b:friend Annual Report Nov-22/Oct-23
b:friend is a charity registered in the UK with registered Charity Number 1171148.
Norah & Harvir
Norah: “I feel that my life has become richer since I have a befriender. It becomes richer the more people you know, and are in touch with, and it widens your horizons. I feel better having contact with other people, everyone needs that. It is nice to be interested in others, and have someone else who is interested in you.”
Harvir: “Norah has not only given me amazing friendship these past few months but has shared wisdom, knowledge and compassion in such a unique way. I'm really lucky to have become friends with Norah.”
Norah: “It clicked so easily with him, he is so easy to be with. I was a bit nervous at first, what if I didn't have anything in common with a younger man? But Harvir is lovely. I feel he is not just doing this out of duty, but a true friendship developed between us.”
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A message from our CEO
As I reflect on the past year at b:friend, I can't help but feel incredibly proud of what we've achieved together. Taking the reins as CEO in 2022 from Mike, b:friend’s founder, has been quite the journey, and I've loved every minute of it.
This incredibly passionate and creative team have been a real pleasure to get to know and I’m in awe of them for their tireless commitment to the cause. I’ve met so many volunteers who are the backbone of our organisation, dedicating their time and energy to building connections and fostering friendships. Their kindness has made a world of difference in our community, and I'm endlessly grateful for their dedication.
Getting to know our older neighbours over countless cups of tea has been a real privilege. Hearing their stories has really brought home the profound impact of b:friend. It's also opened my eyes to the societal issues they face – from loneliness and isolation to health challenges and beyond.
Stories are what b:friend is built on. Some of them are included in this report, along with a handful of stats and updates that hopefully give you an idea of what we’ve been up to and the successes and challenges that the last year has presented.
I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has been a part of our journey this past year – our volunteers, staff, supporters, and partners. Your generosity and support have been invaluable, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to work alongside each and every one of you. Here's to another year of friendship, connection, and positive change.
Cheers,
Colette Bunker, Chief Executive Officer of b:friend
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Vision Mission Values
Vision
At b:friend, our vision is a world where all older neighbours can connect, laugh and inspire others every day.
Loneliness sucks, and we want to help end it. For older people, loneliness is something that doesn’t happen overnight, it creeps up on you. It’s influenced by life events such as deteriorating health, decreased mobility and the passing away of partners and friends. Having no family close by and having to stop driving (from health or confidence issues) can also lead to an older person spending more time alone in their home. 42% of people over 65 live alone. This is set to rise to over 50% by 2041 (ONS data).
Loneliness can lead to depression, coronary disease, weaker immune systems and dementia – it’s as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Not only do we want older people to live longer and healthier lives, we want them to have fun! So we don’t take life too seriously and we make sure to challenge stereotypes when it comes to ageing. We also believe that society is missing out on the stories and experiences that older people have to offer. Reconnecting isolated people with their community can lead to younger generations gaining insights and wisdom from their older neighbours.
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Vision Mission Values
Mission
Our mission? To facilitate meaningful friendships and enjoyable connections between people and communities
We want to reignite that spark of joy in older people that they may have lost along the way, something that only true friendships can do. So we’re not time-limited and we never charge for friendship. That way, both older neighbours and befrienders know that their connection is genuine and long lasting. Real friendship and social connection can create a sense of self-worth, build confidence and resilience and improve mental and physical wellbeing. In many cases, friendship really can save lives.
Values
Our values are at the heart of everything we do.
We are…
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FUN
No two weeks are the same with b:friend. We celebrate later years and we know from experience that being old in body doesn’t mean being old in mindset. Mental wellbeing is our priority, having something to look forward to and having a good old giggle should be something everyone can enjoy.
BOLD
We challenge the stigma around ageing; bingo is banned at b:friend. We’d much rather be cheerleading, boxing or exploring exotic cultures. We never sit still, we are constantly thinking up new, innovative ideas and ways of making older people’s lives richer.
DOWN-TO-EARTH
We are firmly rooted in the local community and everything we do is with a strong sense of place. Being led by our community anchors us to our purpose. You’ll see no fancy business speak here, we say what we mean and we mean what we say.
EMBRACING
Friendship is for everyone and everyone is welcome at b:friend. We strive to break down divisions created by age, heritage, digital skills and social norms and make sure people feel comfortable to be themselves.
PASSIONATE
The cause drives us and we believe in it whole heartedly. We always have the voice and the best interests of our older neighbours in mind, but you’ll never hear us use the word ‘beneficiary’. Our older neighbours give as much joy and value back to their befrienders and their communities as they receive.
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WHAT WE DO
A year in numbers
by the end of FY 22/23 we have delivered…
Volunteering hours 34,440
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528
694
2,619
181
Social Clubs benefiting 169 older neighbours per week
Social Club sessions where no two weeks are the same (that’s over 1000 hours of laughter yoga, ballet, neurobics, mandala art, murder mysteries, drumming, boxing, curling and armchair travels to Croatia, Egypt and Hungary...plus hundreds more fun sessions!)
Active friendships (That’s over 36,000 cuppas!)
