w w w . v o l u n t e e r d a c o r u m . o r g SNAPSHOT 2013/14 Registered charity number 1088117 For full Directors’ Report and Financial Statements please visit www.volunteerdacorum.org - or call 01442 247209 CHAIR’S REPORT The theme for our 2014 AGM is Valuing the Past and Embracing our Future. The history of any organisation is important because it informs the future. Whilst the external environment changes and internal adjustments have to be made, Volunteer Centre Dacorum still has a strong value base of independence and a firm commitment to both volunteers and charitable/community organisations in Dacorum. As we embrace our future, our values and commitment remain strong and focused. As we continue to help hundreds of organisations and thousands of volunteers, we have to ensure Volunteer Centre Dacorum remains professional, financially viable, and continues to add value to our local community. and Jeoff Colls. We thank all of them for their commitment and dedication. Happily, we have welcomed our new Chief Executive, Richard Pitts, who, in his first few months, is already proving a more than worthy appointee. He is ensuring our organisation remains strong and reliable and one that meets challenges with innovation and enthusiasm. Richard is ensuring that we value the past and embrace the future. This is my final AGM as Chair of Volunteer Centre The demand for our services continues and, as a charity, we are Dacorum – a position I have felt honoured to hold. always on the look-out for new sources of income. In the current Janice Cook (Chair of Trustees) climate, this is challenging but with the help of our major funders and supporters we will be able to sustain the level of service which is needed in our community. Thanks to everyone who supports our VOLUNTEER CENTRE TEAM 2013-14 Trustees organisation. A big thank you to the highly committed and professional team of staff and volunteers at The Roundhouse in Hemel Hempstead who work very hard to help make our organisation such a great success. And thanks to all our Trustees who give willingly of their time and expertise to ensure effective governance as well as provide support for Richard and his highly committed team. Sadly, we have a few departures this year. From our staff team, we have said goodbye to Liz King; from our Board, Lee Comer, Rita Leat Janice Cook (Chair) Malcolm Rogers (Finance Director) Jeoff Colls Lee Comer Mike Short Rita Leat Rozina Ahmad Shirley Jones Ursuline Edwards Sutton 2013 / 2014 HEADLINES · · · · · · · · · · · · 1,189 new volunteers were recruited for local organisations. 63% of these volunteers were female; 37% male (as 2012/13). 76% were recruited via the do-it website (56% in 2012/13) 36% of those recruited were under 25 years old (32% in 2012/13) 28% were unemployed (26% in 2012/13). 57% were White British: 23% from other ethnic backgrounds (local BME population 8.2%). (20% did not state their background) 523 organisations were registered with “live” voluntary opportunities (516 in 2012/13). On average there were around 400 different types of voluntary opportunities on offer to potential volunteers. Over 300 new/revised voluntary opportunities were registered in the course of the year. 52 organisations received individual help with volunteer management issues of which 48 achieved the 6 point Promise Cllr Allan Lawson (DBC representative) Staff Richard Pitts (Chief Executive) - from January 2014 Heather Allen MBE (Manager)- until December 2013 Sara Woodley (Project Co-ordinator) Lorraine Rockminster (Project Coordinator) Liz King (Volunteer Services Support Officer) Angie McKnight (County Development Worker) Volunteers Barbara Reynolds-Sale Ching Kwan Lorraine Cole Mike Young Dee Dolling Derek Peverill Ray Brown Rowena Eardley Graham Nixon Roy Woodward Janet Husband Sandy Beamish Julie Darraugh Shirley Jones June Gill Wendy Hodgins Weekly “Introduction to Volunteering” sessions are run at the Kelly Linden Centre facilitated by trained volunteers. Displays in libraries and other venues in Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted, Tring and Kings Langley throughout the year. Volunteer Centre Dacorum is supported by Dacorum Borough Council w w w . v o l u n t e e r d a c o r u m . o r g CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT I am delighted to be writing my first annual report for Volunteer Centre Dacorum following the retirement of Heather Allen after 18 very successful years. Heather’s contribution has been extraordinary and her continued influence is reflected in this report as she was Manager for the majority of this reporting period. I consider myself