Friends for Life FRIENDS FOR LIFE BEDFORD Annual Report 202012021 It has been an extraordinary year for Friends For Life. At this time last year. we began to see the care homes we support overcoming many of the myriad challenges brought on by the arrival of the pandemic six months before and, in a few cases. being able to organise garden visits allowing our volunteers to visit their residents in a well controlled environment. The rapid development of the pandemic's second wave last autumn and the subsequent lockdown through the winter cut off once again our ability to visit our care home residents. We returned to our adapted seNice, writing 'lockdown letters., sending in cards and reaching out to our residents through phone and video calls. We saw how some care homes struggled more than others with the fresh challenge of the second wave. Whilst our ability to provide a full volunteer-visiting service was curtailed during last winter, the FFL team tumed to other work. Using the new video technology. the team met frequently to discuss and decide on new priorities, embarking on a review and renewal of our policies and procedures, adapting our service to our care home residents still further and repositioning our fund-raising efforts. all to great success. The Trustees increased their cycle of meetings from every three months to every six weeks so that we could better respond to the fast changing environments that the pandemic brought upon us all. All these efforts - from our team and the Trustees - began to bear fruit as we moved Into the New Year. We received tremendous support from granl funders during this period. Many funders with whom we have a relationship approached us to ask if we needed extra funds, others who we applied to, some for the first time. responded positively and generously. As a result, this year we have raised more money than in any previous year. While some of this was COVID related grants and will not repeat itself. other funds came from existing and new funders seeing what. as a small charity, we were doing for residents in care homes and responded warmly. Today, we have a greater stability to our funding base than we have seen before. Charlie Fay, who looks after our media and marketing, has led the expansion of our profile in the Bedford community. among the ￿hoolS and colleges, with the corporate community and in the care homes themselves. A recent success has been the introduction of 'Robo-cats' which are gifted to a resident. These have proved very popular indeed. We have raised funds specifically for these electronic cats and donors have been enthusiastic in their support for the Cats which provide comfort and joy to our residents. Friends for Life Pauline Carter, who leads our volunteer team, has been very busy. As in any organisation. we have turnover in our volunteer team throughout any year. As volunteers leave us, others join. But, during lockdown. we had to find a way to train them without meeting in one place. So. Pauline developed a Zoom based meeting on Saturday momings where new volunteers in small groups could be trained. This proved to be a great success, attracting a number of young people. including school leavers to join our Volunteer team. With the easing of conditions now. Pauline is due shortly to run the first in-room training session for 18 months. Paul Huggins joined us in April as our Administrator and works closely with Pauline. He has begun to strengthen our database and cO￿rdinate the development and freshment of our policies and procedures. We are glad to have him on our team. Michael Elliott. our Treasurer. has managed the charity's money through the pandemic with efficiency. keeping the Trustees advised of upcoming challenges and reporting frequently on our financial position with clarity and good guidance. Kathryn Hughes. who looks after our fund raising efforts. has had a busy year. Our early concerns that the onset of the pandemic might restrict our ability to raise funds was something Ihat challenged us in the first few months. Our response. guided by Kathryn, was to increase the number and breadth of our grant applications. This proved to be successful and is due. in large part, to the effort put in by Kathryn to research for and write these additional applications. She also put herself (and me!) into various training courses on charity fund raising. Today, our funding position is strong ar)d stable. We can now begin to plan our expansion into more care homes and tske on more volunteers. l am stepping down as the Chair of Friends For Lrfe after a short tenure as I have moved away from Bedford. l am delighted to welcome Lorraine Gunther as our new Chair. Lorraine joins us with a wealth of experience in the Bedfordshire care sector having worked at Relate and Citizens Advice Bureau for many years. On your behalf, I thank our team for their energy, commitment and hard work, especially during the past 18 months. Our charity is in a strong position thanks to each of them. And my th8nks to our Trustees who have similarly worked hard in these most trying of circumstances to ensure Friends for Life is able to prosper and grow. Brian Belcher Chair of the Trustees Friends For Life Patrons The Rt. Reverend