Friendships created since inception
New pairings
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WHAT WE DO
A year in numbers
825 older neighbours engaging on a weekly basis
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2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
80 180 350 680 700 782 825
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Our focus for 22/23
Our strategic focus for 22/23 was two-fold:
Futureproofing Infrastructure
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B:friend has grown year on year in terms of both turnover and number of people supported. This year our focus was to ensure that all our systems, processes, policies and procedures were robust and fit for purpose as we grow. We have focused on safeguarding in particular through new training, policies and processes and set ourselves a target to appropriately respond to all serious incidents within one working day. We have also made changes to our team roles and structure in order to create capacity for growth.
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Service Design
B:friend has a focused offering; one to one friendships and Social Clubs. Because of this simplicity, we have the capacity to really master our approach to creating community connection. This year we spent time as an organisation distilling down our ‘recipes for success’ as well as experimenting with different delivery models such as volunteer-led Social Clubs, online Social Clubs and blended telephone/face to face befriending to ensure we remain flexible and can adapt to differing needs. Our focus on service design also included the formation of our ‘Friends of b:friend’ consultation group to guide us in our work and keep us focused on our ultimate goals. We have also put new impact measurement processes in place in order to become more evidence based and data-driven as an organisation.
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HIGHLIGHTS
Expansion
A hugely successful partnership with Strata as their Charity of the Year, led to an incredible fundraising total of £145,000 raised by Strata’s staff, suppliers, family and friends. The funds raised have helped b:friend take the first steps to expanding into the new region of Nottinghamshire, with the aim of changing the lives of 126 older neighbours in the region within the first year.
New Clubs
We identified a need and demand for a new Club in Askern, Doncaster, this year, and we also launched our first ever volunteer-led Club in Chesterfield, a model that we want to replicate in all the areas we work in to reach even more isolated people. Both Clubs have gone from strength to strength, and this means 30 more older neighbours can benefit from weekly activities and social connection. By the end of the year, we were also preparing to launch our first online Social Club, partnering with other organisations that could offer digital inclusion training and referrals.
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HIGHLIGHTS
Innovative projects
We often hear from our older neighbours that they feel overlooked, ignored and invisible in their community, so a few years ago b:friend created a theatre show called ‘b:heard’, where we hire out a local theatre and paying audiences are regaled with tales and
adventures from some of our older neighbours. This year we had a sold-out show and the stories were captured for posterity by Heritage Doncaster.
We also experimented with a project called ‘b:seen’, an equivalent for those with artistic skills, where we held a month long exhibition of their works in the lobby of a local theatre and held a launch party. Participants in these events said they felt valued, ‘seen’ and one b:heard performer said they felt like a ‘rock star for the night’.
Thanks to Temasek, a corporate partner, we were also able to launch our ‘buck-it’ project, where older neighbours could choose to do something they never thought they would get a chance to do in later life. Outings included a glider flight 2000ft above the Peak District, a trip to Ru Paul’s Drag Race Live, and afternoon tea on a London Bus.
I had an amazing day at the Gliding Club. It was fantastic! It’s been exactly 70 years since I’d flown as a schoolboy in the Air Training Corps.
(John, buck-it project participant)
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HIGHLIGHTS
New Website
This year, we launched a shiny new website with the aim of providing seamless user journeys for volunteers, referrers and supporters. Thanks to input from our ‘Friends of b:friend’ consultation panel, we have content designed by and for older neighbours who visit our site. We also now have dynamic content where our community can keep up to date and involved with everything we’re up to.
Let’s party!
Another first for b:friend, thanks to funding from TNLCF: Awards for All, we could bring all 160 Social Club members together in one room to celebrate the King’s Coronation.
It’s really good to have a chance to celebrate with people of your own age. There was a singer, and it is surprising how older people like to get into the swing of things. It takes years off you, really.
(Older neighbour Terry about the Coronation Party)
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CHALLENGES
It hasn’t all been plain sailing but we believe the work we have put in this year has, and will continue to, allow us to adapt to challenges as they occur.
Cost of living crisis
This year we have made great efforts to respond to the widescale impact of the cost of living crisis. Our Social Clubs moved beyond a place to have fun each week, and became a vital source of warmth and sustenance, especially through the winter months. We benefited from our close-knit networks in the public, private and voluntary sectors in various ways; some came along to our Social Clubs and gave talks on keeping a warm home, budgeting and how to make sure you’re claiming all the benefits you’re entitled to. Others we knew had services we could signpost to for the most vulnerable. Thanks to cost-of-living specific funding, in certain instances we could provide warm food and supermarket vouchers to help ease the pressure on our older neighbours. We now have a model of support that we can replicate in future years.
Fundraising Environment
We are incredibly grateful to our supporters this year, in particular our friends at Strata and all those who fundraised with them for what has been a record year for income at b:friend. That said, as we look ahead, with the increased costs that come with organisational growth and high inflation, and as the fundraising environment continues to get more competitive, sustainability has never been more important at b:friend. We want to be around sparking new friendships and community connections for many years to come, so this year, we invested in a Fundraising Manager role in order to build capacity to seek more funding and help us diversify our income streams. We now have a strategy in place for the coming years to work towards our financial sustainability in the longer term.
