NORTH AVENUE YOUTH CENTRE

Minutes of Annual General Meeting held on
20 June 2018

Present: Rev Mark Meatcher; Trevor Andrews, Pete Bardwell, Sister Margaret, Sister Moira, Jane Humphreys, Rebecca Stanley, Peter Watchorn (all members of the Management Committee); 18 young people together with parents, volunteers, staff and guests

Apologies for absence: Cllr Lee Ashley, Martin Solder, Margaret Watchorn.

1. Welcome: Rev Mark Meatcher, Chairman of North Avenue Youth Centre Management Committee welcomed everyone to the meeting, and in particular thanked Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst DL, the Lord-Lieutenant of Essex, and Councillor Yvonne Spence, the Mayor of Chelmsford, for attending and presenting the awards.

2. Minutes and matters arising: The minutes of the AGM held on 21 June 2017 were approved and signed. There were no matters arising.

3. Annual Report & Accounts for 2017: The Rev Mark Meatcher noted that the Management Committee, as the trustees of the charity, had agreed the annual report and accounts for 2017. These had been filed with the Charity Commission and are available on their website http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities

The Annual Review, which had been given to everyone on arrival, summarised the activities during the year. Being able to open three nights a week had made a big difference to the range of activities NAYC could offer to young people. We now have 30-50 young people attending each week.

NAYC continues to be largely dependent on grant funding, with over £42,000 received in 2017 out of total income of nearly £50,000. Mark thanked Rachel Tufnell, our Fund-raiser, for her efforts, and also all our funders with particular recognition for Essex Youth Trust who continue to provide £16,000 each year. He was pleased to announce that Christ Church URC Chelmsford would also be providing core funding, of £10,000 a year, for the next three years.

4.  Introduction of appointed members of the Management Committee

North Avenue URC has the right to appoint two members. Mark introduced the Rev Ken Thom, minister of Kelvedon and Tiptree URCs, who has agreed to take over from Mark as chairman directly. The second church representative will be Maria Lee who from 1 July will be the Church Related Community Worker for North Avenue URC and for Church of Our Saviour LEP, Chelmer Village.

Essex Youth Trust has the right to appoint one member. This will continue to be Martin Solder, Director of Essex Boys and Girls Clubs.

5. Election of members of the Management Committee: Those standing for election were:

·        Trevor Andrews

·        Councillor Lee Ashley

·        Peter Bardwell

·        Gabrielle Horton (known as Sister Margaret)

·        Jane Humphreys (willing to continue as Hon. Treasurer)

·        Moira O’Sullivan (known as Sister Moira)

·        Rebecca Stanley – Essex Boys and Girls Clubs

·        Margaret Watchorn (willing to serve as Hon. Secretary)

All those named were unanimously elected to the Management Committee for the year ahead.

The Chairman thanked Peter Watchorn who had decided to step down from the Management Committee. Peter’s role as Vice Chair would now be taken by Martin Solder.

The Chairman explained that Nicola Grieves, Children’s and Youth Development Officer for Eastern Synod of the URC, would continue in her role as Safeguarding Officer for NAYC and would attend meetings of the Management Committee in that capacity (but no longer as a trustee). Sarah Milford would also attend meetings as a representative of Essex County Youth Service but no longer be a trustee.

The Chairman said that the Management Committee were delighted that the young people proposed that they should be represented by Lewis Chapman. This was agreed by the meeting (Lewis will not be a trustee).

6. There being no further business the Chairman declared the AGM closed.

After the formal meeting, the Youth Centre Manager, Charlie Newton, showed two videos of activities which the young people have enjoyed. She then invited the Lord Lieutenant and the Mayor to present the awards, and to address the young people and adults present.

The Chairman presented gifts to Ruth Hughes who was retiring as administrator, and thanked her for all her work for NAYC since before it opened in 2000.

Peter Watchorn, retiring Vice Chairman, thanked Mark for all he had done for NAYC in his nearly three years as chairman. He wished him well in his move to new pastorates in Enfield. The young people gave Mark a special banner which they had made to show their appreciation.