# **b:friend Annual Report Nov-23/Oct-24** yY b:friend is a charity registered in the UK with registered Charity Number 1171148. ## **Martin & Dave** Martin got in touch b:friend in 2018. He had recently moved to his village and due to being visually impaired he found harder to make new connections. “I was new to the area, and I had limited opportunities to socialise due to my eyesight, and being in a village. I felt I was missing out. I was looking for someone to chat to, to go to a pub quiz with. I am big pub quiz fanatic!” Martin met his befriender Dave in 2018. Martin said: “This friendship lightened up my life. It opened up a whole new world of possibilities. Dave and I have a lot of fun; we laugh our socks off. We both love music and enjoy going to gigs together. Connecting with b:friend gave me a boost, led to me becoming more confident, it led me to new friendships. It helped me access activities that I thought wouldn’t be available to me. I could even participate in a local radio project through b:friend and trying my hand at broadcasting was a lifelong ambition! All I can say is thank you...” + + **1** ## **A message from our CEO** As I take a moment to reflect on the past year at b:friend, it’s clear just how far we’ve come. We’re now firmly rooted in three counties, and the number of people we’ve reached has taken a real leap forward. But it’s not just about growth—it’s about how we’ve grown. We’ve continued to refine our model, listen carefully to those we support, and explore new, creative ways to tackle loneliness in our communities. In communities across South Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, older neighbours who were once isolated are now laughing over a cuppa at one of our social clubs, chatting with their befriender each week, or getting involved with a project where they can share their experiences and thoughts with their community. These are the moments that matter—and they’re only possible thanks to the incredible dedication of our volunteers, the belief of our supporters, and the resilience of our team. 2023/24 has been a year of meaningful growth. We’ve launched new clubs, explored new ways of connecting people through digital, intergenerational and volunteer-led work, and welcomed more older neighbours into our community than ever before. We’ve also faced some real challenges, especially around income generation—but we’ve met those head-on with creativity and collaboration. Looking ahead, the need for our work is only increasing. With funding cuts looming and the cost of living crisis continuing to hit hard, it’s never been more important to build strong, local communities where no one feels forgotten. Cheers, Ruer Colette Bunker, Chief Executive Officer of b:friend **2** ## **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. **3** ## **Vision Mission Values** ## **Mission** Og **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…** **4** ## **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. **5** ## **WHAT WE DO** ## **A year in numbers** **by the end of FY 23/24 we have delivered…** Volunteering hours 35,280 14 > Social Clubs benefiting 241 older neighbours per week 603 Social Club sessions where no two weeks are the same (that’s over 1200 hours of graffiti art, axe throwing, cheerleading, curling, learning morse code, Mardi Gras, and armchair travels to Mexico, China, Peru and Croatia ...plus hundreds more fun sessions!) 709 Active friendships (That’s 36,868 cuppas!) 2,891 Friendships created since inception 272 New pairings **6** - **WHAT WE DO** - aN ~~a~~ > ©@ ++ - **A year in numbers** ## 1071 older neighbours engaging on a weekly basis |2017|2018|2019|2020|2021|2022|2023|2024| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |80|180|350|680|700|782|825|1071| **7** ## **Our focus for 23/24** This year, our strategic priorities were: expanding into Nottinghamshire, embedding greater sustainability across our work, and enhancing the volunteer experience. We took a more data-led approach to our work than ever before, with feedback and insight shaping our decisions through: - New surveys for older neighbours, volunteers and supporters - Quarterly consultation meetings with our Friends of B:friend group Improved digital data monitoring via Google Analytics and other tools Support from a PhD student who joined us as a summer intern We also commissioned an independent evaluation of our befriending model. The results not only affirmed the strength of our approach but gave us valuable ideas for future improvement. ## **Growth into Nottinghamshire** Thanks to the incredible £145,000 raised by Strata during their Charity of the Year partnership with us, we were able to expand our work into Nottinghamshire. After careful analysis of loneliness, deprivation, and service provision data across multiple regions, we identified Nottinghamshire as an area where our support was both