Falling volunteer numbers
This is a national issue and b:friend have not been immune. Volunteering take-up is lower than pre-pandemic levels and we have been working really hard to make sure people understand that befriending with us isn’t your typical volunteering role. Loneliness hasn’t gone away now that the pandemic has ended and it’s important that we all take the time to nurture our relationships and be open to situations for new friendships to blossom. We have invested in a Communications Officer role and are experimenting with different ways of reaching people to ensure that we continue to grow our movement of kindness and friendship as the years go on. We now have a communications strategy in place that is dynamic and focuses on volunteer recruitment in order to guide us in our decision making for the coming years.
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Our plans for 23/24
In the upcoming year, our focus will be on further expansion as we extend our services into Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. Additionally, we will remain committed to enhancing our digital infrastructure and diversifying our income streams. Our efforts in South Yorkshire will proceed as usual, with an unwavering dedication to continual service enhancement and reaching out to support as many isolated older neighbours as we can. Alongside this, we will be launching innovative projects that aim to increase awareness of loneliness and isolation and shine a light on the value of older people in the community.
Delivery targets
Income targets
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24% increase in older neighbours supported
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Maintaining 85%+ improvement in older neighbour wellbeing after 6 months
Achieve an income stream split of 75% trusts and foundations and 25% ‘other’ income
- Create 42,706 volunteering hours
I didn't have anybody until I met [my befriender] Diane. I don't know if I could have coped without her... She's my best friend. (Older neighbour John)
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FINANCE
How we spent £1
The majority of our costs are on staffing who deliver our befriending project across the region, support volunteers and older neighbours and make local connections.
The full cost of running a weekly social club for 1 year = £5,533
The full cost of setting up a befriending pairing for 1 year = £230
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77% Staffing 3.50% Rent & Insurance
17% Project Costs 0.50% Professional fees
0.50%
Marketing
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OUR IMPACT
From our 1:1 befriending, our impact shows there is a 66% increase in overall life satisfaction after 6 months and 92% say their life had become richer since being involved with b:friend.
Here’s what our older neighbours said:
“b:friend has saved my life. I was ready to give up when I lost my husband, but now I have something to look forward to.”
“It’s (the befriending) been a real lift for me – it’s got me wanting to keep going to the gym and other places – I feel less mixed up in my head.”
“My befriender made a difference to my life, you know, because I didn’t want to be here before I met her. It’s changed my life.
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OUR IMPACT
Of our Social Club members:
96% Made new friendships
77% Learnt something new
74% Felt more connected to the community
54% Have become more physically active
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“My doctor told me to come to the Club because I was in a bad way after my wife died, and the counselling didn’t help. It’s the best thing I could have done. I really enjoy it.”
Our volunteers rate their befriending experience 9/10 (where 1 is poor and 10 is excellent)
“It’s very much a two-way street. We get as much out of it as they do. There’s a huge age gap between me and my neighbour, you might think what on earth do you have in common. I know I find it as uplifting as she does”.
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CASE STUDIES
Volunteer Chris’ befriending journey
Chris came to us as a volunteer to help out at our Balby Club because he was feeling lonely and wanted to get involved. As he got to know b:friend he decided to become a befriender too and now visits not one but three older neighbours, Alan, Frank and Stephen every week. Last Christmas he visited Alan on Christmas Day and Frank on Boxing Day. Chris told Karen, our Befriending Coordinator, “My week is so full now and I’m so much happier. I don’t know what I did with myself before I was introduced to b:friend”.
“My week is so full now and I’m so much happier. I don’t know what I did with myself before I was introduced to b:friend”.
John’s gliding adventure
John, a former university professor, found himself feeling isolated and lonely in his later years, so we matched him with his now good friend Evelyn. John had been a keen glider as a teen and never thought he would get the chance to do it again, so as part of our ‘buck-it’ project we arranged a glider flight for him 2000ft above the
Derbyshire Peak District. It was touch and go as to whether or not John would be able to fly - one of the criteria was to be able to get in and out of a bathtub unaided and at the time we arranged the flight, he wasn’t sure he could do it. But over the weeks leading up, and with encouragement from Evelyn, John practiced every day until he had developed the strength and mobility to take that glider flight. In a Christmas card to Sara, his Befriending Coordinator, John wrote, “I have been elated about that for the rest of the year…thank you, thank you, thank you!”
“I have been elated about that for the rest of the year…thank you, thank you, thank you!”
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CASE STUDIES
Sue & Shane: a friendship across generations
Shane and Sue met through b:friend over two years ago. After Sue lost her husband and Shane’s grandmother passed away, they were both looking for a meaningful connection – and found friendship in an unexpected place.
The duo quickly formed a firm friendship. They enjoyed catching up over a cuppa or going out together, and Shane even met Sue’s family. Shane introduced Sue to his partner, Max, who also joined the visits. Max performs as a drag artist, and Sue has been to see his shows with Shane and loved them.
Sue said: “I was lonely you see. I'd been married for 53 years and knew my husband for 58 years and all of a sudden he was gone. So, to me I was lonely.”
