Tuesday 20th August 2019 - Probably the most crucial six weeks ahead

Posted 1:15pm

The next six weeks are really the most crucial so far for HMHB. I am not saying it is the end if we have not found some seed funding, but it will be almost impossible to carry on.

I have been on Universal Credit for nearly a year - and the Job Centre (DWP) have been fantastic in allowing me to continue with HMHB - well, we want to work with their service users too - and we have an amazing product.

But the lottery turned us down, as the panel "felt that your organisation's capacity to run your project is not strong enough for is to offer you funding and the level of funding requested presented a significant risk in terms of delivery and sustainability."

Obviously we feel this is wrong. We clearly can manage the work we would be doing, and how can we possibly build a capacity if people will not allow us to prove ourselves?  How does any project get off the ground? Isn't everything a risk?  I would add we have no gripe with the lottery. They have a great number of applications and only a few can get through. But we felt we had done everything asked of us - found partners in multiple boroughs wanting to work with us, with a variety of service users. We have received incredible feedback too. What more can we do??  We need three salaries!

Our MP, Jeremy Corbyn, contacted our local CCG. They also said there was no funding. Sadly they suggested four companies, that between them could only grant a total of approximately £8000 in a year - we need seed funding - so that was of no help at all - and in fact we knew of all the companies and have approached already.

It feels like we are banging our heads against an impossible wall.  If I do not get a salary soon the DWP will naturally make me apply for full time work elsewhere, and this project gets shelved - after over five years of solid work.

I had to tell our Personal Trainer today that  we were rejected. I feel like a failure - people are depending on me to get the money. It is starting to look as if no-one will actually help us - but everyone praises us and wants us to work with their users. Go figure!!!!

Monday 19th August 2019 - Lottery - ups and downs

Posted 2:15pm

The biggest issue HMHB is facing now is money - seed funding. In fact if we have not established it by the end of September I feel the whole project will have to end.  This is because our project manager, Lazza, is currently receiving Universal Credit. If the Job Centre does not see a chance of salary in the next six weeks they will start to force him to apply for jobs and get off UC. That would naturally mean he could not work on HMHB, attend meetings, do interventions. The project finishes.

We have five London Boroughs wanting to use us. Feedback has been extraordinary. But we just cannot find money to pay salaries.

Our big hope was the Communities Fund with the National Lottery. Sadly, they have turned us down. We sort of understand the reasons behind it. We were asking for a six figure sum as there were three full time salaries, a part time salary, and overheads/running costs. It adds up. We were seen to be too much of a risk.

However, we continue to fight. We are going back with a lower proposal - for one full time salary for Lazza, and lower costs for all else. We have contacted the local lottery representative and asked if we can resubmit this. I hope they will see we are trying to work with the lottery to negate risk, but also give us an opportunity to prove our worth.

Needing people to know about us, we have emailed out to local radio and media to see if we can get featured. With mental health such a topical subject at the moment, we hope someone will give us an opportunity to find some funding by telling our story.

August is once again proving to be a month of ups and downs.

Wednesday 14th August 2019 - Accounts done, funding applications on the go

Posted 3:00pm

Part of running a business is making sure your accounts are right - and that they are managed properly. With that in mind, it is therefore important that more than one person is involved. That way people can feel reassured that there is no funny business going on.

HMHB actually use an independent accountant to audit our finances - Lazza does the actual day to day running of the books - he keeps the bank statements with the invoices and receipts and, using Sage Accounts Software, inputs all the entries into the laptop.

It is fairly straightforward. When we were able to pay salary last year, we used our accountant to organise the payroll too. Having this done by someone not involved with the company can show we are keen to demonstrate that we are not in this to try and get ourselves rich, but just want to concentrate on providing a quality intervention.

Delighted to say that Lazza completed all the data entry for the current accounts - that is June 2018 to May 2019 - this afternoon. We made a small loss lost year, but that is offset by business loans from Lazza to cover this - which does mean he is our only creditor. This will be put right this year.

Once our accountant has audited them and they have been listed at Companies House, we will announce this so any member of the public can view them if they so wish. All companies have to do this, by law.

Meanwhile, Lazza is completing as many funding applications as possible. He is working on a couple this week, which we hope to get off on Friday, and then will attempt to try and do a couple every week over the next couple of months.  We cannot rest on out laurels.

