for the Period Ended 31 December 2023
Directors report | |
Profit and loss | |
Balance sheet | |
Additional notes | |
Balance sheet notes | |
Community Interest Report |
Directors' report period ended
The directors present their report with the financial statements of the company for the period ended 31 December 2023
Principal activities of the company
Directors
The directors shown below have held office during the whole of the period from
1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023
The above report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions in part 15 of the Companies Act 2006
This report was approved by the board of directors on
And signed on behalf of the board by:
Name:
Status: Director
for the Period Ended
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As at
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The notes form part of these financial statements
This report was approved by the board of directors on
and signed on behalf of the board by:
Name:
Status: Director
The notes form part of these financial statements
for the Period Ended 31 December 2023
Basis of measurement and preparation
Turnover policy
Valuation information and policy
Other accounting policies
for the Period Ended 31 December 2023
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for the Period Ended 31 December 2023
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In 2023, String of Hearts delivered 395 activities across Trafford and Manchester, engaging over 900 older adults in music-making to improve wellbeing and reduce isolation in later life. We particularly supported older adults experiencing social isolation and long-term health conditions such as Dementia, Parkinson’s, COPD, cancer, stroke, anxiety, depression, and more. Older adults joined String of Hearts via social prescribing referrals, self-referral and through participating in sessions at sheltered housing schemes and mental health settings.We are proud to have continued our core groups this year, building a community of older adults, family members, musicians, partner organisations, funders, social prescribers and venues in six neighbourhoods across Trafford and Manchester. Together we removed barriers to accessing creative activities for some of the most isolated residents in Trafford and Manchester. Participants described how the sessions: “makes me happy, gives me motivation to look forward to another day” and “I love coming there because it takes me off my worries.”String of Hearts core group sessions enabled older adults to experience improved wellbeing, connect with others, build new friendships and belonging to their community. The groups performed songs they had written and visited a number of community venues including The Bridgewater Hall, Limelight, Northenden Social Club on International Women’s Day, and the Indian Senior Citizens Centre on International Day for Older Persons.Our music phone calls service continued throughout 2023, supporting older adults who were housebound and digitally excluded, with participants describing: “It makes me feel great, full of energy and singing all through the day” and “It gets me out of this depression I’ve got... It’s wonderful I can’t praise it enough”.Music-making sessions also took place at multiple sheltered housing and mental health supported living schemes in partnership with L&Q Housing Association, Wythenshawe Community Housing Group, Trafford Council mental health schemes and Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust services at The Therapy Hub, Park House and Laureate House. A partnership with Carers Manchester saw a group of carers and their loved ones write, record, and perform a new song ‘Miracle’ about their experiences of caring to a public audience. Partnership activities also took place with Seed Studios, Wythenshawe Good Neighbours, Manchester Metropolitan University and University of York.String of Hearts’ profile increased in 2023 through features on BBC Radio Manchester, National Academy for Social Prescribing, and the National Creative Ageing Conference. One String of Hearts member joined the national Creative Ageing Network, sharing their experiences of creativity & ageing and contributing their ideas for the development of practice and collaborative working at a national level.String of Hearts is grateful to all our members, partners, funders, staff and volunteers for their ongoing support and commitment this year in working towards our mission. We are looking forward to continuing and extending our activities in 2024.
PART 2 – CONSULTATION WITH STAKEHOLDERS – Please indicate who the company’s stakeholders are; how the stakeholders have been consulted and what action, if any, has the company taken in response to feedback from its consultations? If there has been no consultation, this should be made clear.String of Hearts’ primary stakeholders are older adults aged 50+ who participate in our activities across Trafford and Manchester. Other stakeholders include social prescribing link workers, community organisations and health agencies.String of Hearts is committed to consulting with our stakeholders to continually develop our services, responding to feedback and developing new ideas as a collective. All participants are embedded in decision-making through reflective discussions during music-making sessions and individual phone calls to reflect on the content, goals and areas for improvement. Participants actively create pieces of music in sessions based on their thoughts and ideas, and decide where to share these by identifying people and places they would like to target and the messages they would like to convey.In 2023 we also conducted a period of consultations about access and engagement, supported by Postgraduate Psychology students at Manchester Metropolitan University. Access is integral to organisation and essential ingredients we have put in place include a designated staff member calling participants frequently to discuss their experiences; providing free activities & refreshments; accessible venues; free transport; communication indifferent formats and exploring music from different cultural backgrounds.String of Hearts takes a multi-agency approach by working with other voluntary & healthcare organisations to support the complex challenges that many older people in our community face. Regular communications and network meetings, including with Trafford Community Collective, GMCA’s Older Adults Creative Health network, Age Friendly Manchester, and Trafford’s Age Well Board, enable us to keep up to date with other support mechanisms available to older people, as well as provide resources, deliver collaborative events and receive social prescribing referrals to our activities.“I have found the sessions provided for us are accessible for service users regardless of race, level of education, ethnicity, gender and mental health. String of Hearts have been professional, communicate effectively and always put the needs of the service users at the forefront of what they do.” Team Manager, Greater Manchester Later Life Services.
The Directors receive no remuneration in return for the services as officers of the Company. Lucy Geddes, one of the Directors, receives remuneration for her involvement in arts project work and a range of other qualifying services for the company. In the period under review she received £33,124 (2022: £25,630).Amina Cunningham, one of the Directors, receives remuneration for her involvement in arts project work. In the period under review she received £10,785 (2022: £15,127).
No transfer of assets other than for full consideration
This report was approved by the board of directors on
30 January 2024
And signed on behalf of the board by:
Name: Lucy Geddes
Status: Director