Building and Sustaining The

Building and Sustaining the Community

Report of the Trustees to 31 March 2014

Presented to Girton Parish Meeting - 18 July 2014

A Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England No 6918381 Registered Office 1 Fairway Girton Cambridge CB3 0QF Registered Charity No 1130272

Registered Charity no 203217 INTRODUCTION Girton Town Charity (GTC) is a Company Limited by Guarantee which was incorporated on 28 May 2009 and registered as a charity on 22 June 2009. It was united with the former Town Charity (Charity No. 203217) on 24 June 2009. The Trustees filed their Annual Report and Accounts for the period 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013 with the Charity Commission on 30 January 2014; these can be obtained by searching search for charity number 1130272 at www.charitycommission.gov.uk. This review follows on from the end of the Charity Commission report and shows financial results from 1 July 2013 until 31 March 2014. It also contains a summary of actions taken in the last quarter of the year to 30 June. The next Statutory Report and Accounts will fully cover the period from 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014 and this will be available on the Charity Commission website in early 2015. Financial data for 2013-14 in this report are from unaudited Management Accounts from 1 July 2013 to 31 March 2014. Figures for 2013 are from the Management Accounts of 31 March 2013 unless otherwise stated.

TRUSTEES There are seven Trustees who serve 5-year terms: five are appointed by the Parish Council (PC) and two by the Board of Trustees. The selection process for PC appointments has been agreed between the Trustees and the Parish Council and follows guidelines made by the Charity Commission. Vacancies are advertised in the Girton Parish News and on Village notice boards when they occur. Mr Michael Healey indicated his intention to stand down as a Trustee on 4 August 2014 and so the Trustees and Parish Council used the agreed process to recruit a replacement to take office from his resignation. The Trustees in office on 31 March 2014 were (with appointing authority and date of appointment or last reappointment): Mrs Ann Bonnett 41 Church Lane, Girton (PC; May 2012) Mr Ray Gordon 10 Pepys Way, Girton (PC; May 2010) Mr Michael Healey 7 High Street, Girton (PC; May 2012) Dr Robin Hiley 1 Fairway, Girton (PC; May 2010) - Chairman Mrs Jenny Knights 47 Fairway, Girton (Trustees; Mar 2011) Mrs Pippa Temple 10 Cambridge Road, Impington (Trustees; July 2009) - Vice-chairman Mr Brian Pycock 49 Cambridge Road, Girton (PC; May 2012) - Treasurer Girton Parish Council has appointed Ms Raquel Farrington of 64 Church Lane to become a Trustee from 5 August. All Trustees sign a declaration of acceptance of office and of eligibility on first appointment and submit a Statement of Declaration of Interests which is amended as necessary during the year. The minutes of each meeting record any conflicts of interest declared by the Trustees with regard to the business being considered.

INTERNAL ACTIVITIES Trustees' Meetings The Trustees met 12 times in the year to June 2014 to consider the regular business of the Charity. The Annual Strategy Meeting was held in July in Clare, Essex; this meeting is central to the business of the Charity as it provides an opportunity for the Trustees to assess past progress and set strategic plans in place on the basis of detailed discussion. Items discussed at the 2013 Strategy Meeting included the usual review of the Risk Register and distribution of Trustee responsibilities plus discussion of a possible partnership with Papworth Trust, the property strategy, the Community Art Project and the Safeguarding Policy.

Annual Report 2013/14 Page 1 Investments The funds are managed on a discretionary basis by investment companies selected by the Trustees. Until December 2013 these managers were BlackRock, Schroders, Quilter Cheviot and NW Brown I n December the funds held with BlackRock were liquidated and divided between the other three managers and a new company, Brewin Dolphin. The Trustees consider the managers' Quarterly Reports at their regular meetings, and there is an Investment Committee to review overall strategy and make recommendations to the Trustees. Investment Managers' fees for the 9 months under review were £104,746 (2013; £67,264); the large increase is due to changes in charging structures following requirements of the regulator made in the name of greater transparency. The Charity’s cash holdings are primarily held in a Cash Management Account with Schroders and in the Charity's Current Account; at 31 March 2014 these were £1,732,587 (2013; £1,312,590) although this includes £630,011 in cash held by the Managers pending investment. The unaudited accounts for the 9 months to 31 March 2014 show investment income and interest of £598,926 (2013: £567,584); the Trustees' policy is to manage the endowment such that the income keeps pace with inflation. The Charity’s Endowment was valued at £25,456,572 (2013: £23,895,988) at 31 March 2014 when the total assets less liabilities were £28,844,459 (2013: £26,875,723).

