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2026-04-01-accounts

“Intergenerational relationships foster empathy, understanding, and respect across age groups, helping to reduce social isolation and build more inclusive, compassionate communities.”

Trustees Annual Report April 2025 – March 2026. 6th Year of Operation. HM The Queen: Patron. Registered Charity No 1188312

Charity Summary

Silver Stories continues, to make a meaningful difference to the lives of all who take part in its work: our Silver Listeners, our Silver Readers, and the schools who so warmly support the charity.

We remain true to the founding purpose of Silver Stories and, perhaps now more than ever, we recognise the need for its place within a society that can at times feel increasingly disconnected and fragmented.

“What an amazing charity Silver Stories is and what it does for Silver Readers and Silver Listeners in the community. Silver Stories is putting the smile on so any faces including the children who read to the Silver Listeners.”

At the heart of Silver Stories there is a simple joy. It is a joy felt by those who listen, those who read, and those who participate in these small, regular moments of connection.

Silver Stories draws its strength not from complexity, but from human connection and from the enduring beauty of one generation reaching out to another.

At its heart lies a simple idea: a child reads and an older person listens.

The impact of Silver Stories is not judged by numbers; rather it should be judged by:

“I love my readings, it’s absolutely wonderful. I enjoy the stories which I download and the chat and hearing the children gain in confidence.”

There is no elaborate structure, no unnecessary complication, only the Silver Reader’s and Silver Listener’s voice, their time and their care.

In this simplicity there is something rather elegant and it is this that allows Silver Stories to remain both sustainable and easily replicable, whilst also honouring the long tradition of storytelling that exists in different societies across the world.

In a world where there is loneliness in the lives of many, particularly amongst older members of the community, Silver Stories restores something essential. It creates real relationships. A weekly call becomes more than a just a call; it becomes a thread of companionship between two people who might otherwise never have met.

“Thank you for creating such a meaningful connection between our son and his Silver Listener, it truly means a great deal to our family.”

What is perhaps most striking and to be much celebrated, is that the benefit flows both ways.

Our Silver Listeners gain companionship, stimulation and a renewed sense of being valued.

Our Silver Readers grow in confidence, fluency, understanding of responsibility and recognition of purpose.

And alongside this sits something equally important: a sense of purpose. Silver Stories offers young people the knowledge that what they do matters. Many carry this forward into other areas of service, and it is heartening to see a number of Silver Readers choosing to include their work with the charity as part of their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Each gives and each receives and within that exchange there is a dignity that feels both balanced and deeply human.

For the Silver Readers, that simple act of reading aloud each week to an unjudgmental Silver Listener, brings steady and natural progress. Confidence gradually grows. Language becomes more familiar, more expressive and more assured.

Each Silver Reader develops an understanding of the responsibility to remember their weekly read. They know that there is someone waiting for the telephone to ring and the call to start.

“It makes my day. The children are so lovely that it brings a tear to my eye.”

In its own gentle way, Silver Stories also reaches those who might otherwise remain unseen — the older person living quietly with isolation, or the child who lacks confidence, socially or with their reading. It asks very little of them. It meets them where they are, with patience and kindness.

Silver Stories continues to adapt across a wide range of settings with schools, care homes, supported accommodation and those in private homes taking part, allowing us to respond wherever the need arises. The calls restore something that can so easily be lost: the passing of stories between generations. In doing this, it creates a quiet sense of continuity.

As the charity has grown, we have been determined to ensure that it has done so without losing the essence of Silver Stories. Whether in one school or many, the heart of Silver Stories remains unchanged: one voice, one listener, one shared moment. That integrity is something we hold onto with determination and care.

It is also a model that achieves a great deal with very modest means.

The impact of Silver Stories must never be measured in figures alone, but rather it is felt in the quality of the intergenerational relationships, the wellbeing, the developing confidence, the connections.

“Silver Stories is truly such an enjoyable experience for the staff and children involved..”

It remains our great honour that Her Majesty Queen Camilla serves as our Royal Patron. Her support affirms the value of this work and brings immense pride and encouragement to all who take part.

