“ABILITY” ANNUAL REPORT 2006 Hull and East Yorkshire "Ability" Trustees 2006-2007 Simon Wright Chairman Kevin Driscoll Secretary Kevin Driscoll Treasurer Ella Suto Trustee Denise Smith Trustee Chris Tripp Trustee Honor Pallant Trustee Bryan Ellis Trustee Joy Foster Trustee Hull and East Yorkshire "Ability" Executive Group 2006-2007 Simon Wright Chair Kevin Driscoll Mal Pearson HULL AND EAST YORKSHIRE "ABILITY" A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM OUR OUTGOING CHAIR CINDY CLARK A very warm introduction to Ability’s Annual Report. Annual Report – August 2005 – July 2006 Hull and East Yorkshire Ability It seems no time at all since I was writing the report for 2005 – 06. Some would say a sign of ‘maturing’ years, as for me it’s more an indication of a busy year, lack of time and too many things to do!!! Which is why, as indicated at the last AGM, I will be standing down this year so that I can move into a new stage of my life and embark on ‘other’ things. The achievement of the consolidation of the Charity, referred to in the last Annual Report has I feel led us quite naturally into a period of stability. The work associated in running Projects is now much more co-ordinated and time has been built in for the work to be planned and managed better. In terms of staffing however, this year has seen some significant changes. Mike Salt left Ability at the end of December for pastures new. Trustees took this opportunity to re-evaluate the role of the Project Co-ordinator as well as that of the Finance and ICT Worker. This enabled us to re-define the requirements of these posts. The results of these discussions were to appoint a Project Manager to replace Mike and to use the skills of Fiona Worsdall more effectively in a new Projects Co-ordinator role, increasing the hours to 30 per week. Discussions with the Big Lottery led to agreement of these changes. I was pleased to welcome Mal Pearson, who joined the Team in January coming to us from a business background. Mal felt that the role of the Finance and ICT Worker could be condensed into one day a week by redesigning the finance spreadsheet. Caroline Wegrezyn followed in February as the new and very experienced Finance Worker. At the end of May this year Sue Alden left Ability for other work in the voluntary sector and Helen Peel joined us. This new Team is working really well together. They are enthusiastic, flexible and creative and I know that they will be the hub of the developments that Mal is keen to implement over the next 5 years. As people will be aware, the work of the Team is funded through what is now the Big Lottery. This will come to an end on 30th November 2006. A new bid has been submitted and we are currently waiting to here the outcome. If we are successful the work of the charity will continue to grow and develop until 2011, during which time work can be undertaken to ensure that the Charity continues indefinitely. Another change that Trustees have agreed to implement is that: - As from the Annual General Meeting the Charity becomes a Company Limited by Guarantee. Trustees invited an accountant to a meeting on the 2nd March 2006 to explore the implications of such a move and all those present were in favour of taking a Trustees vote on the issue. An extra-ordinary meeting took place on the 20th March 2006 and a vote took place with a unanimous decision in favour of the change. The rationale behind this move is really a safeguard for Trustees, who give their own time to manage the Charity but who are currently personally liable for all of the Charity activities. As a Co. Ltd. by Guarantee Trustee liability would be £1.00 only. The only real implications of this change are that the Trustees would become Directors and there would only need to be 2 officers. Instead of the current Chair, Treasurer and Secretary there would be a Director and a Company Secretary. Kevin Driscoll has already agreed to take on the role of Company Secretary and my successor will become the Director. Joining Simon Wright as new Trustees I have been pleased to welcome the following new people: Honor Pallant; Bryan Ellis; Joy Foster; This has brought the total number of Trustees to 10, with another application pending. As ever my thanks go to them for their commitment to the work of Ability. The Executive Group, who up until January was meeting on a monthly basis, has not met since January 2006. It was agreed that the group would only be re-convened if there was specific work to be undertaken between Trustee Meetings. The office is now well established at Centre 88. The move has been a good one and the extra space much appreciated, although we may discontinue to rent the upstairs room, as it is not used regularly. I would like to thank all those who have contributed over the years (and it is almost 10 years since the idea of Ability was born) to the development of Ability. The Charity would not be where it is today without the many people, groups and organisations who have shaped its identity. A successful outcome to the funding bid would be great as I would feel that I would be handing over at a time when the future is positive with new people, new ideas and even more importantly more opportunities for children, young people and adults with disabilities. Cindy