needed and wanted. We had already begun receiving referrals and volunteer applications from the area, and our reputation gave us a strong starting point. - We began by recruiting a local Befriending Coordinator and developing relationships in the Mid-Notts area. While initial progress was slow— volunteers were mostly coming from Nottingham City while referrals stemmed - from Mid-Notts—we focused our efforts on raising awareness across both areas to create more balance. By the end of the year, we’d made 49 new pairings and launched a new social club in Kimberley. **8** ## **Our focus for 23/24** ## **Sustainability** Sustainability took centre stage this year—both in how we deliver services and how we fund them. While our befriending model is low-cost and effective, it still requires staff time and isn't infinitely scalable. To address this, we trialled more volunteer-led social clubs. These require staff support to oversee but not to deliver, and they offer a lighter-touch model for areas where we want to expand reach without increasing staff hours. We created two new volunteer-led clubs in 2024: one launched in Clay Cross by an existing volunteer, and another in Balby which transitioned from staff-led to volunteer-led. Both have thrived, with up to 13 attendees each week. We plan to build on this in 2025 and develop a replicable model that others can use. On the financial side, we focused on diversifying our income in preparation for the end of our Lottery funding in June 2024. With our Fundraising Manager now fully embedded, the year was about laying solid foundations— building relationships, planning campaigns, refining donor journeys, and improving internal tracking. Everyone across the team played a part, and we’re proud to say this whole-team approach helped secure two key multi-year grants: a renewal from The National Lottery and a new award from the Henry Smith Charity. We’re incredibly grateful for both. **8** ## **Our focus for 23/24** ## **The Volunteer Journey** Volunteer recruitment has been an ongoing challenge since the pandemic, so this year we invested more time in understanding and supporting our volunteers. We launched a volunteer experience survey, which gave us insights into who our volunteers are, when they’re most likely to sign up, how they find us, and what motivates them to get involved. We also tested new and untried marketing methods—bus ads, beer mats, billboards, and local magazine features among them. With more robust tracking, we now know which channels are worth our time and budget. The results speak for themselves: by year-end, 735 new volunteers had signed up—far surpassing our target of 510. Survey feedback from longer-serving volunteers revealed a desire for more proactive checkins. While our team is always available, we recognised that scheduled, intentional check-ins could be helpful. We’ve now formalised three touchpoints throughout the first year of the volunteer journey, including short surveys where volunteers can reflect on their experience and the impact of their friendship. We learned that some volunteers were occasionally struggling with boundary-setting over time. In response, we added new content to our induction training focusing specifically on healthy boundaries. We created a simple, accessible leaflet for volunteers and older neighbours to refer to if expectations start to shift. We also introduced a formal offboarding process to support friendships continuing in a lighter-touch way, while ensuring everyone understands the change and feels comfortable. Alongside this, we have reviewed and created more induction materials that are accessible in different ways - now besides the pdf volunteer handbook we also have the induction slides with videos vols receive after the induction interview. **8** ## **HOW DID WE DO?** We are happy with the results against our 23/24 delivery targets, but there is more work to do. Our efforts in volunteer recruitment have really paid off this year but this doesn’t necessarily translate to long-term volunteering, which may be what’s affecting the number of older neighbours supported. Next year we will focus more on recruiting and retaining the right volunteers. Although our general income split is moving in the right direction, more work is needed in building other income streams. **AIM OUTCOME** increase in older neighbours supported 32% (1090 older neighbours engaging on a weekly © basis) 30% Increase achieved (1071 older neighbours engaging on a weekly basis improvement in improvement in befriended older befriended older 85%+ 83% neighbours’ wellbeing neighbours’ wellbeing after 6 months after 6 months achieved @ *£ Volunteers to be Volunteers recruited 510 recruited, creating ... 