Trustees, Annual Report for the period
Period start date
PericNJ end date
06
04
2024
05
04
2025
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
LI SEW
Names of the charity t￿SteeS who manage the charity
Name of person (or body)
entitled to appoint trustee (rf
an
Trustee name
offi￿ (if any)
Dates acted rf not for
whole year
Alan Wardle
Paul Lafferty
Sheila Rand
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Names of the trustees for the charity, if anyi (for example, any ￿stOdian trustees)
Name
Datss acted if not for whole
ear
TAR
March 2012

Names and addresses of advisers (Optional inforniation)
of adviser
Name
Address
Name of chief executive or names of senior stsff members (Optional inforniation)
Section B
Structure,
overnance and mana
ement
Description of the charitys trusts
Constitution
Type of governing document
(eg. trust deed, constitutioi
How the charity is constituted
Charitsble Incorporated Organisation
Trustee selettion methods
inied
electea b,,
Appointed by the existing Trustees
Addltional governan￿ 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
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 leaming 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,
Raising public awareness of the issues affecting people with learning
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 guidan￿ 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
isolation, brings people together and presents them with challenges they
can solve collaboratively. Company of Friends supports its members
through the prattise and perfomiance 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,, 'Hamlet', 'Sherlock Holmes and the Wolfman,, 'The
Tempesy and 'Nothing to be Done., based on Samuel Beckets work. Also,
we have collaborated with UPA to stage The Red and Black,, a fattual
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
Vittorious, on the streets of New Brighton. 'More then a Club, at
Tranmere Rovers Football Club. Our latest collaboration with LIPA,
'Penny Lane Peoples,, was performed with 6 other groups, at the Penny
Lane Community Centre.
After much consideration and consultstion, 'Company B., was born in
May 2022. This attivity group is seen as a stepping-stone, to the main
group. Commitment is more relaxed, with drama activity tsking a
secondary role, with the focus being on confidence, communication,
collaboration, focus and fun. Currently, 6 members are involved, with
hopefully more to come.
Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)
TAR
March 2012

Accountabilit
Our members dirett the work our Charity undertakes. The volunteers
support the members in achieving this. Initially, discussions with the
entire group tske place. Members will give suggestions as to what they
would like to do next. This can range from 'Hamlet' to 'Sherlock Holmes
and the Wolfrnan,. 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.
E ual O ortunities
Company of Friends recognises that it is essential to provide to all
persons without discrimination. Though we support members
predominantly with Downs Syndrome, all our members are treated
equally without discrimination. Our members have a range of capacities,
which does necessitste achieving a 'good fit, 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
undertaken include collaboration with LIPA, 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
Produrtions
For the main group, members of 'Company of Friends,, began
development and rehearsal of 'Murder most Haunted ' early 2024.
As always, we challenge our members, to further refine their skills, with
the dramas we undertake. This latest play, does exactly that, with
members taking on multiple roles, and with the added challenge, of
strong emotional expression. A public performance was held at the
'Black-E', our base theatre, later that year, and was well received.
Company B, continues to grow in members and their skills. Working
collaboratively, they have improved in many areas, including
communication, memory, confidence and focus. Especially impressive is
the emotion they bring to the characters they portray, a real sign of
atting maturity.
Again, Company of Friends began collaborating in Easter, with the
Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA), on a shared produrtion,
with 6 other groups. The projett 'Penny Lane Peoples,, was presented to
an audience of several hundred at the 'Penny Lane Community Centre,.
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 inforniation)
You may choose to include
additional information, where
relevant about:
the charity's principal
sources of funds (including
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 space.
Over recent years, we have secured grants from The Arts Council,, The
Lottery,, the 'Community Impatt Fund,, Jack's supermarket, 'Elizabeth
Rathbone Trusy, 'John Moores Foundation,, 'Eleanor Rathbone Trus
and 'The Merseyside Lieutenan
When no fiJnding has been secured, we rely on the minimal subscription
we charge our members, £4 a session (4 hours), to k￿p operational.
At times, we have been fortunate that facilitators, administration and hire
ace 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 above.
Signed on behalf of the tharitys trustees
Signature(s)
Full name(s)
Position (eg Secretaryi Chair,
etc)
Alan Wardle
Sheila Rand
Trustee/Secretary
Trustee
Date
0310212026
TAR
March 2012

CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Company of Frlends
1172644
Receipts and payments accounts
CC16a
For the period
from
I￿104/2024
0510412025
To
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted
funds
to the nearest
Restricted
funds
Endowment
funds
Total funds
Last year
to the nearest£
to the rEearest £
to the nearèst £
to thg nearest £
A1 Receipts
Donations
Subscriptions
Received Dance
Eleanour Rathbone Grant
Elizabeth Rathbone Grant
Lottery Grant
Members TenPin conin'bution
Members Meal Contributyon
360
1.525
240
360
1.510
29
1,525
1.656
8.280
140
60
105
105
Sub total (Gross income forAR)
A2 Asset and investment $ales, (see
table).
2.270
4,656
6,926
10.379
Sub total
zzz£
2,270
4,656
6,926
10,379
A3 Pa ments
Adrninistraboll
Web Site
81ack-E Rental Hire
Facillilator Dance Payrnent
Members Tenpin Wing
Members Meals
IT Computer Dnves
Productions Cost
SetslProp Costs
Training Materials
Stationary. Ink, stamps & expen
Fac111itator Payments
Audio Equipment
Tealcoffeelmilk
Last year missed £48 . Tea and Coffee
1.020
359
1,020
359
720
441
110
129
174
67
17
129
174
67
17
408
120
82
170
24
22
22
62
12.480
210
18
18
2.074
6,154
14,870
A4 Asset and Investment
urchases,
see table
Sub total
2.074
4.080
6.154
14.870
Net of receipts/(payments)
A5 Transfers between funds
A6 Cash funds last year end
Cash funds this year end
196
576
772
4,491
4,080
4,656
3,796
4,568
3,844
60
88
CCXX R1 accounts ISS)
0410212026

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Unrestricted
funds
nearÈst£
Restricted
funds
to ne3rest £
Endowment
funds
to nearèst £
Categories
Details
81 Cash funds
Bank
4.656
Cash
Total cash funds
88
4,656
xJxD￿Sl)
Unrestricted
funds
to nearest £
Restricted
funds
to nea￿t £
Endowment
funds
tg nearest £
Details
Fund to whtch
assèt bÈlon $
Currènt valu•
tsonal
Details
Cost loptTronall
Fund to which
asset bdon
Details
Cost loptionall
Current value
o tional
B4 Assets retsined for the
charity's own use
Fund to which
r8latos
Amoufit due
When due
tional
Details
85 Liabilitles
Signed by one or tM40 trustees on ￿eha￿ of
all the trustees
Signature
Print Name
Date of
roval
Aran Ward
Sheila Rand
0310212026
0310212026
CCXX R2 accounts ISSI
0410212026