Clark Chairperson August 2006. Project Manager’s Report It has certainly been an exiting time for me during the whole of 2006. As the new project manager at Ability I knew I had my work cut out because there was such a lot going on already. Our project portfolio is now growing even more which is enabling greater access for all people with disabilities to much needed provision. My transition from a management roll within a large Plc to project manager for Ability was a real step-change in my life. This has been a completely worthwhile and positive task to perform and I have learned new skills and met some delightful people in this sector of our community. I am so lucky because I have the best and most dynamic core team anyone could wish for with the experience and skills necessary to deliver projects to excellent effect. As always, everything we do is wholly client-led. This approach just has too many advantages and positive outcomes to consider doing anything else. All of us within Ability and all group users and partners on all the projects work together as equals. That’s why… Together Everyone Achieves More Our goals for the future are simple; we grow and build on the successes of the past. Where there is an identified need for provision within the parameters set by the trustees we will engage our skills in writing funding bids, planning the logistics and working in harness with other partner organisations to produce quality outcomes which meet these needs. Captain Kirk said “Boldly going where no one has gone before” well we’re not quite that adventurous, Hull and East Yorkshire will have to do, at least for the time being but keep watching! To that end we are again branching out into East Yorkshire with a brand new long term project in Bridlington. This will be a leisure and learning provision for 13-18 year olds within the town. It will be modulated on the success of RISC-Hull presently running at the Children’s Centre on Monday evenings. We are also creating a RISC-2 in Hull for the older members who reach 19. This will be a more mature provision for 19-25 year olds. I’m sure they will all be delighted to get away from the Children’s Centre and into an adult setting. It’s all part of moving on. We also want to bring the whole disability issue into the public arena. We want everyone to realise that no-one chooses to have a disability or illness that causes a disability. These really are within reach of anyone of us. So, onwards we go. Breaking down barriers, moving forwards and never looking back! Mal Pearson Project Manager Projects Coordinator’s Report RISC A year on and the RISC group is still going strong!! There are some new faces in the group, and sadly we have had to say bye to a few friends. The year has seen RISC get involved in a mass of varied and exciting new projects. After their 4 day residential trip to London, the group enjoyed story telling and craft workshops. They then started work on their contribution to Creative Voice with City Arts. The group wrote and produced the play as well as making all their own costumes and props for their, “I Can Do Anything” drama piece. It went down a storm, and received the loudest applause in the theatre at the Horncastle building. RISC have also enjoyed their second residential. A two day fun packed weekend saw the members (and staff) in shoppers paradise – the Trafford Centre, Manchester and then go on Safari to Knowsley Animal Park. There were 16 young people that squeezed every last minute out of the weekend – fun was had by all! RISC have also been an invaluable fountain of knowledge, with members speaking at a Consortium Solutions conference focusing on work aspirations. They have also been the focus group for our revolutionary complaints booklet, and forming the basis of the RISC 2 research. I would also like to say a big thank you to Staff, volunteers, Hull Youth Service, RAPP and all parents and carers for their continual hard work and support of this fantastic project. Soundability This is Ability’s new and exciting music project. Funded by National Foundation for Youth Music, it sees travelling music makers visit organisations and deliver inclusive music workshops. All participating groups are working towards a live performance and / or a track or two on a C.D. special recording. It is set to run over the next 15 months. As well as allowing children and young people with disabilities to express themselves through music, it also aims to train a further 4 community music makers. This project has seen strengthening bonds with St Anne’s Community School, Kings Mill School, Hull Libraries and Tweendykes Special School. It is also developing relationships with Tibury and Ganton School. We are also working with organisations that we haven’t previously worked with; Just 4 Kidz, Pock Stars and Children & Family Action – which is great news, and we hope to work with more organisations in the future. This will allow us to keep expanding music projects that Ability steers, and eventually get the whole county singing!! “Hull’s Famous 4 …” After the success of The Forgotten City, many organisations were calling for a second heritage project, to continue the motivation and passion the groups have shown. Hull’s Famous 4 project is underway, with