Working Actively To Change Hillfields Limited

Funding Landscape Since leaving the European Union, and losing the associated funding, the charity sector's funding landscape has drastically changed. Grants applications are more competitive and oversubscribed. There is a shortage of multi-year grants available, and small pots of funding cannot comfortably sustain the running of the centre. Many funders want new projects or additional services which makes it difficult to sustain work that is already taking place. Achievements and Performance "At the beginning of 2025, WATCH began receiving £40K in funding from the Department of Work and Pensions to run short radio training courses (Skillz with Hillz) for young people between the ages of 18 - 24 who are claiming Universal Credit. This funding runs for 1 year and is due to end in January 2025. The project is on target with numbers and has had 5 outcomes where participants have started education or employment. Projects that have continued throughout 2024 and 2025 have been the Coventry Community Energy Champions (CCEC), funded through the Energy Saving Trust (£96k) and Digital Divide (£112k) funded through the West Midlands Combined Authority. Both projects were new areas of work for WATCH and have been received well by service users. Our National Lottery Community Fund employment project (£261k), with support workers funded by the 29 May 1961 Trust (£25K), has also continued and is exceeding targets. All three of these projects are due to come to an end in 2026. WATCH secured funding (£6.4k) from Wooden Spoon to support improvements to Hillz FM community radio. The funding paid for a new radio transmitter and an upgrade of equipment in our pre-record studio. The transmitter should last the station a minimum of 10 years, has additional features and has improved the quality of the output. With a renovated pre-record studio, staff have been exploring ways to utilise it to generate more income. WATCH secured four grants (from Eveson Trust, Ironmongers Company, Anton Jurgens and Baron Davenport) to sustain the children and young people project for an additional year. WATCH continued to deliver the city council's Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF) for the 5th year in a row, providing holiday clubs for children over Easter, summer and Christmas. During the summer of 2024, WATCH repeated the ""Hillfields-by-the-Sea"" trip for the 4th year running, taking 18 children and their families to Skegness for the day." Financial Review Trustees make every effort to keep the reserves of the charity at a minimum level equal to three months operating costs to provide financial stability, and recommended good practice. The charity has generated a surplus this year,but projects a deficit next year, and we plan to use our free reserves over the next two years to sustain our services to the community. Future Plans "WATCH has been recruiting for new trustees to join the board who can bring skills and experience from different areas. The addition of new members will diversify the board and support the charity to develop and grow going forward. As we continue through 2025 and into 2026, WATCH plans to reapply to the National Lottery Community Foundation to continue supporting 16 - 30 year olds with support in accessing education, training and employment. WATCH is also looking to reapply to the Energy Savings Trust to continue and expand the CCEC project, delivering in an additional location in the city as well as in Hillfields. In early 2026, WATCH will be reapplying to BBC Children in Need for 3 years of funding to sustain the children and young peoples project which consists of open access after school clubs and youth radio training. In addition to this, the charity is looking to create a journalism hub for young people to provide education and training in journalism, podcasting, radio and production. " Related Parties During the year the organisation received various services from trustees as follows: Isiah Williams - £1489 Kate Hills - £2451 Simon Dickinson - £10705 There were no amounts outstanding at 31st March 2025. Risk Management Financial, and other work related risk assessments, including health, and fire safety are assessed, and reviewed annually. Objectives and Activities The objectives for which the company was established are; to secure, co-ordinate and manage resources for the social, economic and environmental improvement of the Hillfields area of Coventry for the benefit of people living and working in the area.