Trustees
Members of Council:
Chairman: Mrs L. M. Ransom
Hon. Secretary: Miss B. J. Perrott
Fr A. Green
Dr J. S. Livingstone
Miss G. Miles
Miss T. Shiyanbola
Mr N Lieckfeldt
Mrs R Ismail
Fr. B. Ralph
Custodial Trustees:
Dr J. S. Livingstone
Mr D. Ransom
REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2008
Structure, Governance and Management
Governing Document
The organisation is a registered charity established in 1889. Its constitution, logged with the Charity Commission, was revised and adopted at the Annual General Meeting of St. Margaret's House ("The House") on 23 March 1990.
Recruitment and Appointment of Board of Trustees
The charity trustees are not more than fifteen members of the House elected at the Annual General Meeting of the House. The trustees form the Council of Management ("The Council"). The Council may co-opt persons to serve on The Council providing always that the number of co-opted members shall not exceed one-third of the total elected membership of The Council. At every Annual General Meeting one-third of those elected by the Annual General Meeting shall retire from office
The Council seeks to ensure a good mix of skills from the business, social and voluntary sectors and also has an ongoing policy of identifying suitable potential members.
Trustee Induction and Training
St. Margaret's House has a newly adopted comprehensive Trustees Induction Handbook that includes a Trustees Induction Programme that covers all aspects of responsibilities, policy and procedures.
Organisational Structure
The St. Margaret's House Council of Management has overall responsibility for the strategic direction, policy and human and financial resources of the organisation. Day to day operational management of the organisation is delegated by the Council to the Director, who is responsible for ensuring that the organisation delivers the services specified through its team of staff. The Director line-manages the Assistant Director and Administrator, who in turn supervise project staff and volunteers.
Related Parties
All user-groups based at St. Margaret's House sign a licence agreement stipulating that they will act as affiliated societies of the House and endeavour to further its charitable aims.
Current licensees are the Activity in Retirement Centre, Action Reconciliation Service for Peace, British Stammering Assoc., African Women's Welfare Association, Bangladeshi Parents and Carers Assoc., Quaker Social Action and fourteen others.
Risk Management
The Board of Trustees has reviewed the major risks to which the organisation is exposed and a further review is being undertaken in 2008. Procedures are in place or being established as appropriate to mitigate identified risks. External risks to funding have been identified and a strategy is being put in place to address these risks. Internal control risks are minimised by the implementation of procedures for authorisation of all transactions and services. Procedures are in place and under review to ensure the health and safety of staff, volunteers, clients and visitors in the offices and also in relation to data protection and confidentiality.
Objectives and Activities
The Objects of the Charity are the provision of a centre or centres conducted according to Christian principles for the advancement of the Christian religion for the advancement of education the relief of need hardship or distress and other charitable purposes for the general benefit of the inhabitants of the neighbourhood of the Borough of Tower Hamlets and for those purposes (and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing) the Charity may provide residential accommodation for any person sharing in that work all such persons constituting the Residents of the House.
Mission and Values
St. Margaret's House Settlement has a long tradition of working with the people of Bethnal Green and the wider community. Our main aim is to engage with and empower local groups and individuals by the provision of facilities and services.
St. Margaret's House aims to:
• provide a wide range of social welfare initiatives and services to serve and enable the local community
• provide accommodation, encouragement and support for like minded charitable organisations
• provide practical support and opportunity for community networking and developing
• provide equality of access and opportunity
• remain a well-administered, cost-effective and sustainable organisation
• demonstrate to all service users and staff an ethos of friendliness, inclusion and integrity
• be recognised externally as more skilled, focused and accountable
• work co-operatively and/or in partnership with others locally and nationally
Achievements and Performance
This has been a busy and successful year. Key achievements have been:
• Establishing a Tower Hamlets University of the Third Age.
• Maintaining high occupancy throughout St Margarets House.
• Establishing two new community shops on Old Ford Road.
• Contributing to more community partnership activities.
• Expanding community cafe activities.
• Reviewed operational strategies; established a Policy and Development Committee; updated Trustee Induction Programme and Staff Handbook.
• Redecorated and refurbished community halls, cabin and chapel.
• Fulfilled all relevant Charity Commission SORP requirements.
Financial Review
Our funding in 2007 - 2008, as in previous years, has come from a number of sources, predominantly licence fees from user groups based within the settlement. We wish to express our gratitude to those who have given us their support and hope that this will continue and grow in the coming years.
As is the case for most voluntary sector organisations, our organisation seeks funding in the context of limited resources being available locally and nationally, with most funding being time-limited and frequently not guaranteed from year to year.
The proposed new build Community Resource Centre has received full planning permission from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Works will include demolition of two single storey buildings and boundary wall at the rear of the St Margarets House site and the redevelopment of the site by erection of a three-storey building, plus new roof extension over the existing western rear two storey building. Both new built and extension to be linked and provide additional community resource centre for training and office space for staff. This work will cost around £2.5 million and a Fundraising Plan is currently being developed.
Reserves Policy
The Board of Trustees has examined the organisation's requirements for reserves in the light of the main risks to the organisation. It has established a policy whereby unrestricted funds not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets held by the charity should be three months of expenditure. This also acknowledges the financial risks and contractual obligations associated with employment of staff and contractual requirements relating to premises and equipment.
Budgeted expenditure in 2007- 2008 is £262,000 and the target for reserves is therefore £65,000 in unrestricted funds. The strategy of the organisation is to continue to build its reserves where this is possible while acknowledging the difficulty of this in the current funding climate.
Plans for Future Periods
• Complete Fundraising and Development Plan
• Development of Community Resource Centre proposal, including stakeholder survey with regard to the new build
• Undertake a Staff Review in the light of the requirements of new and existing users.
• Review Property Management Plan to ensure continued restoration and maintenance of the Settlement
• Ensure Health and Safety procedures comply with both new legislation and the needs of users
• Complete Office and Finance Procedures Manual
• Maintain 90% user group occupancy in office accommodation throughout the settlement
• Provide starter offices for three new community groups
• Fulfil all relevant Charity Commission SORP requirements