Charity Number 1185901 MILLERI Co. Friends of Bram Annual Repcyt and Accounts For the year ended 31 M8rch 2025
Friends of Bram Year Ended 31 March 2025 Index Pagè No 1104 Trustees. Report Independent Examiners Report Statemenl of financial activit16S Balance sheet
Friends of Bram Year Ended 31 March 2025 Trustees Report The truslees present their repc*t and the accounts fe¥ the year ended 31 March 2025. Legal and Admlnlslralive Detalls Charity nama Friends of Bram Charlty Comm5sslon Reqistwed Number 1185901 Regl$tered OfflG• 36 The Gill Ulverslon Cumbrfa LA12 7BP Tru8t••8 Carol Elizabeth Budge Wilma Anne Andernon Nlcola Kell Chalrnian Jacqueline Ann Drake Secrelary Jacqueline Ann Drake (actrng se(xelary) Treasurer Carol Elizabeth Budge
Frlends of Bram Year Ended 31 March 2025 Trustees Report (Contlnued) The trustees are F4eased to present their annual rep)rL This rewl ouifines the activity of the Friends of Bram from April 2024 to Marth 2025. Th• purposos of the charity are: (1) To provide facilities for the daity Lxre, recreation and educati of children during and out of school hours and sthool holidays and to advance education, pmmte the preservation and protedion of good health and relieve the effeds of poverty amongst residents of Barrow in Fumess and the surrounding area. 12) To relleve the needs of chiklren, young people and thelr familles by the provision of serwces in particular thosè almed promoting good health, relieving poverty and helping people meet their ow needs in society. (3) To promote for the benefrt of the inhabitants of Barrow in Fumess and the surrounding area for the provision of the assistance in the provision of facAlities by reason of thelr youth. age, infimity or disats'lity. financial hardship or social circumstances with the object of improving their conditiS of life. A¢<lvltles and achl•vornents We continue to SnpoSt both families and indlvtduals to our huge successfvl Well Fed prograrnme, we conlinue lo work ¥th Fairshare to enhance the ¢urrenl produce induding fresh frutt. meals and fresh meal produce through Ing in partnership Fairshare we were offered an opportunity to visit the warehouse on the 2nd Monday of the month wh8ra we were able to pid( up 15 extra trays of a range ol food and produce which we u88 lo support both the nursery and the loGal community, thrgh this development we have been successful in funding by the Cumberland Building Soriety which has contlnued throughout Ihis financial year which has ensured there is no direct cost to oursefves which Is also supporting the nursery provision and reducing the fochj costs for our daity meals. The food delivered on a weekly basis on a Monday which continues Io 8uprrtirt individuals and famllies lo be able to eat at an oxceH6nl $t of £3.00 per bag vthich support families and indiwduals to eat for the whole week. We continue to work with l¢)cal supermarkets r8ceiwng excellent donations bthich support boih the Well Fed and Fairshare programrne and food parcels for the mosl vulrserable and i8olat8d have continued to support these individuals bLrt on a reduced cApaw. During this period we have continuod to work wilh a range of partner crfgank8ation including.. Barrow Communty Learning Skills and WEA Y+ho are now able to delNer a direct servic8 in Itne with govemment guidance in a safe. planned and structured environment ensuring both the safety of the students. teaching staff and other users of the buiSIing. We have also been worklng a number of external OrganisatnS induding: Families Matter, Fumess MUKI Cvftural Group, Famity Action. Family Hubs, Prc4ect John. Warrlor Down. Health Visiting Team providlng essential support and advice to he the local community address any needs that may b.e affeGbng them incknding; physical and mental heath. benefits and hwsln9 advice as well as signposting to the most appropriate 58Nces to meet tr1r indmdual needs. We have developed a partnership with the Family Hubs prowding a range of seNices to meet the needs of families and children with a speufic focus on babies and toddlers including", infanl massage. terrtftc toddlers and baby tme sessions vthich SUPFKffts the development and understsnding of childr8n through their parents.
