## 




**Registered charity no. 1162110** 

**Annual Report 2024** 




**Foreword by Chair – May 2025 Growth, Learning and Innovation** 


## Martie Delaney 



## **Sustainability and Fiscal Responsibility** 

Our accredited family mediation service continued to grow and through our links with community organisations, social care and legal professionals we’ve simultaneously increased our unrestricted income capacity which in turn helps efforts to build reserves. 

Our Connect 5 mental health training delivery in conjunction with Wigan Council Public Health, increased our visibility and added another strand to our unrestricted income stream. 

With increased referral rates, our established partnership with the Brick-by-Brick project meant we could extend our reach of practical support to more families with everyday consumer items; helping household budgets stretch further. 

## **Creative Philanthropy** 

What an epic year of fundraising successes we enjoyed! We worked in conjunction with community partner Rosebridge Sports and Community Club to host a Christmas Fair and an Easter Fair raising much needed funds in support of capital investment and service delivery. 

We also supported other local events including Wigan Pride and a host of community fairs across the borough.  Whilst our team may be small, the energy and dedication to raising both our profile and crucial funds has been fantastic. 

Our achievements couldn’t have happened without the determination and drive of our staff and trustees.  We are beyond proud of our achievements and are excited about the future. 

As our links with local and community organisations expand, the possibilities increase and with a nomination for the Mayor of Wigan’s charity in the 2024-2025 season we looked forward to bigger and bolder collaborations through increased visibility. 








**About Us Sustainability and Fiscal Responsibility** 

TalkFIRST was established as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in June 2015 and was operational immediately. The CIO is a development of its predecessor Resolutions, a Community Interest Company, set up in 2012, operational from 2013. All work, finances and staff were seamlessly transferred into the CIO. We are based in a central location in the borough, offering easy access from all areas. 

**We are proud to have celebrated our 10th Birthday this year and look forward to the next decade with energy and enthusiasm.** 

## **Trustees** 


**Martine Delaney** _Chair_ 


**Damon Musgrove** _Trustee_ 


**Brian Rees** _Trustee_ 




**Lee Whalley** _Trustee_ 

**Emma Klieve** _Trustee_ 

**Shirley Martland** _Trustee_ 



## 




**Tracy Sheppard** _Manager & Mediator_ 

**Martine Delaney** _Mediator_ 

**Christine Boydell** _Administrator_ 


**Stacey Keggin** _Building Better Relationships Worker_ 


**Beverley McIntyre** _Building Better Relationships Worker_ 

## **Governance** 

Our trustees understand their legal obligations and are committed to ensuring solvency, and compliance under charity law.  Our Trustee’s Code of Conduct reinforces all aspects of the constitution, our policies and practice which are subject to annual review.  Trustee board meetings have taken place bi-monthly and all meetings minuted to ensure transparency and accountability. 



**Our Vision, Our Mission and our Charitable Objectives** 

## **Our Vision is:-** 

that healthy and supportive relationships are the cornerstone to aspire and achieve. 

## **Our Mission Statement is:-** 

To empower individuals and families in all their forms to improve communication and build better family life. 

## **Our charitable objectives are:-** 

To support children, young people and their families who are at risk of family conflict, anti-social behaviour, criminal activities or relationship breakdown, through the provision of family mediation, family support and group work activities. 





**What We Do And How** 

Guided by our Vision and our Mission Statement, we provide bespoke, future focussed relationship services, working with families in all forms including inter-generational, LGBTQ, non-blood, extended, step-families, carers and special guardians. 

## **An overview of our services is set out below:-** 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
What we do and how<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


• Grant funding, enables us to sustain and grow our free Building Better Relationships service supporting struggling families who are experiencing conflict and relationship problems. 

• Family mediation provided through the Family Mediation Council (FMC) Accreditation programme empowers separating couples to navigate divorce and separation with an FMC Accredited Mediator to resolve issues including children arrangements, property and finance. 

• Our accredited Child Inclusive Mediation service means we can work with children to give them a voice in an age-appropriate way that helps inform struggling parents about their thoughts, feelings and wishes. 



• With the ongoing Ministry of Justice Family Mediation Voucher Scheme we supported families to access financial help with the cost of mediating about children arrangements. 

