2024-03-31-accounts

Charity Number 1177601

Senior Solutions

Financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Contents

Charity Info Chairs Report Independent Examiners report Financial report

Chairman	Ronald Bell OBE
Treasurer	Mark Preston ACMA
Secretary	Susan Phillips
Trustees	Frances Settle
	Anne Burns
	Louise McDade
	David Chadwick
Service Address	Winifred Kettle C C C
	Washacre
	Westhoughton
	BOLTON
	BL5 2NG

Chair’s Report 2023-24

In a time of 24 hours news, the media are understandably looking for new ideas, different people and unusual events. A growing army of volunteers helping to meet increasing needs won’t make an earth-shattering headline but that’s the continuing story of Senior Solutions in 2024. Our charity has always been about meeting lots of personal needs & stories and being the people whose response to isolated and lonely people is to welcome and help them.

I’m delighted to say that, unlike some organisations, we continue to find new volunteers to play a part in our work. The new requests for help we reported last year and the year before continued unabated but so too have the offers of help. More people have come to share our awareness of and concern for the needs of isolated people.

We don’t need a fancy slogan. Our name says it all – we find practical solutions to real problems. We are still just as committed to combating isolation for older people in the local community as we were when we were founded in 1997.

Our HQ, Winifred Kettle, has developed into a real social hub. In addition to our Lunch Club, we have a strongly supported Social Group with an active range of activities. The Warm Space or breakfast group continues to meet on Wednesday but has recently evolved into a soup and sandwich social group.

As Trustees, we are enormously grateful for our growing devoted team of volunteers both new and longstanding who really live up to the highly prized Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service which we still bear so proudly. If you are one of our new volunteers, may I offer you a warm welcome.

We are also proud of our skilled and hard-working staff who coordinate our service so effectively. . With growing responsibilities, Michelle Todd’s title was changed to Chief Officer in the spring. I’m delighted to say that the three coordinators are still:

Service Coordinator: Kirstie Willsdon

Befriending Coordinator: Kath Lloyd

Volunteer Coordinator: Lorna Bowman

Annual meetings and reports are an opportunity to review the highlights, take a little time to congratulate ourselves on our achievements and thank everyone who has contributed.

I have spoken of how much we appreciate the work of our all volunteers, long standing and new. On behalf of the trustees, very many thanks to all of you for your work for Senior Solutions.

To Bolton Borough Council (and their taxpayers) our thanks. Your grant is a vital part of our funding and enables us to help you meet the needs we all know exist in the

community. I always stress that we’re great value too! Thanks too to the National Lottery for their vital financial support.

To the staff and students of Westhoughton High School, thank you for the way you brighten the lives of so many of our clients (and volunteers).

To Bolton CVS, we appreciate your valuable support and training.

To everyone who has supported us in any way, grateful thanks.

I have spoken about the responsibilities of our staff team. As we all know, the one thing that doesn’t change is their hard work and dedication. On behalf of the trustees, a personal thank you for all they do for so many people. To Michelle, Kirstie, Kath and Lorna, a big thank you for all your work over the year. In your different ways, you’ve all brought so much to our charity.

Many thanks too to my fellow trustees. I never forget that they are volunteers who give invaluable service and support.

I continue to be proud of chairing Senior Solutions with its great team of volunteers, trustees and staff. We all look forward to serving our community for another year. As I predicted, 2024 has been challenging but it has also brought new solutions and successes. No doubt, the coming year will be the same.

.

Ronald Bell

Independent Examiner’s report to the trustees of Senior Solutions

I have reviewed the accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024 set out on the following pages

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 43(2) of the charities Act 1993 and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

1. Examine the accounts ( under section 43 of the Act)

2. To follow the procedures laid down in the general directions given by the charities Commission (under section 43 (7)(b) of the Act), and to state whether particular matters have come to our attention.

Independent examiner’s statement

In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention

1. Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in , any material respect, the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the Act, and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 1993 Act; have not be 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

R Eastwood

Ruth Eastwood BA Hons

Senior Solutions Financial Statement as at 31 March 2024

		Unrestricted	Unrestricted	Unrestricted	Unrestricted	Designated	Total	Total
			Funds			Funds	Funds
	Receipts
	Grants		68101				68101
	Fund Raising & Donations		33257			0	33257
	Investment Income		1997				1997
	Total Receipts		103355			0	103355
	Payments
	Wages			86008			86008
	Insurance			758			758
	Expenses			7957			7957
	Office Expenses			3312			3312
	Total Payments			98034		0	98034
	Net Receipts / Payments				5321	0		5321
	Transfer Between Funds
	Cash funds last year			25408		113077	138485
	Cash Funds this year end			30729		113077	143805
	Current Account						12975
	Savings Account						51486
	Term account						79344
							143805

Notes to the accounts

Restricted Reserve

This reserve relates to funds received from the Bolton fund to expand the service into Horwich and surrounding areas.

Designated Reserves

The designated fund is to cover the costs of closure of the charity and funding for the staff for 12 months should the future funding of the charity (in these uncertain times) make the continuing operation of the charity unviable. The funds will allow for a controlled wind down of the charity.

Unrestricted Reserves

These are free funds that the charity has at its disposal. The charity is looking at a number of options for the future, but should future funding fall these reserves will need to be drawn upon