2025-03-31-accounts

Charity Number 1177601

Senior Solutions

Financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Contents

Charity Info

Chairs Report

Independent Examiners report

Financial report

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

Chair’s Report 2024-25

There’s an old saying that bad news sells newspapers. In a world increasingly dominated by the internet it’s still bad news and adverse comment that is more likely to go viral rather than positive stories or praise for jobs well done. So how are we going to cheer ourselves up? Instead of the inane chatter of the keyboard warriors, I would advise people just to talk to real live people; to all of you or anyone involved in Senior Solutions in any way.

It's word of mouth recommendation that’s at the heart of our continuing growth. A growing army of

volunteers helping to meet increasing needs doesn’t make an earth-shattering headline but that’s the continuing story of Senior Solutions in 2025 that we need to share. Our charity has always been about meeting lots of individual needs and being the people whose response to isolated and lonely people is simply to welcome and try and help them.

After the difficult times of Covid, we expected a strong demand for befriending from people simply starved of company. As you’ll hear from Michelle, the high level of Referrals we experienced has continued unabated. Overall, befriending has doubled since Covid & attendance is steady & high

in all our groups.

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 exciting programme of events and activities at our HQ will continue into the rest of 2025 and beyond. Senior Solutions has certainly confirmed Winifred Kettle’s status as a real community hub

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.

Potential clients and volunteers are hugely welcome but, in a caring organisation, they all mean extra work for our staff as they seek to match their needs and best potential roles respectively. We are so proud of our skilled and hard-working staff who coordinate and develop our service so effectively. I’m delighted to say that Michelle Todd’s is still our Chief Officer and our three

coordinators are:

Service Coordinator: Kirstie Willsdon

Befriending Coordinator: Kath Lloyd

Volunteer Coordinator: Lorna Bowman

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

Annual meetings are an opportunity to celebrate 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 all our volunteers. 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) many thanks. Your grant is an important part of our funding and enables us to help you meet the needs we all know exist in the community. However, I must add that it only covers part of the money we now need to meet the demands of a wider geographical area and the many lonely people who seem to have nowhere else to go.

I always stress that we’re great value too! Many thanks to the National Lottery for their current vital financial support but we must look longer term and I hope that real consideration is given to increased public financial recognition of the vital community role we fulfil.

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 and commitment over the year. In your different ways, you’ve all brought so much to our charity.

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

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. 2024-5 has been challenging but, once again. it has 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

Carl J Partington

Senior Solutions Financial Statement as at 31 March 2025

		Unrestricted	Unrestricted	Unrestricted	Designated	Designated
		Funds			Funds
	Receipts
	Grants	92,143
	Fund Raising & Donations	43,234			0
	Investment Income	2,490
	Total Receipts	137,867			0
	Payments
	Wages	106,787
	Insurance	854
	Expenses	2,702
	Office expenses	6,326
	Other costs	13,955
	Total Payments	130,624			0
	Net Receipts / Payments			7,243	0
	Transfer Between Funds
	Cash funds last year		29,776		113077
	Cash Funds this year end		37,019		113077
	Current Account
	Savings Account
	Term account

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