LMT Roundup

Hi everyone,

Here’s a run-down of some of the news and issues discussed at last week’s LMT meeting…

FACILITIES

There is a brand new menu set to be launched, with the exciting return of the popular salad bar!

CARE

We are currently still operating at four beds, and offering respite on a month-by-month basis. The nurse recruitment is back on and we’re hopeful to reach more nurses and clinical support workers.
LifeNoW charity has now closed down, and the trustees have transferred us the remaining funds which are being ring-fenced for young people services in the future.

FINANCE AND FUNDRAISING

The last 2 months have been steady across income and retail and our investments are doing well.
Fundraising finished the 2023/24 year strongly, bringing in £3.2m, which was £300k over budget.
We are recruiting a Fundraising Manager to run the Community and Events Fundraising team under Mick Croskery’s leadership.
Our investments have performed well over the last three months to boost reserves.
We have finished the extended financial year to April at £37,000 operating surplus which is great news as we budgeted a deficit.

COMMS & MARKETING

Our spring campaign ‘Daniella’s Story’ will be hitting the doorsteps of our donors in late May, and it’s a moving story about how we have supported Daniella through a variety of Derian services – she has a unique story as she’s used our bereavement services with Arthur, and continues to access our respite service with his twin, Tommy.
We had the privilege of being shown the first draft of The Little Things yesterday, in its raw two-hour form. There’s still some work to be done, but we’re confident that the documentary is going to make a massive impact.

RETAIL

Retail has seen six months of positive figures, and the refits of Horwich, Preston and Blackburn have helped this along. We’ve had some positive feedback and increased sales already.
Retail finished the 2023/24 year in a strong position. In the last six months we have reversed the position from a predicted loss to one where we are set to make a profit in the coming year. This is a testament to the hard work of everyone involved.

GENERAL

SMI has now been updated with everyone’s holidays and bank holidays, which are now merged as one.
If anyone would like to put themselves forward as a CQC Champion or a fire marshal, please speak with Anthony Mohammed and John Boe respectively.

RECRUITMENT

There’s lots of recruitment happening at the moment which is very exciting, starting with our new Estates Maintenance Support Ken, who will be joining us on Monday, he will spend a lot of his time working in our gardens.
We’ve also got a new chef, Nicola, joining us in the next few weeks.
From the 6^th May, we’ll see seven members of new care team staff starting with us over a staggered three-week period.
Executive assistant to Catherine, Julie, will join us in June, and Catherine’s deputy, Bridget, will start with us on 20^th May.
We also look forward to welcoming two family engagement leads, Natalie and Ionie.