735 creating... Volunteers to be 510 recruited, creating ... © 12,168 volunteering hours volunteering hours 16,796 e 75/25 % split between trusts & foundations (75%) and other income (25%) 79/21 79% trusts & foundations 21% other **6** ## **HIGHLIGHTS** aN ~~eer~~ ## **Intergenerational Connections** This year, we reimagined our much-loved b:heard model to create something brand new: b:heard in schools. Traditionally, b:heard has focused on celebrating the stories and experiences of older neighbours with a paying audience, but this time, that audience was a classroom of primary school children in Chesterfield. We explored what could happen when generations come together, and the results were amazing. Our older neighbours shared memories of their schooldays— chalkboards, school milk, and all—while the children introduced them to the classrooms of today. They even danced together during a ‘brain break’. The experience was moving, joyful, and enlightening for all involved. The children gained insight into older people’s lives, and our neighbours got the chance to feel seen and celebrated. We’ll definitely be doing more of this in the future. I enjoyed dancing with you. Please come back and show us more! Pupils’ comments via feedback forms **9** - **HIGHLIGHTS** - aN ~~es~~ ## **New Clubs** Our social clubs continue to go from strength to strength, with four new ones added this year: Clay Cross (volunteer-led) Bolsover Kimberley Our first digital club, connecting people online from across the region ## **A Very Merry Christmas** Following the buzz of our Coronation Party earlier in the year—where many new friendships were formed—we ended 2023 with a spectacular Christmas Party for 180 older neighbours. For many of our older friends, Christmas can be a difficult time, especially for those facing it alone. The party offered a fun and affordable celebration, full of music, dancing and laughter. “This has been my Christmas, this party, because I'll be at home on my own on the day.” “It was great that everyone could dance all together, even those in a wheelchair. It was lovely to see. I really appreciated the fact that all the transport was organised—it made it a lot easier.” **10** ## **HIGHLIGHTS** ## **Connecting through heritage** This year, we were thrilled to join forces with Doncaster and Barnsley Museums to explore how local heritage can help combat isolation and spark meaningful conversations. Together, we introduced new opportunities for older neighbours to connect with their local history— and each other. As part of the project, our social clubs enjoyed special outings to local heritage sites, while ‘museum in a box’ kits brought fascinating artefacts right into club settings for hands-on exploration. The partnership even extended into our one-to-one friendships, where befrienders were encouraged to use museum objects as conversation starters—unlocking memories, stories, and new perspectives. We’re grateful to the museums for including us in such a thoughtful and imaginative project. It reminded us just how powerful shared history can be in building connection and belonging. **11** **HIGHLIGHTS** . IN ~~a~~ > ©@ **Amazing Fundraisers** ++ ++ This year, we’ve been blown away by the efforts of some A ff truly inspirational fundraisers: Miriam, a brave volunteer at our Mexborough club (and 72 years young!), leapt 15,000 feet from a plane to raise over £500. Becky, one of our trustees, and her husband Simon walked the West Highland Way in memory of Becky’s older neighbour, Brian— raising over £1,000. Sol & James, long-time supporters, took on the ultimate banger rally challenge— driving an old car from England to Croatia with multiple stops and surprises along the way. They raised almost £2,000. **10** ## **HIGHLIGHTS** ~~ee~~ ## **Community Fundraisers & Creative Campaigns** As part of our ongoing work to diversify income and raise awareness, we ran several successful campaigns of our own: ## Pink & Purple Day During Befriending Week, we invited our corporate supporters to hold pink and purplethemed events—and they delivered! Four fantastic partners took part, dressing up, decorating offices, and raising vital funds. ## The b:friend Cookbook Part of our mission is to highlight the value and wisdom older people bring to their communities. This year, we brought that to life through our first-ever cookbook—a beautiful collection of recipes and personal stories from our older neighbours. We were supported by a brilliant volunteer publisher, a kindhearted illustrator, and a generous photographer, all of whom donated their time and talent. Nearly 200 copies were sold! ## **And finally...