Roar Pursuits CIC is an organisation founded on the aim of providing education, training and support to young care leavers to be able to build a stable independent life. We have been operating since 2017 and have supported to date 2400 young people and local children, as well as a further 4400 in the local community of all ages. This has taken many forms, advice, money management, laptops, phones, Wi-Fi sims (reducing IT poverty and increasing employment), assisting with court cases, furniture and home furnishing, removals and food donations since then. Currently our impact in terms of our cohort of care leavers, is still 100% of them are still in independent accommodation with no arrears, none are homeless or in temporary accommodation. In terms of employment, we are happy to say that 99% of the 1300 are in work or higher education (an increase of 1%), including some with severe disabilities who are in receipt of PIP. We have supported 15 volunteers back into the workforce, by helping coach them, write CVs with them and doing DBS checks on their behalf for free. This has doubled since the last period report. We continue to offer one to one support to those who need it. Even those 9 years in, still come back. Through our support with 3 local homeless individuals and families, including tents, food and support they are now homed. We added services of a cafe and community food bank in 2022, serving anyone who has need of it. Food supplies are gratefully donated by a large wholesaler who wishes to remain anonymous. The need currently has sadly again increased, the cost-of-living crisis, energy and cost of commuting, as prices continue to rise. With no end in sight. We are still seeing this trend is ongoing for the middle ground and we will strive in our commitment to our care leavers. They suffer the most in our community. However, what we are noticed most significantly it is mostly are those who are in work, bearing the brunt of the crisis, but due to working are unable to access any support or funding. It is main reason this report remains largely unchanged. Mainly teachers, part time school workers, nurses or those on part time wages who are single parents, both male and female. A major gap we see is in this group, who are working and therefore, unable to access benefits. This makes them far worse off than if they were out of work and on benefits. They are unable to get grants for heat, unable to access food banks and not able to pay bills or get support in any other way. As far as we know there is no other food bank where you can access food supplies for free without a voucher, cost or reason. The food is secured in a container and once a week when we get a delivery, they come with a bag to get what they wish. Whether that be canned goods, rice, bread, toiletries, nappies, baby milk, cleaning goods, sanitary products, beverages and of course sweet treats and crisps for their children. This is due to the donations, on calculation since 2022; we have had weekly deliveries of, on average 3 cages, each cost £1,000 (some more some less) – that is an excessive amount of support; over the 3 years it can be seen as £150,000 annually so overall with toys and extras well over half a million pounds. Not to mention the time of delivery drivers, mileage, and petrol. Also, the impact on the environment and waste which avoided landfill thus improving efficiency and the environmental impact of this waste. The support has been incredibly generous, and appreciated especially for the many families who have on average 3 to 4 children. For over three years now we have also delivered a weekly soup, sandwiches, chicken and rice, stews, hotdogs, as well as of course tea, coffee and a listening ear to those who would otherwise not have. This has been especially true for the local children in the area who come after school for a hot dog and a kick around in the garden of the premises. This then relieves parents of having to make a dinner and some hours of peace to chat whilst their children are kept occupied and looked after. As mentioned, this also affords us time to help guests and now over 40 volunteers with getting work, through experience and training. The benefits are the warm environment, the friendships formed, the children not going hungry and increased health and wellbeing. For which we were awarded from the Royal Borough of Greenwich at the prestigious business awards in 2024. In recognition of benefits to the community of the borough and the wellbeing outcomes we produced. The impact made for the wider community and our ability to serve them has been in improved education, health and wellbeing. Our impact has been huge in terms of the local community, because there is nothing in our area to compare with. Travel to other warm spaces or food, support or advice is at a minimum 30 mins away on public transport, which few can pay for. So a major benefit has been for guests to be able to do so in a welcoming space within easy walking distance. We were also able donate 14 cages of redbull to the cafe itself and local businesses who have supported us, in itself that’s around £10,000.00 of redbulls. The outcomes of the cafe setting enables guests to feel safe and relaxed, and therefore, more likely to open up about issues they are facing. We have a separate upstairs space used for one to one meetings. Sadly, the need for this has increased due to people who are finding out about our services via word of mouth and our volunteers. Although this has become an additional service to our original and fundamental services. We saw a gap and a need during which is continuing through the cost-of-living crisis; that of essential needs of people. Access to warmth, access to support but also food! For example, many of our older guests were going without food, so they could pay for pet food instead of feeding themselves. They were also due to mobility not going out so needed our service, as it is closest proximity in. They have made many friends and improved social isolation immensely, as they meet up themselves outside of the setting. This service has meant less stress, kept people employed and for many of the volunteers has vastly improved their mental health. For many the social inclusion for some who rarely used to leave their homes. It has also given routine and a reason to get out of bed for those who struggle with mental health and increased their interaction with others in their local community. In addition, here are few other things we did over the course of a year as we identified other needs. Due to the nature of our work, it can be hard to remember everything we do due to the necessary time which is difficult to quantify. Whether it be a late night phone call, or helping a young care leaver who had a miscarriage following a rape, we have sought and she has now got legal advice for compensation as the police destroyed the child’s remains in error. However, I believe the list below covers other areas of more individual impact, and this can be broken down; - Assisted in 7 cases of domestic abuse, with advice, care and signposting. - Helped 22 people to find permanent homes. - Gave support to 3 clients how sadly found themselves with cancer. - Gave training in how to use drugs to those who do, so they do so safely. - We developed a programme with one of my care leaver volunteers and signposted where appropriate. - Prevented 5 children who were at risk of going into care. - Offered grief counselling to 3 individuals. - Provided money management training to 22 individuals, as power point education of 6 sessions each, and a booklet to keep, showing ways to make and save money and recipes of over 40 dishes which can be frozen and bulk bought. Reducing waste and saving money and a few tips to make money! - We provided a further 3 laptops and 3 mobile phones, as well as free annual internet for 30 people. - The pet food helped our cafe users immensely, but we also donated to the Greenwich Wildlife Network, a local charity which rescues animals, we volunteered there also. - We assisted in 4 litter picks in the local area with Thamesmead West Community and the Royal Arsenal community, to assist wildlife and reduce the risk of fire. - Did 2 drug clean ups, collecting over 120 cannisters of NOS gas and a stashed amount of drug gummies found of over 90 bags of various flavours of THC. Which we destroyed. - Sadly we have had to call out 4 ambulances to a very vulnerable care leaver in Scotland who would call to advise she was having suicidal ideations, the 4th one did not arrive on time, and we lost her. Saving the best for last, my most favourite activity involved all the community cafe visitors and volunteers, for the first time this year we ran fun activities and special days. With new menus to suit occasions. For the first time we did a valentine’s day and a Mother’s Day celebration, this included baskets of gifts such as cosy blankets, lotions and bubble bath, mainly as many are single parents. We did a back to school event for the kids, with 100 colouring books and little toys. We held an Easter event, with games in the garden and of course plenty of chocolates for everyone. Perhaps the most fun was Halloween, where the kids made spooky pizzas, had halloweenies and lots of scary games and toys to take home. We capped off the year with Christmas celebrations, with gifts of socks, gloves, hats and blankets. As well as a carol of two. These events were joyous, inclusive, and just our way of celebrating all of our loyal guests.