In March 2026, we were deeply honoured to welcome Her Majesty during Her Royal visit to Cornwall visit. This was not simply a formal occasion, but one marked by genuine warmth and understanding.

Her Majesty has long shown a sincere belief in the power of reading to connect generations and in the importance of supporting older members of society. During her visit, this shared understanding was brought gently into the light.

Our newly appointed Silver Reader Ambassador, just eleven years old, read a passage from The Secret Garden, a book known to be a favourite of Her Majesty. Alongside a longstanding Silver Listener from Cornwall, they spoke openly about what Silver Stories has come to mean in their lives.

Both remarked upon the kindness and ease with which Her Majesty engaged, taking time not only to listen, but to ask thoughtful questions and to understand.

We were saddened that, due to a last-minute change of venue, two Silver Stories Schools who were to join the Royal Visit via Teams, were unable to do so due to a lack of WiFi signal. They did however video their presentations and these were sent to Her Majesty. What they had prepared was beautiful and the videos can be viewed by clicking this link.

It was a moment that reflected the very essence of Silver Stories: conversation, connection, and care. We remain deeply grateful to Her Majesty for her time and her continued support.

As Trustees, we reflect on this visit with a quiet sense of pride, but also with renewed resolve to continue this work as it has always been done, faithfully, compassionately and with care.

Our world is so often drawn to complexity, but Silver Stories stands as a reminder that the most enduring things are often the simplest: time freely given, words spoken with care, and the belief that everyone has something of value to share.

We continue to be aware that the number of participants fluctuates over time:

Some Silver Listeners 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, sometimes feeling that the pressure of exams means that they cannot continue.

Sometimes schools struggle with diminishing staffing levels to be able to facilitate Siver Stories.

And sometimes Silver Stories schools, Silver Readers and Silver Listeners come back to us when situations change.

But when they do leave, all leave the Charity having had the most wonderful experience.

‘Once you learn to read you will be forever free’

Frederick Douglass

Chair of Trustees Comments:

Mr Duane Seymour

April 2026

It is the greatest of honours to have been elected as the Chair of Trustees for Silver Stories in April 2025; a charity that supports the development of our children, whilst at the same time mitigating the impact of isolation and loneliness which exists all too often in the lives of older members of our community. Using reading as the vehicle to achieve these two purposes is sheer brilliance and the simplicity of the scheme means that anyone with a phone can take part.

I would like to take a moment to thank, on behalf of all the trustees, the previous Chair who retired after a term of five years of support and service to Silver Stories. Dr Corrigan worked closely with David and Elisabeth as Silver Stories was created as a charity and then grew to be what it is today, and we would all like to pay tribute to the impact of her support for this new and then fledgling charity.

I have been fortunate to speak to a long serving Silver Listener who very clearly articulated just how important Silver Stories is in her life. In our last meeting of the year, all trustees heard our Silver Reader Ambassador speak about her experience of Silver Stories and this was just as moving and inspiring. Our Silver Reader then read a passage to us from her favourite book, in fact the passage that she read to Her Majesty Queen Camilla, our Patron, at the upcoming Royal visit to Silver Stories. As trustees we are all fortunate to be able to read in every CEO report, a selection of comments from Silver Readers and their parents, from Silver Listeners and their relatives, from Silver Stories Schools and from Silver Stories Partners. These comments give us all an insight into the incredibly valuable work that Silver Stories undertakes and the real difference that it makes in people’s lives.

Silver Stories continues to adhere faithfully to the Objects of the Charity

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) To liaise 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;

All trustees have been advised to read the Charitable Business Law Guidance issued by the Charity Commission (CC) taking especial notice of the seven guiding principles. In addition, the CEO/Treasurer/ Chair provides regular updates to all Trustees on CC policy and lessons from enquiries etc.

“Being a Silver Story reader is awesome. I love making Cyril happy. When it’s the start of each week, I can’t wait to read on Wednesdays. Whenever I’m done reading, joy rushes through me. I’m so proud I can read to Cyril. He’s so kind and always compliments my reading which makes me love Silver Stories even more!”

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.

Structure, Governance and Management

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.