Dr Alan Smith, Bishop of St. Albans The Rt Reverend Richard Atkinson, OBE, Bishop of Bedford Mrs Helen Nellis, HM Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire ## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS – 2020/21** - 1) Friends for Life Bedfordshire is a Company Limited by Guarantee with a Board of Trustees/Directors and a Management Committee and is also a Registered Charity. - 2) March 31[st] is the agreed Year-End of this the seventh year of the Company’s operation. Assets from the Company’s forerunner (an Anglican/Methodist joint project) were transferred to the new Company in April 1st 2012 - 3) The Accounts have been drawn up on an Accruals basis. This is a requirement of Companies House and is applied regardless of turnover. - 4) The accounts are examined at the end of each year by an Independent Examiner. Being classed as a ‘Micro Entity’ no audit is required (Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006) unless requested by the members. The accounts need to be filed with Companies House by 31[st] .Dec 2021. As our income exceeded £25,000 there is a requirement to also file the accounts with the Charity Commission by January 31[st] . 2022. - 5) The Company is registered with HMRC as a charity for Gift-Aid purposes. - 6) We have been exempt from filing accounts with HMRC for the last 4 financial years but these accounts, for FY 2020/21, will need to be filed by March 31[st] .2022. - 7) The Company’s liquid assets are held in an HSBC Business style account which is free of charges. An additional savings account is linked to the current account to separately hold the Reserves Fund. A small amount of interest is paid on this latter account. - 8) Major office equipment, furniture, software and computers having a value of over £250 are declared as assets on the balance sheet and depreciated linearly. Any smaller resource or training materials acquired during the year are written off in that year. - 9) Friends for Life has an account with Virgin Money Giving which enables supporters to donate to sponsored events online. FFL is also registered with CAF and Donorfy. - 10) The Company has no Employees though certain tasks are ‘bought-in’ by means of ‘Contracts for Services’ agreements. Invoices arising from these are settled monthly. Since 2019 a 2[nd] floor office has been rented in the CVS building at 43 Bromham Road, Bedford, MK40 2AA. - 11) The Company Directors, Secretary and Treasurer receive no remuneration as result of their office. - 12) All income was derived through Grants, Donations, Membership Fees and fund-raising events. We are especially grateful for the support of Independent Age, The Allen Lane Foundation, Bedford Borough Council, BLCF, Gale Family Trust, St John’s Hospital, Butterfield Trust, House of Industry, Municipal Charities plus generous individuals and organisations. ____________________________ Michael Elliott Hon. Treasurer – Friends for Life Bedfordshire. Friends for Life Bedfordshire is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales, Company number 7951058, and also a Registered Charity number 1165730. Registered Office – 43, Bromham Road, Bedford MK40 2AA Balance Sheet ear ended 31st. March 2021 for the Friends for Life Note.. Detm't balances are Sh￿￿￿) in parenth￿8. 2020121 201912020 Tanglbl• A8s6ts Office Equipm8nl 4011.1 772.85 Non-Tanqlbl• AsB•t• Cash in hand. HSBC Bu&ness current alc Mth. 31 st. HSBC Bus. Money Manager alc Mch. 31st. other Ass8ts 16,611.93 16,289 28 10.354.24 10.031.17 ,912.31 21.158.C8 Add debtors, loans and prepaymonts Loss.. uedilors and provisions 12,349.621 11.6S1.741 .56269 Repmorted by: Brought foNArd from wevious year. Plus.. exr*ss of In￿)rne Expenditure 19,496.32 15,Oe6.37 13,626.27 5,870.05 34 562.69 For the year endlnq 31 March 2021 the company was entitled to exemption from audlt under sectlon 477 of the Compènles Act 2CM)6 relatlni to small companles The rnernbers have I￿t requlred the company to obtaln an audlt of Its a¢counts for the year In questlon In actordanee wlth sectlon 476 The d5￿ctorS acknowledge thelr responsibilities for cornplying with the requlrements of the art with respert to accounting rttords and the preparation of accounts These accounts have been prePa￿d In accordance wlth the special prov151on for small Companies under part 15 of the Companies Act 2C¥)6 and with the Financlal Reportlng Standar for Smaller Entities leffectNe April 2￿8) The accounts were approved by the directors and authorised for issue at the AGM on 11 th October 2021 and were si8ned on thelr behalf by: Signed Date Fiierd%fL¥ LrfÈ Bedfudatwe 6 a cy)mFWty bYg￿r8rtee ￿ EWJ Waleo 7951058 •K1 aly) a rèJ*er8J L￿rty rnmt* 1165T3J. Rtyistw•J OffKx- 43, Brty7**m Rwt. Friends for Life Bedfordshire |**Income & Expenditure Account**
**for the year ended 31st March 2021**
**2020/21**
**£**
Examined
(Accruals Acct.)
**Income**
Membership Fees (1)
270.00
Grants (2)
38,934.87
Donations (3)
2,502.58
Fund Raising Events (4)
1,362.71
Interest on Reserve Account
5.11
Other Income (5)
-
**Total Incoming Resources**
**43,075.27**
**Expenditure**
Fundraising Lead
5,060.00
Volunteers Trainer
120.00
Volunteers Coordinator
6,870.00
Media & Marketing Lead
5,872.50
Office Admin. Asst.
