CONTENTS
Page
2. Centre Staff, Trustees and Volunteers
3. Background, Mission Statement and Aims & Objectives
4/5. Message from the Chair of the Board
6/7. Review of Activities
8. Centre Usage/Treasurer’s Report
9. Centre Manager’s Report
10. Centre Users
11. Equal Opportunities and Aims for 2015
Charity Trustees & Company Directors in 2014/15
Jodie Cook Trustee/Chair
John Richard Finking Trustee/Vice Chair
Shirley Hawkins Trustee/Secretary
Jean Gowen Trustee/Treasurer – resigned 22/7/14
Hon Joan Taylor MBE Trustee
Elaine Last Trustee
Enid Estelle Liley Trustee
Dawn Severn Trustee
Barry Harper Trustee – Appointed 24/06/14
Emily Carrington Trustee – Appointed 19/03/14
Christina Hall Trustee – Appointed 14/11/14
Graham Hill Trustee – Appointed 1/11/14
Centre Staff During 2014/15
Paulette H Sturman Centre Manager
Sharon Hool Senior Administrator
Joy Kellington Administrator
Jeffrey Orwin Caretaker/Cleaner
Volunteers During 2014/15
Pauline Leech Stephen Mays Cynthia Finking
Alan Kirk Pat Noakes Alan Hool
June Heald Helen Orwin Emilio de Chiro
Barbara Greenwood Richard Sturman Morag Dempster
Annabelle Hool Emily Stevenson Joe Wilson
Elaine Clarke Kirsty Staniland Alan Juridich
Jackie Hancock Anne Kemp Anne Wright
Ann Rand Libby Hutchby Michelle Minkley
Tara Jayne Douglas Georgia Brogdale Sam Davis
3 Therapists 2 Tutors
Accountants - CAPlus - Community Accounting Plus
1st Floor, 32-36 Pelham Street, Nottingham.
NG1 2EG
Background
The ‘Tin Hat’ was the name given to the medical staff’s social club when Selston High School was a military hospital during World War 2.
Around the time of its closure in 1994, a group of people living and working locally were considering a new community resource centre. A steering group was formed and the members searched for money to fund the project, with the idea of refurbishing the old club, however that building was subsequently bought by a private company.
Eventually, enough grants were found, and by February 2002 a brand new purpose built centre was completed and ready for furniture, fittings, equipment and of course, staff.
Mission Statement
“To provide the Parish of Selston and wider community with an accessible multi-purpose facility focusing on education, training and community resources”
Aims & Objectives
The project aims to maintain a multi purpose facility focussing on helping people back into work. One that local people will be proud of, and will be regularly utilised by members of the community irrespective of their background or their ability to pay.
We aim:
· To enhance physical and emotional well-being and promote good mental health.
· To provide opportunities for therapeutic and physical activities, creative & intellectual stimulation as well as relaxation.
· To support peoples needs and welcome their individuality and differences.
· To provide opportunities for connecting with others, improving self-esteem and experiencing new ideas.
· To be accessible and inclusive.
· To enable local people to acquire new skills to help them take advantage of employment opportunities and compete more effectively in the job market.
· To provide healthy eating options in the Café to promote the wellbeing of individuals.
· To provide support and resources to local community groups
· To provide a focal meeting point for the Parish
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD
This has been another eventful year for the Centre with fundraising events, funding secured from the Lottery for state of the art tablets, and establishing new relationships with local businesses/partners.
Vision West Nottinghamshire College and the Workers Education Association are key in providing training and learning opportunities within the centre. Thanks to them for their ongoing support to the centre.
Sure Start and the Police have continued to be supportive tenants and partners of the centre. Specific thanks to Sure Start who have agreed to act as key holders.
Thank you to our local Councillors, County, District and Parish for their support throughout the year. Our Local MP Gloria De Perio has been present at our events and this is very much appreciated by staff and the board.
