About With Friends
Consolidated Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2025
Charity Number 1164119
About With Friends
Contents
Year ended 31 March 2025
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Trustees Annual Report (incorporating the director's report) | 1 - 8 |
| Independent auditor's report to the members | 9 - 11 |
| Statement of financial activities (including income and expenditure account) | 12 |
| Balance Sheet | 13 |
| Statement of Cash Flows | 14 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 15 - 25 |
About With Friends
Trustees' Annual Report
Year ended 31 March 2025
The Trustees present their report and audited consolidated financial statements of the charity and group for the year end 31 March 2024.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in notes to the accounts and comply with the charity's governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland published in October 2019.
Reference and Administrative Details
| Registered charity name | About With Friends |
|---|---|
| Charity registration number | 1164119 |
| Principal office and registered | Unit 22D |
| office | Holt Road |
| Cromer | |
| NR27 9JW | |
| Norfolk | |
| The trustees | |
| The trustees who served during the | year and at the date of approval were as foll |
| J Claxton (Chair) | |
| S Savory (Treasurer) | |
| B Lloyd-Smith | |
| T Edwards | |
| T Johnson | |
| C Walton (Appointed 14 December 2024) | |
| Member (service user) trustees | G Pegg |
| D Goss | |
| Chief executive | S Harwood |
| Key management personnel | H Dalton-Hare BEM (Executive Director) |
| J Moses (Operations Director) | |
| D Register (Finance Manager) | |
| Auditor | Lovewell Blake LLP |
| Chartered Accountants & Statutory Auditor | |
| Bankside 300 | |
| Peachman Way | |
| Broadland Business Park | |
| Norwich | |
| NR7 0LB | |
| Bankers | Co-operative Bank Plc |
| P O Box 250 | |
| Delf House | |
| Skelmersdale | |
| WN8 6WT |
The trustees who served during the year and at the date of approval were as follows:
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About With Friends
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
| Objectives and activities | Objectives and activities |
|---|---|
| The Aims of About with Friends are as follows: | |
| • | Support members (service users) in making realfriendships. |
| • | Provide realworkopportunities for our members. |
| • | Provide members with realchoiceto the skills they develop. |
| • | Support people to liveindependentlyin their own homes. |
| • | Provide a range of fun planned activities which allow families/carersrespite. |
| • | Listento feedback from members and families and respond. |
| • | Integrateindividuals with complex needs into the About with Friends family. |
| • | Value our staff, Trustees andvolunteers. |
| The Objectives of About with Friends are as follows: | |
| • | Support and encourage every member to grow in knowledge, ability and skill. |
| • | Encourage independence and individual accountability for every member. |
| • | Ensure all members have fun, gain satisfaction from their activities and enjoy life. |
| • | Ensure every member can achieve, feels valued and is part of the team. |
| • | Widen members experiences, expectations and horizons. |
| • | Respond to members needs by actively listening and avoiding assumptions. |
| • | Be realistic to potential possibilities and achievement. |
| • | Develop opportunities for members to build and sustain strong friendships and good working relationships. |
| • | Provide real work opportunities for all members wishing to learn and participate. |
| • | Support freedom of choice and equal opportunities for everyone at AWF (About With Friends). |
| • | Fully involve members in the choices made and the running of their activities. |
| • | Work within the community and alongside other agencies. |
| • | Ensure that all staff, volunteers and trustees are sufficiently trained and knowledgeable to meet the needs of both members and |
| organisation as a whole. |
Activities for achieving objectives
The Charity creates opportunities and support for people with learning disabilities to live the life they choose.
August 2023 – we purchased 22 Holt Road – to make AWF more secure for the long term future, where we already rented 4 units, and became landlords for the other 2 businesses on the site. It does now mean we are no longer vulnerable to being given notice on these 4 units and there would be no other site in Cromer where we could site all 4 units together. It also means we can apply for capital monies to improve the site whereas before no funder would give us money to improve a landlords premises.
Longer term plan, to take over the 2 units used by other businesses and get capital grants to convert them, make them fully accessible for our Bespoke members who often have complex needs.
May 2024 we opened our doors to a new Bistro and tearooms set in the peaceful and idyllic setting of North Lodge Park Cromer, both offering great new environments and learning opportunities for our members.
Work Skills Programme
The Work Skills programme supports members to develop a range of skills in real working environments as well as developing an understanding of the responsibilities, culture and ethos of work. Members are supported by a team of cooks, gardeners, community workers, carpenters, retail and production staff. Work activity includes, working in the tearooms the Bistro running the canteen at NNDC and the community shop, catering for corporate and private events, upcycling furniture, making fabulous craft items, linking with local business, production/woodwork, IT and media, hair and beauty projects, life skills service and other work that benefits the community. We are constantly looking for new opportunities to meet member’s wishes.
We were given a trial contract with NNDC to set up and run the staff restaurant back in 2021. After a very successful first year at NNDC we were invited to tender for a three year contract to run the staff restaurant five days weekly. Due to the hard work and dedication of both members and staff in 2024 we were successfully granted the contract a further year, we have successfully completed four years with amazingly positive feedback from the council and their staffing team. This is a huge achievement and the members are extremely proud to be working in partnership with the local council and thrive within the setting. It has aided us in teaching members a high level of customer service alongside working within a real work environment that has been awarded due to their fantastic efforts.
I just wanted to say thank you for all your help and support over the last few years in terms of all the catering requests etc. You have all done an amazing job and the charity plays and extraordinary role in giving so many young people the attention, skills and knowledge they need to better enhance their lives. You have so much patience and that is admirable.
The Workskills service continued to grow in numbers and the range of skills on offer.
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Hair and beauty salon with PPE measures in place – giving members a chance to learn about hygiene, looking good and looking after yourself. Lots of new skills are developed.
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We have hugely enlarged and updated our IT and media room – making it more soundproof and more self-contained.
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Life skills is based where the old offices were - It has been set up as a real home enviroment enabling our members to learn real life skills to promote their independence in the future relevent to their ability.
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Catering continues to provide service to many events throughout the year and they also provide many sweet treats to the tearooms working closely altogether throughout the services.
