## **Trustee Annual Report** **Yellowbird Age Friendly Drop-in & Advice Group Charity Registration Number: 1177904 For the Financial Year Ending: 2025** ## **1. Introduction** This report outlines the work of **Yellowbird Age Friendly Drop-in & Advice Group** during the financial year ending **2025** . The trustees are pleased to present an overview of our activities, impact, and financial position. ## **2. Governance & Management** ## 2.1 Legal Status & Structure - **Yellowbird Age Friendly Drop-in & Advice Group** is a **registered charity** governed by a **Constitution** - The charity is managed by a **board of trustees** , who oversees its work and ensure compliance with legal requirements. ## 2.2 Trustees The following trustees served during this period: - **Amy Muthra (Chair)** - **Alaina Choudary (Treasurer)** - **Hartley Polson (Secretary)** - **Eula Mesquita (Trustee)** Trustees are **elected annually by members or co-opted by existing trustees** . ## **3. Objectives & Activities** ## 3.1 Our Mission Our charity exists to provide an age-friendly drop-in support and advice service that fosters connection, understanding, and well-being among older adults, particularly those from diverse communities in central Manchester, including the Moss Side Caribbean community. We aim to combat loneliness, isolation, and memory-related challenges by offering a range of social, creative, and educational activities. Our welcoming space encourages both users and carers to share their experiences, express themselves in confidence, and receive compassionate support in a warm and respectful setting. Through activities such as dance, walking, chair and standing exercises, drama, and music, we promote physical and emotional well-being while celebrating culture and shared experiences. Above all, we are committed to TAR25 1 inclusivity, ensuring that our services remain accessible to all, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, sexuality, religion, political belief, marital status, or age. ## 3.2 Key Activities & Achievements Over the past year, **Yellowbird Age Friendly Drop-in & Advice Group** has continued to deliver vital support and engagement for older adults through a range of well-established activities, including: - **Weekly Drop-in Sessions** – Providing a warm, friendly space where older adults can socialise, share experiences, and access support. - **Advice & Support Services** – Assisting individuals with issues such as benefits, housing, healthcare, and general well-being. - **Community Engagement Events** – Organising social and cultural activities to combat loneliness and promote connection e.g. our Annual Christmas Dinner & Festivities on 19 December 2024 staged by the Bugle Group. - **Health & Well-being Activities** – Facilitating light exercise sessions such as chair-based exercises, walking groups, to encourage physical activity. - **Creative & Cultural Activities** – Offering opportunities for members to engage in music, drama, storytelling, and arts and crafts, fostering selfexpression and community bonding. - **Intergenerational Engagement** – Exploring ways to connect older adults with younger generations through shared learning and activities. - **Peer Support & Confidence Building** – Encouraging members to share personal experiences, challenges, and successes in a respectful and understanding environment. These activities, which have been at the heart of our mission for several years, have directly benefited **15-20 people** in our community this year, reinforcing our longstanding commitment to reducing social isolation and loneliness, confidence building and improving the quality of life for older adults. ## **4. Financial Review** ## 4.1 Income & Expenditure For the financial year ending **[date]** , **Yellowbird Age Friendly Drop-in & Advice Group** operated without external grants or formal funding. Instead, all activities and services were sustained through voluntary contributions from group members and supporters. - **Total income:** £481.78 (100% from member contributions and donations) - **Total expenditure:** £832.17 (used for venue costs, refreshments, activity materials, and operational expenses) - **Closing balance:** -£350.39 ## 4.2 Sustainability & Financial Challenges As we rely entirely on member contributions, financial sustainability remains a key challenge. We continue to manage our resources carefully to ensure the continuation of our services while exploring potential funding opportunities that align with our mission. TAR25 2 ## 4.3 Reserves Policy At the close of the financial year, the charity maintained -£350.39 in reserves. These funds are crucial for covering essential costs and ensuring that we can continue to provide a welcoming space for our members. ## **5. Future Plans & Development** - Looking ahead, **Yellowbird Age Friendly Drop-in & Advice Group** aims to strengthen and expand its support services for older adults. Key areas for development include: - **Expanding Outreach:** We aim to reach and support more older adults, particularly those experiencing loneliness, isolation, and memory-related challenges. - **Securing Additional Funding:** As we currently operate solely on member contributions, we will actively seek funding opportunities to enhance our service delivery and provide additional resources for our beneficiaries. - **Strengthening Partnerships:** We plan to develop stronger collaborations with local organisations to expand our impact and improve the support available to our members. - **Student Placement Support:** We are exploring opportunities to welcome university students as placement volunteers to assist with group activities, enriching our services while offering students practical experience in community support. - **Accounts Support Initiative:** We are considering engaging student volunteers from **Manchester Business School** to assist with financial management and basic accounting tasks, improving financial oversight and ensuring long-term sustainability. By pursuing these initiatives, we hope to broaden our reach, improve operational efficiency, and secure a more sustainable future for the group. ## **6. Compliance & Governance Statement** - No serious incidents were reported to the Charity Commission. - The charity remains compliant with its governing document and legal obligations. ## **7. Trustee Declaration** The trustees confirm that this report has been approved by the board on **13/05/2025** . TAR25 3 ## Signed on behalf of the trustees: ## X Amy Muthra Chair ## X Hartley Polson Secretary TAR25 4