## **The Formby Befriending Scheme** Charity No. 1171771 ## **Annual Report** ## **for year ended 31st March 2023** ## **Introduction** The Trustees present their Report along with Financial Statements. The Scheme was awarded independent charitable status on the 24th February 2017 having operated originally since 2013. ## **Governance** Trustees during the year ended 31st March 2023: Mr A Gillies Chair Mrs A Long Inactive due to ill health Mrs I Watts Dr G Corcoran Mr M Pickering Dr D Edwards Trustees are appointed as and when necessary from members of the local community who have an interest in furthering the aims of the Charity. The Charity operates as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) registered with the Charity Commission in February 2017. The polices of the Charity are decided by the Trustees within guidelines of this organisation. The Trustees meet on a monthly basis, with invited others operating as a Steering Group. The Trustees confirm that in exercising their powers and duties, they have complied with their responsibility to have due regard to the guidance on public health benefit published by the Charity Commission. ## **Registered Office** Methodist Church, Elbow Lane, Formby, Merseyside. L37 4AF ## **Objectives and Activities** Formby Befriending Scheme aims to reduce loneliness and social isolation among older adults who are resident in the Formby, Hightown and Ince Blundell areas of Sefton in Merseyside. At the heart of the charity is a group of Volunteers or ‘Befrienders’ who visit people on a one-to-one basis each week for a chat and to provide companionship. Referrals are received from a variety of sources, often health related eg Stroke Association, GP Surgeries as well as from individuals and their families. There are two Coffee Clubs held each month which are free and open to those wanting to meet to meet new people or socialise with others in a welcoming environment. The Coffee Clubs are supported by a team of Volunteers and transport is provided for anyone who is unable to make their own way. Plans to expand our support to people living with dementia which were postponed during the Pandemic as well as our usual information and training sessions for Volunteers have still to be delivered. Overall, the Trustees are pleased with how the Charity has been able to resume its regular activities to pre-pandemic levels during the past year. They are grateful to the 3 part-time paid staff and to all the Volunteers for their ongoing commitment to supporting older people in their local community. ## **Holiday at Home** The Trustees are grateful to the small team that re-established Holiday at Home. This took place for the first time since 2019 from the 15th-26 August 2022 and included a programme of events for older adults who are no longer able to enjoy the holidays they once had. The events included musical entertainment, afternoon tea, a movie afternoon and chair-based exercises. Our sincere thanks go to all community groups, businesses and individuals who offered to host an event. Special thanks go to the Green Hall Foundation who provided funding for the programmes, transport and other associated costs. ## **Financial Summary** Accounts have been prepared on an accrual basis. The Charity is dependent on grants, donations and fundraising to support operations and activities and the Trustees are grateful to all who have supported the Charity in this way. As at 31st March 2023, the Charity finances report a net asset worth of £35,646 of which £4,847 is restricted and specifically applies to the Holiday at Home, Information Sessions and Dementia Support projects. The unrestricted funds will pay for activities of the year ahead including staff costs to support the assessment of referrals, management of Coffee Clubs and overall coordination of the Scheme. FORMBY BEFRIENDING SCHEME Charity RegiStrat￿n 1171771 Year ended 31st March 2023 2023 2022 Unrgslricted Restrieted Total Total INCOME & EXPENDITURE INCOME Grants Donations inc Gift Aid Govt Jrjb Retention Scheme Fundraising Total Income 10,650 4,935 2,250 12,9(XJ 4.935 8.982 6.738 589 210 16.619 99 17,934 15.684 2.250 EXPENDITURE Staff Costs Training Publicity Computing Insurances Activities & Events Office Costs Consumables T￿ept￿ne8 Pandemic Support Gfts Refreshments Travel & Subsistence Volunteer EXp￿seS Bank Charges Miscellaneous Total Expendlturn 1,441 10.984 228 10,965 290 228 844 11x1 281 422 381 422 719 825 424 719 200 780 205 205 47 429 553 20 116 417 220 62 92 437 12,496 3,837 16,333 15,543 Net Income 3,188 -1.587 1,601 976 Note.. A total of£4.847 is held within the Scheme's 8ank AIC in respect ofreslricted projects and lo be used sttictly on these p￿iett5 in the fufu￿. £2.615 forHoI￿aY al Home, £360 for the Infom8tion Seswns, and £1.872 lorthe Dementia Support. 31st March 2023 31st March 202 BALANCE SHEET Bank Alc Petty Cash Prepayments Accounts Payable Accruals Net Assets 34,682 135 829 33,149 153 747 3S,646 ¥045 Income Surplus blf Income Surplus current year Net Funds 34,045 33,069 978 34,045 35.646 AcGr*unts agreed and app￿Ved on belpalfofthe Twstees 151,] 23 Trustees Examlner Mr G Corcoran Chaimian Mr R Dodd Mr M Pickering Treasurer Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Formby Befriending Scheme for the year ended 31st March 2023 I report on the Accounts of the Charity for the above period which have been prepared on a Receipts and Payments basis and which are set out on the Income & Expenditure and Balan￿ Sheet page. Res ective res nsibilities of the Trustees and Examiner The Charity's trustees are responsible for the P￿paratIOn of the Accounts. The Charity's trustee5 con5iderthat an audit 15 not required under sertion 144121 of the charities Act 2011 Ithe 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It 15 my responsibility to.. l examine the Accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act. 2 follow the p￿edureS laid down in the general directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl 3 stste whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of inde ndent examiner's re My examination was earried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the charity Commission. An examination includes a revlew of the attounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts prepared wlth those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or dis¢losures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evldence that would be required in an audit and consequently no optnion is is given as to whether they present a 'true and fair view, and the report is limited to those rnatters set out in the statement below. Inde ndent examlner's statement In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention- I which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requlrements- to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act- and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and eomply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met,. or 2 to which, In my opinion. attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Rob Dodd Retired Accountant Date 63 Kirklake Road Formby L37 2DA