The stakeholders of Roar Pursuits CIC are: The Co-operative foundation is continuing to support us through the £150,000 5 year unrestricted grant, with reporting and numerous meetings; both here and Manchester. They have provided a large level of support, as well as the now past outings for volunteers to various concerts, such as Bruce Springsteen, Lady Gaga and Lewis Capaldi. This has been a fantastic way to thank our volunteers, show gratitude and a well-deserved night off! They all loved these treats. We have worked with the Community teams and other local charities such as Brighter futures, Peabody, the West Thamesmead LGBTQ group, local markets and donations from a large retailer. This has been with meeting, training, sign posting and concurrent work with our cohorts, as well as job brokerage. We continue to work with the Mayor of London and the GLA – and attend regular meetings with the Peer outreach team. We are also still working with the London Youth. We have been invited to apply for funding as a grant holder and will be looking into upcoming grants. The National Lottery - we have been advised to resubmit for our funding to return. NHS CCG – consulted and there is a possibility for funding for care leavers to receive our training. We are working together to ensure smooth referral in for care leavers who suffer with mental health issues or with neurodivergent conditions. Royal Borough of Greenwich – as we are based in Greenwich and will be working with the leaving care teams, as well as councillors who are leading the council and children’s’ boards. They are now grant givers and have continued supported us with projects this year. Department for Education – consultations on national level with Helen Grimes and team; on how to improve outcomes and aspirations for young people leaving care. Peabody and the London community fund were partners in 3 grants – all of which have come to end this year, but we continue to use the local centre for the shop in West Thamesmead. Various VCSE sector charities; including the Her centre (domestic abuse), time to talk (mental health), CGL (addictions), WSUP Woolwich (homeless), De Paul (supported housing), Neurolove, Autistica (Learning disabilities), the GCDA (food and money), Woolwich mums cafe, ‘Mama’s2Mama’s (we donated free milk and clothing), Greewnwich Wildlife Network, West Thamesmead community and Woolwich Centre. Care leaver specific has been contact with ‘we are settle’, StepNow, Who Cares UK, EACES, Care Leaver Legacy, The Care Leavers covenant with whom we remain consistently in touch and of course Lifeshare in Manchester. We consult constantly with the care leavers who we supported and with others nationally via our online platforms. We are user led, with all training approved, designed, and delivered by care leavers for care leavers. This won’t change, we will continue to adapt to needs.

Directors’ remuneration to Nathalie Delahaye was £22,000 for the year via PAYE. Our reduced costs for this period are due to taking a salary reduction and moving to a smaller office to save money. No other remuneration has been received by any other director in the year, including those that have resigned. Our 40 plus volunteers are unpaid, however, they do receive free food and shopping vouchers granted via one of our funders, as part of the fund. They also attain training, support into work and advice on housing, benefits and money management.

No transfer of assets other than for full consideration