Monday 12th August 2019 - Progress Update

Posted 1:00pm

Another Monday, another blog entry, that is positive.  Lots to say too.

Had a cracking meeting last week with a large Housing provider, and in a new borough. Really good chat with Peabody in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and it looks as if we will be doing five half day events in the run up to Christmas with them, in preparation for next year if we get lottery funding. This is a real boost for us, and can be the start of a fantastic partnership. It is really important to provide quality and something new - which we believe we can do.

We have sent a proposal back to them today, suggesting we do three in Islington and two in Kensington and Chelsea - but we are also happy to look at other areas and other funding options with them.

Talking about half day events in the run up to Christmas, we would very much like to do some in Haringey too. I had a wonderful chat with a representative from there today on the phone, and am meeting up on Thursday afternoon to go over options. There are funding opportunities too to cover the cost, and that will also be discussed. I sent through a detailed agenda of how we see a half day event going - but are very open to adapting and changing based on outcomes desired.  We would like to suggest four to six of these, again to give a taster for if we get the lottery funding for next year.

We are currently completing applications for Islington Giving and Camden Giving. Both of these would cover half day events in Islington and Camden. In Islington we would be looking to work with the Job Centre, so need to cover venue costs and running costs.  This would allow us the chance to prove how it works with people newly unemployed. In Camden, we would be working out of the Living Centre near to St Pancras. This would be more with local residents.

I have nearly finished the accounts for last year - June 2018 to May 2019. I got a bit behind last year, so am on catch up. Printed off a load of invoices over the weekend, and it is just a matter of inputting information onto Sage, and reconciling the statements with the bank account. Straight forward for me considering my accounts knowledge and background, just time consuming. Will be good to get it finished though.  Mentioned this on blog before, but it takes time to ensure we get it perfect.

Over the weekend I designed and created out Izzwalkz 2018 photo book on Vistaprint. We did one for the first year of Nov 2016 to Dec 2017. And that was printed off last year, and we use it for marketing purposes. This 2018 one, with around 21 pages, will be a great reminder of the second year. There are some terrific photos.  I think for the 2019 one I will get some feedback quotes to put in it too.

All in all, things are moving forward well. No news from lottery yet on our proposal, but naturally keeping all fingers and toes crossed. We also want to look at some half day events in Hackney. But I think I have enough to be getting on with at the moment.

Wednesday 7th August 2019 - Meetings arranged

Posted 1:25pm

It is amazing just how many meetings I must have attended over the last few years as we push ourselves as a business. Thousands, I am sure. They can be fulfilling and frustrating. They can be exhilarating and exhausting. They can be memorable and ones to forget. I have been encouraged, patronised, applauded, belittled, but mostly praised for persistence, as well as coming up with a terrific concept.

More are now on the cards:

We have one in Haringey booked for next Monday - was for yesterday but had to be postponed. This could be crucial as we move into that borough, as well as helping us persuade the lottery we are worth the investment.

We have another booked for tomorrow in Kensington and Chelsea with Peabody - this can lead to funding opportunities as well as building an on-going relationship with this housing provider.

We also have a connection with a company called Walk With A Doc - which encourages Americans to walk more in partnership with medical organisations. As we have done that here, we contacted them online tom become part of their network - which we did six months ago. Well, a London doctors wants to be part of  the WWAD too - and they have contacted to come along on our walk and see what we do. That would be amazing.

Finally, on a personal note, Lazza has an eye check up on Friday morning following his recent operation. I have to report that the surgery has not gone as well as hoped, and in fact Lawrence is going to ask for it to be done again, as his eye sight has been affected, and he finds bright lights painful and even watching a film at the cinema makes his eye water. The lens is not quite in the right position. We wish him well with that.

Monday 5th August 2019 - New week - new opportunities

Posted 3:15pm

We have built up a lot of contacts, and have had people alongside us for over two years. One of the biggest gripes is that "life is hard", and yes it is. It is something we recognise ourselves that we have gone through and experienced. I call it my self pity moments.

It is one of the hardest things to overcome if you have gone through depression, anxiety or stress. Whatever has caused your mental health episodes is really important to you. It is hard to explain to some people just how tough it can be. But, and here is the crux, we have to find a way to move forward, and not get stuck in the mud. Finding confidence in a dark place is very hard.