Special thanks must go to our regular team of hardworking volunteers – all of whom have contributed to the centre in a variety of ways including fundraising, working in the office and being stall holders at community events.
Barrie Pierpoint has continued to support the centre through the Business in the Community business mentoring initiative. We appreciate his candid perspective and hope he will continue to be involved in 2015.
Thank you to Julia who manages the Café whose delicious lunches and cakes are an important way of drawing new customers into the centre.
We were all deeply saddened to hear of the passing away of Elaine Bonam. Elaine was instrumental in setting up the Tin Hat Centre and was an active member of the Tin Hat Centre board – as Vice Chair as well as holding other key roles with voluntary groups such as Selston Heritage Project and as Chair of Homestart Ashfield. Those of us who had the pleasure of working alongside her take comfort in feeling her presence around the centre.
Trustees have had difficult decisions to make in the two years that I have been Chair and recently in order to keep the centre doors open, and ensure the future financial sustainability we have had to reduce staffing hours.
We remain focused on;
· establishing partnerships/potential sponsorships from within the business sector
· expanding the Friends of Tin Hat including monthly incentives for those who give regularly
· developing volunteering opportunities within the centre
· continuing to act as the community hub for a wide range of activities within the Parish
· Retaining our existing staff team and developing community development hours through external funding sources
· Continuing to apply for funding through grants, and exploring potential funding sources.
Thank you to the rest of the board – it’s been incredibly challenging balancing family and work life alongside my commitment as Chair. This has only been possible because of the support I have had from an incredibly hard working dedicated team of trustees.
Richard Finking will be standing down as Vice Chairperson at the forthcoming AGM. Jean Gowen resigned in July 2014. Thanks to both of them for their commitment and hard work during their time as trustees. Over the past year we have proactively sought new trustees with specific skills and I believe that the new board will have the skills and drive to secure the future of the centre, and would like to take this opportunity to formally welcome them.
Thanks goes to all of the centre staff; Paulette, Joy, Sharon and Jeff for providing a unique personable service to all our centre users. Their good humour in the face of challenges and dedicated team work is essential in continuing to build on the opportunities that emerge because of the excellent reputation of the centre.
Jodie Cook
Review of Activities 2014
Paediatric First Aid with CrècheCreative Writing
Beginners Watercolours
Flower Arranging
Next Steps Sugar Craft
French
Spanish
Next Steps Vintage Home Furnishings Crèche
Next Steps Watercolours
Introduction to Photography
Nail Art with Crèche
Basic Sewing
Creative Writing
Creative Drawing
Next Steps Digital Photography
Introduction to Sugar Craft
Spiritual Awareness
Paediatric First Aid with Crèche
Holiday Textiles
Advanced Sugar Craft
Introduction to Watercolours
Internet and Email
Make-up with Crèche
Rag Dolls and Soft Toys with Crèche
Intro to i-pads and Android Tablets
Archaeology Introduction
Digital Photography Advanced
Archaeology Next Steps
Flower Arranging
Christmas Textiles with Crèche
Christmas Sugar Crafts
Reflexology and Crystals
Jewellery Making
Next Steps Internet and email
Intro to Digital Imaging
The Centre held numerous fundraising events and workshops throughout the year with the support of volunteers:
Table Top onsite and off site
Plant Sale
Fun Days
Summer Festival
Christmas Event
50/50 game
Easter Bonnet
Watercolour Workshops
Dance Night
Fashion show
The Sure Start offices within the Tin Hat Centre are open daily and continue to offer much needed family support, training and advice. Their current activities include; Baby Massage; Messy Play; Breastfeeding Group; Babbles, Bumps & Babies; Baby Clinic; Baby Café and the Childminding Group.
The Tin Hat Centre has worked in Partnership with WEA and Vision West Nottinghamshire College to provide Adult and Community learning; promoting learning for life with courses being created and delivered in response to local need. The Creative Writing class published their first book containing literature from each student. The group very kindly donated 50 books to the Centre to help with fundraising. Copies are available from reception.