** ## **Boosting efficiency through MS365** Thanks to the generous support of our corporate partner eSynergy, we made a big leap in digital transformation this year by migrating to Microsoft 365. This upgrade has significantly improved collaboration across our team, enhanced data security, and streamlined many of our day-to-day processes—helping us work smarter and support more people. **10** ## **CHALLENGES** ~~ee~~ As ever, the year came with its share of challenges. ## **The Lottery Countdown** 2023/24 marked the final year of our three-year National Lottery Community Fund grant for our work in South Yorkshire—funding that has been absolutely vital in helping us grow and reach more older neighbours. While we were actively working on a reapplication and exploring other potential sources, there was no guarantee that the gap this funding would leave could be filled. Despite our focus on income diversification, the size of the Lottery grant meant its loss would have a significant impact. So, even as we gratefully received new support from Strata to help us expand, we carried a sense of uncertainty about the future of our work in South Yorkshire. But one of our core values is to be Bold, and we stuck to that. We carried on delivering as though nothing would change—continuing to grow, to innovate, and to connect more people—while quietly hoping we’d find the funding to sustain it all. It wasn’t an easy mindset to manage, but we were open with each other, kept the faith, and morale remained strong. Thankfully, our optimism paid off. Not only were we successful in securing renewed Lottery funding for 2025, but we also received a transformational three-year grant from The Henry Smith Charity to support our core work—a huge moment for us, and a testament to the strength and impact of what we’re building together. ## **Building a Culture of Individual Giving** One of our ongoing priorities is diversifying income—and individual giving continues to be a tough nut to crack. Historically, we haven’t done much asking. Apart from the occasional challenge event, we’ve been fairly reserved in encouraging regular or one-off donations. This year, we decided to change that. With help from our partners at Strata, we released a powerful short film highlighting the impact of loneliness at Christmas, and launched a campaign encouraging people to become monthly donors. We also encouraged support through a new paper newsletter . Unfortunately, both campaigns fell flat. The cost of living crisis may have played a part, but we also recognised we needed to learn more. What motivates someone to give to b:friend? What might hold them back? Off the back of this, we created and distributed a survey to better understand our supporters' views on giving— and this insight will shape our approach going forward. **12** - **CHALLENGES** - aN ~~a~~ As ever, the year came with its share of challenges. **----- Start of picture text -----**
Tackling Digital Inclusion
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Digital exclusion continues to affect many of our older neighbours. In the past we’ve trialled various projects aimed at improving digital skills, but without sustained funding, it’s been difficult to create long-lasting change. This year, we took a different approach. Rather than delivering digital skills training ourselves, we focused on what we do best—creating social connections. We launched a new digital social club, giving older people a chance to come together online, connect with others, and build confidence with digital tools in a relaxed, friendly space. We partnered with organisations already doing excellent work in digital inclusion to receive referrals and opened the club to isolated older neighbours we couldn’t support in person. While there’s been strong interest, regular attendance has been low. Still, we believe it’s a valuable addition to our offering, especially for those who may not be able to access in-person support. We’ll continue running the club and work on increasing awareness and reducing barriers to participation. **12** ## **Our plans for 24/25** Looking ahead, our strategic objectives for the year are rooted in four key focus areas: ## **Growing Where Needed** ## **Maintaining Service Quality** We’ll continue to respond to local demand —whether that means more out-of-area pairings, exploring telephone or video befriending, or piloting new ways of delivering our services. Whatever the format, our target is to increase: Even as we grow, we’re committed to the high quality of delivery that b:friend is known for. We’ll closely monitor processes and feedback, and introduce new volunteer roles to help enhance the experience for both our older neighbours and our volunteers. - Social club attendance by 33% Befriending pairings by 13% ## **Team Sucess** ## **Fundraising & Financial Resiliance** Our team is the heart of b:friend—and we want to keep it thriving. This year, we’ll focus on sustaining a positive culture, encouraging development, and creating regular opportunities for staff feedback and involvement in new initiatives. Diversifying our income remains critical. For 2024/25, we’ve set an ambitious fundraising target, aiming for a 75/25 split between trusts & foundations and other income. We’ll continue strengthening existing corporate partnerships and building new ones that are aligned with our mission and values. **13** **FINANCE** ww N ~~>~~ > ©@ **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 **----- Start of picture text -----**
