The Formby Befriending Scheme Charity No. 1171771 Annual Report for year ended 31st March 2024 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 31 st March 2024: Dr G Corcoran Dr D Edwards Mr A Gillies Mrs I Watts Mr M Pickering Chair Resigned 6th January 2024 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 Charttable 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 Fonnby Befriending Scheme aims to reduce loneliness and social isolation among older adults who are resident in the Formby, Hightown and Ince 8lundell 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 GP Surgeries. Social Prescribers 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 new people or socialise wtth 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 wtth how the Charity has been able to resum8 its regular activities to almost pre-pandemic levels during the past year. They are grateful to the part- time paid Scheme Coordinator and to all the Volunteers for their ongoing commitment to supporting older people in their local community. Holiday at Home The Tnjstees are grateful to the small team that has re-established Holiday at Home after the pandemic. This took place in August 2023 and included a programme of events for older adults who are no longer able to enjoy the holidays they once had. Three hundred individual people attended the events amounting to a cumulative total of around 1000. It was a very busy fortnight of activities, musical entertainment and fun and rt was very pleasing to see so many new friendships were made and old friendships renewed. Our sincere thanks go to Sefton CVS and the Barchester Charitable Foundation for funding support and all the organisations, businesses, churches and volunteers who worked so hard to make the fortnight so successful. 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 2024, the Charty finances report a net asset worth of £29,093 of which £2,439 is restricted and specifically applies to the Holiday at Home, Information Sessions and Dementia Support projects. The unrestricted funds will pay for regular activities of the year ahead including staff costs to support the assessment of refeals, management of Coffee Clubs and overall coordination of the Scheme. Gerard Corcoran Chair of Trustees / Treasurer
Formby Befriending Scheme Charity Registration 1171771 114123 - 3113124 UnrestrRCted Restricted Total INCOME & EXPENDITURE Grants Donations inc Gift Aid Bank Interest Total Ineome 3882 5790 3882 6450 660 Staly Costs Training Publicity Computing Insurance Aclivities & Events Otrice Costs Consumables Telephones Refreshments Travel & Subsistence Volunteer Expenses Total Exp¢ndilure 9699 132 818 10517 132 441 591 752 591 752 619 849 143 572 923 258 224 619 230 94 619 49 572 923 47 211 Note: A total of £2439.19 is held within the Scherne's Bank AICS in respect of restricted projects and to be used strictly on these projects in the future. £1047.84 for Holiday ai Home, £359.60 for Infonnation Sessions and £1031.75 for Dementia Support. 31st March 2024 BALANCE SHEET Bank AIC - Current bank AJC - Savings Inlerest Petty C&sh Prepayments Accruals Net Assets 655 27,500 241 41 755 Income Surplus blf Income Deficit Cuent Year Net Funds 35,646 29,093 Chair / Treasurer