Charity Office and Administration Mrs Penny Knight, the Charity's Administrator, she manages the Charity's Office at 22 High Street (telephone: 01223 276008; email: [email protected]). Mrs Knight is responsible for day-to-day contact with the Trustees and beneficiaries of GTC as well as its suppliers and contractors. The office has core opening hours of 10.00 - 13.00 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The 9-month costs of running the office to 31 March 2014 were £14,166 (2013; £12,975). In the year to 31 March, the Trustees and Administrator have attended training sessions and incurred costs of £136 (2013; £1,153) to the Charity. Trustees receive no benefit or financial compensation for the time they spend on the Charity's business. Audit Fees were £6,000 (2013; £5,625), other professional fees were £8,991 (2013; £11,591) and insurance premiums were £2,315 (2013; £2,272).

Almshouses The Charity owns 14 almshouses: the 7 new homes in Centenary Court at Wellbrook Way which were opened last year; 6 bungalows on the High Street Site, built by the Charity between the 1920s and the 1960s; and 1 bungalow in Fairway. A High Street bungalow, a 1-bedroomed home, became vacant in April and applications to live in it were invited by advertisements placed on Village notice boards and in the Girton Parish News; the closing date was 15 June 2014 and Trustees are now arranging to interview the applicants. Since vacancies occur infrequently, the Charity does not keep a waiting list. Repairs and maintenance of the almshouses in the 9 months to 31 March 2014 cost £24,201 (2013: £3,609) much of which was due to the costs of preparing one of the bungalows for a resident. In order to ensure that the residences remain comfortable and pleasant homes, they are formally inspected by a group of Trustees early in each summer. During the year, garden maintenance at the houses and the Charity Office cost £4,682 (2013: £2,782) reflecting the increase in the size of the estate.

Community Building at Wellbrook Way After a protracted process, South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) granted outline planning permission for the construction of this building in December 2013. The Charity is now finalising the purchase of the land from SCDC. The design stage is well under way and it is hoped that the tender process for the build can be started before the end of the calendar year. The Trustees are very disappointed that this project has not been able to

Annual Report 2013/14 Page 2 move along quicker such that the building could have been ready at the same time as the bowls green developed by the Parish Council.

Girton Community Art Project As part of the preparations for the eventual opening of the new Community Building, the Trustees asked Holly Rumble to be the Artist in Residence. The Trustees allocated a budget of up to £10,000 with the requirement that it should produce a lasting legacy in the Village. The project Passing Through and Settling (passingthroughandsettling.org) was launched in May with One Minute Birdwatching, a Girton Garden Society Plant Sale of self-seeding plants, and the Dawn Chorus, all of which won many compliments. Further events include a Bird Drawing Challenge (July 12), A Girton Wallhanging (July 23), an August Sunflower Trail and an Autumn Equinox Labyrinth (September 23). Many community organisations, besides the Garden Society, have become involved, including the Women's Institute, BirdLife International, the Cambridge Academy of English, Girton Youth Project and Scallywags Nursery. If you have not joined it yet, there is till time to do so.

GRANT MAKING ACTIVITIES OF GIRTON TOWN CHARITY After maintaining its almshouses, GTC can use any income remaining to make grants, firstly for "relief in need" and, secondly, "for any charitable purpose for the general benefit of the inhabitants of the Parish of Girton". Grants awarded in the year are summarised below; the amounts stated are those that were awarded, but note that they may not have been paid by 31 March.

