Westbourne House,
Westbound Terrace. Saltash Cornwall. PL12 2BX
Registered Charity No 1188312
April 2022 – March 2023
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
Charity Summary
There have been many opportunities to recognise the success of Silver Stories over the last year. It has become increasingly evident how both the younger and older members of the Silver Stories community have benefited from their shared moments together and a positive ‘cross-generation’ connection. There has been an ongoing focus on collecting feedback from all parties to continuously take steps to develop and support the experience of all involved. During routine check-in calls, ongoing service evaluation and formal research (involving Exeter University) there have been widespread reports of benefits relating to improved social engagement and interaction, increased confidence and enjoyment of reading, improved sense of purpose and simply enjoying time spent together. Silver Stories has enabled both the Silver Reader and the Silver Listener to feel valued and to experience a relationship that has been meaningful and rewarding. This was visible to all that attended the Royal visit from her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall (now HRH, the Queen Consort) during July 2022 when readers and listeners met in person for the first time and were able to share just how much Silver Stories means to them. As the Chair of Trustees, it is an absolute privilege to be involved in something that brings so much joy and that has such far-reaching benefits. The research interest being shown from different universities, in relation to the social, emotional and cognitive benefits (for both the Silver Readers and Silver Listeners) is exciting and affirming. The Charity CEOs and co-founders, David and Elisabeth Carney-Haworth have been unrelenting in their dedication and commitment to Silver Stories. As a team of Trustees, we collectively embrace their passion and share their aim to build sustainable growth that supports the future of Silver Stories across the UK and beyond.
Charity Updates (year 2022-2023)
In October 2021 the charity was thrilled to announced that her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall is now the Patron for Silver Stories.
On 19[th] July 2022 we were thrilled to have a Royal Visit to Silver Stories which took place in a Cornish Silver Stories school. It was the most tremendous day with Elisabeth and David CarneyHaworth (Creators of Silver Stories) bringing together a wide range of those involved in the Charity. Silver Readers and Silver Listeners from around the country were brought together, with 94-year-old Joyce travelling all the way from Manchester to be there. Donators to the charity, as well as Exeter University Researchers joined to group of over 80 people to celebrate all that is wonderful about Silver Stories.
We were all reminded by Elisabeth (Carney-Haworth), as she spoke to those present, that it is easy to judge Silver Stories by mere numbers but she went on to say:
‘Perhaps this is a reflection of a society steeped in measuring quantity rather than appreciating quality.
Because what matters in Silver Stories, is the quality of the relationships.
What will really help support our children’s reading, help develop their confidence and support those intergenerational links is that non-judgemental, mutually beneficial and respectful relationship’
She went on to say that Silver Stories reminds us of
‘the importance of connections, of relationships, of the need of each human being to have some other human contact, to know they matter to someone, to feel recognised, to feel useful, to have a real sense of purpose, to feel valued and yes, to feel loved by another human being”.
Those present at the Royal Visit still speak with warmth about meeting HRH and of the visit as the highlight of their life. The visit generated huge amount of worldwide positive publicity. After the very sad death of the late Queen, our patron became the Queen Consort.
Reach:
Sadly, the third year of Silver Stories saw our work continuing to be impacted by the ongoing fallout from the Coronavirus Pandemic.
One of our major issues in growing the charity is recruiting new schools to take part in Silver Stories.
We have also realised that the number of Silver Listeners fluctuates as some become too ill to participate, move into Care Homes that feel they cannot facilitate Silver Stories, or very sadly die.
Silver Readers grow up and their focus changes and some leave the Charity having had the most wonderful experience.
We have grown in the number of children participating as part of their Duke of Edinburgh award and we are working with a University in America who wish to take part in Silver Stories.
We have also developed the range of those who identify Silver Listeners and are using Social Prescribers around the country. As we see more schools come onboard, this is an area which could be very positively developed.
Schools continue to feel unprecedented times of stress:
The majority of schools, if not all, have still not recovered from the pandemic and all that this has and continues in terms of the sometimes-challenging ways in which children are presenting in school. Academic attainment is a focus for the government yet schools have to weigh this against all that teachers understand about the need to support children’s emotional wellbeing and their social skills, ability to focus and work with other children before these children can truly begin to learn effectively.
In addition to these serious concerns schools are dealing with issues around staffing, staff absence and financial difficulties that arose during the pandemic and have now been exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis.
Teachers then became involved in strike action.
The impact of these extraordinary stresses upon all staff, at all levels and in all roles within schools does sadly mean that some schools have withdrawn from participation in Silver Stories and others do not feel that this is the right time to engage in new activities, responsibilities and commitments. Others have seen participation in Silver Stories as a wonderful way to support children’s wellbeing and exactly the kind of activity that they should be focussing on at this difficult time.
Care Homes have some of the same issues as schools; lack of staff and covid recovery. This means that there are pressures upon some Care Homes that feel unsurpassable at the moment.
Some of our Silver Listeners continue to be more isolated in their lives than they were prior to the pandemic; we know that many have not returned to the level of activity that they previously had and that some who had been volunteering in school, do not feel ready to go back to this work and indeed many schools have not returned to having volunteers in school in the same way as they have done in the past. This leaves many members of our older community still in need and desirous of connection and company.
Silver Readers continue to be identified by parents contacting the charity directly to become involved alongside all the Silver Listeners in schools. A number of children are participating as part of their DofE award.
Research undertaken by Exeter University has been concluded, with very positive results, especially considering it was undertaken during the pandemic. The Exeter team and working with two other Universities to bid for funding to undertake some further research.
The Future:
The charity’s trustees have reaffirmed their determination and conviction that Silver Stories must grow in a sustainable manner that is in line with available resources so that the wonderful and precious of connections between Silver Listeners and Silver Readers is not put in any jeopardy.
