## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
**From 01/01/2024 Period start date To 31/12/2024 Period end date**
## **Charity name: Out Together**
## **Charity registration number: 1188461**
## **Objectives and Activities**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|To promote social inclusion for the public
benefit by working with people who are
socially excluded on the grounds of their age
and sexual orientation (in particular, elderly
people who identify as LGBT+) to relieve their
needs and assist them to integrate into society.|
|Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.|Para 1.17 and
1.19|•Regular social events, digital inclusion
sessions, and befriending services.
•Partnerships with local businesses and
organisations to support LGBTQ+ seniors.
•Fundraising events and grant applications to
support ongoing activities.|
|Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|The trustees have had due regard to the
guidance issued by the Charity Commission on
public benefit.|
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers
Other
## **Achievements and Performance**
|||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|---|
|Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.||Para 1.20|**Achievements and Performance –**
**2024**
During 2024,_Out Together_consolidated its
position as a leading intergenerational LGBTQ+
charity in Yorkshire, overcoming barriers to
strengthening community engagement,
developing new partnerships, and improving
long-term sustainability through fundraising,
governance, and digital innovation. The
trustees are pleased to report the following key
achievements.|
||||**Fundraising and Partnerships**
A**£25,000 donation from the Mike Potter**
**Estate**and the support of the estate executors
opened the opportunity to connect with the
rural LGBTQ+ community in Yorkshire and
potentially beyond, beginning with an Open
Farm Day. The donation provided the essential
investment to establish the charity’s new
**communications system**, built on Mailchimp.
The upgrade has enabled more effective
member engagement, improved data
reporting, and a professionalised approach to
communications management.
The charity’s third_All Out Together Ball_was a
major success, raising**£16,000**— double the
previous year’s total — with more than**220**
**guests**in attendance. The event was sponsored
by**Weightmans**, and**Mach Recruitment**, who
also provided an additional**£14,000**in funding
to support the charity’s growth and operations.
Our_Partners in Pride_who supported the event
included**Evri**,**Squire Patton Boggs**,**PWC**,
**Yorkshire Garden Centre Group**,**Walker**
**Morris**, and**Leeds Pride**, whose collective
support significantly enhanced the charity’s
visibility and network across the region.|
Out Together also continued to pursue grant funding from multiple sources to diversify its income and secure sustainability for the years ahead.
## **Operational Delivery**
Existing regional social hubs in **Leeds** and **Huddersfield** , continued to thrive, providing inclusive and welcoming spaces for social connection, wellbeing, and peer support. Plans to extend the model in 2025 to two new locations – Hebden Bridge and Bingley - were initiated. _Club Out Together_ ran regular networking meetings with the support of corporate partner hosts, while the **Telefriending Service** , relaunched in partnership with **Sky’s Time To Care Team** , provided one-to-one support for over ten members experiencing isolation. Attendance grew across regular activities including **Sunday lunches** , **Thursday Playhouse events** , and a variety of ad hoc events such as theatre visits, museum trips, local walks, and the **Printworks Lunch Club** . The year concluded with a **Christmas party for over 70 members** , supported by **Gordons LLP** , who generously donated hampers for attendees. While progress was made in understanding our impact, the absence of robust data collection systems limited our ability to capture detailed metrics. Administrative tasks, including managing subsidised meal bookings and member contributions, also added to the team’s workload. These needs would be addressed as part of a technology review for 2025.
**Digital Inclusion and Innovation** One of the most significant barriers our community faces is the difficulty of acquiring and sustaining the digital skills essential for independence and social participation. Digital access and connectivity remained a major focus throughout 2024. With funding of **£9,300 from Cognizant** , the charity launched a weekly **Digital Inclusion Programme** to improve
members’ confidence and skills in using technology. The programme content was based on initial and ongoing surveys of members’ needs. These regular surveys also recorded members improved confidence with digital tools. Five tablets were distributed or lent to members, and a six-week training course was delivered, later extended to maintain engagement and welcome new participants. Further support from **Amazon (£500)** enabled the purchase of additional equipment. **Staffing and Volunteering** Volunteer engagement expanded significantly during the year, supported by new corporate volunteering partnerships with **Sky** , **First Direct** , and **Amazon** . This transition has been highly successful, enabling the charity to deliver more targeted and relevant communications to its growing membership base. **Ant Warren** joined us initially as a volunteer to develop digital inclusion and then became employed part-time for two days per week. He played an instrumental role in delivering digital inclusion and technology support, as well as overseeing the rollout of the new **Mailchimpbased communications system** . This transition has markedly improved internal communications, provided the foundation for improved data collection and enabled the charity to deliver more targeted and relevant communications to its growing membership base. A dedicated **Ball Fundraising Committee** also played a vital role in the successful planning and delivery of the 2024 _All Out Together Ball_ , ensuring professional event management and maximising income generation. **Governance and Strategic Development**
||||The trustees continued to strengthen
governance structures throughout the year.
Key policies were reviewed and updated,
including a revised**Code of Conduct for**
**Volunteers**and refreshed document
management procedures.