• Our Tou-Can initiative supporting the perinatal agenda continued to grow through recommendations and increased visibility and through our Brick-by-Brick partnership we can support more families with everyday consumer items that help to stretch household budgets a little further. 

## **Our Reach** 

Whilst our grant funded initiatives focused upon local service delivery in the Wigan Borough, our increased visibility across the family mediation arena, and the power of  remote working, coupled with personal recommendations has seen referrals come from far and wide beyond Wigan’s and Greater Manchester’s boundaries. 




## **Our Year 2023-2024 - Highlights** 

- In December 2023 we hosted our TalkFIRST Christmas Fair and in 

- March 2024 hosted our Easter Fair.  From stalls to festive guests and children’s activities, our year was packed with community engagement and opportunities to fundraise. 

- delivering mental health training across the borough’s voluntary sector contributing to greater visibility and more networking opportunities. 

- year giving children and young people, a voice, in decisions that affect them. 

- We pressed ‘reset’ on our Tou-Can project as funding came to an 

- end.  We continued to deliver our weekly support group on a self-funded basis with the help of local community partners and our own fundraising efforts. 

- This year will mark the second year of our Building Better 

- Relationships (BBR) project in Leigh, funded by The Trusthouse Foundation, and the second year of our BBR project in Wigan, funded **we** 

- by The National Lottery Community Fund. Across both areas, **supported 146 children, young people, and their parents – including special guardianship families – to work towards building happier, healthier family lives.** 



� Community Fund supporting our Building Better Relationships (BBR) project on the Wigan side of the borough arrived, work began to identify the right funding partner to develop the next phase of our relationship and family conflict services for 2024 / 2025. 

� unrestricted income which helped sustain Tou-Can after perinatal funding concluded. 

� We worked hard networking and raising our visibility amongst local legal and social care professionals to grow our accredited family mediation in pursuance of greater sustainability. 

**We heard the fantastic news of our nomination to be one of just two Mayor’s Charities of the year in the 2024 / 2025 season.** 




## **Accredited Family Mediation** 

Supporting families through the process of divorce and separation, our service has grown as visibility has increased in the community and through professional networking. 

The continuation of the Family Mediation Voucher Scheme, a non-means tested offering from the Ministry of Justice has empowered many families who could not have otherwise afforded family mediation to navigate divorce and separation with cooperation and certainty, building new foundations for future co-parenting relationships that will benefit separated family life. 

From a sustainability perspective, this service generates unrestricted income which supports financial independence and the ability to build reserves. 

## **Building Better Relationships** 


Our Building Better Relationships project in Wigan courtesy of The National Lottery Community Fund’s Reaching Communities programme completed it’s 3rd and final year and our 2nd year building on the successes of the previous year. 

on what we had learned with a view to informing our future service delivery. 

**80% of young people who work with us have a diagnosis for, or are awaiting assessment for Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), or Autistic Spectrum Disorder.** In excess of 20% of parents we see also have a diagnosis or are awaiting an assesment. We recognise this is a specialist area, so we have invested in training,  and adhoc support and joint working from partner agency Embrace Wigan & Leigh. 



## **Tou-Can supporting the perinatal agenda** 

In the absence of funding to continue our perinatal outreach and weekly support group, we looked at the best way to provide our service on a limited, self-funded budget. 

We are proud to report that through determination and drive, we were able to sustain Tou-Can’s weekly group which supports parents and carers to promote a healthy parent – child relationship.  We offer information, guidance, peer support, friendship, signposting whilst play, activities and singing are provided for children. 

goods provided via the Brick-by-Brick project also helps families make stretched household budgets go a little further. 







**The Future – Creating Lasting Change** 


## 

As our Building Better Relationships (BBR) campaign approached the conclusion of its project funding in 2024, we took the opportunity to take what we had learned from our beneficiaries, identify gaps in service and lay plans to expand our future efforts to better support the families and individuals we work with. Listening to our families and understanding their often diverse and complex needs we adopted a fresh approach that addressed their discreet challenges and vulnerabilities. 