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About With Friends
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
Activities for achieving objectives (continued)
Bistro/Tearooms
May 2024 we opened a new Bistro and tearooms situated in North Lodge Park Cromer; our members are fully involved in both the kitchen and front of house. Monday – Saturday the tea rooms offer homemade cakes and refreshments and is run by our members and staff ; Monday – Wednesday the Bistro provides a lunch menu and is run by our members and staff. We are so happy with the success of this new venture, our members have exceeded expectations within the setting, social skills and customer service has been impeccable and every day our members are learning new skills in a real working kitchen.
Thursday – Sundays the Bistro is then open from 12pm – 10pm run by our head chef and front of house staff member, two of our members have been successful and have paid employment in the Bistro, learning new skills and building confidence within a workplace setting, this is a huge achievement and fulfils our charity dream to get our most able members into paid employment. We hope to employ more of our members throughout the year.
I just want to give a big Thankyou to all the staff who run and work at the Bistro, Ten of us visited on Thurs 8th Aug in the evening and it was superb from start to finish. From the ease of booking, venue appearance and cleanliness, the amazing staff and quality/presentation of food, thank you for all that you do
Café/Gardening
Due to pressures place on the charity by the government increase of National Insurance and minimum wage we had to take the decision to close our doors of the community café and gardening service end of March 2025 after 10 years of service. This was not an easy decision made as we know that the services have played a valuable part enabling our members to gain the skills learnt of the years.
The Hollies – Respite House
The Hollies, a family feel 5 bedroomed house where we offer respite breaks providing the highest quality venue, personalised care, a person centred experience supported by our experienced, committed team. Staying true to our ethos, when not being used for respite, the Hollies is managed by our members to also be a successful Airbnb welcoming guests from across the country and beyond. We have a fully accessible downstairs bedroom with wet room and hoisting throughout. This will be the only accessible respite or holiday rental in North Norfolk. Respite has grown in numbers over the last year, we have provided both leisure respite for our members and parental respite for our members.
Respite holidays – for adult social members
We provide a wide range of respite breaks – from weekends, to midweek and longer residential breaks. Members are fully involved in choosing the menu of breaks and enjoy holidays away with their peers. We seek accommodation to meet the needs of our members and their differing interests. These breaks are crucially important to our members and their families and allows real respite and planned time away. We have successfully accommodated 14 respite holidays from April 2024 – March 2025 inclusive of Disneyland Paris/Blackpool/Hall farm cottages and more!
As I didn't see you on Friday, I just wanted to pass on our sincere thanks to yourself and all your staff members for J's respite break at Nancy Oldfield - he had a marvellous, fun packed time and this also enabled us to have a break away ourselves. Thank you again for organising so many fun-filled holidays for our youngsters it really is greatly appreciated and makes a huge difference to us as a family, J is really looking forward to the Chessington break
Adult Social and Leisure Respite Programme for members aged 18 – 80 (oldest member currently)
A wide ranging programme of activities, sports, arts, music, wellbeing sessions and outings, held mainly evenings and weekends enables members to make lasting friendships and undertake leisure activities with their peers. Members are consulted regarding what Highlights usually include;
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Bowling, live music, swimming, a range of sports, boating, festivals, pub nights, and the zoo
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Residential / respite / holidays delivered
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Early delivery of the residential / respite / holiday brochure allowing families/carers the maximum time to plan their own respite breaks and take advantage of cheap deals
Thank you for all yours and the team’s hard work over the last year. K really loves her leisure activities and we just want you to know that we appreciate all you do.
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About With Friends
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
Children Service for children and young people with disabilities ages 9 – 18th birthday.
Numbers of children enjoying our Children’s service remained low with changes in the ways that families accessed respite. Families now have budgets, but the most usual amount we come across is £500 per year, a very small amount when purchasing services for a child with additional, and often complex needs.The threshold had changed, with more able children often receiving no budget and some high need children choosing to have their respite in their specialist schools.
April 2024 we made the decision to ‘park’ the children’s service we felt this was necessary for the sustainability of the organisation, given the financial losses we have endured and continued to suffer, through low numbers, having committed staffing, necessary training provision to staff, a share of our core costs and marketing.
Following our initial meeting with shortbreaks, we had hoped our partnership with Short Breaks would have provided substantially with more input and referrals. Despite our passion for providing service to young people, without referrals, we simply cannot run an effective service. Our last session with the youth members took place in December 2024.
Bespoke service
The programme provides tailored support and development for members with complex needs and learning disabilities who are not in education, employment and/or training of any sort. The programme is person centred and inclusive, developed with positive input from families and professionals. Each individual has their own aims and targets and a well-trained and enthusiastic staff team who form great relationships with those they are working with. Individual timetables are carefully managed, allowing each member to develop at their own pace, listening and responding to their needs at all times and encouraging them to be part of planning their own services. During the last year the Bespoke Service has again shown growth offering services to 13 members and welcoming new members with complex needs all with their own bespoke package of activity and the aim for many of these members is to move on to our Workskills programme. Bespoke has two units allowing our members further space and room for growth, and this has made all the difference. Bespoke service along with other services holds a waiting list.
Highlights centre on the achievements of members including;
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Two members moving into the Workskills programme having built skills and confidence in Bespoke.
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Others spending parts of their day in the Workskills area with increased confidence and tolerance of others.
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Working in partnership with other professionals to support members in their needs, physical and mental health.
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Working closely with members to build their confidence and social skills ensuring they are all an integral part of the community.
A man came up to Louise in Bespoke while trampolining saying he had seen them there before and what an amazing job they do with our members he also mentioned D S-S sign of the week and that he watches them every week and thinks it’s amazing
Supported Living and Outreach
February 2025 we appointed a new Registered Manager Martin Higgins and Outreach Manager Tabitha Bohan; and have extended our work offering a variety of services to 22 people. This service has also built up a very skilled and enthusiastic team who deliver this work. The Supported Living and Outreach Service enables members to live as independently as possible and to be part of the local community. Members are supported in their own homes with domestic tasks, budgeting, banking, medical and other appointments and healthy living. Community Outreach is delivered from people’s own homes and helps individuals get out to do a range of chosen tasks and activities. In our first CQC inspection we achieved ‘good’ across all areas ongoing working person centred support plans and risk-assessments.
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Members growing in confidence and aspirations.