With guidance from the**Cranfield Trust**, the
charity began the process of developing the
Trustee Board. Three new trustees – Sophie
Linley, Perry Law and Sam Glenister-Batey –
joined the board, each sharing our vision and
bringing skills needed to develop future
strategy. A formal Trustee induction session
was held in September.
In line with longer term goals, the board began
developing leadership succession
arrangements. The Chair,**Tim Gittins**,
announced his intention to step down from the
role in 2025, continuing as Treasurer to provide
continuity in financial oversight during a
transition to new leadership. This proactive
approach ensures stability as the charity
prepares for its next phase of growth.|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**Financial Review and Reserves**
**Policy**|
||||**Financial Overview**
During 2024,_Out Together_strengthened its
financial position, achieving total income of
**£84,678**and expenditure of**£69,385**, resulting
in a closing balance of approximately**£35,000**
(January 2025).
Average monthly operating expenditure was
between £4,500 and £5,000, reflecting
controlled costs and strong budget
management while expanding programmes
and staffing.
Key income sources included:
•
The**All Out Together Ball**, which raised
**£16,000**(double the previous year’s
total);|
||||•
The**£25,000 donation from the Mike**
**Potter Estate**, which funded the
charity’s upgraded communications
system based on Mailchimp;
•
A**£14,000 sponsorship and donation**
**from Mach Recruitment**;
•
Contributions from corporate and
community partners including Evri,
Squire Patton Boggs, PWC, Yorkshire
Garden Centre Group, Walker Morris,
Leeds Pride, and Gordons LLP.
Expenditure was focused on charitable
activities — including digital inclusion,
community outreach, and member events — as
well as investment in systems and staff to
improve operational capacity and governance.|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**Reserves Policy**
The trustees aim to maintain unrestricted
reserves equivalent to approximately**two to**
**three months of core operating costs**(around
**£10,000–£15,000**) to ensure stability and
continuity of services.
At the year end, the unrestricted reserves
exceeded the target minimum, allowing
investment in long-term infrastructure
improvements. All reserves are held in cash in
the charity’s bank account, and there were no
restricted funds at year end.|
||||**Going Concern**
The trustees consider the charity to be in a
sound financial position, with sufficient
reserves and a strong pipeline of fundraising
activity to sustain operations through 2025.
There are no material uncertainties about the
charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.|
||||**Summary**
2024 marked a year of progress and
consolidation for_Out Together_. With growing
membership, thriving hubs, improved
communications systems,and strengthened|
|governance, the charity is well positioned to|governance, the charity is well positioned to|
|---|---|
|deliver greater impact, expand its reach, and||
|continue its mission of creating||
|intergenerational connection across the||
|LGBTQ+ community in 2025 and beyond.||
|**2025 Plan:**||
|•|Grow fundraising events and expand|
||Partners in Pride.|
|•|Strengthen grant applications for core|
||funding.|
|•|Expand hub activities and Club Out|
||Together events.|
|•|Double Telefriending clients and|
||volunteers.|
|•|Broaden digital inclusion and social|
||events.|
|•|Recruit and train more volunteers,|
||expand staff roles as funding allows.|
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
||||
|---|---|---|
|Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41||
|Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41||
|Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41||
|Other|||
## **Financial Review**
Review of the charity’s Para 1.21 financial position at the end of the period Statement explaining the Para 1.22 policy for holding reserves stating why they are held Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 Reasons for holding zero Para 1.22 reserves Details of fund materially in Para 1.24 deficit Explanation of any Para 1.23 uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern
## **Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
||||
|---|---|---|
|The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47||
|Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46||
|A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46||
|Other|||
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Description of charity’s
trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|Trust deed|
|How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|CIO|
|Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|Trustees pursuant to Charity’s governing
document|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
||||
|---|---|---|
|Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees|Para 1.51||
|The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51||
|Relationship with any related
parties|Para 1.51||
|Other|||
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charity name|Out Together|
|---|---|
|Other name the charity uses|Friends of Dorothy (previous name)|
|Registered charity number|1188461|
|Charity’s principal address|19 Church Lane, Bardsey, Leeds, LS17 9DH|
|||
**Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
|1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee(if any)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Perry Law|Co-Chair/trustee|From 17 October 2024
(Co-chair from July
2025)|Trustees pursuant to
Charity’s governing
document|
||Sam Glenister-Baty|Trustee|From 17 October 2024|Trustees pursuant to
Charity’s governing
document|
||Sophie Linley|Co-Chair/trustee|From 10 September
2024
(Co-chair from July
2025)|Trustees pursuant to
Charity’s governing
document|
||Antony Ball|Trustee|From 18 August 2022|Trustees pursuant to
Charity’s governing
document|
||Katie Robinson|Trustee|From 22 January 2020|Trustees pursuant to
Charity’s governing
document|
||Timothy Paul
Gittins|Treasurer/trustee|From 22 January 2020
(Chair until July 2025.