Throughout 2023 we laid the groundwork for two new initiatives:- 

- Taking Time To Talk (TTTT): We designed a dedicated space to empower 

- children and young people in that broader family conversation, to openly express and speak with confidence about their wishes and feelings. 

- child who is not able to live with their biological parent(s) and instead lives with a member of the extended family under a Special Guardianship Order. 

so once the project essentials were in place, we carefully researched compatible funding partners that shared out vision and objectives. 

our Tou-Can Project. 



## **Building Financial Independence and Flexibility** 

Building an informed strategy that is dedicated and diverse that sustains, builds resillience and engages with well-matched partners who share our vision and support our endeavours has proved key to our successes so far. 

Mindful however of the increasing pressures upon the grant funding industry with prospects of success often standing at less than 5%, our accredited Family Mediation Service (supporting separating and divorcing couples to work out a plan for separated family life) and our mental health training delivery enable us to play to our strengths whilst simultaneously delivering a stream of unrestricted income that promotes a degree of sustainability, and financial freedom which augments our independence and ability to respond to change. 


2023/2024 has been a year to consider proactive planning for the long-term health and wellbeing of TalkFIRST into a new decade. 



## **A Trustee’s Perspective** 


to reaffirm my unwavering commitment to the cause that sits at the heart of our organisation: Strengthening families through positive communication and healthy relationships. I’m so passionate about improving family communication because I believe it is the foundation of a child’s well-being and 

development. Families thrive when they feel heard, understood, and supported. This belief has guided my engagement and is why I’m proud to be part of an organisation that recognises that ‘healthy and supportive relationships are the cornerstone to all we aspire to and achieve’. 

Our services have supported families to have open, future-focused conversations, encouraged mutual understanding, and enabled change — even in complex and emotionally charged situations. Feedback received highlights just how transformative this approach has been for our beneficiaries. 

Over the past year we’ve demonstrated resilience, compassion, and innovation. We fundraised to self-fund Tou-Can and re-shaped our family conflict and relationships initiative to curate our Taking Time To Talk project, - a vital addition to our services that addresses the emotional and mental well-being of children and helps families make positive changes in their communication and relationships that support a happy family life. 

My dedication to supporting families stems from a personal commitment to ensure every child has the opportunity to grow up in a safe, nurturing environment. 

entire community. Tou-Can, is a perfect example: By supporting good mental health and parenting confidence in the earliest days of a child’s life, families have the tools they need from the very beginning. This early intervention is essential, and I am immensely proud that TalkFIRST is playing a part in such critical life stages. 



financial or emotional. That’s why accessibility, empathy, and sustainability are central to everything we do. Our team with over 75 years of combined experience brings a grounded, personable approach that families trust. They offer unwavering support with warmth and honesty, even when tackling tough conversations. This that makes TalkFIRST so effective and valued in what we do. 

In today’s climate, the need for early, relationship support is greater than ever: Challenges are real, funding is tight, needs are rising, and the sector is evolving rapidly. Yet TalkFIRST continues to be a beacon of hope and a trusted partner to many local organisations. Our referrals come not just from professionals, but from families themselves, a true testament to our credibility and impact. Being part of this journey, helping shape strategy, advocate for sustainability, and push for innovation, is a responsibility I embrace. It is more than governance, it is commitment to creating change in real lives. As we look ahead, I am energised by the possibilities. We don’t just respond to need; we build on our learning, strengthening partnerships, and positioning TalkFIRST for long-term impact. To every family we have worked with this year: thank you for trusting us. And to every team member and fellow trustee: thank you for your dedication and vision. Together, we are helping children and families not just survive but truly thrive — and I am honoured to play my part. 

## Damon Musgrove 



**Fundraising Strategy and Next Steps** 

## **Our portfolio of strategic sustainability planning covers the following areas :-** 

## **Our Accredited Family Mediation service** 

We have a discreet skill set and with a growing (and competitively priced) family mediation service which provides our primary stream of unrestricted income. - We are able to play to our strengths. Whilst always working hard to develop and expand what we do, we’ve extended our geographical reach way beyond the boundaries of the borough and have an established position within the Accredited Family Mediation arena. 

Remaining current and visible is key to growing our services and generating unrestricted income. 