76% Staffing 3% Rent & Insurance
18% Project Costs 2% Professional fees
1%
Marketing
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**14** ## **OUR IMPACT** **Here’s a few lovely comments from our befriended older neighbours this year:** It seems like I've known her ages, all we did was laugh. She's a lovely girl I can’t believe it’s been 2 years! She’s so lovely, she’s been a real good friend to me. I’m so grateful to you (b:friend) you know. I don’t know what I’d do without Sam. We have good conversation, we are friends. I feel the befriending enlarges my world. We went to the theatre and it's the first time I have done anything like this in a long time I don't see anyone. The visits are a cornerstone in a way that it's the only certainty in a week socially. It's a pleasant addition to what I've got which is very sparse **15** ## **OUR IMPACT** **And here’s a few from our amazing volunteers...** **----- Start of picture text -----**
It seems like I've known her ages, all we did was laugh. She's a
lovely girl
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Sandra is lovely person. When I come to her she always greets me with a smile. We have many topics to talk about 😊 . I am very pleased to be paired with Sandra who has become my new friend 🥰 We’re building a lovely bond with each other and I feel that I’m really making a difference to her quality of life. We have such a lovely time together… I take cream cakes, which we both enjoy, and we share memories together. We both laugh together too, which is just wonderful We've chatted about families, pets, past relationships, gardening, price of coffee and tv. Helen’s funny and I'm looking forward to building the friendship I don't see anyone. The visits are a cornerstone in a way that it's the only certainty in a week socially. It's a pleasant addition to what I've got which is very sparse + + c b:friend **15** ## **OUR IMPACT** At the 6 month mark we are asking more in-depth questions about the volunteers’ experiences: **86% say they feel their life has become richer since being involved with b:friend 71% strongly agree and 29% agree that being involved with b:friend gives them a sense of purpose** **57% strongly agree and 43% agree that being involved with b:friend gives them a sense of community connection** “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”. **16** ## **OUR IMPACT** ## **SOCIAL CLUBS** It's changed my Mum's life this club. And it makes me so proud when I see her photo (online) doing all the different things (Daughter of a club member) I can't remember what we did at my first session I just remember laughing because it was the first time I'd laughed in months I'm making loads of new friends through the group. It makes my day meeting up with all the new friendly people here It really helped. I’d miss it if I didn’t come. It’s ever so good, I really enjoy it. You know, most of us there are widows or widowers, and it is something to look forward to, it makes you feel happier. When I go home after a session, I think about it. It’s made a big difference to me. I enjoy the crafts, and the activities are interesting. Everybody’s friendly to each other. I’d recommend it to others because we all get on and we always have a good laugh! There is a different activity each week. My mum goes to this club and loves it. She says that it is the highlight of her week; she always comes away happy. (Daughter of a club member) **15** **CASE STUDIES** . IN ~~Po~~ > ©@ ++ ++ **John & Trevor** ++ When John had to take time off from work due to a heart condition, he started to look for volunteering opportunities he would enjoy to boost his well-being. ++ John said, “I just got in a rut. After being an engineer for 25 years, I was stuck at home all day, doing nothing. I just needed something to do, so I volunteered for a few things. “b:friend introduced me to Trevor about six months ago, and it’s been brilliant. It helps me as much as it helps him. I enjoy his company; he has some great stories to tell. It’s like talking to my granddad.” ## “It helps me as much as it helps him”. Trevor, who suffered a stroke, said catching up with John every week had been a welcomed change as he can’t get out as much as he used to. He said, “It’s like a bit of fresh air. It’s a fresh perspective. We get to talk about different subjects. It’s been great.” John added, “It’s been good for us both. Just seeing Trevor for an hour a week has really helped my mental health as well. If I’m passing, I pop in to see if he’s alright. We’re getting beef sandwiches tomorrow!” **17** ## **CASE STUDIES** ## **Tony & Shaunagh** Tony was referred to b:friend as his wife was moved to a care home, and suddenly living