Although Sue attended a bereavement support group and her family encouraged her to get out more, she said she felt it didn’t help, so she used to stay in a lot. She said the befriending with Shaun was just what she needed: “I just needed somebody different. (...) I really enjoyed the fact it was different. It's happened to be a new life to me. I've never done this before and you know, I've been 58 years really in my own little world, and I've come out of it, and it's different and it's nice.”
Shane said: “I lost one of my grandparents, I lost my Nana, and I felt like I've got a bit of a hole in my life. I saw this advert on Facebook and I thought, ‘why not I’ll give it a go’, and I got paired with Susan. I remember coming around the first day and I expected a shy, retiring elderly, maybe watching The Chase on an evening, and it's certainly not what I've got! But we're very happy, aren't we? I think we suit.”
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Our partners
We'd like to extend thanks to the awesome organisations that partner with our project. Their commitment to reducing isolation is significant & we're able to achieve huge impact as a result of their belief in a more connected society.
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Our People: The Team
Colette Bunker, Chief Executive Officer
Karen Booker, Befriending Coordinator
Rayella Broomhead, Programme Manager
Laura Coucom, Befriending Coordinator
Sara Kopecsni, Senior Communications Officer
Rachael Mullen, Befriending Coordinator
Jenny Pitman, Programme Manager
Helen Twelves, Fundraising Manager
Maryanne Wylde, Project Officer
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Our People: The Board of Trustees
Simon Moxon, Chair of the Board of Trustees
Clare Legg, Treasurer
Becky Marlor
Matthew Lollar
Let’s end loneliness together, let’s b:friend!
b:friend is a charity registered in the UK with registered Charity Number 1171148.
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11;FRllI ND (A charitable ineorpui'ated oi'ganislltioii limited by gllai'antee) REI PORT AND fiINANCIAL STA TEI MENTS FOR THE YEAR E4NDEI D 31 OCTOBEI R 2023 CHARITY NUMBER 1171148 COMPANY NUMBEIR CE009648
B:FRIE4 ND CONTEI NTS Page MANAGEME4 N'f COMMITTEE REI PORT INDEI PENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT ST ATED[l NT ofi fi INANCIAL ACTIVITIES BALANCE SHEET NOTES TO THI ACCOUNTS 9-15
MANAGEMLNT COMMITTEt El REPOR T FOR THE PERIOD ENDEI D 31 ocfoBf4 112023. Tbe ManagenieIit Comniiltee pi'esei)Is its itporl aiid accounts for the yeai. ended 31 Octobei. 2023. Chai'ity Ènfoi'inatloii Maiia emeiil Coiiiinitlee Sinion Moxoii Lucy Cole Ta Walkei. Clai'e Legg Louis Siokes Icloe Tegg Matthew Lollar Rebecca Robei'ts Chaii'speiEoii- Appoiiiled Api'il 2023 Acting Chaiipei'soii - Resigiied July 2023 Ti'ea.sui'ei' Re8igi)ed M1( I'ch 2024 Tiedslll'ei - Appointed March 2024 Noii-Bxeculive membei' Resigned Augiist 2023 Noii-Executive nieinber- ReSi]ed febi'uai'y 2023 Non-Excciilivc niembei - Appointed Api'il 2023 Non-Execiitive niembei'_ Appoiiited Api'il 2023 Cliat'ity Regtsts'atioii nunibei. 1171148 Charity I'egi.%tei'ed office aiid Opei'<tCional addTess Uiiii 315 The Woikslatioii 15 Palei'Iioslei Row Sheffield 812BX SecielEll'y None Indepeiid¢i)É examiiier Smith Ci'aveii (Yoi'kshiir) Ltd Sidings Hoiise Sidings Court Doncastei. DN4 5NU Baiikei's Santaiidei UK PIC Doiicastei.