After an initial conversation with warri DO we have developed an excellent P8rtnership vAth the prcJramme vot deliver 8 serwce to the kK31 community and provide an office base for their management team. the organiSatic supports individuals and famifies have been affected by substance misuse, through this partnership we have been able to complete a large amount of work on the site adjacent to the Vland area and have put a programme together to ensure the land is finished and compleled in the ne financial year and open to the IoGal community to access this excrting provision. we an to have an open day later on in the year to celebrat8 its compleb'on. Through this partnership we have been able to expand our volunteer base dramab'cally arKI to improve our external area within the Bram gardened areas. Friends of Bram continue to work the local authority in developlng the buildlng into becoming one of the four tovm de81 hubs based within the Barrow focltxinL we have now been given the approval lor our govemm8nt funding is du8 to start in the very near fijture and we look foTward to the continued development the building to prole services lor the local communlty. We have been allocated 165K of capital funding to complete th8 development of the town deal hub within our site. We are working wrth officers frcyn the Ioc81 authority to develop a plan of wk includes completing the town deal work, the canopy cr8ats.ng an outside dassrcK)m and a number of Maintenan programmes to upgrade the Bram Longstaffe building, these include: replacement of the fascras ¥Mthin the courtyard area as well as the fascias at the far ertd of the building adiacent to Ihe NagatOrS and Voyagers rooms also replacement of all heaters throughout the building and emergèncy lighting intemally and extemally. This programme has become In(xeasingly frustrati as th8 tlme frame for the work to be start8d and completed has been put off on numerous occasions, this is mainly due to the local authority wanting Friends of 8ram to sign up to a Img tem lease and the legal team within the local aulhority having to produce and develop this which bcth parties are happy lo sign, we are hoping thls will happen In Ihe coming financial year and the work will then be able to be completed to support our delivery for the kx81 communlty. We ctjntlnue lo plan to develop our wtside Io$10n adjacent lo the garden incfuding.. erecting the gates which have now been erected, developing the patio area th seating and a well-being garden th our initial plan of opening the alr raid shelter based on the settlng, where local school and community VAII be able lo learn some of the history of both the war and how it affeded the Barrow IslarKI footpr6nt. we have now sec4Jred the WOC>d to erect the raised beds as well as the stone and chippings to develop the paths throughoul the a8. Unfortunately due lo the adverse w8ather conditions we have had during this year we have bean unable to Clp[e the Vrk planned and hope to have completion and secured ready for the Winter of 2025 which wlll indude the patlo area. raised beds, paths and opening of the air raKI shelier. We continue to work with Travel Active in creatlng Bam)w Island Bikes which is a programme to support chlldren, young peop18 and the local cornmunity to understsnd the concept of repairino thelr own bikes and delivered tsvo training programmes for local volunteers to support the local communlty and children into gaining an Undeanding of how to repair and rebuikl thelr bikes as well os an opportunlty to acqulre a blke for their personal use whlch will be either free or at low cost, we have start8d thls programme on 5rte as we now have a unit that the programme can deliver sessions and we an to expand this ser4ice as the land progresses. Through secunng funding Irom Cumbria Community FCnd8ti0n we wwe also able to develop and deliver an Air Fryer prografftme deSned to supwt indivlduals and families to both reduce their fuel cosls bthile also improving their diet and reduiing waste food. The programme was extremdy intergenerational with the Ynge attendee being 28 Ye8 arKI the eldest 82 years both male and female. through attending the programme ttt participants were given the opportunity to share recipes. (¥eate whofes¢Th meals while also de)ping friendships in relaxed, infc*mal and enjoyable envrronment. Friends of Bram provided the ingredients, Air Fryers and utensils for the course and once th8 Course is compknted the participants were ablo to tske homo the Air Fryer and utensils vthrcth they will then be able to use in the horne environment. Friends of Bram continue to offer to a Warm Spot yoject during the Winter months providing an opportunty for the local community to access Snewhere they could charge their electrical items. enjoy a wann drink. swp, sandwithes, biscu¢ts and cakes as V11 8S the opportunty to develop friendships and dis(JJss any ncernS that may be affecting them with either the member ol Staff C v(Aunteer who delivered the pro3ramme.
During this financial year we have delivered a hugely sUCclU1 holday programme for children ages 2 years to 11 years as thls included our Haf progr8mme durtng Easter, Summer and Chrislmas holidayE supporting Ihe most wknerable and isolated S years to 11 years old with a particular focus on children receiving free sthool meals. all our holiday provision is extremely well attended for both the most vulnerable and isolated thildr8n as well as paying thbldren from working parents. Eath of the Haf programme attendance has been exceptional and we have never been under 100% attendance, during this period we have also been both intemally and extemally audit by the Haf team which we have come through with fy'ng colours on both occasions and are seen as excdlent pYaclic£. During this financaal year we have developed and delivered a successfijl youth wowsion whlch k8 delivered by two of our members of staff