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Members getting voluntary placements, being confident in their community and using its resources.
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Members developing skills so that their service hours can be reduced.
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Measurable outcomes for each individual including cooking, maintaining hygiene and health, healthy eating, budgeting, independence skills, maintaining the home and accessing the community.
Public Benefit
The Trustees confirm that they have had due regard to the Charity Commission's guidance regarding public benefit when planning activities for the year.
About with Friends addresses some of the barriers people with a learning disability face to be included as full members of the community by providing a range of high quality services that enable members to access and engage in the wider community. Volunteers come from local community and support AWF in a variety of ways.
Members are fully integrated into community life, and as well as being service users, actually become supported to give service to others in need. Members are provided opportunities to take part in various interests and activities. Members make friends; develop relationships and new skills and each service is designed to maximise opportunities for members to have a fulfilling life as a valued and equal member of the community.
Our partnership working with local schools continues and has offered placements, work experience, and regular days to children and young people, whilst young adults on long college holidays have been able to purchase work experience days on our Workskills programme.
AWF successfully held last year’s AGM locally. This was later in the year and was combined wuth our members Christmas party. 150 members and their families attended. It was hosted by the trustees, members and the CEO and strategic group.
The charity works hard to provide real working opportunities for members and most other planned events for the year were summer parties, events with members and their families – looking at ‘relationships’ and housing for the future. Our Christmas members lunch and Christmas party are always a firm favourite.
Production – continues to make a wide range of garden and craft items and upcycling of donated furniture and small items. We make a lot of seasonal goods, and the production line is always busy. We have fantastic items being sold in our shop and café with new ranges developed by members and their interests coming up all the time.
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About With Friends
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
Public Benefit (continued)
AWF Community Shop is always a popular choice with our members and now sells many upcycled furniture, homemade candles from our production and even T-shirts/tea towels printed by our members. Our members will makes various items whilst in the shop when welcoming in the local community.
Bistro and Tearooms has already become a local favourite for many in the community whether it’s a morning coffee meet up, quiet afternoons with a book or weekend lunch or evening meal with friends, the kind of place memories are made. We have supported local events and provide a cozy space for gatherings and always make people welcome, our staff and members already know the regulars by name that’s what makes the place a true part of the community.
Achievements and performance
Members remain involved at every possible stage in the running of About with Friends. Their views are important and are listened to, and ongoing development of the Charity is to meet their needs and wishes.
During 2024/2025 the Charity successfully fulfilled all its commitments both financially and to members in order to deliver the best possible outcomes. We continue to work to best value and by sharing of resources between our various services can make every penny count.
Staff training is important in ensuring the Charity meets the needs of its members and a rolling training programme for staff to develop the skills required to meet the ever-changing needs of members is in place. Staff enjoy their training and as an organisation we are committed to it, even providing some delicious refreshments when staff stay on late. New staff on our Outreach service continue to complete the Care Certificate (a set of standards that focus on working in a person-centred way) Our HR Manager Laura is trained to deliver Adult Safeguarding. well being and Manual handling. Liam is trained in delivering PBS Manual handling which has become mandatory for NCC contracts, we also have 2 trained signalong trainers Sam and Beth that are delivering foundation signalong training to our staffing team to enable communication to be smoother between some of our members and staff.
Our Operations Director is NEBOSH trained and Catering manager is IOSH trained as suggested by Health and Safety – and leads on everything Health and Safety wise with a named Trustee James Claxton leading on Health and Safety also.
As an organisation building a reputation for high quality services we are delighted to have achieved ‘GOOD’ reports for all, and outstanding for responsiveness in our inspection in September 2023. We speak regularly to CQC and follow all advice. We embrace CQC standards right through all our services to ensure that we have a high quality standard being adhered to.
Policies remain regularly reviewed by Team and Trustees with updating as needed to meet changing regulation or governance. We currently have 80 policies within AWF. We continue with ‘Safer Recruitment’ processes for the application and selection of staff and volunteers, ensuring that AWF members' safety and welfare are central at every stage of the recruitment process. We also welcome our member to again be part of the interview panel.
Our regular ‘open days’ for recruitment of new staff and volunteers remain very popular. These happen in a daytime when our services are active and participants are shown around our various activities and get a chance to talk to members, see our resources and ask lots of questions from the staff accompanying them. This method of recruitment has enabled us to meet our staffing needs and also build up a good bank of staff who want to work ‘as and when’.
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About With Friends
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
Financial review
Income for the year amounted to £2,660,052 (2024: £2,362,654) and after deducting expenditure of £2,601,045 (2024: £2,264,753) the net income for the year amounted to £59,007 (2024: £97,901).
Reserves policy
Due to the unpredictable nature of charitable income, it is the Trustees' intention to hold an unrestricted reserve of a minimum of six months projected running costs. This currently amounts to £1,282,000.
Total reserves as at 31 March 2025 were £956,969, including £1,700 of restricted funds. Free reserves, represented by net current assets within the unrestricted fund, amounted to £143,431 at 31 March 2025 which covers less than two months running costs.
It will therefore be the trustees aim to continue to build reserves to the required level over a reasonable period of time.
Principal funding sources
The majority of the charity's income comes from local authorities in the form of service payments.
Plans for the future
The charity's business plan identifies the potential for the continual development in service provision over the next 12 months for all service areas.
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Critical ongoing financial cuts from Central Government to NCC and thus budgets of our members, and the cutting of service to our members has been an issue, but I believe we have offered service to more individuals, and our income streams have held up.
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Members are losing additional money as again their Minimum Income Guarantee drops (MIG), and they have to pay money from their benefits for their service - this was a real issue for families and they have been pro-active in complaining about this loss of income. There is concern that members will take less service when it is personally costing them, but they will still need the service on offer.
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The Community Shop, Bistro, and Tearooms continue to embed into the community and look for ways to increase usage and partnerships.
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More co-production work – involving members. Working with specialists and developing a five year plan for AWF to be more informed and to reduce our carbon footprint and working towards becoming carbon neutral mitigating many effects of global change.
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Retail and customer service opportunities will continue to develop as our production lines become more commercially robust and varied We are always on the look out for good craft material that can be recycled and upcycled.