MANAGEIMEI NT COMMITTEI E REI PORT fiOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 OCTOBEI R 2023 Sti'ueturey govei'nance and management Govei'iiin Docunicnt The oigaiiisatioii is a chai'itable incoi'poialed oi'ganisation formed 011 17 Junuw'y 2017 aiid irgislei'ed as a cbaiity. The cliai'ity was eslabllhed uiidei- a Constitutioii which establishes tlie objects aiid powei's of the cliaritable company aiid is goveined uiidei its Coiislitulioii. Iii the evenl ol the chilY beiiig wound up membei's al'e reqiilled lo cotitilbute ali amouiit not exceediiig £1. Reci'uitmeiit and A ointnieiit of Mai)a ement Commillee The Truslees of the chai'ity for the pui'poses of chaiity law and undei. the cliaiity's Coiistitiitioii al'e kiiown as membei's of Ilie Maiiagei)ient Comniffttiee. Undei. the i'equiienieiils of the Constilution the meiiibeLS of the Maiiagemenl Comniillee al'e elected io seive fol a peiiod of lkn'ee yeais aftei. which they Lnu81 be i'e- eleeled al Ihe iiext Aiiiiual Geiiei'al Meetiiig. Ob'ective8 and Activities The objectives of the cliai'ity al'e to pi'oniote social iiiclusion amoiigst eldei'ly peiBOllS. iii particulai., biit not excliisive to ovei 65's, iesÉdent in Biigland and Wales and Ihe suLI'ouiidiiig E7C s who al'e excluded by society, by piDvision of: Befi'iending seivices lkn'ough weekly ouli'each to individuals. SLich oilici. ways fA'oni time to tinie as the liustees see fit in fuiiliel'ance with said objects. B'.Fi'ieiid is a iiot- foA'_PL'ofit oi'gaiii.%atioii. B.'Fi'iciid i)allS voluiiteei befi'ieiidei's with socially Ésolaled oldei iieighbouis in Iliu Lonimuiii¢y with the aim of i'ediicing loJ]eliness by i'eengagiiig willi people nd places ai'ouiid them. OUA. key activities I:1 befi'ieiidiiig paii'ings, visiting once a week foi. a "cuppa" aiid a chat. B:Fiiend also provides two l)oui' social clubs, held in vaiious locatiOLlS Ihat offer peei support IlllX)ugli a i'aiige of physically aiid meLilally stimulatiiig sessions, All activities undei'lakeii by tlie chaL'ily ale to benefit people til 11)c coniinuiiity, be tliey volui)teei's oi. oldei- neighbout's. and all ieniain equitable witli seivices fl'ee at the point of deliveiy. Ti'uslees eiisiii'e all dCtiVLties e iii accordaiice with the cliai'ity objecls outlined in the coiislitution and e foi. Ihe publtc beiiefit.
MANAGEMfNT COMMITTEI E RE4 POIIT FOR THE YE* AR I NDfi D 31 OCTOBEI R 21123 Achievements and perfoi'jnance Iii the repoi'tiiig period, (he ch¢Uity has ckealed ovei 290 x I,. I befiiendiiig pall'il)gs acioss Doiicasler, Bainsley. Sheffield, Roiliei41aiii, Chestet'field, Bolsovei. aiid Noi'ih E1< sl Dei-bysliiie. In addilion lo tliis oui. teani has SLipporled aiid managed an addilioiial 700 x l., I befi'iending paii'ii)gs ali'eady iii existence. Facililaled appiDxiniulely 1008 hoiii's of Social Club activity aci'oss the i'egioii witli weekly activity, peei. siippoi't aiid enlerlainment. Collaboi'aled with 89 oihei chkii-ity aiid colnIniCY gi'oups, aloiig willi slatiitory healil) aiid social Lare colleagues, on widei. social clialleliges faced aci'oss towns ai)d Lities we woi'k iii. CIEaled ovei. 32,160 voluiileei. houi's providiiig coniniunity eoiinectioii foi. oui. ssolaled oldei. neighl)ouis. Pi inancial Revieiv Princi al Fuiidiii S0ces B.'Fiiend was gi'ateful to i'eceive fLlI)ding fi'oni,. The Nalioiial Lollery Coniinunity Fuiid, B2llLisley Meti'opolitan Boiough Coiincil, Coalfields Regeiieracion Tiust, South Yoiksl)llE Coniniunicy Fuiid, Dei'byshii'e VoluiilaLy Action, li'wiii Milcliell. Masoiiic Chai'itable Ti'usl. Raiik foundation. Sheffield City Council aiid Voluiilaly Actioii Rotherham, Reserve Polic As a policy, it has always been felt pi'udeiit lo maiiitain iEsei'ves at a level whei'eby al least Illl'ee moiitlis expendituie, bul ideally six months expenditure, could be mel in the event of a significant loss of funding.
MANAGEMII NT COMMITTfi fi REPORT FOR THE YE4 AR EI NDEI D 31 OCToRfi R 2023 Statement of Maiia cmeiit Coiiimitlee's Res 011sibililies CliaiiLy law requiies the Maiiagement Comniitlee to pi'epaie finaticial slatemeiils foi. each financial peiiod which give a true aiid fall. view of the slate of the affallB of the CIO as at the balciiiee sheet date and of ils incomiiig i'esouices and application of i'esouices, including income and expenditui'e, fol Ihe fill1claI pei'iod. In prepai'ing Ihose fiiii¢ ncial slaleIiieiits, the Mai)agem¢i)t Coinmitlee sliould follow best pi'actice and.. select suit<1ble accounting policies ai)d then apply them coiisisteiitly Inake judgements aiid esliniates Ilial ¢ irasoiiable aiid piudent; aiid PIEpaie the fInaiicial .8taten)eiil8 oil the going coiiceiii basis unless it is iiiappiopiiate to assume that the conipaiiy will LoniiLiue Ihul b(tsis. The Maiiagemeiit Conimitlee is i'espoiisible for maiiilaiiiing pi'opei. accoiiiiting Ircords whicli disclose with i'easonablc accui'acy al aiiy tinie the finaiicial posiiioll of Ihe chaLilable compaiiy and to ei)able tlieni lo ensui'e that the fiiiaiicial statements comply with Ibc Coiiip<inies Act 21)06 aiid ChaiAltes SORP (F.RS102). The M¢lll4igenient ConimiÈlee is also i'a8P()t)8ible foi. safeguai-diiig the assets of thc chw'ilablc conipany and hence foi. taking i'easoiiable steps for the pi'evenlion and detectioii of fi'aud aiid oihei. ll'£'egularities. Menibeis of the Mana ement Committee Men]bS of Ilie Maiiagenient Comniittee, who are liustees foi Ihe puiyose of ch'llY law, who seived duriiig tlie yeai and lip to the date of this i'epoit we set out oli page 2. Iii accoidaiice with chaiilies law, as the CIO'S liuste&8, we cei'tify tlial.. so faL' as we awaie, there I iio i'elevanl accouiitiiig informatton of which Ilje Ch.1(y,5 ILidependent examiiiei's 'e uiiawai'e. and as the tiSteeS of the CIO, we have taken all the steps that we ought to have takeii in Old to n]ake oui'selves aW.e of aiiy i'elevant accouiitit]g iiifoiT]iatioii aiid to establish that (lie ¢liaiily'S iiidepeiideiit exaiiiiiiers akE aw2lle of that iiifoi'niatRon. Approval This iepoil was appi'oved by the Maiiagement Coinniittee on Ql-6-24 and signed on its behalf by.. C12ll'e Legg Tirasulei.