Respite Care Grant Scheme This initiative was launched just over 12 months ago. The objective is to assist residents of Girton to live independently by providing additional short-term care to suit applicants' needs over and above any statutory care for which they are entitled. In particular it is hoped to assist residents to return home from hospital as soon as possible. GTC aims to respond quickly in time of need. The Scheme is open to residents of Girton over 18 years of age and is not subject to any assessment of financial need. Requests for help can be made by a number of professionals and other referring agencies. Care Network assesses Residents who are being discharged from hospital and other referrals may be made by a GP, Social Worker, Warden of a Residential Home or Sheltered Accommodation, Church Leader, Community Warden, Macmillan Nurse or similar. Care professionals nominated by GTC provide the support. Following referral and assessment, applicants agree a care package and sign a contract for its provision with the care provider. Applicants receive grants of up to £1,500 per calendar year (running from the date of the first claim) and GTC pay directly to the care provider. In the first full year of operation of the Scheme, 16 residents received help to the value of £8,820.

Educational Grant Scheme This Scheme provides help with the costs of buying books and equipment for study in further and higher education. Support is also available for some apprenticeships and similar qualifications. It is open to recent school leavers, resident in the Village, who fulfil its terms. Claims totalling no more than £225 per year may be made for up to 4 years of study and the first year can be for support for an educational gap year activity. Applications are invited in the Girton Parish News twice a year. Other residents, such as mature students, who do not fit the criteria for this scheme and are finding it difficult to fund their studies, should make an application for assistance with their educational expenses through the Charity's procedures for making grants to meet need. Each academic year, one round of awards is made in December and a second in June/July. It is not necessary to spend all of the £225 to apply for a grant and claims for part of the

Annual Report 2013/14 Page 3 maximum amount can be made in the first round with the rest claimed at the end of the Academic Year. In December 2013, awards totalling £4469 (2013: £679) were made to 21 recipients (2013: 13). Over the full Academic Year 2013-14 the total paid out was £7,211 to 36 individuals. Educational gap year projects can be also supported with a grant equivalent to 1 year's book and equipment award; these count as part of the 4-year entitlement. No such award was made this year. In the 12 months to June 30, eight Educational Grants (totalling £4,245) beyond those within the scope of the main scheme were made. The total expenditure on grants for education to 31 March 2014 was £13,041 (2013; £7,005) but this includes payments in respect of awards made in previous years.

Hospital Taxi Scheme This scheme is aimed at helping people go by taxi to outpatient appointments at Addenbrooke’s, Brookfields or Chesterton Hospitals when alternative transport is not practical. The Trustees continue to be grateful for the full co-operation of the Girton taxi companies: Nelson Motors and Wendy Barrett. Special arrangements can be made when a specialised taxi, such as one that can carry a wheelchair, is needed or when a patient has to get to other hospitals and suitable transport is not available. Leaflets explaining the Scheme are available from the GTC Office. The Scheme operates a 'membership year' with a single annual renewal date on 1 April and all memberships end on 31 March following joining or renewal. At 31 March 2014, there were 217 members of the scheme (2013: 170). The net cost to the Charity of the journeys made to 31 March, together with all other expenditure on hospital transport was £11,516 (2013: £11,734). Patients attending other hospitals or clinics who have difficulties in using public or personal transport should apply to the Charity for a personal grant, as should residents who have difficulty in making regular visits to see patients in hospital. It is always possible to consult a Trustee in confidence to discuss a possible application for assistance on the grounds of personal need. Four special grants were made this year to help Residents get to visit a seriously ill relative or attend appointments at Papworth and Ely Hospitals.

Girton and Huntingdon Road Surgeries The Prescription Delivery Service, run by the pharmacist at the GP practice serving Girton, has been renewed for a further year following its review in 2013. The service is available for those Girton patients living within the Pepys Way dispensing area who are unable, through reason of incapacity, to collect dispensed medicines from the Pepys Way or Huntingdon Road Surgeries. The cost to GTC is included in the Hospital Travel figures given above. Trustees attend meetings of the Patient Participation Group set up by the practice and this forms a basis for fairly regular contact between GTC and the practice.

Youth Project with the YMCA This project is one of the earliest examples of GTC enhancing opportunities and facilities in Girton by working with specialist charities to meet the needs of the Village. The scheme is ably led by the YMCA Youth Worker, Tim Shuker-Yates who is ably assisted by volunteers and part-time staff. The youth clubs run for much of the year in school term times and there are special events during the spring and summer holidays. The regular sessions for younger members are on Monday afternoons (4.30 - 6.00 p.m.) and have 25-35 members attending. On Thursday evenings there are clubs for two secondary school age groups (5.00 - 7.00 p.m. and 7.00 - 9.00 p.m.) and 40-50 young people take part over the two sessions. Holiday events have included bouncy castle sessions, a movie making day, bowling, and trips to Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, paintballing, Colchester Zoo and the Snozone. As always, the Trustees regard the success of the Youth Project as entirely down

Annual Report 2013/14 Page 4 to the professionalism of Tim and his staff and the enthusiasm with which they offer these opportunities to the young people of Girton. The cost to GTC for over the 9 months to 31 March 2014 was £57,622 (2013: £60,234).