1,835.00
DBS & Misc training costs(6)
403.70
Website Support & Phone
385.39
Publicity & Events
234.95
Insurance & Legal
847.86
All Travel
29.50
Printing/Post/Staionery
150.56
Resources & Misc. Expenses (7)(8)
670.91
Office Rent
4,142.04
Depreciation of Assets
1,386.49
**Total Resources Expended**
**28,008.90**
**Income less Expenditure**
**15,066.37**
**43,075.27**|**2019/20**
**£**
Examined
(Accruals Acct.)
325.00
23,298.99
4,163.50
947.31
17.25
159.22| |---|---| ||**28,911.27**| ||3,287.50
900.00
6,706.25
3,887.50
491.50
456.53
136.88
1,410.80
736.88
352.20
413.48
1,596.52
2,334.05
331.13| ||**23,041.22**| ||**5,870.05**
**28,911.27**| **Notes** - 1 Comprised 5 Individual, 4 Church and 1 Corporate Memberships. - 2 i.e.Funds from a Grant making body following an application process - 3 Usually from individuals, companies, voluntary groups etc. - 4 Includes 2.6 Challenge, 'Give as You Live' and misc. - 5 n/a - 6 Excludes the Vol. Coordinator & Trainer Fees. - 7 Includes - Strategy Review Fee, Grants Directory, Course Fees, Badges and Fee to Co. House. 8 Excludes Capitalised Items Friends for Life Bedfordshire is a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales. Number 7951058 and also a registered charity number 1165730 Registered Office: 43, Bromham Road, Bedford MK40 2AA ## Friends for Life Bedfordshire |**Reserve Account- Balance & Transfers**
**for the year ended 31st March 2021**
**(This account is classed as Designated but Unrestricted)**
**2020/21**
**2019/20**
**£**
**£**
Examined
Examined
(Accruals Acct.)
(Accruals Acct.)
**Income**
Transfers from General Acct.
6,253.00
5,000.00
Interest Added (1)
5.11
17.25
Other income.
0.00
0.00
**Total Incoming Resources**
**6,258.11**
**5,017.25**
**Expenditure**
Transfer to General Acct.
0.00
0.00
**Total Resources Expended**
**0.00**
**0.00**
**Income less Expenditure**
**6,258.11**
**5,017.25**
**Previous Balance Brought Forward**
**10,031.17**
**5,013.92**
**Total Reserves**
(2)
**16,289.28**
**10,031.17**|**Reserve Account- Balance & Transfers**
**for the year ended 31st March 2021**
**(This account is classed as Designated but Unrestricted)**|**Reserve Account- Balance & Transfers**
**for the year ended 31st March 2021**
**(This account is classed as Designated but Unrestricted)**|**Reserve Account- Balance & Transfers**
**for the year ended 31st March 2021**
**(This account is classed as Designated but Unrestricted)**| |---|---|---|---| |||
**2020/21**
**£**
Examined
(Accruals Acct.)
6,253.00
5.11
0.00
**6,258.11**
0.00
**0.00**
**6,258.11**
**10,031.17**
**16,289.28**|
**2019/20**
**£**
Examined
(Accruals Acct.)
5,000.00
17.25
0.00| ||||**5,017.25**| ||||0.00| ||||**0.00**| ||||**5,017.25**
**5,013.92**| ||||**10,031.17**| ## **Notes** - 1 Currently 0.01% 2 Current Reserves Policy is to hold 6mths expenditure or at least £10k. Friends for Life Bedfordshire is a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales. Number 7951058 and also a registered charity number 1165730. Registered Office: 43 Bromham Road, Bedford, MK40 2AA Friends for Life Bedfordshire Balance Sheet ear ended 31st. March 2021 for the Friends for Life Note.. Debit balancos aro shovm in parenlh8SiS. 2019120 Tanglbl• AM•t• Office Equipment. fLmitUTV & Cumpulw5 4011.1 772.85 Non-Tanglble AM•ts Cash in h8r)d. HSBC Business cajrrent alc Mch. 31$1. HSBC Bu8.Monay Manager Mch. 31st. Other Assets 16,611.93 16,289.28 10,354.24 10,031.17 36,912.31 21.158.C6 Add debtors, bans and pr•paY￿￿9 Less.. creditors and provisi￿9 12,349.62 11,861.741 496. R•prnMnt•d by: Brought f0Th￿d frcffl previous year. Plu$.' oxcess of Income over Expervjiture 19,4*.32 15,CE6.37 13,626.27 5,870.05 .562.69 19496. Independent Examlnerfs Report I have examlned the books of the Company and agree thatthe Income and Expendlture Account for the year and the 8alance Sheet presented above give a true and fair representstion of the finanoal position. Si8ned Mr. lan Farthing Dated J alw a re*ed ttsty 1165730.