Our Business Plan will be reviewed and updated in 2024 / 2025 to ensure we remain pro-active. We continue to work on a range of opportunities to develop a robust delivery model and plan to review internal technologies to drive process efficiencies that will enable us to support more clients. 

2023 / 2024 has also seen us develop an organisational structure that enables a real strategic focus upon funding needs and opportunities. 

## **Corporate Partnerships:** 

In 2023 / 2024 we’ve worked with local businesses and organisations who have provided financial contributions including Nisa, to name but a few supporters of our Summer Fair and a number of local businesses including Little Fifteen, Bathtek, Co-op, Tesco, Morrisons and Asda who provided generous donations alongside other local and regional supporters from the 

business community. 



## **Trusts and Foundations Funding:** 

Wigan’s Brighter Borough Funding contributed to the success of our Seasonal Fairs and a second lot of Brighter Boroughs funding was also contributed towards Tou-Cangiving us confidence to secure facilities to make the day a success. 

We continued to seek out funders who align with our values and look ahead to new strategic partnerships that match our endeavours. 

Whilst we’ve built a strong portfolio of funding partners which helps instil confidence as to our integrity and capabilities, we remain ever mindful of the need for financial independence and an increasingly strategic approach to future partnerships, whether grant funded or corporate. 

## **Charitable Fundraising** 

Following hot on the heels of our deep dive into seasonal fairs last year  and with buckets full of enthusiasm and energy, we successfully hosted a Christmas (2023) and an Easter (2024) Fair.  With both our own stalls and external crafters, makers and other VCFSE organisations and with this renewed confidence we teamed up with Nisa Local and the Nisa Charity, Making a Difference Locally to host a summer 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
fair for local primary school, Ince.<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


Looking ahead to 2024/2025 we rounded up a team to run the Wigan 10k, 



## **Partnerships** 

Collaboration creates opportunities and whether this has been through learning from our own beneficiaries, engaging with other organisations to explore the possibilities or simply sharing expertise, the possibilities have come thick and fast this year.  -  We’ve embraced every moment and made some vital connections that will help drive our work forward. 

We take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support. From Rose Bridge Sports and Community Club who hosted our seasonal Fairs, to Nisa Local who helped us make so many things happen,  to our commercial and VCFSE partners and our neighbours in Ashland House and all those who supported our events and kindly donated gift bags and prizes. 


**Funding** 

This year, we have received £92,072 in grants from: 

National Lottery Community Fund’s Reaching Communities, and Awards For All programmes, Trusthouse, Making a Difference Locally, Albert Hunt, Magic Little Grants, Enterprise and The Coalfield Regeneration Trust. 

**We thank our amazing funders for sharing our vision and for their support; without them we could not support children, young people and their families who are at risk of family conflict, anti-social behaviour, criminal activities or relationship breakdown.** 



## 

## **MEDIATION:** 

We received 106 family mediation referrals for family mediation, many of which came by way of recommendation. Other routes to referral included legal experts, social care, schools and local VCFSE organisations. 




**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
Registered charity no. 1162110<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


## **BUILDING BETTER RELATIONSHIPS:** 

many services provided by Building Better Relationships. 




## **Building Better Relationships (BBR)** 

## **A Family We Worked With** 

Chloe was referred to our service by Start Well. She described her relationship with her ten-year-old son, Lenny—who has ADHD—as very challenging. A recent incident involving violence at home led her to call the police. She shared that she currently feels there is little to no relationship between them, though she is motivated to make improvements. 

anxiety, ADHD, and learning challenges. While she has received support in the past, finding herself in a similar position again left her understandably sceptical about what we could offer. Building trust was one of the initial hurdles in our work together. 





Despite these complexities, and with continued support from her Start Well worker, Chloe has begun to make some meaningful changes in how she interacts with her son. She is starting to recognise some of the dynamics she brings to the relationship and how these may be contributing to their difficulties. She has also developed a better understanding of her son’s needs, particularly around his ADHD, which has helped her respond more calmly and effectively in challenging moments. While progress has not been without its challenges, these insights have marked a turning point. 