Cambridge Citizens Advice Bureau For several years GTC has supported an Outreach Bureau of Cambridge CAB in Girton. As many people are finding themselves going through difficulties, the Trustees continue to wish to make sure that Girton residents have access to the skills and knowledge of the CAB. Until this year, the sessions were in the Pepys Way Surgery and the Trustees wish to place on record their gratitude to the Practice for making the premises available for as long as they did. The sessions now take place in the St Vincent's Close Community Centre on Wednesday afternoons (1.00 - 4.00 p.m.) and no appointment is necessary. This year GTC paid £11,946 (2013: £6,657) to help CAB provide the service and this includes a contribution of £6750 towards the central costs of Cambridge CAB.

Age UK activities supported by Girton Town Charity Mobile Warden Scheme The Mobile Warden is a well-established feature of the Village life. The Warden, Marilyn, provides help and reassurance to the 20 Villagers who subscribe to the Scheme. She is well supported by other colleagues from Age UK. The Community Warden works closely with, and provide help complementary to, the work of the statutory services. Based on the Warden's knowledge of an individual's circumstances and general well being, clients receive a personal visit or telephone call on a daily basis, Monday to Friday. Occasionally the Warden will respond, during the working day, to a situation that requires immediate action. However the Warden is not on call for emergencies outside normal designated hours, hence the recommendation that users complement this service by use of a community alarm. The Warden is not a home help, domestic worker, or a carer providing physical care. Referrals can be from the prospective users themselves, their relatives or neighbours, GPs or other health or social service workers. Anyone wishing further information should contact the Charity's Office, any Trustee or Marilyn directly. Elderly Persons' Co-ordinator In the last year, Age UK has proposed to GTC that there should be a person charged with the wider welfare and opportunities for the elderly in Girton. The Trustees were delighted to receive the proposition and have agreed a grant of £14,900 for the first year's pilot which will run until late spring/early summer 2015. Watch out for details in Girton Parish News and on Village noticeboards. Age UK Safer Homes Scheme In June 2013, the Trustees made a grant of £1,000 to cover the costs incurred by Age UK in helping Girton residents in the last 12 months. Support continued to be given in 2013/14 and so the Trustees awarded a further £805 in May 2014. The service is for people aged 60 or over and is aimed at the prevention of falls and accidents in the home. Contact can be made through Age UK Cambridgeshire (01480 700205) and there is no need for a professional referral. They will make a home visit and recommend improvements to aid mobility such as a second banister and grab rails in potentially hazardous areas.

Grants to other organisations in support of activities for Girton Grants to external charities At the request of residents (usually taking part in fund-raising events), the Trustees may make donations to organisations in recognition of the support that they give Villagers. This year there was a donation of £100 to Macmillan Cancer Care.

Annual Report 2013/14 Page 5 GTC supports charitable organisations based outside the Village with grants which are based on the number of Girton participants in their activities. Under this principle, King's Junior Voices received an award of £2,580 (2013: £3,200) for the 12 (2013: 14) young people who take part in its activities. Three-year grants were awarded to (with the 3-year total in brackets): Cambridge Family Mediation Service (£27,750); Cambridge Dial-a-Ride (£34,500); East Anglia Children's Hospices (£30,000); and the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity (£66,000). The Arthur Rank Charity was also offered a contribution of up to £56,000 towards the costs of building the new hospice at Shelford Bottom. Carers' Trust was awarded £10,000 to run pilot schemes for one year to assist dementia sufferers and their carers. Relate was awarded £5,541 to provide additional counselling resources at Primary Girton Glebe School plus, for three years, up to £4,000 per year to use for outreach and bursaries to assist Girton residents seeking its help and £1,000 a year towards its central costs.