The café remains franchised and is a great asset to the centre, providing healthy home-made meals along with a safe and welcoming environment for families. Age UK rented desk space throughout 2014.
The centre continues to support 7 community run groups that offer weekly sessions at the Tin Hat Centre to run alongside the college courses and two community groups operating within the local area.
Centre Support
The Centre has also been supported during 2014 by: Courtaulds, Community News, Label Traders, Ben Whitehead Photography, G H Electrical (www.ghelectrical-services.co.uk), Manchester United, Home Start, Business in the Community, Denby Pottery, The Hole in the Wall, L’Oreal, Boyes, The Co-operative Food Selston, Radio Salistune
Funding received from:
Jessie Spencer
Awards for All
Mansfield Building Society
Tesco Community Awards
RTC Fund
Rotary Club of Alfreton
Ashfield District Council
Treasurer’s Report
The Tin Hat Centre does not currently have an appointed Treasurer. The post has been vacant since July 2014.
Our accounts have been audited by CAPlus, Chartered Accountants, and copies of the full accounts for year ended 31st March 2014 are available from the Tin Hat Centre Reception.
The impact of the recession and cutbacks from funders has hit the charitable sector hard putting the Tin Hat Centre under considerable financial pressure. Opening times have been reduced along with staff hours and routes to expand our own income generation are being investigated.
It remains the aim of Trustees to move the Centre towards sustainability.
‘Your Friendly Community Hub’
Manager’s Report
2014 proved to be another challenging and rewarding year. User numbers remained high (over 12,000) with staff welcoming numerous new individuals. The diversity and number of adult education courses continued to increase, with over 50 fully attended courses. Through the support of Tesco Community Awards we were able to increase the number of weekend workshops, all of which ran at capacity.
The Centre’s marketing and publicity strategy was reviewed throughout the year, we now work with the community and Colleges to provide a joined up approach towards marketing. This process was supported by Barrie Pierpoint who has remained with the Centre throughout 2014 as a business mentor through Business in the Community for which we are extremely grateful.
The Awards for All ‘Flexible, Rural, Advanced, Technology’ Project has been a great success within the community. The project introduced the latest technology, tablets and i-pads, into the area. The flexible delivery approach appealed to all and community members have utilised their newly developed skills within the local area.
Our pilot fundraising dance night with the Terry Peters Big Band was a sell-out thanks to the support of June Heald a true Tin Hat Ambassador who has supported the Centre for over 12 years. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate June on being awarded a BEM in recognition of her community work.
I am tremendously appreciative of the support provided by our volunteers throughout 2014, this year it has totalled over 700 hours!
Thank you to the staff for always working to find solutions to the never ending challenges, for being so involved in the work of the Centre and supporting me in my role. I am very fortunate to be part of such a great team.
Paulette
I would like to thank The Tin Hat Community Centre for the great deal of information, education and enjoyment it has provided me with over the last few years.
In particular I would like to show my appreciation to Paulette and her colleagues for the support and tuition they gave me with regard to Lap Top Training and specifically the internet programme Mail Chimp.
As a technophobia seventy one year old I was very apprehensive of my ability to understand the process of Mail Chimp but Paulette Sturman gave me the encouragement and support I needed to have a try. Since then I have developed the skills required to produce a Newsletter for a Walking Group I am involved with.
Up to the present time I have produced two editions and am now working on my third.
By putting my new found skills into practice I am becoming more adept and confident in my own ability, but more importantly I am successfully bringing a small section of the community together. At the moment my Newsletter emailed via Mail Chimp reaches seventeen subscribers as well as twenty plus who receive a hard copy.
This has all been achieved with the help and tuition from the team at the Tin Hat which I am so grateful for. Also as feedback I regularly receive from members of the walking group suggests, there are at least forty people who are also grateful for the skills I developed with help and support of the Tin Hat Community Centre.
Thank you from a grateful user.
Andrea Foster
21 Nov 2014
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