Chloe also has an older child who no longer lives with her. At times, concerns around his wellbeing and placement—raised in discussions with social care—distracted from her focus on improving things with Lenny. However, joint conversations and collaborative support have helped her manage these demands more effectively. 

We’ve taken a holistic approach to supporting Chloe. Whilst the focus of the work was to help improve the parent-daughter relationship, we supported other areas to help Chloe feel more stable and present, through self-care, confidence building and encouraging her plan to return to work 



## **Feedback** 

## **Building Better Relationships testimonial – Partner Agency** 

_in more constructive and worthwhile dialogue to support the wellbeing of those who need it, and I can’t think of a similar local provider that is either available, accessible, approachable or as understanding as the team at TalkFIRST, and I really value the joint work we have done together._ 


**Andy Sampson Behaviour Support Coordinator Embrace Wigan and Leigh** 





## **Feedback** 

## **TOU-CAN testimonial – PARTNER AGENCY** 

_“The Tou Can Family sessions delivered by TalkFIRST at Ince Community Centre have become a vital support hub for the local community._ 

_single parenthood, and unemployment. The rising cost of living has only intensified day-to-day pressures, creating widespread worry and stress._ 

_ents can connect while their children take part in engaging activities. Adults have the chance to chat, exchange advice, and support one another with the everyday challenges of raising young children._ 

_navigating the benefits system. Emotional and practical support is always available from the TalkFIRST team._ 

## **HS Trust Manager, Douglas Valley Community** 






## **Family Mediation - Feedback** 

_“I’m incredibly grateful for the compassionate, professional, and supportive mediation I received from TalkFIRST. During an extremely tough period in my life, your service was not only helpful — it was a true lifeline and source of strength.”_ 

## **Ministry of Justice Family Mediation Voucher Scheme** 

The Ministry of Justice Mediation Voucher Scheme has been a real game changer for those struggling families who may never have been able to privately pay for Accredited Family Mediation. 

In 2023-2024, **19 sets of separated parents mediated at TalkFIRST with the benefit of a voucher,** to negotiate how they could press reset on their co-parenting relationship by improving communication and cooperation. 

This Scheme has been invaluable, enabling parents to focus on the interests of their children and the future without associated money worries. 




## **End of the year – vision for the next 12 months** 

current service provision means we are looking ahead toward horizontal and vertical expansion in our grant funded and income-generating sectors. 

needs and to develop our skill set to enable greater reach. 

Having capitalised on existing partnerships and explored new collaborations, we look ahead to 2025 with optimism and positivity, supporting more new families in the year ahead. 

## **Reserves Policy** 

development of our principal activities. 

maintain reserves at a level sufficient to cover approximately six months running costs plus requisite redundancy considerations. 

Reserves will be utilised in the following manner:- 

1. 

2. In the event of a drop in income to make provision for necessary redundancy payments should the organisation find it is unable to sustain staffing levels 

## 3. 

To allow TalkFIRST to take advantage of new opportunities aligned with its aims. To achieve this, we will aim to put £5k per year into reserves from unrestricted 

**Income £150,423 Expenditure £172,429** 



TALKFIRST
Trustees. Report and Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 August 2024
Registered number: CE003520
Charity number: 1162110

TALKFIRST
CONTENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
CONTENTS
Legal and administrative infomiation
Page 1
Trustees, report
Page 2
Independent Examiners. report
Page 4
Statement of financial activities
Page 6
Balance sheet
Page 7
Notes formlng part of the financial statements
Page 9

TALKFIRST
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
Trustees
M. Delaney (Chair)
E. Klieve
B. Rees
D. Musgrove
L. Whalley
S. Martland
Company Registered Number- CE003520
Charity Reglstered Number- 1162110
Registèrèd Office
1 sl Floor
Ashland House
Dobson Park Way
Ince in Makerfield
Wigan
WN2 2DX
Accountants
Bloomfield's
Bloomfield Court
76 Factory Street Wesl
Atherton, Manchester
M46 OEF

