ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT – April 2024
The overall impression for the year must be that of frustration and maintenance. I will come on to that in a moment.
Therapy
As is customary, we continue to fill all our counselling slots without any advertising on our part. Word of mouth is the best form of advertising and referral for it shows we deliver the goods, so to speak. I guess, despite the difficulty of assessment, we have a very good record of positive outcomes for Clients, surely in the 90 percentages. You will always find some people want to be problematic for it gives them status to be the centre of attention amidst their family or friends, but thankfully they are few and far between as enquiries tend to be from people who are already motivated to work on their issues.
On behalf of the Trustees, thank you Counsellors once again for your continued sacrifice of your time, your expertise and for little in the way of thanks. So a very big ‘Thank you’ now.
Once again, I also say a thank you to Ben, our Supervisor, who, although he receives an honorarium, nowhere covers his actual time and experience. It must be noted that his contribution goes beyond the call of duty so ‘Thanks’ Ben.
Noteworthy events, but not in any chronological order
The Waterwheel has dominated the physical work of the Mill. You cannot expect it to be maintenance free for the machine is working twenty-four hours a day every day, and no machine can continue like that without constant repairs of some sort or other. There was, in fact, a remarkably free time over the summer period but the usual Christmas gremlins struck again. Last December one of the main bearings disintegrated, evoking a major effort to get the power back on as quickly as possible. We had, fortuitously, bought two I-beams to support the wheel should this ever be necessary, so we had the tools at hand. But the frustration grew due to the problems of standby generators. First the main generator suddenly failed, then the secondary one seized, and then the petrol one wouldn’t get up to voltage. We had to hire yet another before the bearing repairs were completed.
Previous bearings had lasted 15 and 20 years. This one lasted 4 months! At least we know how to approach a replacement as practice makes perfect, but I have no idea as to why this one failed, but I hope and pray the latest lasts a bit longer than just months.
The old battery bank has been another source of frustration. Ian Littlewood made enquiries as to disposing the cells in an environmentally acceptable fashion, but we were quoted about £5,000 by one firm. Then legislation changed and the same firm who quoted the £5,000 were prepared to accept them for around £500. However although the contract was signed last November, the ensuing emails concerning how to go about the practicalities of access meant that it wasn’t until March that the deed was finally done. I had very little hair left to pull out after that saga of email exchange.
Ash Die Back has been a problem. We eventually got our hands on a cherry picker and, despite a few heart stopping moments, managed to fell a few of the diseased trees. There remains a few more but that is well in hand.
I have decided not to work the vegetable garden this year. With the continual rain over the autumn, winter and spring, any start on the beds had to postponed anyhow, but now we are well into the season I have realised that it would be too much work for me these days. I guess they are not the only thing to go to seed from now on.
The problem of traction in getting a laden trailer of logs out of the meadow valley was successfully overcome last summer. James Bridge and I managed to complete the concreting on the affected side, and it looks far better for the job done as well as answering the traction problem. There remains the work on the downward slope still to do, and that will be our task this coming summertime.
One worrying issue is that the log sales to Maker Campsite have ceased. Jo Phillips was the manager there and she always ensured any campfire material was bought from this Charity. As she no longer works there then we cannot expect the sales to continue. Perhaps another outlet or opportunity will open up, but we must be a bit more careful as far as expenses are concerned now.
Finance
Once again, we have had no financial disasters this year. Of course there have been the special expenses of repairs, as has been stated, but our reserves have meant that we could indulge in the extra outlay for a new electric chain saw and for the two I-beams to support the water wheel when repairs were necessary. We continue to rely on donations and the generosity of Covenanters for the most part, so we cannot be complacent over funding. However this has been the tenth year of no financial crisis. I say another big ‘Thank you’ to everyone who covenants. Without that we would not be able to continue.
Trustees
Our Trustees continue to keep an eye on things, but I am not sure as to whether they do that looking towards the work at the Mill or on me! However they seem to let me carry on with what I am doing without interference, so ‘Thank You’ Trustees.
Conclusion
As the years go by I realise so many people have disappeared. That is not because of ructions between personalities but due to health issues or even passing on. It brings to mind the frailty of Life and the unexpected accidents that can so easily disrupt the normal proceedings of the Charity. Let’s pray for a peaceful year so normal service can continue as ever before.
John
Charity Administrator
April 2024