B:fiRIEND INDEI PENDENT EI XAMINEI R'S REPORT ON THI ACCOUNTS Repoi'l lo Ihe Iruslees of B:Fi'ieiid oil rl)e accoiinis loi. Ll)e pei'io(E Ended 31 Ovlobei. 2023 sel out on pages7to 15 RespLictlvo Iwspuiislbllltles of ti'ustees and examlner Tlie (rlislees responsible foi. Ilie PlEI?¥iatioi) of the a¢coui)ts in accordance willi Ihe Clik)i'ilies Aci 2011 ("Ilie A¢1 l. Tlie iriislees coii8Édei' tlidt ali audit is 01 requiiEd foi. this peyiod iindei. seclion 144121 of Il)e Aci, k)iid Iliclt an iiidependeni exainiiidlion 18 needed. Ii is my reswii¥6bility lo.. exainiiie ihe aceouiiis under %eciioii 145 of the Act., to follow Ihe piDcediii'es Idid doivn in tlie Geiier&l Directioiis given by Ille Charity Conimi%sioii vild. sec1017 145(f)(b) uf tlJe Act, and to state wlieiliei. Pl£ 11iLiildr niiitters Iiave cotiie to iiiy alteiilion. Basls of liidepLiiident ex#inlJ]ei s statement My ¢Xicniiniclioii Ivds carried oul iii aeeordance will) Genernl Diirciioiis given by Ilie Chai'ity Coini))issioii. Ali exaiiiiiials011 iiicludes ft ievselv ol (he 8ceovnling record¥ kept by tlie chai'ity and a coniiicii'iSOiI vf IliE aLLuunls EsentEd wilh IhD5e records. It also iiicliides consideriilion of any uniisual ileEllS oi. disclosures in Ihe aLLoun(%. aiid &eeking Df explanations froni tlie ti'ustees coiiceniiiig ai)y siich nicillers. Ilie pruLedLII'ES iindBrlaken do iiot PlDvide ull tlie evideiice that ivoiild be I'equiied iii hn audit, and LOllbeqEIEnily upiiiion is given as to whether tlie Iic¢ounls pi'esent a 'live and fair view, and ihe repvrl is liri]ited lo Ihobe mallers set oul iii the slutenient belolv. Independent ex&nlIe1"S $tul¥inellt Ill COllllE¢tion with my exatnii)alion, iio iiiaterial mattel's have come lo niy at(eftlion which give¥ n)e ciiuse lo believe that 11), Any n)llieriAI I'espect.. tlie Cting records ivere not kepi iii Accoi'dance willi section 130 of Ihe Cliariiies Aot-. aiid. or the accoLinls did iiot ac¢ord iviih Ihe accounting r¢coTd¥; or Ilie IiccoiiIJLs did i)ot coii)ply iviih Ilie 41ccoiiniiiig requ&renieiils concerniiig Ihe foiiii and conteiil of ae¢ouJits sel oiil iii Il)¢ Cliarilies (Accouiils aiid Repoiqs) R¢giilÉilioiis 2008 DiheL Iliat) aiiy irquii'em¢iit Illic I tl)e <lEcounts give a 'lruc di)d fair, view which is iiot a matier ¢oiisid¢i'ed as pari of dn iiidepeiideiil exaiiiinatioii. I l)ave 110 coiicei'ns aiid have come across no othei. niallers in conneclioii iviih the exHmiiiation lo ivliicli alteiilioEi sliould bB draivn in tliis teporl in oidei. lo enable a pi'opoi. uiideiBtaiidiFig af the accouiils lo be reaclitd. Kelviii Fi Foi. and behalf Df sl[h CravEii (foi'ksliii'e Sidings Coiirl Doncaslei. DN4 5NU Dated.. qlalLK¥
B:FRIEND STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITSES Ilntludlng Incomo and Exp8ndiiurè Accounii YEAR ENDED 31ST OCTOBER 2023 Unreslrlcted funds Reslrlcled Income funds Tolgl funds Prlor year funds Note INCOMING RESOURCES Income and 8ndowm&nl$ Irom.. Donations and gills 174,812 238,043 412,855 304,569 Charilable aellvS1188 Total 174,812 238,043 412,B55 304,569 RESOURCES EXPENDED Expendllurp on: R&lslng lunds 927 927 898 Charllable acllvlli08 99,813 152.113 251,926 248,880 Tolal 100,740 152,113 252.653 249 777 Transfer between funds Net movemenl In funds 74,073 85,930 160,002 54.791 Roconclllallon of funds: Total funds bioughl loNaYd 85.625 156,612 242,237 187,448 Total funds carrled lon¥ard 159,698 242.542 402,240 242,237 The slalement ol flnan¢lal a¢tlvltle$ Includes all galns and losses In the pgrlod. All In¢omlng resources and rosou¥c?$ expended derlve from contlnuing actlvllles.
