Charity Name: People For You
Charity Number: 1186817
Date Of Registration: 9th December 2019
Registered O�ce: Community House, 15 College Green, Gloucester, GL1 2LZ
Correspondence Address: 14 School Lane, Meysey Hampton, Cirencester, GL7 5JS
Trustees: John Webster, Sandrine Mangin, Lorraine Coney
Sta� member: Melanie Lewis (part-time manager)
Trustees Annual Report & Accounts
For period from 9 December 2022 to 9 December 2023
Objective of People For You
To promote social inclusion for the public benefit, in particular, but not exclusively, by the provision of an intergenerational befriending service to address loneliness and social isolation among older people living in the Gloucestershire Cotswolds and the surrounding areas arising as a result of their age, infirmity, ill-health, disability or social circumstances.
For the purposes of this explanation, "socially excluded" means being excluded from society, or parts of society, as a result of one or more of the following factors: unemployment, financial hardship, youth or old age, and ill-health (physical or mental).
Summary of the main achievements of People For You during the year Dec 2022 to Dec 2023
The principal aim and activity of People For You is to bring people together. Our volunteers visit clients in their own homes on a regular basis, forging new friendships and providing mutual companionship. People For You has been operating for 16 years, firmly establishing itself as a recognised service o�ering support to lonely, isolated, and vulnerable people in the community. We operate in Lechlade, Fairford, Tetbury, and their surrounding areas.
Loneliness is a growing issue in our community, particularly a�ecting older adults, carers, and individuals with limited social support. Despite o�ering befriending services for 16 years, demand continues to rise, with many new referrals involving people in their 40s and 50s, an age group where loneliness is becoming increasingly prevalent. Studies have demonstrated that social isolation and loneliness can have debilitating e�ects on both mental and physical health.
In rural areas surrounding Tetbury, Fairford, and Lechlade, where services and social opportunities are limited, the problem of loneliness is magnified. Many individuals face physical barriers such as mobility issues, lack of transportation, or caregiving responsibilities that prevent them from participating in social activities.
We host social events, providing a welcome opportunity for people to meet others and enjoy being out of their homes. These events initiate and encourage social interaction, facilitating local engagement, forging new friendships, and promoting a sense of belonging. This is particularly valuable for those who are housebound.
Telephone befriending also plays a part in our service—for clients who, for whatever reason, prefer to have a telephone call rather than a 1-1 visit or, indeed, can enjoy both where possible.
Other Optional Information
People For You is at the forefront of o�ering a service that facilitates community cohesion. We recruit volunteers from the community to visit isolated and lonely people, ensuring that the community is self-supporting and "people-led". Where viable, we turn the service on its head—which can result in a client becoming a volunteer.
The personal reward for the client is self-evident, as is the inevitable reward for the community. The benefits and rewards for the volunteers are also clear. Many newly retired volunteers struggle with the loss of routine and sense of self-worth and satisfaction that their career had previously provided. It is well known that retirement can bring issues of loss of identity and feelings of disconnection and loneliness. People For You o�ers a positive solution by providing an opportunity to connect and support the community. A community consisting of healthy, happy people fulfilling a vital role inevitably results in a healthy, happy community that works together.
Future Plans
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Expand the number of service users and volunteers within the existing geography.
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Set up and provide assistance with digital technologies, including enabling immobile individuals to become befrienders and volunteers.
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Establish a monthly art group in Tetbury and to replicate this across all areas where we work.
Financial Review – Dec 2022 to Dec 2023
Note: Attached the People For You accounts which provide income and expenditure for the above period.
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