Treasurer from July
2025)|Trustees pursuant to
Charity’s governing
document|
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
||||||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
## **Director name**
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
**Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year**
## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others**
Description of the assets held in this capacity
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
## **Additional information (optional)**
## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
|**Type of**|**Name**|**Address**|
|---|---|---|
|**adviser**|||
**Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**
## **Exemptions from disclosure**
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
## **Other optional information**
## **Declarations**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
> **Signature(s)** ABall **Full name(s)** Antony Ball **Position (eg Secretary,** Secretary **Chair, etc) Date** 31/10/2025
||
**OUT TOGETHER**|
**OUT TOGETHER**|
**OUT TOGETHER**|
**OUT TOGETHER**|**CC16a**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**For the period**
**from**|01/01/2024
Period start date|**To**|||
|||||||
|**Section A Receipts and payments**||||||
|**A1 Receipts**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**to the nearest**
**£**
**26,722**
**56,043**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**82,765**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**82,765**
**17,088**
**1,976**
**3,371**
**34,177**
**10,860**
**67,472**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**67,472**
**15,293**
**-**
**24,544**
**39,837**|**Restricted**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to the nearest £**|**Total funds**
**to the nearest £**|**Last year**
**to the nearest £**|
|FUND RAISING EVENT|**26,722**||**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**26,722**
**56,043**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**82,765**|**17,556**|
|GRANTS AND DONATIONS|**56,043**||||**50,124**|
||**-**|||||
||**-**|||||
||**-**|||||
||**-**|||||
||**-**|||||
||**-**|||||
|**_Sub total_**_(Gross income for_
_AR)_|**82,765**||||**67,680**|
|||||||
|**A2 Asset and investment sales,**
**(see table).**||||||
||**-**||**-**
**-**
**-**|**-**
**-**
**-**||
||**-**|||||
|**_Sub total_**|**-**|||||
|**_Total receipts_**
**A3 Payments**||||**82,765**||
||||**-**||**67,680**|
|||||||
|Direct cost of charitable activities|**17,088**||**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**|**17,088**
**1,976**
**3,371**
**34,177**
**10,860**
**-**
**-**
**67,472**|**18,679**|
|Administration|**1,976**||||**5,616**|
|Communications and PR|**3,371**||||**7,051**|
|Consultancy|**34,177**||||**25,350**|
|Costs of Fundraisingevent|**10,860**||||**9,557**|
|||||||
|||||||
|**_Sub total_ **|**67,472**||||**66,253**|
|||||||
|**A4 Asset and investment**
**purchases, (see table)**||||||
||**-**||**-**
**-**
**-**|**-**
**-**
**-**||
||**-**|||||
|**_Sub total_ **|**-**|||||
|**_Total payments_**
**_Net of receipts/(payments)_**
**A5 Transfers between funds**
**A6 Cash funds last year end**
**_Cash funds this year end_**||||**67,472**||
||||**-**||**66,253**|
|||||||
||**15,293**||
**-**|
**15,293**|**1,427**|
||**-**||**-**
**-**|**-**
**24,544**||
||**24,544**||||**23,117**|
||**39,837**||
**-**|**39,837**|**24,544**|
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
31/10/2025
1
|**Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at**|**Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at**|**the end of the period**||
|---|---|---|---|
|**Categories**
Signed by one or two trustees on
behalf of all the trustees
**B1 Cash funds**
**B2 Other monetary assets**
**B4 Assets retained for the**
**charity’s own use**
**B5 Liabilities**
**B3 Investment assets**
CCXX R2 t SS|Signature
**Details**
**Details**
CAF BANK
**Details**
**Details**
**_Total cash funds_**
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
**Details**
~~2~~|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**to nearest £**
**39,838**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**39,838**
**-**
Agreement Error
OK
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**to nearest £**
**to nearest £**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Cost (optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Fund to which**
**asset belongs**
**Cost (optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**Fund to which**
**liability relates**
**Amount due**
**(optional)**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
**-**
Print Name
TimothyGittins|**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||OK|
||||**Endowment**
**funds**
**to nearest £**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**Current value**
**(optional)**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**Current value**
**(optional)**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**-**|
||||**When due**
**(optional)**|
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
|||||
||||Date of approval|
||||30/10/2024|
||||31/10/2025|
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
31/10/2025
~~2~~
## **Independent examiner's report on the accounts**
**Section A Independent Examiner’s Report**
**Report to the trustees/** Charity Name **members of** Out Together (formerly Friends of Dorothy)
**On accounts for the year** 31 December 2024 **Charity no** 1188461 **ended (if any) Set out on pages** CC16a (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
- I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/12/2024 **.**
- **Responsibilities and** As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation **basis of report** of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”) .
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
**Independent** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have **examiner's statement** come to my attention (other than that disclosed below *) in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
- accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
- the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
* _Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply._
**Signed: Date:** 29/10/2025 **Name:** Mr Charles Dunning ACA CTA **Relevant professional** Chartered Accountant and tax advisor. **qualification(s) or body (if any): Address:** 32 Coronation Avenue, Normanton, WF6 2LW
1
**October 2018**
**IER**
## **Section B Disclosure**
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
**Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose** .
None.
2
**October 2018**
**IER**