Silver Stories
Westbourne House,
Westbound Terrace. Saltash Cornwall. PL12 2BX
Registered Charity No 1188312
March 2020 - April 2021
1[st] Year of Operation
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
Chair’s Summary
The inaugural year of Silver Stories saw accelerated interest due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. And the subsequent ‘lockdowns.
The initial plan for Silver Stories was to concentrate on school engagement within local communities. However, with the effect that Coronavirus had on schools and attendance and the forced isolation of many older people, there was a natural shift of focus to individual Silver Readers linked to individual Silver Listeners. A high number of solo readers made contact with the charity wanting to become be part of the scheme. Joining Silver Stories was seen as a way of substituting and enhancing the loss of reading opportunities with so many schools being closed.
The charity also saw a large increase in the numbers of Silver Listeners joining. The Silver Reader/ Silver Listener relationship was seen to have a profound impact on the forced isolation. In addition to the Silver Reader contact the charity made regular ‘well-being’ contacts with the Silver Listeners providing comfort and support.
The charity developed robust practices and abilities to match Silver Listeners and Silver Readers and to manage the pairing, relationships the vast majority of which are still going strong.
The number of both Silver Listeners and Silver Readers continues to grow.
The CEO was asked to present Silver Stories at the Chartered Institute of Housing’s National Conference on Tackling Social Isolation and Loneliness among older people.
The Smiley Foundation featured Silver Stories in their newsletter and on their website.
Silver Stories has benefited from several national and local news features.
Silver Stories has formed a very positive partnership with Alertacall LTD. Alertacall have provided a member of their staff one day a week to assist with the day to day running of the charity. Full training has been provided to the Alertacall member.
Silver Stories received national recognition from the British Prime Minister when the creators were nominated as Points of Light. In a letter to David Carney-Haworth OBE and Elisabeth Carney-Haworth OBE the Prime Minister said;
‘The idea of school children or “silver readers” telephoning elderly “silver listeners” and reading them a poem or a short story is an ingenious way of combining literacy education with the positive engagement of elderly people.
At a time when the necessary shielding of many of our elderly has weighed deeply on our national consciousness, I am filled with admiration for you bridging of the intergenerational divide, tackling loneliness and isolation in a safe way’.
The Objects of the CIO are:
1) to advance education for the public benefit among children, in particular through the provision of supervised opportunities to read aloud to listeners as a means of improving reading/literacy and communication skills and building self-confidence.
Silver Stories will enable children (silver readers) whether in schools or other establishments, to telephone older people (silver listeners) who have volunteered to be part of the scheme, in order to read aloud to them.
2) For the public benefit to relieve the needs of elderly people, in particular by offering them volunteering opportunities to act as listeners for children who will read aloud to them by telephone with the aims of reducing feelings of loneliness and social isolation and maintaining inter-generational contact.
Research has shown that this type of activity will increase confidence and reading skills in the children, and enable the older people, who may be isolated and alone, to remain in contact with children thus improving their mental and physical wellbeing.
3) to provide relief from stress and suffering for older people experiencing loneliness and isolation and to develop reading and communication skills for children
4) liaising with education establishments, older people and their representatives and other agencies;
5) seeking to form partnerships with other charities and organisations which deliver mutual and complimentary benefits;
- 6) providing support and information and where necessary advocacy, guidance and mentoring to older persons and education establishments teaching staff.
Additional Information
Policy on grant making.
The Charity is not in a position to make grants at this time.
Policy on social investment including program related investment .
Despite the Charities very purpose being a ‘social investment’ this investment is not directly fiscal.
The Charity does not have a body of volunteers other than the Trustees.
Achievements and Performance
To date Silver Stories has over 300 Silver Reader/Silver Listener combinations spanning throughout the country. This equates to hundreds of hours of reading and listening each week.
Research is being conducted with a large number of Silver Readers and Silver Listeners by Exeter University. The aim of the research is to look at improvements in children’s reading ability, fluency and confidence and the positive effects of Silver Stories on Silver Readers and Listeners in terms of emotional wellbeing.
Financial Review
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period 6[th] April 2020 to 5[th] April 2021
Charity Bank Account Opened 7[th] December 2020. Barclay’s Bank Community Account
Balance at bank at 5[th] April 2021 = £13341.85
Statement of Financial Activities
| Unrestricted Funds £ | Restricted Funds £ | Total 2021£ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income and Endowments from: | |||
| Donations | 16805.82 | 0 | 16805.82 |
| Expenditure | |||
| Charitable Activities | 3463.97 | 0 | 3463.97 |
| Net Movement in funds | 13341.85 | 0 | 13341.85 |
Statement on Reserves
The charity designated a reserve of £1,000 to maintain sufficient funds for the annual insurance premium for 2021. The reserves policy will be reviewed in 2022
Amount of reserves held
Currently £1000.00 maintained within the balance of funds held within the Barclays Bank Account.
Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern
Not applicable.
The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising)
Income donations of £16805.82 have been received in this financial period.
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted
Not applicable.
Principal risks facing the charity
All financial risk is currently assessed as low as there is no immediate requirement to directly support beneficiaries financially or through the sale/purchase of goods, services or real estate. To that end where there is funding below the forecast requirement the impact will be translated to a slower delivery rate.
Structure, Governance and management
There is a Constitution Governing Document.
Silver Stories is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Foundation Structure), whose only voting members are its trustees.
New Trustees may be recruited to the Board at any time by the Trustees. In selecting individuals for appointment as Trustees, the Trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the charity.
Each new Trustee has received, on or before his or her first appointment a copy of the current version of the constitution and any appointees from 2021 onwards will receive a copy of the CIO's latest Trustees' Annual Report and Statement of Accounts. The new Trustee will also be briefed individually by the CEO or Chair of Trustees.
Relationship with any related parties.
The charity has formed a formal partnership with ALERTACALL
| Reference and Administrative details | Reference and Administrative details |
|---|---|
| Charityname | Silver Stories |
| Registered charitynumber | 1188312 |
| Westbourne House. Westbourne Terrace | |
| Charity’s principal address | Torpoint |
| Cornwall PL12 2BX |
| Name of trustees who manage the charity | Name of trustees who manage the charity | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for wholeyear |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee(if any) |
| Dr Emma Corrigan | Chair of Trustees | NA | NA |
| Elisabeth Carney- Haworth OBE |
CEO and Co- founder | NA | NA |
| David Carney- Haworth OBE |
Co-founder | NA | NA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Smythe | UKGDPR | NA | |
| Dame Esther Rantzen | NA | NA | |
| Richard Marsh | Treasurer | NA | NA |
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
NA
Exemptions from Disclosure
Nil
Declarations:
The charity has taken advantage of the small companies’ exemption in preparing the report above. The trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees’ Report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
E Corrigan Chairman of Trustees 21 June 2021