disciplines at CARM and found them
robust and sufficient to ensure that the resources of the charity are protected
and that management and Trustees may rely on the accuracy of reporting to
enable them to make funding bids and also to meet the requirements of the
Charity Commission.
The accounts are presented in the accruals format and the information given and
terminology used is that required by the Statement of Recommended Practice
2000 and the Charities Act 1993.
Colin Potts, Treasurer
July 2014
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Manager’s Report
The year has flown by, I can’t believe that it’s already the middle of the summer!
We have had several staff changes and additions this year and our team number
has grown from five to seven. The additions were as a result of existing staff
reducing their hours and maternity cover for Emma. So we’re a bit squeezed in
the office now, but it’s great to have more faces and experience around.
Philippa mentioned in her report that funding is a challenge, but people have
done amazing things for us this year and raised lots of money for which we are
extremely grateful. We have also launched a legacy leaflet called A Gift of
Friendship Means So Much More, this leaflet asks people to think about leaving a
legacy to CARM so that our valuable services can continue into the future. We
were fortunate in that we were recently left £500 in a lady’s will, the lady had
previously attended a Meeting Point and had the foresight to leave a legacy to
CARM as she really enjoyed attending the Meeting Point and wanted to
acknowledge this by leaving a legacy.
Having spoken about the challenge of future funding, as Colin reports CARM is
currently in a relatively healthy financial position which gives us the opportunity
to consider expansion and service development plans. I am working with the
Trustees on which areas we expand and how we go about that whilst of course
bearing in mind the future funding challenges and not wanting to over commit
ourselves and to ensure that any expansion remains sustainable. In terms of
service development, we are looking at various options relating to our
befriending service, we would like to offer alternatives to one to one befriending,
e.g. telephone befriending and group befriending. I hope to be able to report in
next year’s Annual Report that we have made progress in this area.
During the year a Meeting Point review was carried out, one of the aims was to
consider and review the level and type of support that CARM gives to the Meeting
Points, as well as the financial commitment. The outcome was that we kept the
financial support to each Meeting Point the same as previously, the money
allocated to each Meeting Point is used to subsidise trips and outings. Following
the review we recruited a new co-ordinator, Zena. Zena is concentrating on
working with our Meeting Point volunteers to promote the Meeting Points and to
trial and organise new activities for the Meeting Points, e.g. seated exercises
which was a popular response in our latest client survey.
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On the subject of surveys, we carry out annual surveys to check that our clients
benefit from and enjoy the services that we provide to them, also that our
volunteers feel well supported and continue to enjoy their role. I am pleased to
say that the results of our most recent surveys indicate that, in the main,
volunteers feel well supported and enjoy what they do for CARM and that our
clients enjoy the services. Here are a few highlights:
Well-being at Home clients: as a result of clients having a befriender visit them
on a regular basis:
100% of clients feel more cheerful
90% of clients feel an improved sense of well-being
50% of clients feel that their health has improved
100% of clients would be happy to recommend CARM’s befriending service
to other people.
Meeting Point clients: as a result of attending Meeting Points:
100% of clients feel an improved sense of well-being
52% of clients feel that their health has improved
100% of clients would be happy to recommend CARM Meeting Points to
other people.
Our Memories Matter clients: as a result of attending reminiscence sessions:
94% of clients feel an increased sense of well-being and health
94% of clients reported that their minds were more stimulated
100% of clients enjoy the reminiscence sessions.
The client surveys also gave us ideas for new services which we will endeavour to
incorporate with our expansion and development plans.
Finally, I must say a massive thank you to the Trustees, the staff team, all of our
wonderful volunteers and everyone who has donated or raised money for CARM,
it is all very much appreciated.
Helen Mattock, Manager
July 2014
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Our Memories Matter
Our Memories Matter (OMM) is now in its eighth year. For those who are
unfamiliar with the service just to recap; we run group reminiscence sessions
through the support of trained volunteers working in teams. Each week we have
a different theme and use a variety of multi-sensory props to assist in triggering
and encouraging memories.
A giant artwork poppy
created by clients at a
reminiscence session last
October.
2013-14 has seen the introduction of a musical reminiscence service – Musical
Memories Matter (MMM) thanks to the donation of a Silver Song Music Box from
the charity Sing for your Life, funding from Shepway District Council Community
Chest which provided money to cover running costs to deliver sessions and of
course a new team of volunteers. MMM unlike the other teams is a mobile service
and travels to different venues to deliver a musical reminiscence session. Music
has been described as a ‘universal language’ and this is true in reminiscence as
the right tunes have a unique ability to draw people together and literally create
a harmonious atmosphere. Our other seven regular reminiscence groups continue
to work at the same venue each week: Broadmeadow in Folkestone; The Old
Rectory in Dymchurch; Abbey Lodge in Seabrook; Madeira Day Centre in
Littlestone; Summer Court in Hythe and two groups at West View in Tenterden.
An incredible achievement in reminiscence terms to remain static and to be able
to deliver 30 sessions a year at each setting with the same groups. In total the
service has run in excess of 220 sessions during this year.
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Musical Memories Matter in action.
New themes during the year have included ‘London then and now’ complete with
a flat cap and some pearly buttons for each group to stitch on and requests to
the settings to include ‘pie and mash’ on the menu to aid the reminiscence
activity and ‘Where in the World’ which used a good array of table top flags and
artefacts that tied in with specific countries. Introductory sessions have utilised
bespoke beach balls with reminiscence questions written all over them which has
proved an effective and gentle means of resuming sessions.
