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 refe￿als, 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 Cu￿ent Year
Net Funds
35,646
29,093
Chair / Treasurer