B.,FRIEND BALANCE SHEET AT 31ST OCTOBER 2023 Company No: CEOO9648 Unreslylcled Reslrlcted funds funds Total funds Prlor year funds Note FIXED ASSETS Tanglble assets 1,550 1,550 1.489 Total flxed assets 1,550 1,550 1,489 CURRENT ASSETS Debtors Cash al bank and in hand 3,925 305.426 3,925 15,644 465,124 296,720 159,698 Total current assets 159,698 309,351 469,049 312,364 CREDITORS: amounts lalllng due wlthln one year 68,360 68,360 71,615 Net current assets 159,698 240,991 400,689 240,749 Total assels less current Ilabllltles 159,698 242,541 402,240 242,238 FUNDS OF THE CHARITY Reslricled incom& funds Unreslricled designated funds Unroslricled funds 10 242,542 242,542 156,612 145,000 14,698 145,000 14,698 85.626 Total funds 159,698 242,542 402,240 242,238 Approved by the Irus18es on 11-6.11* Signed.. On behalf ol the Irusle8S
B:FRIEND NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST OCTOBER 2023 BASIS OF PREPARATION Basls of Accounllng The financial slalemonls hav8 been prepared under the historical cost convention wllh Items recognised al cost or transaction valu8 unloss oih8rise sla18d in the relevant nole lo these accounls. The accounts have b88n pr8pared In aecordanoe with the Flnan¢ial Reporling Standard appllGable in the Unlted l<lngdom and Republic ol Ir&land IFRS 1021 and with Ihe Gharllles Act 2011. The financial slalemenls are prepared in slerling, which is the lunclional curignoy ol the charity. ACCOUNTING POLICIES INCOMING RESOURCES Recognltlon of Incomlng resources These are Included in Ihe Sialemenl ol Financial Aclivilies ISOFAI when.. the charity becomes enliiled lo the resources., the Irusle88 are vlrtually certain Ihey will reoelve thè resour¢es,' and the monetary valu8 Can be measured with suflielenl reliability. Olfseltlng There has been no ollselling ol assets and liabilities, or income and expenses, unless required or p&rmltled by the FRS 102 SORP or FRS 102. Grants and donatlons Grants and donations are only included in the SOFA when the ogneral Income re¢ognlllon orilerla are mel. Contractual Incomg and pertormance related gronts Thls is only Included in Ihe SOFA once the related goods or services hav? begn dellvered. Glfts In klnd Gills in kind ar8 accounled lor al a reasonable esllmale ol their value lo the charlly or the amounl actually realised. Gills in kind lor sale or dlslribution are included In the accounts as gills only when sold or dlslribuled by the charily. Gills In kind lor use by the charlty are Included In the SOFA as incoming resouroes when reoeivablo Donated servl¢es and fa¢llltles These ave only included in incoming resourcos (with an equivalent amount In resources &xpend8dl where th8 bonelil lo the oh2Yily Ig reasonably quanllliable, mgasurable and material. The value placed on these resourc8s Is the 8slimal8d valu8 lo the charily ol the service or la¢ilily re¢eiv8d.