alone and struggling with mobility issues left him feeling isolated. He was looking for a social outlet and a way to make new friends. Tony and Shaunagh connected through b:friend three years ago. They found they had some unexpected things in common at their first meeting. Tony used to work for the Navy, and Shaunagh's partner was in the army. As Tony's wife was moved to a care home and Shaunagh's partner often worked away from home, they could both relate to coping with not seeing a loved one for longer periods. “I often forget about it being through b:friend, now it's like I've always known Tony ” They quickly bonded over shared experiences and jokes. Shaunagh even started to take Tony out for breakfast on the weekends, as due to his reduced mobility he missed going out. Tony said: “Shaunagh is a lovely young lady with a bubbly personality. I see her every week, we often have breakfast together. It's been really nice chatting to her. We became good friends.” There have been some changes over the months. Tony lost his wife and has been dealing with bereavement, but their weekly catchups over a meal or a coffee continued. Shaunagh even introduced Tony to her partner. Shaunagh said Tony was becoming more positive as the weeks went by, and Tony felt joyful about connecting with someone and making new friends. The world opened up a bit, and they were both proud to call each other friends. “He's a part of my life now and I genuinely look forward to seeing him every weekend. We both get on really well and it's a pleasure getting to know him and call him my friend,” Shaunagh said. “I often forget about it being through b:friend, now it's like I've always known Tony and me seeing him every week is part of my routine, like visiting my mum or dad to catch-up.” **18** **CASE STUDIES** ww N ~~in~~ > ©@ | **Janet & Laura** + oe a5 , ++ Older neighbour Janet and befriender Laura connected through b:friend over two years months ago. Janet used to be very active, with a busy social life. She was a keen walker in her free time and always valued her independence. As her mobility reduced and the pandemic slowed life down, she started to spend more time at home alone. Although she had a supportive family, her friends lived away and could only stay in touch over the phone, which made her feel isolated. ## “She’s like a breathe of fresh air” When she first heard about befriending, Janet was apprehensive as she wasn’t sure if it was for her. Meeting Laura quickly changed this. “It’s been smashing, Laura is lovely, Janet said. “I find it works two ways, we chat about local history that she finds interesting, as she is not from around here. It is surprising, but we actually both benefit from the chats, and it makes me feel better that I can contribute. I know I’ve got family and some friends, but they are all older. She is outside of that circle and brings a different perspective. She is like a bit of fresh air. “Laura is a proper friend now. We have a good conflab about everything; it’s lovely.” Laura said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed the time I have spent getting to know Janet! We have lots of the same interests and I have definitely learned a lot about baking, walking, and the city. “It has been particularly fascinating to hear about her experiences living in the area for a number of years and better understand the history of where I now live. She has been able to recommend new places to eat that I would never have known about without her! “It is a lovely part of my day when I get to spend time visiting Janet, and I always leave with a smile. I would recommend befriending to anyone.” **18** ## **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.** **19** Our partners strata HSBC AVIVA EVERSHEDS CO SUTHERLAND OP I'l Home Instead Westfield esi/iiergi/- IAJ,,, Energy aGR/PPZE Tierneys SOLlCI-foRS The Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire Since 1624 CADDY. ty1 Taylor Bracewell TESCO Your bolicitors l Your success b:friend 19 ## **Our People: The Team** Colette Bunker, Chief Executive Officer Karen Booker, Befriending Coordinator Rayella Broomhead, Programme Manager Rach Beavon-Baldwin, Befriending Coordinator Sara Kopecsni, Senior Communications Officer Rachael Mullen, Befriending Coordinator Jenny Pitman, Programme Manager Helen Twelves, Fundraising Manager Maryanne Wylde, Project Officer Mollie West, Befriending Coordniator **20** ## **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. **21** JI:IIRIEI ND (A cliAI'ltabl¢ iiieoi'pui'af eil u)'giiui¥#fioii liinite(I by Liiiiii'iiiileo) IIICP()RT AND filNANCJAL STATfi MEINTS IIOR THE YEIAII ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2024 CIIARITY NUMBEI 11 1171148 COMPANY NUMIIKR CE0096d8 B:IfiuEND CONTENTS PAgo MANAGItMEI NT COMMITfEILI REI PORT INDEPII NDILNT EXAMINERSS RKPORT ST ATII MICNT QF filNANCIAL AcfIviTII£S BALANCCI SHIQET NOTIIS TOTHEI ACCOUNI'S 9-15 MANAGfi MENT COMMITTEE REPORT IfoR THEI PJIIUOD ENDEI D 31 OCI'OIILIR 2024 Tlie iMai)AgeiiJei)I Coiiiniillec i)r¢s¢iil¥ ils Iri)ort aiid urcoiiiils foi. Ilie yeai ¢)Id¢d 31 Oclobei. 