very fortunate to be appointed into post for such a well regarded organisation and look forward to contributing to the continued success of the Centre. My appreciation extends to our Chair, Dr Janice Cook who has provided invaluable support that has been essential in ensuring an effective transition period and enabled the Centre to retain an excellent reputation. Despite the challenges that face the voluntary and community sectors we continue to deliver services at a very high standard and it is important to recognise this value and impact. Volunteers in particular play a key role as they underpin the services of over 500 organisations. From our own perspective our volunteers bring a wide range of skills and talents to our organisation. Without them we could not achieve what we do or maintain our current level of service. Each volunteer has added their own unique value and that is why we have named them all in our report so that the contribution they make is recognised. Equally, the Trustees of Volunteer Centre Dacorum are integral to the success of the Centre and they offer their guidance, experience and professional skills on a voluntary basis to ensure that the Centre is operating effectively and that the staff and volunteer team are supported. Partnerships features strongly in our annual reports and this year is no exception. This includes maintaining strong working relationships with Dacorum Borough Council, civil society partners and the Volunteering Herts network and membership of new initiatives such as Dacortium, established as a consortium following 3 years of development work to help organisations co-operate in responding to public tenders that might HEADLINES Income Expenditure Surplus/ (Deficit) 2012/2013 £153,569 £154,718 (£1,149) 2011/2012 £123,891 £125,013 (£1,122) INCOME Voluntary income Generating funds Core funding Ad hoc funding Investment income TOTAL INCOME £11,851 £7,808 £56,960 £76,499 £451 £153,569 £10,667 £3,384 £56,960 £51,405 £1,475 £123,891 EXPENDITURE Charitable activities Generating funds Governance TOTAL EXPENDITURE £141,371 £7,395 £5,952 £154,718 £112,093 £7,050 £5,870 £125,013 otherwise be beyond them in terms of size and complexity. In this way quality community services can be delivered by organisations that have the local knowledge to serve their communities effectively. December 2013 saw the completion of NCVO’s ‘Volunteering for Stronger Communities’ project supporting unemployed people to volunteer and help improve their employability. The project was evaluated by an independent team from Sheffield Hallam University which concluded that there was "a clear 'programme effect' with participants indicating that VSC support made a difference to positive outcomes experienced." This work linked closely with our very important supported volunteering project, led by Co-ordinator Sara Woodley and we continue to support people to develop their skills. The Valuing Volunteer Management 6 Point Promise continues to gain momentum and we have seen a rise in the number of organisations achieving from 37 to 52 with support from Liz King, Volunteer Services Support Officer. We have also extended the delivery of training to private care homes and the Cultural Learning programme (CAD) Marketing and Fundraising included taking part in Connect Dacorum’s ‘Dragon’s Apprentice Challenge’ with young entrepreneurs from Cavendish School and a business mentor from Dacorum Borough Council. This raised £1300 for the Centre and we are very grateful for the efforts of all concerned. Also, our Marketing Co-ordinator Lorraine Rockminster is a well established columnist with the Gazette & Herald Express providing updates through a weekly column The Volunteer Centre continues to play a key role in the local community as we move into a new phase of development and structure and as Chief Executive I am looking forward to a positive future Richard Pitts, Chief Executive Summary of Financial Report VCD's Reserves at the 31st March, 2014 were £83,616, including £76,288 of Designated Reserves. The categories of Designated Reserves were :Ÿ Restructuring / redundancy costs; Ÿ Premises maintenance; Ÿ ICT replacement costs – VCD is highly dependent on its ICT equipment and systems; An assessment of the financial cost of mitigating risks recorded in the charity’s Risk Register. The overall reserves target range for 2013/14 was between £73,380 and £108,546, and the actual reserves as at 31st March 2014 came within that range at £83,616 (around £7,000 lower than the median level of £90,963. Malcolm Rogers, Finance Director
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