Our AGM took place on May 21st. We invited all our service users and dignitaries and others who have kindly supported us.
The chair, the Rev. Paul Martin gave his overall report highlighting our many achievements throughout the year.
Some of these were the number of mens and ladies English classes we held, the 7,500 hot meals prepared by us on site, the food and toiletries we distribute, the clothes, prams, pushchairs, bicycles, Hoovers etc we distribute, our sessional barber. our art classes, our drama classes, our bicycle maintenance courses, our many external trips and many other achievements.
He thanked all our volunteers [ we are all volunteers except our lovely caseworker ] and finished by reminding the audience that absolutely everything is free to our service users.
There followed reports by our Secretary and Treasurer.
Lastly, our caseworker gave her report telling us that she and her triage team had had 1,132 visits this year, an increase of 10%. Visits are classified as individual visits and family members we help are not included in these figures, so in fact our help is greater than the bare figures. She also told of the support we give on non drop-in days, such as representing clients at outside tribunals, accompanying them to solicitors, doctors, hospitals, visiting them in detention centres and paying their fares to Home Office appointments.
We finished with entertainment from Irina, one of our asylum seeker volunteers, singing songs from her country.
The AGM ended with our usual spread of sandwiches, snacks and cakes all supplied by our lovely volunteers.