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Backroom systems remain robust; GDPR processes are working well. The NHS toolkit is completed annually and regular scheduled audits take place, along with adhoc audits; to date 83 audits have taken place to identify if there is any support or changes needed within a service. During this period most services have become paperless, we use online databases for HR, staff forms required for their roles and members files/daily notes all keeping in line with GDPR. All management and outreach staff are issued smart phones
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Pro forms database now being utilised in more areas of the management team and amongst the staff team which leads us to all services becoming paper free.
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Phone system working well and linking all services and buildings, we have linked all our phones and internet systems with Premier Links who are our external IT; they are a local company which enables any problems to be dealt with hands on.
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Server recently upgraded – has more capacity and working well. Has good encryption and has remained secure. This now gives greater capability for remote working which will be useful for any further lockdowns.
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Business continuity remains in place for the Charity and a separate Outreach Continuity plan, both of which are shared with the staffing team. we also hold a Risk Register for the Charity – Continuity plans and Risk Register is reviewed and updated where necessary annually.
Structure, governance and management
History / Governing document
About with Friends was founded in 2002 and constituted as a registered charity in 2003. On 1 April 2016, after a successful application, About With Friends became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
6
About With Friends
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
Recruitment and appointment of Trustees
The trustees of About with Friends have the overall responsibility for the governance and strategic direction of the Charity. Trustees are elected to the Board at the AGM and stand for three years. If a Trustee leaves before the end of their term, a replacement Trustee is coopted. The current Trustee Board consists of three officers, (Chair, Deputy Chair and Treasurer) and five other Trustees. Two 'member Trustees' also attend Trustee meetings although they are not full Trustees registered with the Charity Commission. Trustees meet every eight weeks to review strategy and set implementation plans and budgets. Sub-groups may be called prior to meetings if needed and make recommendations to the Trustee Board. The Chair, Treasurer and CEO set the next agenda and review financial information. The Trustees hold an Annual General Meeting to which membership, their families, and professionals are invited.
Trustee induction and training
New Trustees are regularly recruited based on the skills and expertise needed by the Charity. All are given a welcome pack with everything from the constitution, consent forms, codes of conduct, trustee guidelines, charity organogram and meeting dates for the year.
Risk management
The trustees board is responsible for the management of the risks faced by the Charity. A risk management strategy is in place and has been ratified by the trustees. All areas of potential risk are fully discussed at trustees' meetings and systems and procedures are established to manage those risks. Systems, controls and procedures include strategic planning, budgeting, governance structure and lines of reporting, formal written policies (regularly reviewed and added to), hierarchical authorisation and approval levels, and formal agendas and minute taking for trustees' meetings.
Organisational structure
The Charity is managed by the Chief Executive Officer who has the overall responsibility for informing strategy and the general operational management including human and financial resources, service delivery and quality control. Strategic team meet regularly to agree actions going forward.
The CEO is supported by an experienced Senior Management Team including the founder and Executive Director and Operations Director - duties are delegated by the CEO as appropriate to ensure the smooth and effective running of the organisation. The Charity has two senior managers who further support the CEO. A clear Scheme of Delegation is in place to provide clarity of decision making and levels of accountability.
Senior management pay policy
The salary of the CEO is set by the founder/Executive Director, whilst the Ops Director and Executive Director are set by the Trustees with input from others as needed. Independent review of salaries and local salary levels is sought where appropriate. The pay of all staff including Senior Management is reviewed annually and any pay increase/or up-lift in increments made.
There is a clearly laid out and transparent salary banding document which dictates which band staff are in, and the increments that can be attained. Staff may be paid additional increments or bonuses for particular skills, qualifications, changes in legislation. Or service achievement. Salaries are benchmarked against the local staff market.
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About With Friends
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
Subsidiary undertaking
During 2023/24 the Charity set up a fully owned subsidiary undertaking About with Friends Hospitality Limited (company number 15267648). The Charity holds 100 £1 shares in the company which operates catering facilities within Cromer.
All catering services within the group (Canteen/Café/Tearooms/Catering/ Bistro) now come under the limited company umbrella. The company has three Directors and is VAT registered.
Employees and volunteers
An enthusiastic and well trained growing staff team and fantastic volunteers underpin the Charity. At the end of March 2025 the Charity employed 41 full time and 25 part time staff, with a small team of 9 bank workers which is slowly increasing. 11 active Volunteers are a vital and much valued part of the charity that help to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of services this period. During 2015/16 the Charity adopted ‘Safer Recruitment’ processes for the application and selection of staff and volunteers, ensuring that AWF members’ safety and welfare are central at every stage of the recruitment process. Our policies and procedures have been updated regularly since then.
Fundraising standards
The charity carries out limited fundraising activities in connection with its activities. No professional fundraisers or third-party commercial participators are used. There have been no complaints about the charity's fundraising this year. Fundraising is monitored by way of the charity recording all donations and events where income is received. No direct contact is made with the public regarding fundraising activities.
Trustees responsibilities statement
The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Account Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and the group and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including income and expenditure, of the charity and the group for that period.
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the applicable Charities SORP 2019 (FRS102);
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make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume the group will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the group and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the applicable Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations, and the provisions of the Trust Deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
True and Fair override
The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared to give a 'true and fair' view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a 'true and fair' view. This departure has involved following Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with th Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued in October 2019 rather than Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practive effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.
Auditor
Lovewell Blake LLP have indicated their willingness to continue in office for the ensuing year.
The trustees' annual report was approved on 20 January 2026 and signed on behalf of the board of trustees by:
J Claxton Trustee
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About With Friends
Independent Auditor's Report to the Trustees of About With Friends
Year ended 31 March 2025
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of About With Friends (the ‘parent charity’) and its subsidiary (the ‘group’) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities, Consolidated Balance Sheet, Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
In our opinion the financial statements:
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give a true and fair view of the state of the group’s and parent charity’s affairs as at 31 March 2025, and of the group’s incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended;
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have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
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have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the group and parent charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the group and parent charity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the trustees’ annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
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About With Friends
Independent Auditor's Report to the Trustees of About With Friends
Year ended 31 March 2025
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 require us to report to you if, in our opinion:
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the information given in the trustees' report is inconsistent in any material respect with the financial statements; or
-
sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or
-
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records; or
-
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
Responsibilities of the trustees
As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement (set out on page 8), the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the group and parent charity's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the group or the parent charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditor responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
We have been appointed as auditor under section 151 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
-
Enquiry of management and those charged with governance.
