The Trust has four charitable purposes, as formally set out within the Company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association:
· the promotion of volunteering in the community of Harpenden;
· the promotion of civic responsibility and good citizenship amongst the youth of Harpenden;
· the relief of residents of Harpenden either individually or collectively who are in need by reason of their youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other social and economic disadvantage by:
o the provision of grants of money;
o the provision of items;
o the payment for, and/or provision of services;
o other such means as will address their needs; and
· to promote for the benefit of the residents of Harpenden the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure-time occupation of individuals who have the need for such facilities by reason of their youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances or for the public at large in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving the life of the said residents.
The Board has resolved that all references to “Harpenden” mean the postal district of Harpenden and its immediate surroundings.
SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY
The story of the Harpenden Trust has for over 70 years been one of good neighbourliness. Harpenden as a town has, within its community, both the needy and the well off. “One could help the other” was at the heart of our founding principles, and “Funded by Harpenden people, managed by Harpenden people to benefit Harpenden people” continues to be our mantra.
RESPONDING TO THE COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
During the last year, the Harpenden Trust continued to play a major role in supporting the successful vaccination programme at the Harpenden Public Halls. The Harpenden Health Primary Care Network (“HHPCN”), a collaborative effort between the town's three GP practices: Davenport House Surgery, The Village Surgery and Elms Medical Practice, ran the programme. Over 300 Harpenden Trust volunteers ensured that all those attending the Vaccination Centre received a warm welcome, efficient check-in and clear signposting through the Centre, ensuring a safe environment was maintained at all times. Over the course of 15 months, the centre administered over 60,000 COVID-19 vaccines to patients aged between 5 and 105. Although the Centre officially closed at the end of March 2022, we continue to support the Hertfordshire Community Trust with vaccination services now based at the Salvation Army in the centre of town.
THE ACTIVITIES OF THE TRUST
Beyond the pandemic, the main activities of the Trust which form the strategy for the Trust to achieve its charitable purposes continue to span three core areas:
The Care Fund
During the period between April 2021 and March 2022 the Harpenden Trust Care Fund offered support for individuals, families and young people within Harpenden. Much of the work of the Care Fund is confidential. It relies heavily on the funds raised by the Harpenden Trust Annual Appeal. Our normal programme of events and support has now returned to normal after a very difficult previous year.
The Care Fund continues to provide:
Home Visitors calling, sometimes by telephone, on those in need and arranging confidential help, from funding utility bills, to providing food or clothing vouchers or assisting with the supply of basic white goods.
One area that has seen a dramatic increase in activity and type of help given has been our befriending team with now in excess of 90 clients. In response to the expansion of befriending and the introduction of wellbeing friends we have restructured these services under the single heading of Wellbeing. In addition to befrienders, we now have 12 wellbeing friends. These are offering a socialised service requested by social prescribers via the clients GP. To support Wellbeing in Harpenden we have relaunched the Memory Lane Cafe for people living with dementia run in conjunction with the Town Council and Salvation Army. Frazzled Cafe funded by Harpenden Trust was also launched in March 2022. To support Wellbeing we have funded an outreach worker from Mind in mid Herts to organise wellbeing events.
Harpenden Seniors have again enjoyed outings with two major outings taking place in 2021, one to Westcliff on sea and the other a boat trip on the River Ouse, as well as several mini-outings in 2022 to the Dunstable Downs Cafe. The Trust has also been able to provide those who might be lonely or housebound over Christmas with a Christmas food parcel. Seniors on a low pension have been supported by a utility grant.
Supporting young people whose families feel unable to meet the cost of school uniforms or essential school trips has continued. We have also been able to help some of our Home Visits families with an outing to a theme park this year. Our twice a week Seniors Coffee Mornings are now in full swing having resumed after the pandemic. With the many activities being run by the Care Fund we have introduced a Transport Team to help clients get to the many Harpenden Trust events.