B.'FRIEND NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST OCTOBER 2023 ACCOUNTING POLICIES {conllnued} EXPENDITURE AND LIABILITIES Llablllty recognltlon Liabililles are recognlsed where il is moro likely than not that there is a legal or ¢onslru¢llvo obllgalion commilling the charily lo pay out resources and the amount ol the obligation oan be measured with reasonable corlainly. Governance and support costs Support costs have been allocated between governance costs and other SLJpporl. Governance costs comprlse all costs involving public accoLJnlabillly ol the charlly and ils oompliance with regulation and good pracllce. Support oosls include c8nlral luncllons and have been allo¢al8d lo activity cost categories on a basis consislenl with lh& use ol resources. ASSETS Tanglble flxed as$els for use by the charity These are capilali88d11 Ih8y can be U8ed lor mor& Ihan ono ysar, and cost al least £250. Thoy aro valued al cost Tho depreclation rates and methods used are disclosed In the noles lo the accounts. 3 ANALYSIS OF INCOMING RESOURCES Thls year Last year Donatlons and Gllts Grants Donations 248,252 164,603 256,309 48,260 412,855 304,569 10
B:FRIEND NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST OCTOBER 2023 ANALYSIS OF RESOURCES EXPENDED Unrestylcled Reslrlcled funds funds Thls year Last year Ralslng funds Advorlising 927 927 898 Total expendlture on ralslng funds 927 927 898 Charltable actlvltles Other expenditure 99,813 152,113 251,926 248,880 Tolal expendllure on ¢hailtable acllvltlos 99,813 152,113 251,926 248,880 Total 8xpendlture 100,740 152,113 252,853 249,778 PAID EMPLOYEES Staft costs Thls yegr Last year Salaries and wages Social security costs Pension costs Idelined ¢onlrlbullon scheme) 176,343 10,027 3,718 181,508 11,356 3,209 Total staff co8ls 190,088 196,073 No 8mploy88s iec8iv8d employee bènelils lor the loporilng perlod ol moro Ihan £60,000. Thls year £45,760 Last year £60,041 Tolal amount paid lo key porsonnol 5.2 Average head count In the year Olllcers and adminisiralion Support workers GEO Management Thls year Last year
B.'FRIEND NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOI4 THE YEAR ENDED 31ST OCTOBER 20 DETAILS OF CERTAIN ITEMS OF EXPENDITURE 6.1 Trusteè rèmuneY8llon and expenses No m8mbars ol lh9 fTianagemenl commlllee re¢elved any remunoiaiion during the year. £91.58 expensgs Yl8re reimbursed to lh6 manaoamènl comm1119e durlng the year. 6.2 Fees for exomlnallon of Ihe accounls Th18 year Last year Indepandenl oxamlner'slègs lor Teporling on lh8 accounts 1,985 1,890 1,985 1,890 TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS Cost Computer equlprnent Tolal Al the beoinnino ol th¢ yoar 17,119 17,119 Addilions 1.146 1,146 Disposals Al end ol yèar 18,265 18,265 Depreclallon Bas18 Ralo Slraighl Line 3 yèars Al thè bÉglnning ol the year 15,630 15,630 Dgpre¢lalion 1,084 1,084 Disposals Ai gnd ol year 16,714 16.714 Nel book value At Iho baginnlng ol thè yéar 1,489 1.489 Al end ol y¢ar 1,551 1,551
B.'FRIEND NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST OCTOBER 2023 DEBTORS AND PREPAYMENTS Analysis ol deblors This year Last year Fundlng debtors Prepayments and accrued income 2,000 1,925 14,010 1,634 Total 3,925 15,644 CREDITORS AND ACCRUALS Analysis of creditors Thls year Last year Trad8 Creditors Accruals and deferred income Taxation and social security 2.183 66,177 1,473 70,141 Total 68,360 71,614 13
B..FEND QTESTOTHEA¢COUNT8 FOR THE YFAR£NDÈD¥l$YlQBEPW1j PAOVEMÉr+riN Fund Vo1uhl&ryArllw PLYpo8a4nd IÈÈlilÈllbh& wovlsEMlThiho 8thYhk• Fyr PfOvW¢rrowv4prow151oTrln w014bMh, Wfjirthvèll BOPPA DgrbyyhDV0lllMllry Acl p1¢¢eLW01bwlSlth)th ChÉ2lEdld. NDTlh Ep¥lDolWlrga prowltr¥Spr&wlsltsnth DothI Sycf Oièa GiiyCounLII- C1100¥&Y pr•vlthr4ioswvk•provlslonth ri• SYcF..ethtMHIyfiO¢l¢AS8SQs5 SCC..Easi LA¢ IwfiWbu¥rndlng TNL¢F..kngTds lor LNER rf0wslorbdri¢ndP noro Ilrhbg1pOlng tor¥lund h1ccalthyQno'. SwlwtsiaNs ppOsItdtrLbY0ty Rank Reilrlot•d lura4vmrniry ÈA8D 2A0 vdwfjbryJl¢llR{thWth SYCF..CQrnmu1YRo1nt&A5B5I nsloy 15m8 4,788 .774 4186 7189 74A5 I1,200 3B5 s,5 I.0 2.0 9.991 SCC.. E451LAC SYCF.. CtystoliivknfyUnI1SfiI SYGF. TMEen F4rmComThwnty 504 2a43 77 1.727 4.873 334 51 TNLCF.-hwathlaiAII CDalfidd&R0aoneiglbThTr1-tt5yS¢ OPPA Dolb CoDnecl 61r1e,V Cov11. Coyhj Rewvory Fund SYCFGr¢g 4.030 $057 4,050 2>Y 3.109 s00 25AOO e&se..SPknjolanIs PosicodgLelkty RarF(Nda1lOrt 25. 15S,$12 .013 lulldB Ttst Fund Fund TaIitybaDBF1¥ 1ffj50 16t.8 1691M9 18601 16B,3£Q Nii&sse al&1 OMobai2Q28 159,£ 242, 102R40
B..FRIEND NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST OGTOBER 2022 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS No Iruslee or olh8r person related lo the charity had any personal interest in any ¢onlracl or liansaclion enle¥ed into by the charily dLJring the period. 15