-
Enquiry of entity staff compliance functions to identify any instances of non-complianc with laws and regulations;
-
Reviewing financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
-
Performing audit work over the risk of management override of controls, including testing of journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness, evaluation of the business rationale of significant transactions outside the normal course of activities and reviewing accounts estimates for bias.
Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the FRC’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditors/audit-assurance/auditor-sresponsibilities-for-the-audit-of-the-fi/description-of-the-auditor%E2%80%99s-responsibilities-for. This description forms part of our auditor’s report
10
About With Friends
Independent Auditor's Report to the Trustees of About With Friends
Year ended 31 March 2025
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity's trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Mark Proctor FCA DChA (Senior Statutory Auditor)
For and on behalf of
Lovewell Blake LLP Chartered Accountants & statutory auditor Bankside 300 Peachman Way Broadland Business Park Norwich NR7 0LB
Date: 22 January 2026
11
About With Friends
Consolidated statement of financial activities
Year ended 31 March 2025
----- Start of picture text -----
Notes General Restricted 2025 2024
Funds Funds Total Total
£ £ £ £
Income and endowments
Donations and legacies 4 24,018 34,000 58,018 71,852
Charitable activities 6 2,550,288 - 2,550,288 2,252,233
Other trading activities 7 49,955 - 49,955 34,508
Investment income 1,791 - 1,791 4,061
Total income 2,626,052 34,000 2,660,052 2,362,654
Expenditure
Raising funds 8 (11,346) - (11,346) (10,169)
Charitable activities 9 (2,552,605) (37,094) (2,589,699) (2,254,584)
Total expenditure (2,563,951) (37,094) (2,601,045) (2,264,753)
Net income before transfers 62,101 (3,094) 59,007 97,901
Transfers between funds 32,999 (32,999) - -
Net income/(expenditure) and net movement in funds 95,100 (36,093) 59,007 97,901
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward 869,169 37,793 906,962 809,061
Total funds carried forward 19 964,269 1,700 965,969 906,962
----- End of picture text -----
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
The notes set out on pages 15 - 25 form an integral part of the accounts
12
About With Friends
Consolidated and Charity Balance Sheets
Year ended 31 March 2025
----- Start of picture text -----
Notes 2025 2025 2024 2024
Charity Group Charity Group
£ £ £ £
Fixed Assets
Tangible fixed assets 13 1,272,900 1,272,900 1,226,199 1,226,199
Investments 14 100 - 100 -
1,273,000 1,272,900 1,226,299 1,226,199
Current Assets
Stock 15 - 400 - 400
Debtors 16 242,505 102,847 246,507 212,925
Cash at bank and in hand 307,127 353,544 208,694 210,006
549,632 456,791 455,201 423,331
Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year 17 (279,341) (311,660) (256,532) (264,201)
Net current assets 270,291 145,131 198,669 159,130
Total assets less current liabilities 1,543,291 1,418,031 1,424,968 1,385,329
Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year 18 (452,062) (452,062) (478,367) (478,367)
Net assets 1,091,229 965,969 946,601 906,962
Funds of the charity
Unrestricted funds 20 1,089,529 964,269 908,808 869,169
Restricted funds 20 1,700 1,700 37,793 37,793
Total charity funds 1,091,229 965,969 946,601 906,962
----- End of picture text -----
These financial statements were approved by the Trustees and authorised for issue on 20 January 2026 and signed on behalf of the board by:
J Claxton Chair
The notes set out on pages 15 - 25 form an integral part of the accounts
13
About With Friends
Consolidated statement of cash flows
Year ended 31 March 2025
----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2024
£ £
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income for the year 59,007 97,901
Adjustments for:
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets 72,713 55,217
Other interest receivable and similar income (1,791) (4,061)
Interest payable and similar charges 38,469 26,617
-
Gain on disposal of tangible assets (2,500)
Changes in:
Trade and other debtors 110,078 (71,166)
Trade and other creditors 47,455 7,959
Cash generated from operations 323,431 112,467
Interest paid (38,469) (26,617)
Interest received 1,791 4,061
Net cash provided by operating activities 286,753 89,911
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of tangible assets (119,414) (764,818)
Proceeds from disposal of tangible assets 2,500 -
Net cash (used in) investing activities (116,914) (764,818)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from borrowings - 425,000
Repayments of borrowings (26,301) (16,463)
Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities (26,301) 408,537
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 143,538 (266,370)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 210,006 476,376
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 353,544 210,006
----- End of picture text -----
The notes set out on pages 15 - 25 form an integral part of the accounts
14
About With Friends
Notes to the financial statements
Year ended 31 March 2025
1 General information
The charity is a registered CIO in England and Wales. The address of the principal office is Unit 22D, Holt Road, Cromer, Norfolk, NR27 9JW.
2 Statement of compliance
The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), the Charities Act 2011 and UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.
The financial statements have been prepared to give a 'true and fair' view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a 'true and fair view'. This departure has involved following the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland issued in October 2019 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn.
3 Accounting policies
(a) Basis of accounting
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis under historical cost convention, modified to include certain items at fair value. The financial statements are presented in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity and rounded to the nearest £.
The significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all years presented unless otherwise stated.
The charity has a fully owned subsidiary company, About With Friends Hospitality Limited. The subsidiary company commenced trading on 7 November 2023 and the results of this company for the period ended 31 March 2025 are consolidated within these accounts, with the results for the year ended 31 March 2024 consolidated within the prior period accounts.
(b) Going concern
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as the trustees believe that no material uncertainties exist. The trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months from authorising these financial statements. The budgeted income and expenditure is sufficient with the level of reserves for the charity to be able to continue as a going concern.
(c) Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the group and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes. The cost of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
(d) Income
All income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities when entitlement has passed to the charity, it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transactions will flow to the charity and the amount can be reliably measured. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:
• For donations and gifts to be recognised in the charity will have been notified of the amounts and the settlement date in writing. If there are conditions attached to the donation and this requires a level of performance before entitlement can be obtained then income is deferred until those conditions are fully met or the fulfilment of those conditions is within the control of the charity and it is probable that they will be fulfilled.