Type of governing document: Constitution Document

The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works:

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Reference and Administrative details:
Charity name Silver Stories
Registered charity number 1188312
Westbourne House. Westbourne
Terrace
Charity’s principal address
Torpoint
Cornwall PL12 2BX
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Name of trustees who manage the charity:

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Trustee name Office (if any) Dates acted if Name of person (or
not for whole body) entitled to
year appoint trustee (if any)
Duane Seymour Chair of Trustees 15.04.25 NA
Elisabeth Carney- Co- founder, Pro NA
Haworth OBE bono CEO and Clerk
David Carney- Haworth Co-founder, NA
OBE Safeguarding
Rachel Ewan-Corrigan Research
Dame Esther Rantzen NA
Richard Marsh Treasurer NA
Janet Tyler 15.04.25 15.04.25
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Financial Review

Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period

April 2025 to April 2026

Charity Bank Account Opened 7[th] December 2020. Barclay’s Bank Community Account.

I declare that these statements are correct for the financial period reported.

Richard Marsh, Treasurer

April 21[st] 2026

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 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.

Legal and Administrative Information

Charity Name: Silver Stories Charity Number: 1188312 Principal Address: Westbourne House Westbourne Terrace Saltash Cornwall PL12 2BX

Independent Examiner: ATC Advisors Chartered Accountants Unit 2 Dunheved Court Pennygillam Way Launceston Cornwall PL15 7ED

Governing Document: CIO Foundation Registered 03 March 2020 Legal Form: Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) Trustees: Elisabeth Carney-Haworth OBE David Carney-Haworth OBE Rachel Ewan-Corrigan Richard Marsh Treasurer Duane Seymour Chair Appointed 15 April 2025 Janet Tyler Appointed 15 April 2025

Silver Stories

Annual Report And Unaudited Financial Statements for the year ended 1st April 2026

Independent Examiners Report on the Unaudited Financial Statements of Silver Stories for the Year Ended 1st April 2026

I report on the financial statements of the CIO for the year ended 1st April 2026, which are set out on pages 5 to 8.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this period under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

(i) (ii) examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act; to follow the procedures laid down in the

general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and

(iii) to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent examiner’s report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission.

An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters.

The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the next statement.

Independent examiner’s statement

In connection with my examination, no other matter has come to my attention:

(a) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:

(i) to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and

(ii) to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records, and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act; have not been met or

(b) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Sarah Gay FCA

ATC Advisors Chartered Accountants Unit 2 Dunheved Court Pennygillam Way Launceston Cornwall

PL15 7ED

“We really appreciate all that Silver Stories has done for our mum, it is a sterling service and you do a fantastic job.”

Silver Stories

Statement of Financial Activities (incorporating the Income and Expenditure account) for the year ended 1st APRIL 2026

Balance Sheet as at 1st April 2026

The financial statements were approved by order of the board of trustees on and are signed on its behalf by:

Silver Stories

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 1st April 2026

Accounting convention

The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019). Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’ and the Charities Act 2011.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention on a receipts and payments basis.

The accounts are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

1.1 Going concern

At the time of approving the accounts, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.

1.2 Charitable funds

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives unless the funds have been designated for other purposes.

Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the accounts as appropriate.

1.3 Incoming resources

Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.

Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation. Grants are recognised on entitlement.

1.4 Resources expended

Expenditure is accounted for on a receipts and payments basis and is classified under headings that aggregate costs relating to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

1.5 Taxation

The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.

Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset.

Turnover is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable and represents amounts receivable for goods and services provided in the normal course of business, net of discounts, VAT and other sales related taxes.

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4 Trustees Remuneration and Expenses

No trustee has been paid expenses for services provided to the charity in the year. The trustees all give their time and expertise freely without any form of remuneration of other benefit in cash or kind (2025: £nil).

“Our residents enjoy listening to the children and comment on how pleasant and clever they are.”

SILVERSTORIES.CO.UK info@silverstories.co.uk

Elisabeth Carney-Haworth OBE | David Carney-Haworth OBE Co-creators of Silver Stories

Registered Charity Number 1188312