Board Update – Q1 – Dated: August 2024
Annual Accounts
The Board Reviewed the annual accounts and report in preparation for the AGM and WCT’s annual presentation at the communities committee meeting. WCT have seen an increase of 1,923 direct participants from 2023 to 3373 in 2024.
DAWN – Domestic Abuse Support Service – End of Contracts March 2025
Contract Renewal Impact Report presented to the board. These scenarios have looked at the likelihood of renewal of current contracts, new opportunities pursued, financial and social impact. Independent Assessment of the service was responded to by 88 clients and referral partners with an outstanding assessment of the service offered.
Click here to read the executive summary
Click here to read the full report
Dawn – 6 Month Continuity from Reserves
The Board agreed to utilise some reserves to ensure stability of Dawn whilst waiting for the outcome of contract continuity. This is to focus on the retention of expertise to expedite new contract implementation or required capacity in the event of closure. This funding will be superseded if any contract if obtained.
Staff Survey and Staff Conference
2024 Staff Survey has been conducted and analysed. Please see the attached document ‘F&R – Staff Survey 2024”
There was high level of participation in the staff Survey (75%) and overall findings are good (minimum 80% high positive across all categories). Areas that are weaker (80-50% positive) are around organisation wide communication and development opportunities. We have compiled this against the previous 3 years survey data and found there is an improvement across all areas.
- 9 out of 13 questions are more positive than last year
- 12 out of 13 are more positive than 2020 & 2021
WCT Staff Conference took place at the Granary. In the morning business updates were presented by the project managers. The afternoon focused on ‘Our Understanding of Asset Based Community Development (ABCD)’. Overall the day got a 4.8 out of 5 rating. Catering got the highest 4.9 rating and was provided in house by Sharon Amos.
Community Catalyst Development Worker
Approval to seek funding for Community Catalyst role to support local Community Groups access funding and advice in setting up or sustaining their groups or activities in partnership with Worcester City Council.
Suicide Prevention
We are seeing Regular Suicide Disclosure across the services, which are centrally logged. We have increased training in mood masters, mental health first aid and in house support in our suicide disclosure process for staff.
Building Block 1 – Headlease – Sublease
There have been some delays due to a backlog of legal activity at Worcester City Council and Worcestershire County Council, this is now moving forward. There have been issues with historic registrations from 2012 and 2015, relating to the land. This was identified by our solicitors and has been addressed by relevant parties.
Horizon Annex – STARS Dementia Day Centre
STARS have handed in their notice for their booking in the Horizon Annex. They were a significant booker, but we will use this as an opportunity to explore an expansion of the use of this space to more than one community client to multiple activities inc. our Horizon youth delivery.
Risk Assessment – Violent Incidents / Riots – Hubs / Services
Update across all projects and hubs in response to the national riots and violent attacks in Southport. Preparation for Martyn’s Law, which will affect all hubs as Standard Tier venues.
Charity Subsidiaries
Exploration of possible legal structures to encourage to make projects more eligible for relevant funding to be discussed at Board Strategy Day.
Environmental Improvements
Grant Acquired to invest £67k in The Green Hub to install Solar and Storage and replace the remaining low efficiency lights to high efficiency LED with motion sensors. Estimate that this will reduce the Carbon output by 14%. Improvement of the heating system will have the biggest Carbon Impact but not eligible in current grants as not cost saving enough. WCT will apply for future grant for Warndon in Nov for improved heating and solar, which aims to have a 72% reduction in Carbon Output.
Hub Hire Campaign
Preparations underway for WCT Marketing Campaign to increase hub income implemented in Q3. Campaign Live – 4th October 24 – 29th November and will take place across social media, radio, in person and in print under the Slogan of ‘Hire a Hub – Transform Lives’.