Trustees. Annual Report for the period
Period start date
Peri(*J end date
06
04
2023
05
04
2024
From
To
Section A
Reference and administration details
Charity name
Company of Friends
Other names charity is known by
Registered charity number (if any)
1172644
Charity's principal address., The Black-E
l Great George Street
Liverpool
Postcode
LI SEW
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
Name of person (or body)
entitled to appoint trustee (if
an
Trustee name
Office (if any)
Dates acted if not for
whole year
Alan Wardle
Paul Lafferty
Sheila Rand
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Names of the trnstees for the charity, if anyi (for example, any custodian trustees)
Name
Dates acted if not for whole
ear
TAR
March 2012

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional infomiation)
e of adviser
Name
Address
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Section B
Strurture,
overnance and mana
ement
Description of the charity's trusts
Constitution
Type of governing document |
How the charity is constituted
Charitable Incorporated Organisation
Trustee selection methods
Appointed by the existing Trustees
Additional governance issues (Optional information)
You may choose to include
additional information, where
relevant, about:
policies and procedures
adopted for the induction and
training of trustees.
the charity's organisational
Structure and any wider
network with which the charity
works;
relationship with any related
parties;
trustees, consideration of
major risks and the system
and procedures to manage
them.
Section C
Ob-ectives and activities
TAR
March 2012

To promote social inclusion for the public benefit by working with people
in Merseyside who have learning difficulties. who are socially excluded as
a result of their learning difficulties and to relieve the needs of such
people and assist them to integrate into society.
Summary of the objects of
the charity set out in its
governing document
Main activities include
The practise and performance of theatre, art, music and movement
therapy.
Providing educational opportunities including visits to art institutions,
i Raising public awareness of the issues affecting people with leaming
difficulties. both generally and in relation to their social exclusion,
Providing workshops. forums and general support, and providing
recreational facilities and opportunities for people with learning
difficulties.
What we do
Summary of the main
activities undertaken for the
public benefit in relation to
these objects (include
within this section the
statutory declaration that
trustees have had regard to
the guidance issued by the
Charity Commission on
public benefit)
Drama is an established method for promoting self-confidence and a
sense of belonging and sharing experiences. It breaks the cycle of
isolatr'on, brings people together and presents them with challenges they
can solve collaboratively. Company of Friends supports its members
through the practise and performance of theatre, art, music and
movement therapy.
Since 2016, Company of Friends Theatre has staged many productions
(at the Black-E), including 'Dr Who and the Unknown Dimension,,
'Macbeth', 'Our Will,, 'HamleV, 'Sherlock Holmes and the Wolfman,, 'The
, Tempesy and 'Nothing to be Done,, based on Samuel Beckets work. Also,
we have collaborated with LIPA to stage The Red and Black,, a factual
production, involving the Spanish Civil War and some Liverpool Sailors,
performed at LIPA and the Anglican Cathedral, and more recently, 'The
Tam O'shanter Project, performed at Bidston, The Wirral. Victoria
Victorious, on the streets of New Brighton. And our latest collaboration
with LIPA, 'More then a Club, at Tanmere Rovers Football Club.
After much consideration and consultation, 'Company B,, was born in
May 2022. This activity group is seen as a stepping-stone, to the main
group. Commitment is more relaxed, with drama attivity taking a
secondary role, with the focus being on confidenTr, communication,
collaboration, focus and fun. Currently, 6 members are involved, with
I hopefully more to come.
Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)
TAR
March 2012

Accountabil
Our members direct the work our Charity undertakes. The volunteers
support the members in achieving this. Initially, discussions with the
entire group take pla￿. Member5 will give suggestions as to what they
would like to do next. This can range from 'Hamlet' to 'Sherlock Holmes
nd the Wolfman,. Scripts are written, amended and then rehearsed.
Before, finally 'Company of Friends, presents a production to a paying
public.
You may choose to include
further statements, where
relevant, about:
policy on grantmaking;
policy programme related
investment.
ortunities
| Company of Friends recognises that it is essential to provide to all
I persons without discriminatron. Though we support members
predominantly with Downs Syndrome, all our members are treated
j equally without discrimination. Our members have a range of capacities,
I which does necessitate achieving a 'good fiv with the individual's ability
and the requirements of their involvement.
contribution made by
volunteers.
Company of Friends promotes engagement with other local communities
for the development of shared projects. Current projects being
l undertaken include collaboration with UPA, Mencap and Liverpool Adult
Social Services
Section D
Achievements and performance
TAR
March 2012

