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Director's Report
Progress during the year Link Up has continued its financial recovery which started last year and has been able to develop a new Transitions Project from the beginning of this year. Whilst the Director continues to work part time in order to keep the organisation’s costs down, we have still concentrated a great deal of effort on raising funds. This still proves to be a very difficult task as Link Up is well known to the small number of funders who have an interest in learning disabilities but who are reluctant to continually fund the work. There is a need to broaden the range of funders and look at ways to attract sustainable funding such as long term contracts and regular giving programmes. Despite the difficult financial climate, we have been able to maintain our prominence in the media and the quality of our work has been recognised by beneficiaries, carers and partner organisations. Volunteering: April 2005 to March 2006 Although 2005 was the ‘Year of the Volunteer’, it has still been difficult to attract ‘new blood’. Six recruitment talks were given during the year: ESOL mature students at Stanmore College, younger students from Sai School, Heathfield School (twice), Bentley Wood High School and an appeal by Brendan at All Saints Church, Kenton specifically for Friends of Bessborough. Best responses came from Sai and Heathfield whose young volunteers are actively involved supporting the Junior 1:1 and Computer Clubs. Nineteen prospective volunteers attended Link Up training and to date 13 are active. Two integrated church services and socials were held at St John Fisher Church (BBQ) and St Luke’s Church. The seven canal boat trips were as always, a great success. The 1:1 Club goes from strength to strength - average attendance of 120, the Computer Club is always oversubscribed and the Junior 1:1 members have enjoyed some very varied activities and outings. From November ’05 to March ‘06 much of our time was taken up in the administration of CRB Check renewals for all volunteers and staff. This had to be handled with some sensitivity for some of our longest serving volunteers. Website The last year has seen a complete overhaul of the organisation’s website which was in dire need of a make-over. We needed to revamp the old static website in order to reflect the diversity and growth of the organisation. The website now has a design that feels more positive, warm and inviting. It offers information about all our clubs and activities, the rewards and benefits of volunteering and also highlights all our wonderful awards and achievements from over the years. As well as being a portal for our clients and existing volunteers, the website has been designed to attract potential new recruits. For those who are eager to join straight away, the volunteer application form is available for download from our 'Become a Volunteer' page. Advertising and Marketing Attracting new volunteers and sponsorship is an ongoing task. To successfully achieve this will increasingly depend on our ability to produce effective and eye-catching publications that stand out from the crowd. Over the last two years, Archie Shah, Link Up’s Administrator and Marketing Officer, has been designing new material with a modern feel using designs which draw readers into the organisation and above all, inspire. This includes advertising material for volunteer recruitment in the form of leaflets and posters, visual display material for public open days, newsletters and producing visual aids to support fundraising applications. Archie has also re-vamped The Annual Review as an effective marketing tool to gain credibility and attract support. It tells the story of our aims, achievements and commitments by using effective illustrations and photography, which instantly brings the report to life and gives it the pick-up-ability factor. The Annual Review is available for you to download: ANNUAL REVIEW 2006 (13MB) You will need a copy of Adobe Acrobat software to open these documents. Alternatively, you can contact us if you would like us to send you a copy in the post.
Mr Mike Coker Director March 2006
Charity Information Constitution of the Charity Community Link Up is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. Registered Charity No.1060481. Company No.3189840. Our registered address is : 2a Dawlish Drive, Pinner, Middx. HA5 5LN.
Objectives of the Charity The aim of Community Link Up is to integrate people with learning disabilities more fully into the life of the community through friendship. We support people in forming friendships between those who come forward as volunteers and our friends with learning disabilities who have asked "can you find me a friend?"People with a learning disability have a personality like anyone else, and they have potential like anyone else. Unfortunately they often don't have easy access to things that most of us take for granted and the lack of opportunity can be a greater handicap than the disability. We have found that friendship is a remarkably powerful way of bringing people in from the margins of society and enabling them to unlock their potential. It is fulfilling for everyone involved - people start by expecting to give, and end up by feeling they get more out of the friendship than they ever imagined. For our friends with learning disabilities it is the joy of getting a phone call, a birthday card, or just looking forward to going shopping that makes their friendships so rewarding. The chance to respect and be respected, to give and to receive, to have someone who is not family or staff to share things with. It is the natural essence of the friendships that makes them so valuable. Our volunteers come from all walks of life and all have different reasons for wanting to be involved. The thing that links them all is that after a while they all say "I get much more out of it than I put in". It is the natural essence of the friendships that makes them so valuable.
Angela and Fiona
"I met Fiona four years ago at the 1:1 Friday Club. I visit her once a week, we share our news and enjoy watching quiz shows. Fiona invariably picks the winning team! We particularly enjoy going to the 1:1 Friday Club once a month. Fiona has introduced me to her friends there. We take part in the activities and have a drink in the bar. We have a common interest in plants and enjoy trips to the park to view the flowers. We always return from an outing having made new friends. One gentleman gave Fiona pieces of granite from his garden. He had noticed her appreciation of their colour and texture. We enjoy outings to the shops, pantomimes and meals at my home. Time spent together is a happy time for us both. We really appreciate the support we have from Link Up". Angela Knowles - Volunteer Friend
To achieve our aims we: Recruit, train and support volunteers from all sectors of the community. Set up and support self-regulating groups to provide a variety of one-to-one and group friendships for people living in families, residential homes and other settings. Help young people and adults with learning disabilities to develop an expressed interest in the mainstream community through our Inclusions Project, by giving them tailor made support packages to cater for their educational and vocational needs. The project also acts as a valuable signposting service introducing people to other support services such as education, advocacy, benefits advice, employment and training. Organise integrated activities such as a 1:1 club, special dances, outings, educational and cultural activities. Produce recruiting and training videos, course syllabi and literature, guidelines for friends, carers and volunteers. Arrange exhibitions and talks to promote a greater awareness and a deeper understanding of people with a learning disability and their place in the community. Work in partnership with other organisations with similar aims and forge new links with educational establishments and local companies to increase opportunities and secure wider recognition for people with learning disabilities. Continually strive in a variety of ways to raise the necessary funding, that provides us with the financial resources to fulfil our aims, achieve our goals and improve our service.
Our Statement of Values
Trustees The following Trustees were in office at 31 March 2006, and served throughout the year. Hemant Desai (Chair) Graham French (Treasurer/Secretary) Greg McCormick Malcolm Grant Brendan Byrne Marianne Leeson The Trustees constitute Directors of the Charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 1985 and Trustees of the Charity for the purposes of the Charities Act 1993. No Trustee received any remuneration or expenses in respect of their services during the year. Greg McCormick and Hemant Desai retire in accordance with Article 29 of the Articles of Association and offer themselves for re-election at the Annual General Meeting. The Trustees, Director, and the Secretary form part of the Executive Committee. In order to provide for better communication and greater accountability, the Chairs of all the groups, which make up the Community Link-Up family are invited to join the Executive Committee as ex-officio members. The following, except where shown, have served throughout the year: Hannah Loveday Kay Killestein (Friends for Friends) Sheila O'Brien (Friends for Friends) The Executive Committee meets bi-monthly. At the meeting, reports are distributed from the principal officers of the charity. The committee discuss and review the charity's general progress and activities and current financial position. The Director, Mike Coker, is responsible of the day to day management of the charity as delegated by the charity's Trustees. The charity adopts a voting system for the recruitment and appointment of new Trustees. Prior to appointment, the new members have to complete a training programme and attend meetings as observers. They will be given an induction pack and have a meeting with the Director and other Trustees.
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Link Up is part of Community Link-Up - Registered Charity No. 1060481 |