For HMHB, yet again money is a question. We are delighted to have been awarded just under £900 from the Local Initiative Fund in July, as well as collect a cheque for just under £900 from Open Destinations in Islington as sponsorship. But attending the Job Centre this morning, as I have to do as I am currently receiving Universal Credit, the emphasis is back in my court to find salary funding. And this is the bane of my life. Naturally we are keeping everything crossed with our lottery bid for a year of seed funding, but if successful that will not arrive till the end of the year.

So I have started on a couple of funding applications, and really want to try and get off around seven or eight this month. Anything would be great of course.

This links back to the start of this entry - where I talk about our service users stressing how hard life is. But how hard are people really trying to get out of the hole they are in. Not for one moment would I belittle anyone with their mental health situation. There is fantastic counselling out there, and I really hope everyone manages to get suitable and relevant intervention. Ultimately though, it is up to us as individuals to come out fighting, push the problems away, and re-enter life with gusto. Easy words maybe, but it is the only way to live and prosper. No point looking at the problem and moaning. It solves nothing. We need to look at the problem and start working out how to overcome the challenge. It's what we have to do with funding. And it is what we all have to do in life.

Friday 2nd August 2019 - So what is ahead for HMHB in August?

Posted 2:00pm

It has been a busy, eventful and action packed year so far. Massive developments as already described in the blog. And hopefully, if the lottery can see the potential everyone else sees in us, it will end with celebrations.

But we still continue to develop and August is going to be just that. A time to get all our paperwork up to date and get off some applications too.

So what will we be doing.

I have been working on the accounts, and will be getting last year's accounts (June 2018 to May 2019) to our accountants by the end of next week, so they can be audited and delivered. I should really have done them monthly - but it just got behind, but am busy inputting income and expenditure onto Sage, reconciling the bank with the statements and ensuring all the invoices are receipts are in order.  It is fairly straight forward, just time consuming.

I have already started on two new funding applications - both around £3000. We are waiting to hear on a couple of others too. And I will go through the list I have and try and get off at least another five or six during August. It is a good time to get them off as people are away, so meetings will be at a premium.

I managed to sort out a lot of papers at home recently, and will be contacting as many of our old users as possible to see how they are doing, and if our course helped them. It will be interesting to see just how many replies we get.

I need to update our website with some features. I will be speaking to Kacper on this and see if we can get anything done. I may have to do some stuff myself - it is a learning process, but I am picking things up.

I need to work out exactly how we want to work with our various partners, and prepare papers, as there will be some big meetings coming up in September and October. We will also need to tie that in with our big lottery application - which will go through a few drafts I am sure. That will include a spreadsheet of costs with detailed explanation of how we have calculated. The good thing here is that I am used to management accounts - with budgets, cashflow and payments. We have been sensible around salaries and expenditure.

So really, August is probably about consolidating our current position, looking at the provision with partners and preparing for that. I am genuinely excited. I am sure there will be some ups and downs along the way, with more stress and frustration. It is all a challenge.

Finally, due to the LIF, as well as the sponsored money from Open Destination, our Lazza does not have to use his money to prop up the business - at least for a few months - and by then we should know more about our financial prospects.  Good times!!!  Thanks everyone for support.

Friday 2nd August 2019 - congrats to our Lazza

Posted 10:10am

It's a morning entry - probably do another one later - but we wanted to add our support for our Lazza as he is determined to reach his target weight this year - which involves losing a certain amount of fat over the next few months.

July was a good month. According to the apps on his mobile - he managed over 370,000 steps, walked for over 280 km outdoors, and lost 3.2kg in weight, which is just over 7 lbs - or half a stone.

He says: "there have been many false dawns over the last few years. In 2015, I managed to reach my target, but then allowed situations and events to overwhelm me again, and have yoyoed ever since. But this time I am getting a lot of support, and I feel in a great place mentally, despite all the stress and work to get HMHB seed funding."

I am sure anyone that reads this will echo our congratulations, but also cheer Lazza on as he needs to do this for most of this year. I know it is a cliche, but it is a journey. It is a matter of focus, maintaining good actions, and keeping that self-belief.  We will return to this at the end of August and report back on his further progress.  Yay!!!