2024, Clini'lty liifoi'iiintloii Ice Siinoii Moxon T41'll Walkei. Claie l.eBg Mnttliew Lollai. Ilebe¢cA Robeil$ CliaiiEI)eLEOli Api)oiiiled Ai)I'il 2023 'I'ira.siirei'_ Ilesigiieose of cliai'ity lfiw, wlio 3ei'ved diirAiig tlic y¢ai aiid lip lo tliG dllte of tliis i'eport ara set oiil oil page 2. In ￿￿oLd￿lIe8 witli oliai'ities law, AS tlje CIO'S Irii.wlees. we C￿'¢ifY Iliat: • so far as we Are awarc. IlieiE 18 no relevaiit accoiiiiliiig ii)formailon of wliicli tl)e Cliai'ity's iJidepei)deiit exftniiiici's ait IlllAwake' fiiid 8 tl)e li'L18tees of Iliv CIO, we liave lakcii all 11)e 8lei)s ¢hftt we oiiglit to liAve lakeii in o)'dei to iiihke oiirselvos owaiii of aiiy i'eI8vai)( accoiiiiling infoi'iiialioii aiid to establlsli Iliat tlie cliai'ity's lildepeiid￿jt exami118L% At'e aware of tl]at ii)foifjiia(ion. Ai)i)I'ovnl Tlils I'epoi'l was fippiDved by Ili¢ maliag￿)lent Coniii)itlee on 311071D aiid sigiied oji its bel)fdlf by: Clare Legg I'reasuiei, II:FRIEI N INDEPLI NDENY IPXAMINFIII.% RCI PORT ON THC AC'COUNTS ¢poi"I lo Ihe Inisleos of u;Fi'lelld 01) Ili¢ accoiiiils for I1￿ perlod ended 31 Odober 2024 sol oiil oi) pnge$710 15 Re$pe¢ilv¢ I'espoiixll)Illlles Of Ii'ii$lecs Thii(I cxniiiliiei. Tlio li'11sle¢s YeJp01151ble for Ilie preparni1￿) orihc4 nc¢thiirfs Iii n¢coi'dftii¢o ivlili tlie Cli•i'ill¢s Act ?.Q I i ("Ili¢ Acl"). Tlie Ii'Lislees Loiisidei. Ili&l ni) Iilidli Is iiot roqiiiiyd for Ilils period iwxl¢r s￿1101) 144(2) of Ilio A¢1, Aiid Ilial ni) liid¢peiideiil exaiiiknniloii Is )￿ded. li Is i))y rospoiisSblllty lo: Q%Aiiiliio Ili¢ A¢¢OI)1i1s iiiidei. 8¢ciloii 145 of Ilio Acl: lo follow Ili¢ i)io¢eduYes I￿1￿ Lill Sldli)gs Coiirl D￿le&s¢¢i' DN4 5NU 01108/zos B-FRIEND 8YATeMeNfoF FIMAN¢IAL ACTIVIYIES Ilncludng In¢om• •thd Expondllur• A¢¢ounl) YEAR EPIDEO 31ST OCTOBER 2024 Unro¥lrloted fund8 Rostrlctod InGomg fundB rotal lundb Prlor ygir fundB Nol8 INCOMING RESOURCE8 In¢om8 and endowments Irom: Don4llons and gtito 83,847 140,090 223,737 412,866 Charllable acllvmles Total 140,990 225 787 412 IISS RE8OUROE8 EXPENDEO Expgndllura on: R818lTrJ fund8 2,812 2,812 027 Char118bl8 aGllvllle8 4.431 310.485 261,926 Total 31048S 317 Y28 252,862 Tr4n8for batwo•n lundg Nol movwtt¢iil In lunrfs 76,40b (170,395> (93,9901 160,1102 RoconcllS&tlon of fund6: Toial lunds b¥otsghl lor¢rnrd 169,812 232.425 402,237 242.237 rolal fiiii(ts cArrlod (onvprd 246 220 62,030 308 260 402 237 Th• 81alembnt ol Ilnanolal acllvltlog Includè8 all galn• and1088eo In the pgrlod. All Incomlng rè$ourc•g aiid ro8ourGQS oxpDndèd dgrlYB from oonllnulnu a¢tlvltl88. 8:FRIEND NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR YHE YEAR ENDED J1ST OCI'OBER 2024 Unre81rlcted Rgstrleted fiiiid8 funds Total fun(Is Prlor yoar fiin(l$ Note FIXED ASSETS Tanglble assets 1,184 1,164 1,650 Total flxed 0sse(aT 1,164 1,164 1,660 CURRENT ASSETS 08btors Cash ai b8nk and In h8nd 4,290 122,192 4,290 3,026 368,412 486,124 246,220 Total curreiit hSS8ts 248,220 126,482 372,702 469,019 CREDifoRg,' amouiils falllng due wllhln on o y8or 85,818 66,616 68,360 Ngt Current a88Ot8 246,220 307,086 400,689 Total 08sg181088 ¢urr•nt Ilablllt188 246.220 82,030 308,260 402,239 FUNDS OF THE CHARITY Reslilcled Income funds Unreslrlcled deslgnaled lunds Unre81(Icled lunds io 62,030 82,030 242,542 69,000 146,000 177,220 14,69ti 69,000 177,220 Total lunds 246,220 62,080 308 250 402,240 Apwoved by Ilie Iriiglees on 3110-71ZO ts stgned: Oi) beh8lf of Iho Irustees B:FRIEND NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 318T OCTOBER 2024 BASIS OF PREPARATION Bh81¥ of Accouiitlng The Ilftanclal 318lem8ftt8 hava b88n prepared under Ihe hi81oiical cosi cohvehll¢)n vAlh118m8 r6cognlsed al cost OT Iran3a¢llon volua unless olherlse 8lal8d In the r818vanl nole lo thesè aecounls, The accounls have be6n prepared in accordanca wllh 1118 Fln&ii¢lal Rgportlng Slendard applkab16 In Ihe United Klngdom and Republlc ol Ireland IFRS 102) and wllh Ihg Ch8rlll88 Acl 2011. Tlie Ilnanclal 8lalemenl8 are prepared In 8terllng, whlcl)18 Ilie lunGlk)nal currency of1118 ¢hailly. ACCOUNTING POLICIES INCOMING RESOURCES Rocogiiltlon of Incomlng retsoiirc These aT8 Included In11)e Slalem•nl of FlnanGlal A¢lMlles {SoFA) vthen., the ¢h¥lly berxffigs enllllgd lo Ihe re6ource8; Ihe trus188s are vlrtually eerfaln they will recelve Ihe reBource8', and Ihe monetary valu8 c#n b6 measured wllh 8uftl¢lenl rellablllly. Offgattlng Thei8 Ila? béen no ofl86111ng of 98kn1$ and118bM11168, or In1￿me and oxpon808, unl988 iequlred or permllled by tl)e FRS 102 SORP or FRS 102. Qranls and donatSon8 Gr8nl8 and donallon8 are only Included sn Iho SOFA wh6n Ihg g8118ral Incom8 recognlllon cfll8rla are m81. Contractual Income aiid performance rolated gran18 Th1818 only Includéd h lh8 SOFA once Ihg rel8led goodg or 8ervlces have been dellvarBd, G1118 In klnd Gllls In klnd arè accounted Ioi 91 a rea8onablg e¥llmalg of tholrvalua lo th8 ch8rlty or Ihe amounl aclually re￿Ised. Gllls In klnd for 8a1¢ or dlslrlbullon are Included in Iho acGountg 98 gllls only when 80kl or Islilbiil8d by Ihe chaTIIy. 