Grants to local schools attended by Girton children Girton Glebe Primary School The School's After-School Clubs continued to be supported under a grant made last year. The school also received a major award of £49,750 in order that it can enhance and update the IT provision in time for the start of the new School Year in September and a grant of £740 was made to support the Family Learning Day. Dry Drayton Primary School Eight children have been attending Dry Drayton School in the last year and, in response to a request by the Headteacher, the Trustees made a grant of £2,400 towards the costs of providing iPads for the use of all the children of the School.

Grants to village organizations The Charity supports, with grants, organisations based in Girton or which have members or beneficiaries in the Village. Girton Churches A grant of up to £4270 was awarded to St Andrew's Parish Church to help with the high costs of dealing with soiling of the tower and surrounding paths by pigeons and doves settling on the tower. Village organisations Sam's Lunch Club was underwritten for the cost of a licence for the screening of videos. Girton Operatic were offered matched funding of up to £420 for the purchase of storage boxes for properties. Sport Girton Netball Club was awarded a grant of £687 to consolidate its development following its successful launch last year. Girton Bowls Club was awarded £7131 for a mower and other essential equipment for the new Bowls Green at Wellbrook Way. Other community activities Cambridge City Brass Band were awarded £212 towards the costs of publicity and other incidentals for a concert in Girton. A small donation of £50 was made to the dementia support group, Forum, based at Fulbourn Hospital.

Grants to individuals The Trustees of GTC regard one of their main duties to be to make grants to help individual Girton residents in need. They well understand that such awards, often small in size, can make a great deal of difference to the quality of life of the recipients. Trustees try to react quickly and sensitively to help people out. Awards this year have covered the costs of: providing essential appliances; adapting houses for health purposes or to help with reduced mobility; making homes safer; helping to develop the independence of young

Annual Report 2013/14 Page 6 people; and help with extraordinary costs of living. The Trustees do not believe it appropriate to give details of individual grants as they are made on the basis of confidential information supplied by applicants. In the 9 months to 31 March 2014, payments totalling £ were made (2013: £15,578; full year to 30 June 2013: £20,431) and the amount made available in grants was £14,431. The maximum award this year was £2,400 (2013; £3,800).

MAKING APPLICATIONS: ORGANISATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS The Trustees provide guidelines to help with preparation of applications either from individual Girton residents and families or from organizations providing for inhabitants of the Village. These documents outline the procedures followed by the Trustees when considering requests. There are also straightforward forms that may be used to apply for grants, though applications can also be made by letter. However, use of a form can help ensure that Trustees have all the information needed for them to make a decision. Penny Knight, in the Charity Office, will be happy to supply copies of the forms or guidance on request. Any Trustee can be consulted in confidence before an application is made. An application will usually be considered at the next meeting of the Trustees after the application is received, providing it arrives at least one week before the meeting. If the Trustees decide more information is needed before a final decision is made, they may ask for details to be supplied in writing, or arrange for Trustees to meet the applicant.

THE FUTURE Last year we were able to report on the successful completion of the Centenary Court Project, which saw several young families move into their new homes. This year has not, perhaps, had such an obvious high point, but the success of many of our continuing activities (for example, the Educational Grant and Hospital Taxi Schemes, the Girton Youth Project, the CAB Outreach, Girton Glebe After-School Clubs) should not be seen as unimportant. The new Respite Care Grant Scheme has supported several people through difficulties and the Community Art Project looks to be meeting its targets. We look forward to reporting on their further successes next year. The Trustees are still developing new activities. As I have remarked before, these often make slow progress (Centenary Court took 6 years from inception to inauguration) but we are developing several new projects. These include possible provision of sheltered housing for those with health or disability issues in association with Papworth Trust, and we hope the Wellbrook Way Community Hall will start to be built in the coming year. We have other projects in hand which should modestly increase the almshouse provision made by the Charity and we actively seek out other charities which might usefully increase their activities in Girton. As Chairman, I am aware that the Charity is fortunate to have such a dedicated and hard- working group of Trustees. It is a pleasure to work with them and I hope you will join with me in, once again but no less deservedly, thanking them for all their efforts over the last and previous years.

Robin Hiley Chairman of the Trustees July 2014

Annual Report 2013/14 Page 7