Silver Stories will continue to share the message about our work, to share the good stories and to support all schools, partners, Silver Listeners and Readers who wish to take part.
Feedback:
We are fortunate to have thousands of comments made by our participants. Whilst these are uplifting to read, the Charity has also analysed them to inform our future work.
‘Thank you so much again for providing this wonderful opportunity.’
‘Thank you so much for creating this, it is such a wonderful idea, especially at the moment I do hope that we are able to add to her week as much as she has to ours - the children plan constantly what they will read/ recite to her and she is ever so patient.‘
‘It's going so well. As a Mum it's great to know that they read. My son has dyslexia and ADHD and has struggled over the last 6 months but now he picks up a book, would never read out loud before. It's a big part of our life now. They take turns and sometimes just tell jokes.’
‘XXX is loving it, they are reading Death on the Nile at the moment, and I can hear XXX playing all the characters. XXX is reading beautifully to XXX, its going very well. We talk about things, nothing too personal but we have a chat. He reads beautifully. He rings at two minutes to half past every Saturday, on the dot.’
‘It's going really well; he is enjoying it. XXX loves dogs so they read The Dog Who Lost his Bark. Child “I have improved my reading skills and made a new friend. My Silver Stories listener, XXX, enjoys listening to stories by JK Rowling. This has inspired me to do a charity walk for Silver Stories in Edinburgh to celebrate 25 years of Harry Potter. I love dogs just like my Silver Stories listener, so the first book we read together was about dogs. I have introduced my Silver Stories listener to the David Walliams series. XXX loves 'Gangster Granny' and has now even watched the film! I love reading and feel proud to have achieved my first Silver Stories 10 reads certificate. Now I am now working towards the 20 reads certificate ... and eventually 100 reads certificate!"
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;
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3) To provide relief from stress and suffering for older people experiencing loneliness and isolation and to develop reading and communication skills for children;
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4) To liaise with education establishments, older people and their representatives and other agencies;
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5) Seeking to form partnerships with other charities and organisations which deliver mutual and complimentary benefits;
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6) Providing support and information and where necessary advocacy, guidance and mentoring to older persons and education establishments teaching staff;
All trustees have read the Charitable Business Law Guidance issued by the Charity Commission (CC) taking especial notice of the seven guiding principles. In addition, the Chair provides regular updates to all Trustees on CC policy and lessons from enquiries etc.
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 Silver Readers and Silver Listeners, schools and Partners from across the country and beyond. This equates to hundreds of hours of reading and listening each week.
March 2023 Numbers:
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Total number of home Readers: 64, calling 61 Listeners
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Number of schools signed up: 64
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Number of Silver Partners (Care Homes etc) : 20
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Number of Listeners allocated to schools: 211
Structure, Governance and Management
Type of governing document :
Constitution Document.
How is the charity constituted?
Charitable Incorporated Organisation (Foundation Structure) - whose only voting members are its trustees.
Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions.
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.
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees .
Each new Trustee must receive, on or before his or her first appointment a copy of the current version of the constitution and 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.
The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works.
Relationship with any related parties .
The charity has formed a formal partnership with ALERTACALL
| Reference and Administrative details | Reference and Administrative details |
|---|---|
| Charity name | Silver Stories |
| Registered charity number | 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 | Name of trustees who manage the charity | Name of trustees who manage the charity | Name of trustees who manage the charity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
| Dr Emma Corrigan | Chair of Trustees | NA | NA |
| Elisabeth Carney- Haworth OBE |
Co- founder, Pro bono CEO and Clerk |
NA | NA |
| David Carney- Haworth OBE |
Co-founder , Safeguarding | NA | NA |
| Lydia Baggaley | Social Media | ||
| Rachel Ewan- Corrigan |
Research | ||
| Gary Rycroft | 16thJan 2023 | ||
| Dame Esther Rantzen |
NA | ||
| Richard Marsh | Treasurer | NA | |
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees.
E Corrigan
Chairman of Trustees
Financial Review
A donate button has been placed on the Silver Stories website.
Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period 6[th] April 2022 to 5[th] April 2023
Charity Bank Account Opened 7[th] December 2020. Barclay’s Bank Community Account
| Balance at bank at 6thApril 2022 | £17959.61 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Balance at bank 5thApril 2023 | £21958.62 | ||
| Statement of Financial Activities | |||
| Unrestricted Funds £ | Restricted Funds £ | Total 2023 £ | |
| Income and Endowments from: | |||
| Donations | 6361.84 | nil | 6361.84 |
| Expenditure | |||
| Charitable Activities | 1468.10 | 894.73 | 2362.83 |
| Net Movement in funds | 4893.74 | -894.73 | 3999.01 |
There were no financial incidents reported to the Charities Commission for this financial period.
Income includes donations from the public.
The charity does not work with a professional fund raiser or commercial participator.
The charity does not carry out its purpose through grant making.
The charity does not operate outside of England and Wales.
The charity used no money transfer system. All payments were by BACS.
All trustees have agreed the risk management policy, and financial controls were reviewed during this year.
There are no trading subsidiaries of the charity.
No trustees receive remuneration or benefits. Only expenses are paid to them. There are no trustees that charge for a service provided to the charity and the company does not employ any person who was previously a trustee.
For the financial period reported, there were seven voluntary trustees.
All trustees hold a current clear DBS check.
I declare that these statements are correct for the financial period reported.
Richard Marsh
Treasurer
April 21[st] 2023
Statement on Reserves
The charity designated a reserve of £1,000 to maintain sufficient funds for the annual insurance premium for 2023. The reserves policy will be reviewed in 2023
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 by donations of £6361.84 has been received in this financial period.
Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted
Not applicable.