We were very pleased this year to be nominated as a recipient of the Town Mayor’s fundraising. We were able to organise a quiz night, wine tasting evenings and attended several Farmers Markets.
A special thanks this year to our Office Team who have kept the Harpenden Trust office running throughout the pandemic every weekday morning.
The Community Fund
The Harpenden Trust Community Fund provides support for community schemes and projects in the Harpenden area from a substantial capital donation received in 2008 from the Abbeyfield (Harpenden) Society Limited. Since that time it has made over 150 grants to local organisations – from schools, youth and sports clubs; to choirs, churches and charities – in support of their projects.
The Community Fund looks to make grants on condition that these are for defined projects or specific purposes, rather than funding regular operating costs, although it considers all applications and is able to help cover temporary funding gaps that can arise in austere times. As always, to decide between different applications can be a challenging task, but the Community Fund sets out to support specific projects which will benefit all sectors of the community; young, old, disabled, sporting, educational.
The ongoing problem of Covid has seen projects continue to be delayed although, as restrictions start to relax, many are now starting to come to fruition. The Community Fund budget for the year was fully utilised. We were able to assist a number of schools: Kinsbourne Common Nursery, Manland Primary, Lea Primary, St Dominic’s Primary and High Beeches Primary for provision of both learning and playground facilities reflecting the continuing pressure on school capital budgets.
Children have also been supported with a grant provided to Hornbeam Wood Hedgehog Sanctuary for toilet facilities to compliment the provision of an outside shelter erected in the previous year with the help of the Community Fund. Harpenden Rovers Junior Football Club has continued to grow in numbers and this has been helped by the provision of funds for additional kit and equipment as well as a professional training resource. Funding has been provided for the Harpenden Plus project which provided support to children in Harpenden schools that are experiencing mental health issues. Support has also been given to the Harpenden Lions who have organised a Life Skills Programme for delivery in Roundwood Park and Sir John Lawes schools.
The residents of Willow Court Care Home have also benefitted by their external gazebo being repaired and internal decorations completed providing a much-improved environment for residents. Residents have also benefitted from another project assisted by the Community Fund - Sing From the Heart - which has provided online musical entertainment. Mencap's residential home in Harpenden has also been helped with money to improve their internet service which is so important for residents.
Finally, the year has seen the completion of major projects funded from previous years budgets - the Rothamsted Playpark, Batford Springs Boardwalk and Reed Fen and the Foodbank Shed at the Salvation Army hall in Harpenden Town Centre. All these projects have significantly benefitted the residents of Harpenden.
Since the creation of the Community Fund in 2008, over £900,000 has now been given to local organisations.
VOLUNTEERS
The Trust operates almost exclusively on a volunteer basis and is most fortunate to have had the services of over 500 unpaid volunteers during the course of the year. The Trust would not function without the generosity of time donated by so many dedicated local people.
To put this into some perspective, without the enthusiasm, drive, professionalism and commitment of all the Trust’s volunteers, the Trust would not this year have:
· made 569 telephone “home visits” and so enabled families to be assisted by financial and other means, also assisted 39 residents with furniture needs;
· ensured that 72 people received help with their utility bills;
· enabled 150 residents to receive Christmas parcels;
· provided an expanded befriending service for 92 residents;
· delivered c.10,000 Christmas Appeal envelopes in 370 roads, received over 3,600 donations involving 250 Area Organisers, collectors and volunteers counting the collections;
· helped with the provision of wheelchairs on short term loan for 32 residents.
· organised a family outing for 43 home visits clients with children.
· organised 2 full day outings and tea party for 44 senior residents.
· launched the Harpenden Wellbeing Hub in partnership with the Harpenden PCN for 80 residents.
· Assisted 78 pupils with school trips.
The Trustees thank every one of the Trust’s volunteers who give so generously of their time and skills. Their enthusiasm and dedication is much appreciated by everyone especially this year working under some very challenging circumstances.
(For the year ending 31 March 2022)
15 August 2022