• Income from investments is included when receivable.
• Income from grants are recognised at fair value when the charity has entitlement after any performance conditions have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. If entitlement is not met then these amounts are deferred.
-
Clothing and other items donated for resale through the charity's shops are included as income within charitable activities when
-
they are sold.
15
About With Friends
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
3 Accounting policies continued
(e) Government grants
Government grants are recognised at the fair value of the asset received or receivable. Grants are not recognised until there is reasonable assurance that the charity will comply with the conditions attaching to them and the grants will be received.
Where the grant does not impose specified future performance-related conditions on the recipient, it is recognised in income when the grant proceeds are received or receivable. Where the grant does impose specified future performance-related conditions in the recipient, it is recognised in income only when the performance-related conditions have been met. Where grants received are prior to satisfying the revenue recognition criteria, they are recognised as a liability.
(f) Expenditure
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Expenditure is recognised where there is a legal or constructive obligation to make payments to third parties, it is probable that the settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. It is categorised under the following headings:
- Expenditure on raising funds comprises the costs associated with attracting voluntary income.
• Expenditure on charitable activities comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
(g) Redundancy payments
Where an obligation to make a redundancy or termination payment exists, the costs incurred by the charity are accounted for on an accruals basis and included within employee benefits.
(h) Operating leases
Rentals payable and receivable under operating leases are charged to the SoFA on a straight line basis over the period of the
(i) Depreciation
Depreciation is calculated so as to write off the cost or valuation of an asset, less its residual value, over the useful economic life of that asset as follows:
| Freehold property | - | 5 - 50 years straight line |
|---|---|---|
| Leasehold property | - | 5 years straight line |
| Motor vehicles | - | 20% - 33% straight line |
| Plant and machinery | - | 15% - 50% straight line |
(j) Stock
Stocks are measured at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell. Cost includes all costs of purchase, costs of conversion and other costs incurred in bringing the stock to its present location and condition. The fair value of donated stock has not been included in these accounts on the basis that it is impractical to obtain a fair value due to the volume of low-value items received and the absence if detailed stock control systems and records.
(k) Debtors and creditors receivable / payable within one year
Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable or payable within one year are recorded at transaction price. Any losses arising from impairment are recognised in expenditure.
(l) Cash at bank and in hand
Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or
(m) Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty
The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. These estimates and judgements are continually reviewed and are based on experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.
(n) Employee benefits
The Group operates a defined contribution plan for the benefit of its employees. Contributions are expenses as they become payable.
(o) Consolidated accounts
For the purposesof the Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities and Balance Sheet which appear alongside those of the charity itself, the charity's subsidiary is considered to be About With Friends Hospitality Limited. The results of the subsidiary are consolidated on a line-by-line basis.
16
About With Friends
Notes to the financial statements
Year ended 31 March 2025
| 4 Donations and legacies Donations Donations Membership Fees Grants Grants |
£ £ £ £ £ £ 20,915 - 20,915 17,759 - 17,759 2,480 - 2,480 2,080 - 2,080 623 34,000 34,623 3,000 49,013 52,013 Total Funds 2024 Unrestricted Funds Total Funds 2025 Restricted funds Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds |
|---|---|
| 24,018 34,000 58,018 22,839 49,013 71,852 |
|
| Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds 2025 Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds 2024 5 Charitable activities £ £ £ £ £ £ Catering income 278,435 - 278,435 125,664 - 125,664 Work Skills service payments 922,589 - 922,589 881,558 - 881,558 Adult service payments 154,529 - 154,529 132,565 - 132,565 Activities income 28,215 - 28,215 25,310 - 25,310 Work Skills - gardening income 5,108 - 5,108 17,782 - 17,782 Members' holiday payments 153,598 - 153,598 125,145 - 125,145 Other Work Skills income 3,058 - 3,058 3,880 - 3,880 Youth service payments 9,065 - 9,065 15,852 - 15,852 Supported Living Income 506,356 - 506,356 503,383 - 503,383 Bespoke income 489,335 - 489,335 421,094 - 421,094 During the year ended 31 March 2025 £Nil (2024: £34,013) of government grants was received. |
|
| 2,550,288 - 2,550,288 2,252,233 - 2,252,233 |
|
| 6 Other trading activities Fundraising events Shop income Airbnb Rental income |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds 2025 Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds 2024 £ £ £ £ £ £ 3,797 3,797 3,579 - 3,579 3,753 3,753 3,065 - 3,065 20,205 20,205 14,914 - 14,914 22,200 22,200 12,950 - 12,950 |
| 49,955 - 49,955 34,508 - 34,508 |
|
| 7 Investment income Bank interest receivable |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds 2025 Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds 2024 £ £ £ £ £ £ 1,791 - 1,791 4,061 - 4,061 |
17
About With Friends
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
| 8 Costs of raising funds Charity shop Wages and salaries 9 Expenditure on charitable activities Wages and salaries Social Security Pensions Rent and rates Insurance Light and heat Telephone Postage and stationery Advertising Sundries Travel and subsistence General repair and maintenance Equipment and venue hire Motor expenses Licences and subscriptions Activities and direct costs Work skills direct costs Consultancy fees Depreciation Bank charges Grants to individuals - Amenity funds Professional fees Training Accountancy Profit on sale of fixed assets Other employee benefits Governance costs |
Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds 2025 Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds 2024 £ £ £ £ £ £ 966 - 966 744 - 744 10,380 - 10,380 9,425 - 9,425 11,346 - 11,346 10,169 - 10,169 Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds 2025 Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Total Funds 2025 £ £ £ £ £ 1,629,077 - 1,629,077 1,444,005 - 1,444,005 140,912 - 140,912 116,051 - 116,051 44,060 - 44,060 35,429 - 35,429 82,483 - 82,483 88,613 - 88,613 7,497 - 7,497 9,211 - 9,211 51,048 22,000 73,048 35,756 11,150 46,906 28,373 - 28,373 31,930 - 31,930 5,642 - 5,642 5,521 - 5,521 311 - 311 2,757 - 2,757 2,222 7,000 9,222 1,823 - 1,823 43,046 3,174 46,220 57,833 1,200 59,033 76,264 - 76,264 85,603 2,625 88,228 6,715 - 6,715 4,187 - 4,187 40,251 - 40,251 44,274 1,100 45,374 9,873 - 9,873 7,264 - 7,264 175,323 4,920 180,243 83,558 - 83,558 10,761 - 10,761 13,867 - 13,867 9,455 - 9,455 11,934 - 11,934 72,521 - 72,521 55,058 - 55,058 42,801 - 42,801 29,196 - 29,196 - - - 1,879 - 1,879 2,533 - 2,533 12,461 - 12,461 18,135 - 18,135 8,874 - 8,874 325 - 325 1,330 - 1,330 (2,500) - (2,500) - - - 31,657 - 31,657 32,701 - 32,701 23,820 - 23,820 17,394 - 17,394 2,552,605 37,094 2,589,699 2,238,509 16,075 2,254,584 |
|---|---|
10 Net income
Net income is started after charging/(crediting)
| Depreciation of tangible fixed assets Operating lease costs 11 Fees payable for the audit of the financial statements Fees payable to the charity's auditor and its associates for other services: Other non-audit services Auditors remuneration |
2025 £ 72,713 76,383 2025 £ 23,820 325 |
2024 £ 88,613 79,843 2024 £ 17,394 1,330 |
|---|---|---|
18
About With Friends
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
12 Staff costs
The total staff costs and employee benefits for the reporting period are analysed as follows:
| Wages and salaries Social security costs Employer contributions to pension plans Other employee benefits |
2025 £ 1,639,343 140,994 44,092 31,657 1,856,086 |
2024 £ 1,453,370 116,093 35,447 32,701 1,637,611 |
|---|---|---|
During the year settlement payments of £Nil (2024: £15,000) were made. There were no outstanding payments as at 31 March 2025 (2024: £nil).