A report on OMM for the year wouldn’t be complete without a mention of the
efforts of Karen Turner who, further to her Hastings Half Marathon last year, ran
the London Marathon on behalf of OMM in April. The inspiration behind Karen’s
efforts was her grandad Stanley Edmunds who passed away in 2013. Stan really
enjoyed the reminiscence sessions and through Karen’s efforts his legacy
continues as it has enabled CARM to be able to buy some new props which have
been enjoyed by the 70+ clients who attend the sessions each week. A mention
also to Peter Dinsley, a professional swing singer, who has donated his talent and
time regaling clients at Madeira Day Centre for the past five years and also
donated some performances to the other OMM settings this year which were
greatly enjoyed by all. Thank you Peter!
The memories that are shared at each session really do matter thanks to the
hard work, enthusiasm and generosity of the volunteers who arrive each week
with interesting items and a sense of fun which leave those that attend feeling
both valued and often with the experience of having something special that they
had forgotten being restored to them.
Fiona Godfrey, Our Memories Matter Co-ordinator
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Well-Being at Home
It’s been a busy year for Well-being at Home, with lots of successful volunteer
recruitment across our operating area. We now have over 60 befriending
volunteers on our books providing a service to over 50 clients on a regular basis.
For a variety of reasons there will always be a turnover of volunteers and clients,
so for us to maintain such a high number of volunteers is pleasing and the
volunteers themselves find their work very rewarding.
Our service continues to relieve isolation and loneliness, the survey results
detailed in Helen’s report evidence the value that our clients place on the service.
A huge and sincere thank you to all of our generous volunteers who make such a
difference to the people they visit.
Here are some quotes from some of our clients:
“It is wonderful to have a friend who can talk about the same things
and who can share my love of gardening even though I cannot do
much in the garden now.”
“John and I look back to the days when we lived in London and all
through the tough times and what we used to get up to when we were
lads!”
“My little dog enjoys seeing Pat as much as I do as she has a dog too,
so we have lots in common.”
Last September we gained re-accreditation of the Approved Provider Standard
from the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation – a great achievement which
evidences the high standard to which we work.
This year we have introduced mandatory Induction Training for all new
volunteers which has proved to be a great success, with 11 new volunteers
having attended since January. The training is delivered by us and we always
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invite one or two long-standing volunteers to the training so that they can give
their perspective and support to new volunteers.
Again we have held several well-attended volunteer meetings during the year
with talks on a range of relevant topics which help our volunteers with their roles
as well as give the opportunity for volunteers to share experiences and learn
from each other.
Between us we’ve attended several events and venues to promote CARM and the
Well-being at Home service, including at the Romney Marsh Day Centre, the
Tenterden Gateway, New Romney Scout Hut and Rolvenden Farmers Market.
We know through consistent feedback from our clients and volunteers that our
befriending service continues to have a positive impact on the lives of clients and
their families. Looking forward, we anticipate continued growth in activity with
clients and volunteers who benefit from our services to combat loneliness and
support the well-being of all stakeholders.
Benedict Potts / Rhia Hayward, Befriending Co-ordinators
Safeguarding the Older Person (StOP)
The StOP project, commissioned directly by Kent County Council, is focused on
safeguarding older people and aims to raise awareness of the mistreatment and
abuse of older people and support people who have been through a safeguarding
investigation process.
The purpose of the awareness raising sessions is to provide information about
how to spot the signs of abuse and how to deal with it. Sessions have been
delivered in a variety of settings, including our own Meeting Points.
A number of individuals have received one to one support in their place of
residence and sometimes the support is given over the phone. This aim of this
aspect of the service is to help people become settled after a safeguarding
investigation and it is important that the service is offered by an independent
person who was not involved with the preceding investigation.
Beryl Swift, StOP Co-ordinator
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Meeting Points
Since beginning as Meeting Point Co-ordinator in April, I have been warmly
welcomed at all the Meeting Points by the dedicated volunteers and the clients
alike. I have found that each location differs slightly in the way that it is run and
in what goes on. But at the heart of it, all meeting points are a place where older
people can happily catch up over a drink and biscuit.
During November 2013, a review of the Meeting Points was carried out. Helen
and the Trustees visited 7 of the 8 groups. Volunteers and clients completed
surveys and the analysed results formed the evidence for the review. Similarly,
Trustees views were also incorporated, and the management meeting in January
developed recommendations from the findings to take forward as an action plan.
In May, we held a Volunteer meeting to discuss the recommendations and issues
raised in the Meeting Point Review.
The meeting was attended by
representatives from Appledore, Coastal, Dymchurch, Rolvenden, Tenterden and
Woodchurch groups. Ideas flowed freely and a constructive discussion ensued
topped off by a delicious lunch. The strapline ‘Meeting points – put a smile on
your face over a cuppa’ was generated at the meeting. This will be used on the
updated promotional material. Thus far, I am concentrating on Meeting Points
where attendance is low; the shop and café windows of Dymchurch are the first
to display the new style posters!
To promote choice for clients, we canvased interest in a list of ideas for new
activities and speakers. This has been completed and returned by most groups.
As a result of this feedback, we are currently organising seated exercise courses
for Meeting Points. We are very pleased to have secured 75% funding from Kent
Adult Education for the cost of the tutor. The first courses aim to begin at
Tenterden and Appledore during August. I’m sure the course will be enjoyed by
all participants who will also be able to reap the benefits of exercise.
Also, following the results of the review, each meeting point will be visited twice
a year by a Trustee. Matthew Parkin, has begun the process by visiting
Tenterden last month.
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Tenterden Meeting Point Christmas
lunch.
As summer rolls on, the Meeting Point groups are enjoying their seasonal trips
for cream teas, lunches and visits to garden centres. Many groups have used
their CARM funding to subsidise these trips. I would like to thank the fantastic
volunteers for organising these memorable events and for their continued
commitment to Meeting Points.
Zena Pyott, Meeting Points Co-ordinator
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