TALKFIRST
TRUSTEES. REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
Reference and Admlnlstration Information
The Trustees, who are also the directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act
2006. present their report with the financial statements of the charily for the year ended 31
August 2024. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended
Practice (SORP) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities, issued in March 2005 and updated
May 2008.
Talkfirst is a company limited by guarantee and a charity registered with the Charity Commission
for England and Wales under number 1162110. The Trustees of the tharity and the principle
advisers of the charity are listed on page 1.
Structure, Govemance and Management
The report was prepared in a￿ordance with the special provisions within part 15 of the
Companies Act 2006.
Objectlves and Act5vllles of the Charty
The main objectives of the charity are to support children, young people and their families who
are at risk of family conflict, anti-social behavior, criminal actlviiy or relationship breakdown,
through the provision of fami￿ mediation. family support and group work activities.
Results
A summary of the results of the year's activities is incorporated in the Statement of Financial
Activities.
All ￿venue from the charitable activities are restricted and applied for the charitable objectives
of the company.
During the year Ihe charity received £56.418 in funding from the National Lottery Community
Fund as part olthe Rea¢hing CommunitieslPartnerships programme.
Directors and Trustees
The directors and ttustees during the year were as follows'.-
M. Delaney (Chair)
B. Rees
D. Musgrove
L. Whalley
E. Klieve
S. Martland
Related Party Disclosures
During the year the trustee M. Delaney was employed by the Charity and received
remuneration of £26,965 (2023'.£35.962).

TALKFIRST
TRUSTEES, REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
Statement of Directors, and Trustees, Responslbllltles
The directors and trustees are required by law to prepare the financial statements for each
financial year which give a true and fair view of the financial activities of the charity and of its
financial position at the end of the year. In preparing those financial statements the directors
and trustees are required to'.-
Select suitabl8 accounb'ng policies and then apply them consistently.,
Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.
Prepare the financial statements on the going con￿rn basis unless it is inappropriate to
presume that the company will continue in business.
The directors and trustees are responsible for keeping proper aGGounting records which
disclos8 Wlth reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and to
enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006.
They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking
reasonable steps for the prevenlion and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Small Company Status
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to compani8S
subject to the small companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
Signed by order of the Board of Trustees and the Directors
M. Delaney
Chair
Date
2025

TALKFIRST
IMDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES OF
TALKFIRST
Respeetlve responslbllllies of trusteos and examiner
The charity's trustees {who are also the directors of the company for the purpose of company
law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's Irustees consider that
an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charites Act 2011 (the Charities
Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
The trustees have acknowledged, on the balance sheet, their responsibilities for ensuring that
the company keeps accounting records which comply with section 396 of the Companies Ad
2006, and for preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view ofthe stst8 of
affairs of the company and of its surplusJ(deficit) for the financial year.
In accordan￿ with the instructions, we have prepared the financial statements on pages 7-
12 from the accounting rewrds of the company and on the basis of infomiation and
8xplanations we have been given.
It is my responsibility to:
Examine the accounts (under section 145 of the Charities Act)
To follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity
Commission (under section 145(5)(b> of the Charltles Act). and
To state whether particular matters have come to my attention
Basis of independent examinerfs statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity
Commissioners. An examination includes review of the accounting records kept by the charity
and a Comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration
of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the trustees
conceming any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that
would be required in an audit. and consequently no opinion Is glven as to whether the accounts
present a "true and fair view" and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement
below.
Independent examiner's statement
In the course of my examina￿on, no matter has come to my attention
1. Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material ￿PeCt, the
trustees have not met the requirements:
To keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the
Charities Act and S386 of the Companies Act 2006" and
To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and
comply wilh the accounting requirement of Section 396 of Ihe Companies
Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Statement of
Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities.; or
2. To which, in my opinion. attention should be drawn to enable a proper
understanding of the accounts to be reached.