0Slls In kliid lor uJe by ihe ¢harlly ar8 Induded In tho SOFA a8 Inwmlro rosour¢e8 when re¢elvabl6 Donated $eNIc8s end faGIIItIgS Yhe8v ¥re only In¢lud8d In liicomlng resources (wllh an ewlvalenl amoynl In resourceB 8xpgnded) s%¢n8r6 the benelll lo the eharlly Its re880nably qvanllllBbl8, m&asurabEè and mgl¢rlal. Tho value p]aced on Ihese re8ovrcos18 the esllmated valu810 th6 Charlly of lh8 38rvl¢a of f8cllily recelved. B:FRIEND NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST O¢TOBIR 2024 ACCOUNTING POLICIES {contlnuèd) XPENDITURE AND LIABILITIES LIAbllity reoognllloii Llabllllle5 ar8 r8cognlsed where It Is In016 Ilkely Ilian nol11)èl there Is a legal or consliuciive obllgallon commllllng the eliarlty lo pay oul resources ond Iho amounl ol Ilie obligall¢)n can be Ineasuied wllli reasonablo cerlainly. Govvrnanoe An¢1 siipport ¢Q8t6 Support costs have been allocaled beiween gov&Tnanc.e cosls and olher Slipporl, Governance costs comprlsa all cosls Involvliig piibllc accovnlablllly of Ihe chorlty and Ils compllanoe wllh regulatloii and good Pfactl¢e. Supporl cosls Includo canlral luncllons and have been allocaled lo acllvlly cost cat6901188 on a basls conslslenl wllh Ihe use ol resoiirc8S. ASSETS Tanglble flxed a88et$ fov 118e by tli8 oliarlly Tl)e8e are ¢gpllallsed11 Ihey can b8 1188d for more Ihan on8 yèar, and co81 al18asl £260. They are valu6d al cost Tlie d8préclalion rale8 and melhods used are dlBcloBed In lh8 110198 to the accounls. 3 ANALYSIS OF INCOMING Re$ouRCES Tlilg year Lamt y60r Donallons ond Gllt9 Gran1$ Donallon8 186,396 37,341 248,252 184,803 223,737 412,865 10 B:FRIEND NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 319T OCTOBER 2024 ANALYSIS OF RESOURCES EXPENDED Unr8Btrlctod Roulrlctod fuiid8 fund6 ThlB yeay L48t yoAr Ralslng fuiids Advgrllslng 2,812 2,812 927 Total oxpondltuKft on rnlÈlttg fund8 2,812 2,812 927 ChaTllablè acllvltlas Olh8r expondllure 4,431 310,485 314,916 251,926 Total èxpondlture on chaillablo actlvltles 4,431 310.486 314,916 251,926 Total expendSturg 7,243 310,485 317,728 2B2,863 PAID EMPLOYEE8 6,1 Stafl COBt¥ Tli18 year Lv4$t y¢4r Salarl83 gnd waues Soolal SgQUflly GO818 Peiislon costs (d8llnEd conlrlbutlon scheme) 224.187 14,215 4,780 176,343 10.027 3,718 Tolal Staff co8t8 243,182 190,088 No employees récelved employee benè1118 for Ihe reporllng perlod ol mora Ihan £60,000. Th1$ y8ar Lost yoar £48,828 £46,760 T(rtal amount pald lo k8y p8rsonno1 5.2 Av6rag8 hftad coui)I In thè yèar Olli¢er8 dnd adminS8lr811 Siipport worker8 CEO Manag8inenl Th18 yèar La8t yeai. 11 b:FftIENfJ IIOTES ro IHE ACCOIINT8 FOR THE VEAR EFIDEO JISTOCY08ER 2024 DETAILS OF CERTAIN ITEMS OF EXPINDITURE 6.1 fn40lep roniiii)or411oii afid oxpenBe• No menibefs ol Iho DIHnauemenl commlllee iacelvod any remunorallon divlng Iha yoar. £91.68 gxpo1I9e8 w619 r8lnibuiAed lo Iho than￿￿6m￿nI ¢ommilleè duiinsj yoar. 8,2 Fe88 for exAIMlnallon of Ilio ￿0cOunte Th18 yoar Laal yofjr Indgpendenl oxomlnef8 fees lor reportlng on Ihé ocetsiini8 2.08f> 1,086 2.085 1.006 TANQIBLE FIXED A$SET8 Cosl Compiilor qulpinenl Total Al lh9 b8glniilno of lh8 yèar 18,204 17,11 Addlllons 760 1,148 018po¥81$ Al ond ol yoar 19,024 111,286 D#praelallon B8818 R910 Slfalg1)l Llno 3 y8&r8 Al Ihe boglnnlng of Iho year 16,714 16.8JO Ooproclollon 1,148 1.084 058PO8811 Al eiid ol yeai 17,860 16.714 Nel book valué Al Iho be￿[Th￿n￿ ol iho ye81 1,409 Al end r)1 yobr 1,164 1,551 12 B:FRIEND NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST OCTOBER 2024 DEBTORS AND PREPAYMENTS Analysis of debtor8 Thls year Last year Fundlng d9btor6 Pr6payment8 and accrued income 2,000 2,290 2,000 1,925 Tolal 4,290 3,925 CREDITORS AND ACCRUALS Analysls of credllors Th18 year La8t yeay Trade Credlt018 Accruals and deferred Income Taxalion and 80clal 880urlty 1,500 64,118 2,183 66,177 Total 65,618 68,360 13 FhlFIID ia8TO VI￿A¢couN1 FOAIIIEVChRtWDtO)fSYO6T¢)DER#IJ MoveAIEiifilliLWDS h*M4 8wJthYwkiléio OPPA SYCPaioM fi¢*SI¢iIAI $C¢.. tA•lLAO Ilittf..Awa(di fthTM LNEII Elsapithw¢gn lA¢co￿lIS￿)n￿..fjI￿éoi•fj1j W•P4rtd sty 1$.N) P•iniliyiio¢ •IXtT Iwi 8CC.'Eoii 265 4010 YLWTNII 4.*21 IlJ8¢.. J)4 fy02• Jsy DOPPA 0.057 iioJ Iioj Il*•rthySlJM.'8thJfyifjll P*4•• P*ikOd•L.229 $72 . 14ffj0trJ JIQ403 h•141 H44bl¢l•d Fvn41 kle4 ?72,7Ql 161116) (K•i 1<41111•1b41)l OtthJQ B:FRIEND NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST OCTOBER 2024 11 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS No Iru81e8 or olher pgrson relaled to iha eharlly had any por8onal Inleie81 In any ¢onlracl or Ifansacllon entered Inlo by Ihe charity durlng the perlod. 15