Annual Community Interest Company Activities & Community Benefit Report Reporting Period: 1 October 2023 – 30 September 2024 1. Overview During the reporting period from 1 October 2023 to 30 September 2024, People Together CIC continued to operate for the benefit of individuals and families experiencing disadvantage, with particular support provided to members of the Roma and migrant communities. The organisation's activities focused on responding to practical needs affecting individuals' and families' wellbeing, stability and ability to participate fully within their communities. Our work during the year centred particularly on food poverty and household hardship, advocacy, access to public services, housing, education, employment and family support. 2. Tackling Food Poverty and Household Hardship A significant area of activity during the year was supporting families experiencing food insecurity and financial hardship. People Together CIC provided food parcels to families in need, helping households experiencing difficulties in meeting essential day-to-day food requirements. This practical assistance provided immediate support while also creating opportunities for the organisation to identify other circumstances affecting families and, where appropriate, connect them with additional services and longer-term support. 3. Advocacy and Community Support People Together CIC provided advocacy and practical support to individuals and families, particularly those from Roma and migrant backgrounds who experienced difficulties understanding or navigating systems and services. Support included helping individuals understand available services, identify appropriate routes for assistance and communicate with relevant organisations. The principal areas of support included: Housing – helping individuals identify appropriate housing support and access relevant services. Education – supporting families in navigating educational matters and identifying suitable education and training opportunities. Employment – helping individuals access information and services relating to employment and progression. Family Support – providing practical advocacy and signposting for families experiencing difficulties affecting family stability and wellbeing. Court and Legal-Related Difficulties – supporting and signposting families experiencing family-related difficulties involving court proceedings, while referring matters requiring specialist or regulated advice to appropriate services. Access to Public Services – assisting individuals to understand and engage with relevant public and community services. 4. Referrals and Partnership Working People Together CIC recognised that effective community support requires collaboration and that not every need can or should be addressed by one organisation. Where individuals required specialist assistance, referrals and signposting were made to trusted partner organisations, community services and appropriate public services. Rather than simply making a referral and ending involvement, the organisation sought, where appropriate and with the individual's engagement, to provide ongoing weekly follow-up support. This helped individuals remain engaged with the services to which they had been referred and provided opportunities to identify whether further practical support or signposting was required. 5. Community Benefit The activities undertaken during the reporting year were intended to provide community benefit by: reducing the immediate effects of food poverty; supporting families experiencing financial and social disadvantage; improving access to appropriate public and community services; reducing barriers experienced by Roma and migrant families when navigating unfamiliar systems; promoting greater independence and confidence; helping families access housing, education, employment and wider support; supporting individuals to remain engaged with services following referral; and strengthening connections between disadvantaged communities and organisations able to provide specialist assistance. The organisation's approach was based on providing practical support while also helping people develop greater confidence and understanding in accessing services for themselves. 6. Approach to Inclusion and Integration People Together CIC sought to provide an accessible and welcoming service that recognised the additional barriers that may be experienced by migrant and Roma communities, including language, unfamiliarity with systems, social isolation and difficulty knowing where to obtain reliable assistance. The organisation's work therefore combined practical assistance, advocacy, signposting, referral and follow-up support. This approach helped People Together CIC respond not simply to an immediate presenting problem, but to consider the wider circumstances affecting an individual or family. 7. Outcomes and Learning The reporting period reinforced the importance of trusted community-based support and continued follow-up. Our experience demonstrated that individuals facing multiple difficulties may require more than information or a single referral. Continued engagement can help individuals understand what is expected of them, remain connected with appropriate services and identify further barriers before these become more serious. The organisation also identified the value of continuing to strengthen relationships with trusted community organisations and public services so that individuals can be referred efficiently to organisations with the appropriate expertise. 8. Continuing Community Purpose People Together CIC remains committed to operating for community benefit while developing a sustainable social enterprise model capable of supporting its work over the longer term. Learning from the activities undertaken during this reporting period will inform the continued development of services addressing health and wellbeing, family stability, food insecurity, community integration, education, employment and advocacy. The organisation will continue to seek opportunities to work collaboratively with other organisations and public services, while ensuring its activities remain responsive to the practical needs identified within the communities it serves.

Stakeholder consultation was carried out through direct engagement with service users, families, community members and partner organisations. People Together CIC listened to individuals to identify their immediate needs, including food poverty, housing, education, employment and family support. Where specialist assistance was required, referrals and signposting were made to trusted community organisations and relevant public services. Follow-up contact was maintained where appropriate to understand progress, identify any continuing barriers and ensure service users were able to access the support required.

No remuneration was received

No transfer of assets other than for full consideration