Section D
Achievements and performance
Summary of the main
achievements of the charity
during the year
Productions
i For the main group, members of 'Company of Friends,, began
development and rehearsal of 'What Ho! Uncle Vanya,, early 2023. This
has been their most demanding work to date, being a melding of
Chekhov and PG W()Jdhouse, with some Russian elements of the play,
being exceptionally challenging. A public performance were held at the
'Black-E', our base theatre, later that year, and was well received.
Company B, has continued to grow and flourish. A previously written
drama 'The Cinnamon Roll,, was considered ideal, for a first taste of
drama, and has proved ideal, for this new cohort, to develop confidence
with collaboration. Public performances are imminenL
As usual, Company of Friends began collaborating in Easter, with the
Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA) in Easter, in co-operation
with 2 other drama groups, each presenting their own work, as part of a
main performance, which on this occasion was presented in the Main
Theatre, at the Black-E, to an audience of several hundred.
TAR
March 2012

Section E
Financial review
Brief ststement of the
charity's policy on reserves
Company of Friends does not have a Reserves Policy
Details of any funds
materially in deficit
Not applicable
Further financial review details (Optional information)
You may choose to include
additional information, where
relevant about:
the charity's principal
sources of funds (induding
any fundraising);
how expenditure has
supported the key objectives
of the charity.
investment policy and
objectives including any
ethical investment policy
adopted.
The main expenditures for 'Company of Friends, and 'Company B, are 3
fold. Payments to project facilitators, administration and payment for
office and rehearsal spa￿.
Over recent years, we have secured grants from The Arts Council,, The
Lottery,, the 'Community Impact Fund,, Jack's supermarket, 'Elizabeth
| Rathbone Trusv, 'John Moores Foundation, and 'Eleanor Rathbone Trust,
When no funding has been secured, we rely on the minimal subscription
we charge our members, £4 a session (4 hours), to keep operational.
At times, we have been fortunate that facilitstors, administration and hire
Spa￿ has been donated, either for free, or for a token amount.
Section F
Other optional information
Section G
Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees, report al>ove.
Signed on behalf of the charity's tru
Signature(s)
Full name(s)
Position (eg Secretaryi Chair,
etc)
Alan Wardle
Sheila Rand
Trust￿/secretary
Trust
Date
410212025
TAR
March 2012

CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGIAND AND WALES
Company of Ffiends
1172644
Receipts and payments accounts
CC16a
For the period
0610412023
0510412024
To
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted
funds
to the nearest
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
Total funds
La$t year
to the twrest£
to the nÈarest£
to the nearest £
lo the neartst £
A1 Receipts
Donations
Subscnpiions
Other Payments
Lottery Granl
Black-E Contributions (light Desk)
John Moores Foundation Grani
Members Theatre contributions
Members Meal Contributions
360
1,510
29
1,6f>O
1.474
1.s10
8.280
210
8.280
8.280
140
60
140
Sub total (Gross income forARJ
A2 Asset and investment sales. {see
table).
2,099
8.280
10.379
11.624
Sub total
Total receipts
2,099
8,280
10.379
11.624
A3Pa
ents
Adminislralion
Web Site
Bla¢k-E Rental Hire
Members Theatre Tickets
Mernbers Meals
813ck_E Psyment Ilighl Desk)
Audio Expenses
Producbons
SetsiProp Costs
Training Materials
stationary. Ink. stamps & expenses
Facillitalor PayTnents
Audio Equipment
TealCoffe&lMilk
720
441
720
441
110
408
120
1.760
503
440
358
355
210
30
115
4108
120
82
170
19
62
82
170
19
62
12.480
210
31
69
12,480
210
Sub total
2.342
12,480
14,822
4.119
A4 Asset and investment
urchases. (see table)
Sub total
2,342
12,480
14,822
4,119
Net of receipts/(payments)
A5 Transfers between funds
A6 Cash funds last year end
Cash funds this year end
243
4.200
4,443
7,505
8,280
4,080
8.287
3,844
314
236
7,819
CCXX R1 accounts ISS}
0310212025

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Unrestricted
fund$
Restricted
funds
Endowmenl
funds
to nearest £
<4&eiiori¢S
Details
to nearest £
lo nearest £
B1 Cash funds
Bank
242
4.080
Cash
Total cash funds
236
4,080
(agree baaFKes iewpts ￿ ?3￿￿rts
a¢1￿UntI$ll
Unrestricted
funds
to neare$t £
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
to nearest £
to nearest £
Fund to which
asset belon
Current value
tional
Details
Cost loptionall
Fund to which
asset belon
DEE311s
Cost (op￿Onall
Cvrrent value
tional
B4 Assets retained for the
charity's own use
Fund to whi¢h
relatss
AJnount due
tional
When due
tional
Details
BS Liabilities
Signed by one or two trustees on beha￿ of
811 the tnjstees
Print Name
Dale of
roval
ignature
Alan Wardle
Sheila Rand
0410212025
0410212025
CCKX R2 accounls ISSI
0310212025