Flo’s – The Place in the Park Meet Eat Work Play Learn People, Place and Participation Ltd. Community Benefit Society Number: 7713 info@flosoxford.org.uk www.flosoxford.org.uk
Last year we said we have been incubating . This year we have been hatching ……..
Flo’s – The Place in the Park Flo’s is becoming a vibrant Community Hub, risen phoenix like from a decommissioned children’s centre building. An example of • Collective action – owned by the community for the community • Cooperative principles in action – membership, council, board, lean and flat management structure • Supporting a local economy which serves the community
Governance • Elected Directors Board • Accountable to members Structure •Flo’s Council • Appointed representatives and COUNCIL community ’stakeholder voice’ – advisory to staff and directors • Nursery Parents Council • Communications Group WORKING • Ad hoc working parties PARTIES around cafe, Refill, pavilion, HR, finance • Staff team, volunteers STAFF • Actively engaged through TEAMS Board and Council
Co – Centre • Facilities, Finance, HR, Management Manager Business development .6fte Structure Nursery • Team of 4 – 6 nursery staff Nursery • Responsible for quality and Manager business, inclusion full time • Communication and Co-Centre community engagement Manger • Volunteers, business .6fte development • Strategic development support .4 fte Professional • ad hoc support accountancy/legal/technical • Administrative (.5 fte)
Flo’s offer – first 10 months • Café Open 7 days a week • Nursery full (56 children) and with a waiting list • Community midwives see approximately 50 new or expectant mothers per week • 45 volunteers engaged in gardening, running shop, events, etc • 23 events for the community • 106 different groups and organization use our space
The Refill Shop 12.30 – 5.00 Wed & Sat • Affordable food and cleaning products • good for you and your family, • good for the environment and good for the local economy. You can support us by • Using the shop! • Gift some of your time to help run the shop
Flo’s Nature Nursery • 56 families in the nursery including Government funded places • Seasons, life cycles, growing food, festivals from around the world, expeditions to the City Farm and park and rearing ducks!
Bowling Pavilion • 6 months license to occupy – bringing it back into service • renting, pop ups, events • Partnership with Premier Tennis over the refreshment kiosk
Bowling Pavilion next steps • Consultation over the future with the community - • Work with City Council going forward for long term plans.
Flo’s people – outcomes and benefits • Some of the groups using Flo’s this first year have engaged some of the most vulnerable and isolated people in the community: • Mama Meet, Fill Your Cup First, Women of the World Antenatal group, Saplings, Motherkind Café, Board Games, Childminders weekly meet up, Autie but Nice, Restore, OPPALS, La Leche League, Hope Vineyard, FASS,
Different stories • A new parent facing hardship gets donations of baby clothes, breastfeeding support from the midwives & can use Photos here the phone to unlock her gas meter. • A hardworking local young couple get high-quality affordable childcare ….and a great local alternative to chain coffee shops!
Dif ifferent Stories • A recovering mental-health client from our neighbours at Restore gets to broaden his work experience and social contacts through helping in the garden, alongside work experience volunteers • A group of Asian mothers attend a peer group to develop co- counselling skills.
Different Stories local grandmother caring for toddler twins has somewhere to come and sit and chat to others Photos here and a safe space for play any day of the week. An 86-year-old finds a place to meet with peers – and start a board games group!
In their own words “ All people are welcome, no age, no difference in this centre and all is done for feeling good. It is the light of Florence Park ” Amel “I bring my laptop and sit working in the cafe, have meetings with others and often buy lunch. As a professional with no fixed workspace, this allows me to reduce potential social isolation which can come sometimes with working at home. Eva goes to the nature nursery at Flo's, which she totally loves “ Mim “ When you have kids your life changes – you don’t meet up with your mates so much and I also work nights so finding a place where I can be with my twins when I have care of them during the day is a life- saver.” Alex
Current challenges • From Local Campaign Group to sustainable Governance - recruiting new trustees • Financial pressures – rent becomes payable to County Council this year. Repairs, maintenance and utilities are higher than expected. • Our own ambition and enthusiasm: There are many improvements we would like to make and many things we would like to do but we are stretched and take one step at a time! • Dual Landlord arrangements makes it more complicated to plan developments and rents are higher. • Our planned shift to new Café provider or taking café in house will have significant transition costs and new challenges
Plans for Flo’s growth and development • Café to come ‘in house’? • Expanding the Refill Shop • Developing the bowling pavilion • Improving the environment – accessibility, aesthetics, efficiency, • Developing the Community Spaces and inclusivity – accessibility, comfort and conviviality
From Incubation to Hatching to Nurturing Duckling photos here Flo’s needs time to grow into its identity and find its feet - and you can us to survive and thrive!
Be part of it- how you can get involved with Flo’s Tell someone about Flo’s Volunteer with us Consider applying for a Join the Refill Shop team role on Flo’s Trustee board Rent our space and host your Stay in touch next party, meeting or talk at Flo’s Make a donation – every contribution helps keep Help to run a parent support Flo’s open to all group or meet up
Finance Text and Graphics
Financial report
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