Key management personnel include all persons that have authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the charity, and comprise the members of the Senior Management Team as detailed in page 1. The total compensation paid to key management personnel for services provided to the charity was £220,035 (2024: £201,336).
The average head count of employees during the year was 74 (2024: 69).
No employee received employee benefits of more than £60,000 during the year (2024: £Nil).
13 Trustee remuneration and expenses
During the year no trustees were reimbursed for expenses (2024: £Nil). No other remuneration or other benefits were paid to trustees in their capacity as trustees.
14 Tangible Fixed Assets - Group & Charity
| Long Fixtures, Freehold leasehold Motor fittings and property property vehicles equipment £ £ £ £ Cost As at 1 April 2024 1,188,134 - 96,930 180,469 Additions 36,816 - 17,023 65,575 Disposals - - (12,629) - As at 31 March 2025 1,224,950 - 101,324 246,044 Depreciation As at 1 April 2024 55,166 - 68,874 115,294 Charge for the period 27,288 - 13,116 32,309 On disposals - - (12,629) - As at 31 March 2025 82,454 - 69,361 147,603 Net book value As at 31 March 2025 1,142,496 - 31,963 98,441 As at 31 March 2024 1,132,968 - 28,056 65,175 Capital commitments 2025 £ Contracted for but not provided for in the financial statements. - |
Total £ 1,465,533 119,414 (12,629) 1,572,318 239,334 72,713 (12,629) 299,418 1,272,900 1,226,199 2024 £ 19,422 |
|---|---|
19
About With Friends
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
| 14 Investments - Shares in group undertakings Cost As at 1 April 2024 Additions |
2025 2024 Charity Group £ £ 100 - 100 |
|---|---|
| At 31 March 2025 | 100 100 |
| Impairment As at 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 |
- - |
| Net book value As at 31 March 2025 |
100 100 |
| As at 31 March 2024 | 100 100 |
| All investments shown above are held at valuation. The summary financial performance of the subsidiary alone is: Turnover Expenditure The Charity holds 100 shares of £1 in its wholly owned subsidiary company About With number 15267648) which is incorporated in the United Kingdom. The company operates profits generated by the company will be donated to About With Friends by Gift Aid. |
2024 2024 £ £ 608,919 151,169 (694,538) (190,809) Friends Hospitality Limited (company catering facilities within Cromer. Any |
| Loss | (85,619) (39,640) |
| Amount donated to About With Friends by Gift Aid | - - |
| Net assets/(liabilities) | (125,259) (39,640) |
20
About With Friends
Notes to the financial statements
Year ended 31 March 2025
----- Start of picture text -----
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|15|Stock|
|2025|2025|2024|2024|
|Charity|Group|Charity|Group|
|£|£|£|£|
|Raw materials and consumables|-|400|-|400|
|2025|2025|2024|2024|
|Charity|Group|Charity|Group|
|16|Debtors|£|£|£|£|
|Trade debtors|27,819|29,512|158,596|158,596|
|Prepayments and accrued income|68,876|73,335|47,449|54,329|
|Amounts owed by group undertakings|145,810|-|40,462|-|
|242,505|102,847|246,507|212,925|
|2025|2025|2024|2024|
|Charity|Group|Charity|Group|
|17|Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year|£|£|£|£|
|Bank loans and overdrafts|26,323|26,323|26,319|26,319|
|Trade creditors|13,416|22,586|28,136|28,136|
|Accruals and deferred income|129,814|136,476|92,858|98,887|
|Social security and other taxes|38,859|52,753|27,040|28,680|
|Other creditors|70,929|73,522|82,179|82,179|
|279,341|311,660|256,532|264,201|
----- End of picture text -----
The bank loans are secured on the freehold property of the Charity. Of the loans at the year end, £17,413 (2024: £17,795) is subject to a variable rate of 3% over the Bank of England's base rate and £8,910 (2024: £8,524) is subject to a fixed rate of 2.7%.
----- Start of picture text -----
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|2025|2025|2024|2024|
|Charity|Group|Charity|Group|
|£|£|£|£|
|Deferred income brought forward|87,904|87,904|7,379|7,379|
|Released during the year|(87,904)|(87,904)|(7,379)|(7,379)|
|Deferred during the year|101,188|101,188|87,904|87,904|
|Deferred income carried forward|101,188|101,188|87,904|87,904|
----- End of picture text -----
Deferred income related to payments received in advance on behalf of members for services, and payments for members' holidays.
