Darlington Memoflal Hospltal Mollyhurst Road Darlington OL36HX THE FRIENDS OF DARLINGTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL ANNUALGENERAL MEETING THURSDAY 20TH JUNE 2024 AT 6.00PM FIRST FLOOR BOARDROOM DARLINGTON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL CHAIRMAN'S REPORT It gives me great pleasure to present my 28th Annual Report which is for the year ending 30th April 2024. Our main activity continues to be the wonderful Volunteer Car Service which is now in its 27th year. In those years we have served some 130,000 patients by collerting them from thei home's taking to their hospit'al appointment .at Darlington Memorial Hospital or Bishop Auckland General Hospital and returning them following their appointment. These journeys vary in distance from within 2 miles of the Hospitals to over 50 miles with an increasing number being longer distances. Our excellent team of drivers use their own cars and freely give their time receiving a small allowance of 35 pence per mile to cover fuel and running costs. Raising funds to operate the service has always been difficult as we do not receive any financial support from the NHS. At the presenttime we have had to control the cost of running the service by imposing a daily mileage restriction of 700 miles at a cost of £245.00. This is not at all satisfactory as we are unable to be of service to some patients who then have difficulty in keeping their appointments. We are looking at options to im rove the situation. The service is controlled on a daily basis by Joy Mcculloch, Anne Robinson, Colin Weeks and Jeff Simpson and on your behalf I wish to thank them and our drivers for doin& what at times, is a very difficult job. David Lister continues to be the main administrator for the service and keeps a careful control of our expenditure and income. Our Baby Shop at Main Entrance'of Darlington Hospital continues to do well and the two ladies who work there have it open for 4 days a week. We are looking for another person who can work for one 6 hour day. There are a number of people in the community who knit lovely baby clothes for us to sell and we are so very grateful to them. I would like to picktwo of them out simply because they have donated many hundreds of hours in producing a wonderful selection of baby clothes, knitted toys ( Paddington Bears) , wooden cots and
dressed dolls. So a speclal thank you to Doris Bee of Middleton In Teesdale and Margaret Gibbs of Wackerfield we are indebted to you both. Although David Glover has kept a dialogue going wlth the hospltal Physiotherapy Department there has been no development of restartlng the Heartbeat Group exerclse group. Bill Chaytor of Croft who was our Chairman for 6 years has always contlnued to show interest in 'Yhe Friends" and been a great support to myself, sadly passed away in June. Bill was involved in a number of charitable activitles In the area and will be sorely missed by many. One of the saddesttimes of my 28'years was in August when our much cared for admlnistrator June Blewitt-became suddenly ill and passed away shortly afterwards. This was a real shock to all of our team and we very much miss her cheerful personality and commitment to the work of The Friends. The ever busy Jeanette Smith who is involved.with everything that we do has had a particularly demanding year including taking over June's work of looking after our daily cash flow. Currently because of building works near our office to create a new Outpatients Department which means some change for usjeanette has been workingwith the developers to ensure our facilities are maintained. Molly Davison who has great knowledge of Darlington Hospital continues to give her very helpful support as our meeting secretary.:: Simon Rossenelli our treasurer'for the past 36 years, despite not enjoying the best of health, continues to give us the benefit of his vast experience in this most important role. On behalf of all of our committee and members l once again express our gratitude to him. Alasdair Macconachie OBE DL our President for 34 years continues with his interest in what we do and is a gréat support to myself for which I will always be grateful. Thank you to all of our volunteers and members forthe work that you do and your Gontinued support for all that we do for patients and staff. W A Charlton MBE Chairman
The Friends of the Darlington Memorial Hospitsl Financial Year Ending 30th April 2024 Opening Bank Position Income £ 95,856.24 72343.71 £ 168,199.95 £ 76,435.19 £ 91,764.76 Expenditure Closing Bank Postion Closing petty cash Cheque Account Active Saver Account BPAAccount 1,444.68 £ 8,817.66 0.10 £ 81,502.32 £ 91,764.76 0.00
Friends of the Darlington Memorial Hospital Income - Year Ending 30th April 2024 Shop £ 14,032.82 Volunteer Dri, £ 45,383.91 Collection Bo. £ 335.48 Membership £ 271.00 Donations £ 8,503.14 Bank Interest £ 917.44 Tables £ 2,719.92 Sundries 180.00 Total £ 72,343.71
Friends of the Darlington Memorial Hospital Expenditure - Year ending 30th April 2024 Voluntary Drivers Shop Purchases StationerylPostage Xmas Presents Natl Ass Memb & Ins Xmas Cards 1 st Baby Gift Total £ 68,890.10 £ 2,176.07 £ 2,412.02 £ 1,290.00 £ 1,393.00 174.00 100.00 £ 76,435.19
The Friends of the Darlington Memorial Hospital th Financial Statement Year Ended 30 April 2024 Registered Charity no. 511290 Please find enclosed the financial statement for the year ending 30 April 2024. th A further difficult year with many challenges which the volunteers have overcome, maintaining the charities services and reputation. THANK YOU ! Income levels for the period £72,343.71 and expenditure of £76,435.19. The administration costs of running the Charity have been kept to a minimum. Available resources remain healthy with funds held of £91,764.76 The records are yet to be Audited and once this is complete a final set of Accounts will be submitted to the Charity Commission and put on file with the minutes of the AGM. Should anyone have any queries regarding the information please do not hesitate to contact me. Simon Rossinelli Honorary Treasurer 23, May 2024