on a weekly basis and is attend8d crft avry sÉxteen young people from the local area where they have the opportunity to access a range of acaivtties induding: games, IT, cooking and b8klng as well as extending their stxial networks and galning new friends, the sessions also provide a cooked tea for all the ytJun9 people which they really enjoy and have a discussion each week about they will 8at the tek after, During this year we have seen our numbers rapidly grow which is linked to word of mouth and SOCi81 media which has been extremety positive vthere potential parents are looking for nursery provision for their children. This has led to us h8ving to rethink how we provid8 our nurswy provision and are now in a posrtion ol needlng four rn5, Little Saibjrs 0-2 years, Navigators 2- 3 years and Voyagers 34 years. At Ihis present rnoment we have apprOrnately 96 children on roll which is over double the figure we smed in 2021, due to r rising numbers we hav8 had to look at staffing levels and empbyed thr8e extra members ol staff on a full lime basis and due to the govemment's anS for both 2 year and 9 month old funded plac8s for WCf.ng parents we are expecting a raFid rise from April 2024 and September 2024 vthlth we exp8ct to need more stsffing to cover Ihe extra provision 1th wlll be needed for working parents especially return to work parents. We have (Jjrrently 3 qualified teachers, an earty years specialist and 11 childcsre assistants on contract and 2 staff members on c8sual bank which we have utilised in our holiday progTammes especially the Haf programme, thls also glves us an opportunity whefe we have been needing extra staff to CVer holidays and slckness Ihroughout lerni tlme. ThSs has been an extremely successful year for tN)th our ccnmunlty work and nursery provlsion and we have developed an excdlent name lor our nursery as we are now independent fomi the local authority and developed and excellent relationship wilh the local community providing a range of service5 as well as creating an extrwnety trusting opp)rtunity to work with local people wlthin our communty. During this financial peTk)d we have been 9ceSsful a nurnber of grants Indudlng: Town Deal vthich we have received our first revenue payment. We were successful In receivlng funding from Sir John Fisher. Cumbria Foundation to support the delivery of a number of projects as well as supportlng Bram Longsaffe Communty Hub running costs and salaries, this excludes our funded 2.3 and 4 year obj chiklren and paid chIJran thich suppc*ts the running of Brams Little Sailors Nursery Ffovision and slaffing. Flnance As at Marth 31# 2025 the bank accourrt funds stand al £224,826. Approved by the trustees on the I b. bi .& and signed on their behall ty. C A Budge W A Ander50n N Kell
Independent Examinerfs Report To the Trustees of Friends of Bram I report to the tnjslees on my eXaminatn of the aco)unts of the above tharlty (Ihe Trusf) f( the year ended 3110312025. Respoctive r85ponslbllitles of trustaes and •xaminer and bagls of roport The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The tharitS twst8es consider that an audil is not required for this Perrod under section 144(2) of the Chaiities Aci 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It 1$ my responsibility to... 8xamine th8 accounts under secion 145 of the 2011 Act,. follow the procedures laid down in the general DirecAions given by the Charity Commissioners under seclion 145(5){b) of the 2011 Art" and state whether parlfoJlar matters have come lo my attention Ba•1 ol lftd•p•nd•nl •xafflln•rf• r•wt My examination was caryied out In acc•)rdance with the general Dir8dions glven by th8 Charity Ccimmission. An examination includes a review of th8 accounting racords kept by the charity and a comparison of the 8ccounts presented with those records. R also indud8s consideration of any unusual items or dlsdosures In Ihe accounts, and seeking explanaliorts frw Y as trustees concemlng any such matters. The procedures undertaken do nol wovlde all the ewdence that would be required in an audlt and consequently no opinion is given as to vh)ether the accounts present a knie and fair vie¥W and the report is Ilmited to those matters set out in the slatement below. Indopendent examlnerfs 8tat•m•nt In connection with my examlnalion. no matter has come to my attenti. (1) lch grves me reasonatrAe cause to beleve that in any mat191 respect the requirements to keep acccMJntsng records in aCC(danCe vAth section 130 of the 2011 Act.. and to prepare acccwnts bthich accord wilh the accounting rerx>rds and comply vAth the accounting requirements of the 2011 Acl have not been met. or {2J to. whith. in my oplnion, attention shoukl bp in ryder to eDalle a proper understsnding of the accounts to be reached. R F Mlller & Co Charternd Certlfj•d Accountants Doubletree Court 10A C8vendi5h Street Ulvefston Cumtffia LA12 7AD Dated: 12 janu 2026
Frf•nds of Bram stst•mènt alfinjndal ac11•? for the yow •nded 31 IAarch 202S UnrestridrAI f$10 newvst UnrestiiLtsd d5 to nearest R•c•ipts 2025 Fundad chlldr8n k)CLYna- CCC P8ront fee5 recwved 332,6&8 136.642 40.318 138.862 143.969 HAF Fvndng Incorn- COV1>19 Funding Incon Recyding Pffjmis88 Usagè IntereBI rK8lvtd 112.916 2.201 10,563 76,647 8,895 16 Total recelFts 389.557 Paym•nt• lor gener•tlng fund• Co¥Ad hub ey¥Jen Salarte6 and Tr8iNng ¢i>sis Rates Insurnnce Utiity ca818 Acoxni8ncy Tdethone Travel co6ls Bank eharge• Depre&8.On B8rdayc*rd Repaits and renew8 Lkences Dovelopmenl Aovethkng Computer costs Total Pa#nI1 29.417 373.023 1.947 22,OB7 288,793 210 1.155 37,626 1.079 35.852 4,227 2.589 102 221 135 7.232 566 4.045 4.898 550 340,818 Totsl p•ym•nts 471.834 340,818 Ex¢•M of ImGom• oV•r•XpdltW• 16155Z 48.73• lanc• broughtfon¥•rd ywAou• 64.S12 15.T72 8alanc• •t •nd olth• 64.51
aalamshert forthe 31 M•rrh 2• 2024 4.110 17.5 •t Cuh •1 bwl 1650 43 73mB pAve IQ041 3,477 *31 2DZ4 ¢J12 1&7Ta SPyd