TALKFIRST
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE DIRECTORS AND TRUSTEES OF
TALKFIRST
K Bloomfield CPAA
For and on behalf of
Bloomfield's Accountants Limited
Bloomfield Court
76 Factory Street West
Atherton
Manchester
M46 OEF
Date:..lJ. L-h Ina

TALKFIRST
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
Re$trl¢t•d
funds
2024
Total
fund¥
2024
Totalfvnds
2023
INCOhllNG RESOURCES
I￿OMing resources from generated
funds
Voluntary Income
12
562 126 S62
150242
TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES
126562
150242
RESOURCES EXPENDED
Costs of gonorating funds
Charitable a¢tiwties
117428
117428
172429
TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED
117428
172 429
NET INCOMINGIIOUTGOINGI
RESOURCES BEFORE
TrANSFERS
NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
Fund balances at 1 September 2023
FUND BALANCES AT 31 August
2024

TALKFIRST
BALANCE SHEET
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST2024
2024
2023
Note
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and bank in hand
67.923
59,759
CREDITORS.. Amounts lalling du8 within one
year
Net current assets
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT
LIABILITIES
61,537
54,507
CREDITORS.. Amounts falling dua after
yèar
NET ASSETS
CHARITY FUNDS
Resti7￿$￿ funds
The directors and tnjslees consider that the company is entrtled to exernption from the requirement to have an
audit under the provisions of S.480 of the Companies Act 2006.
No notice from the members under S.476 of the Companles Act 2006 requlrNig the CoMp￿Y lo have an audit
has been dopo&ted with the company.
The direclors and Iwstees a¢knowledge Iheir responsibility for ensuring that the eompany keeps accounting
records which comply with S.386 of the CoMpan￿S Act 2006. and for preparing accounts, which give a true and
fair VI￿ of the stale of the affairs of Ihg coJnpany at 31*Augusl 2024 an(1 of tts nel expendf(ure for the year then
end8d in accordan¢8 with the rgqulremenls of S.396, bul wh￿h othe￿1$e comply with the requirements of the
Acl relating lo the accounts so far as appllcable lo the company.
Th& financial slatemonts have bèen prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companles
subject to the small ¢cmpanles' regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

TALKFIRST
BALANCE SHEET
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
These financial slalemenls were aptKoved by the Trustees on.
2025 and signed on their behaw, by..
M. DELANEY
Chair
2025
The notes on pages 9 10 10 forn part of these financial statements.
Company n￿nbel CE003520

TALKFIRST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparation of flnanclkl statements
These accounts have been prepared under the historical wst ¢DnvenlK)n and in accordan￿ the
Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Enli11gS.
The accounts have been prepared in complionce with the Statement of Recommended Pr8Ctice on Charity
Accounts.
Incorne and Expenditur8 is recognisad in the accounts on Ihe accrual$ basis at the date on which an asset
is recogni5ed or a liability incurred.
The company has taken aévanlage of the exemption in Financial Reporting Standard No. 1 from the
requirement to produce a ca5hflow statement on the gfounds that il is a small company.
In¢ome
Al incorning resources are included on the Statement of Financial A¢livities when the charty Is legally
enliued lo the income and the amount be quantified wllh reasonable accuracy.
Taxatlon
The company is exempt from Taxation on Sncome arislng from actsvliles In carrying out. and Investment
income applied only for, the company's main charitable purpose.
INCOMING RESOURCES FROM GENERATED FUMDS
other
Incomè
2024
Grants
2024
Totsl
2024
Total
2023
Vohjntary Income
126 562
150 243
COSTS OFGENERATING FUNDS
Support ¢osts
2024
Total
2024
Total
2023
Charltable a¢tlvltles
Ch8rilable expenditure
CREDITORS:
2024
2023
Amounts falling due withln ono year:
Social secu¥ity and other taxes
Deferred irKomè
Loans
other Creditors
1.134
4,752
500
4,752
500
Amounts falllng duo 0¥or
one yèar
Loans

TALKFIRST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024
ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS
RKtri¢ted
Funds
2024
Total
Funds
2024
Totsl
Funds
2023
Net Current
as$glsllllabililiesl
Cfedilors.. Due after one
year
61.537
61.537
54.507
435
539
Total
LI￿￿ED B Y GUARANTEE
The Company Is limited by guarantee and does not have a Share Capital. Each memb8r gives a
guarantee lo contribute a sum not exceeding £10 10 the comp8ny should il be wound up.
Al 314 August 2024 there were 5 members.
10

www.talkfirst.org 




TalkFirst 1st Floor Ashland House Dobson Park Way Ince-in-Makerfield WN2 2DX 



01942 243620 