exhibitions currently displayed in Centre 88. We again exceeded our target number of participating organisations, and have a total of 12 groups from Hull and the east riding of Yorkshire taking part. The groups have a choice of 4 categories; Famous people from Hull, Trade, Transport and Fishing. Groups are busy working on their chosen outcome, either a play, a film, a board game, a web site, a puppet show or an exhibition. We are all looking forward to the end of project party at the Freedom Centre. We are also going to have an award ceremony with a special guest. Samba Concert Earlier this year, Ability was asked to help special schools to take part with some additional workshops for a Samba Concert. The concert was organised by the East Riding, and was a celebration of the inclusive nature of education in the East Riding. Ability funded additional workshops for St Anne’s, kingsmill and Riverside School so that they were ready for the performances in July. Musical performances were enhanced by traditional styled masks and costumes. Everyone taking part had a blast!!! Sensory Equipment Recently, Ability have wanted to invest in sensory equipment. I volunteered to raise the funds, but did not realise what I was getting myself into!! An unforgettable fund raising activity surfaced – doing a world record breaking abseil off the top of the Humber Bridge towers!! I jumped at the chance – thinking this really is a once in a life time opportunity. The Ability team were really supportive helping raise the sponsorship money. I also went to Hull Paragon Rotary Club to do a presentation on Ability and the abseil, and managed to raise a further £300. We will soon be purchasing our first kit, and going into special schools shortly. Princes Quay Our third annual Princes Quay event was fantastic. It was opened by BBC Look North’s Peter Levey who kindly agreed to give his time and get our special day off to a great start. 8 special and 2 mainstream schools gave fantastic performances of dance, drama songs. The passing shoppers gave great support which made the delighted faces of the children light up even brighter. Gateway Gamelan Gateway Gamelon was a fantastic musical success, and now fully complete. This is just one of the many partnership projects which strengthened still further our bonds with Mencap. Looking forward to the next one already! Widget Hull & East Yorkshire Ability is paving the way in Hull for the use of software known as Widget. This cleaver piece of kit allows us to type text, and the picture ions automatically appear. We are currently using this to modify evaluation forms, and publicity. We are also involved in a focus group working with the LIT group in access voluntary organisations complaints procedures, and giving learn guidelines to users and members that its ok to complain!! RISC-2 Is an organically growing project which is born from RISC-Hull. Children and young people who reach 19 have to leave RISC but are now able to go directly into a new and more mature project which is taylor made for young adults. It’s main aims are to enhance self confidence and build life and learning skills which will enable young people with disabilities to maximise their life chances. HELPP This team is just fantastic. Everyone at the HELPP group gets a real buzz from working with the children on Saturday mornings. Our partnership with LAFSS enables us to make this a fantastic program and offers play and inclusion to many young children attending the group at the Children’s Centre. Our HELPP group is Ofsted registered which I think reflects the hard work and dedication of the whole team. What it’s like being the Admin Worker The month May is named after the Greek goddess, Maia and is the month when flowers emerge and crops begin to sprout. Before the name May it was called Maias, Mayes or Mai, however in 1430 the month was renamed to May and is the month I joined Ability. I support Ability as the Administration Support Officer; however I am incorporated into other areas with the help, guidance and support of the Projects Co – Ordinator and Project Manager. Having never worked for an organisation with the dedication, determination, ambition and enthusiasm to promote the positives about disabilities in children, young people and adults, I have found myself changing and developing my self awareness. My days are spent creating new documents, developing effective administration systems, supporting and contributing to projects and many other administration tasks. I give my full support to Mal and Fiona and I aim to complete any tasks or challenges they present to me. I was privileged to be offered the opportunity to take an active part at the Knowsley Safari park residential trip and had the opportunity to chaperon a RISC member. Upon completion of the trip, you can see why Ability has a purpose in Hull and The East Riding of Yorkshire and developing their services will benefit areas and develop individual’s potential. Ability aims to attain everyone’s potential with regular meetings to discuss projects, ideas and future developments. 100% is contributed by the whole team and I look forward to the future with great optimism and growing and building my skills and abilities with the organisation. Helen Peel Admin Worker