----- Start of picture text -----
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|2025|2025|2024|2024|
|Charity|Group|Charity|Group|
|18|Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year|£|£|£|£|
|Bank loans and overdrafts|452,062|452,062|478,367|478,367|
----- End of picture text -----
The bank loans are secured on the freehold property of the Charity. Of the loans at the year end, £383,095 (2024: £398,982) is subject to a variable rate of 3% over the Bank of England's base rate and £68,967 (2024: £79,385) is subject to a fixed rate of 2.7%.
21
About With Friends
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
19 Pension and other post retirement benefits
The amount recognised in income or expenditure as an expense in relation to defined contribution plans was £44,092 (2024: £35,447).
| 20 Analysis of charitable funds Unrestricted funds Year ended 31 March 2025 General funds Restricted funds Big Lottery Fund Norfolk Community Foundation - Sir Norman Lamb Fund Norfolk Community Foundation - Household Support Fund (Round 3) Norfolk Community Foundation - Household Support Fund (Round 4) Norfolk Community Foundation - Morrisons Foundation New Anglia LEP Norfolk Community Foundation - Surviving Winter Fund Norfolk Community Foundation - Household Support Fund Norfolk Community Foundation - Hardship Monies Norfolk Community Foundation - Solar Panels Year ended 31 March 2024 General funds Restricted funds Big Lottery Fund Sir Norman Lamb Fund Norfolk Community Foundation - Household Support Fund (Round 3) Norfolk Community Foundation - Household Support Fund (Round 4) Norfolk Community Foundation - Household Support Fund (Round 5) Morrisons Foundation New Anglia LEP |
At 1 April Income Expenditure Transfers At 31 March 2024 2025 £ £ £ £ £ 869,169 2,626,052 (2,563,951) 32,999 964,269 At 1 April Income Expenditure Transfers At 31 March 2024 2025 £ £ £ £ £ 1,000 - - - 1,000 4,920 - 4,920 - - - 500 - - - 500 200 - - - 200 3,174 - (3,174) - - 27,999 - - (27,999) - 2,000 (2,000) - 20,000 (20,000) - 7,000 (7,000) - 5,000 (5,000) - 37,793 34,000 (37,094) (32,999) 1,700 At 1 April Income Expenditure Transfers At 31 March 2023 2024 £ £ £ £ £ 800,191 2,313,641 (2,248,678) 4,015 869,169 At 1 April Income Expenditure Transfers At 31 March 2023 2024 £ £ £ £ £ 1,000 - - - 1,000 4,920 - - - 4,920 500 - - - 500 2,450 - (2,250) - 200 - - 10,000 (10,000) - - - 5,000 (1,200) (626) 3,174 - 34,013 (2,625) (3,389) 27,999 8,870 49,013 (16,075) (4,015) 37,793 |
|---|---|
Transfers between funds
Transfers between funds in the current and previous year represent the capitalisation of fixed asset items purchased from restricted funds awarded.
22
About With Friends
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
20 Analysis of charitable funds (continued)
The Big Lottery Fund awarded funding of £10,000 for two vehicles and signage for the vehicles for Workskills access. £9,000 was used to purchase the two vehicles in the year ended 31 March 2019 and the balance will be spent on signage.
Norfolk Community Foundation: Sir Norman Lamb Fund covers activity costs and staff support for members during respite breaks.
Norfolk Community Foundation: Household Support Fund (Rounds 3, 4 and 5) - provided funding to support households who are vulnerable to the rising cost of living.
Morrisons Foundation provided funding to support projects undertaken by the Charity.
New Anglia LEP provided funding towards the setup of the Bistro.
Norfolk Community Foundation: Surviving Winter Fund provided funding towards hotspots in two locations, being the Tearooms and Café.
Norfolk Community Foundation: Household support fund provided grants for energy and heating bills.
Norfolk Community Foundation: Hardship monies provided funding to support households who are vulnerable to the rising cost of living.
Norfolk Community Foundation: Solar panels fund, used against the cost of solar panels to reduce energy costs.
21 Analysis of net assets between funds (Group)
As at 31 March 2025
| Fixed assets Current assets Creditors less than 1 year Creditors greater than 1 year Net assets As at 31 March 2024 Fixed assets Current assets Creditors less than 1 year Creditors greater than 1 year Net assets |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total Funds 2025 £ £ 1,272,900 - 1,272,900 455,091 1,700 456,791 (311,660) - (311,660) (452,062) - (452,062) 964,269 1,700 965,969 Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Total Funds 2024 £ £ 1,226,199 - 1,226,199 385,538 37,793 423,331 (264,201) - (264,201) (478,367) - (478,367) 869,169 37,793 906,962 |
|---|---|
23
About With Friends
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
Year ended 31 March 2025
22 Analysis of changes in net debt
| Cash at bank and in hand Debt due within one year Debt due after one year |
At 1 April 2024 Cash Flows Other Changes At 31 March 2025 £ £ £ £ 210,006 143,538 - 353,544 (26,319) (4) - (26,323) (478,367) 26,305 - (452,062) (294,680) 169,839 - (124,841) |
|---|---|
23 Operating lease commitments
The total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:
| No later than 1 year Later than 1 year and not later than 5 years More than 5 years |
2025 2024 £ £ 65,161 67,666 106,961 131,007 - 7,500 172,122 206,173 |
|---|---|
The amount of lease payments recognised as an expense in charitable activities during the year is £76,383 (2024: £79,843).
24 Related parties
Unrestricted donations amounting to £Nil (2024: £Nil) were received from Trustees.
Duriing the year gardening services totalling £175 (2024: £158) were provided by the Charity to James Claxton, a Trustee. Of this £Nil was outstanding at the year end (2024: £Nil)
During the year, three close family members of Sam Harwood (CEO of the charity) were employed by the charity. Ms Harwood was not involved in the decision to appoint these employees and they were employed on the same terms as other employees. Total remuneration for the family members for the year was £66,432 (2024: £Nil).
During the year, a close family member of David Register (finance manager of the charity) was employed by the charity. Mr Register was not involved in the decision to appoint this employee and they were employed on the same terms as other employees. Total remuneration for the family member for the year was £8,871 (2024: £Nil).
25 Results of the charity
During the year, the charity made a surplus of £144,628 (2024: £137,541).
25