THE FRIENDSHIP PROJECT

Registered charity 517684 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register · also known as THE FRIENDSHIP PROJECT FOR CHILDREN

Supports disadvantaged children in need by 121 weekly meetings of 2/3 hours with an 'older friend', who is a volunteer. The child may have their own problems or the child may be in a family or care, that make it more difficult for the child to thrive. Aim is to improve the child's self esteem, allow them to have some fun and build confidence, plus widen their experience in a safe supported way.

Objects

TO PROVIDE FACILITIES FOR THE SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL TRAINING OF CHILDREN PARTICULARLY DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 6 AND 16 YEARS WHO BY REASON OF THEIR SOCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES ARE IN NEED OF DEVELOPING SOCIAL SKILLS BY SUCH MEANS AS THE PROJECT THINKS FIT INCLUDING THE ORGANISATION OF CONTACTS BETWEEN SUCH CHILDREN AND RELIABLE OLDER PERSONS ABLE TO HELP THEM DEVELOP SUCH SKILLS.

Area of benefit: NOT DEFINED

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: General Charitable Purposes · Education/training · Disability · Amateur Sport · Other Charitable Purposes · website · Get email alerts

Registered contact address: Warwick, West Midlands, England (from the postcode on the register)

Latest income

£108k

Latest spending

£91k

Registered

1986

Accounts read

FY2025

Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts

The accounts state that the charity achieved a surplus of £17,615, increasing its reserves to £49,682. The trustees confirm the charity has sufficient funding to continue operations for at least the next 12 months. However, the financial review notes that the reserves cushion will be used in early 2026 as some grants are not due until later in the year.

Automated summary of the FY2025 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Largest income source: none

“Most of our monthly expenditure relates to the salaries and expenses of our staff and the expenses of our Older Friends. As our income varies considerably month by month it is important that in order to provide continuity of support for our Younger Friends that we have sufficient financial resources in place for the timely and regular payment of salaries and expenses.” — page 28

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Reserves policy: three/four months forecast expenditure (held: £50k)

“the trustees believe that it is essential to hold financial reserves, including restricted funds, of a minimum of three/four months forecast expenditure.” — page 29

Per its FY2025 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Accounts independently examined (not a full audit). Discloses 5 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
Complaints handling
Complaints policy and procedures
Conflicting interests
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Internal risk management policy and procedures
Paying staff
Risk management
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Social media policy and procedures
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
Volunteer management

From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)

Answers and figures the charity gave in Part A of its annual return to the Charity Commission. They are self-declared: not verified by the Commission or by this site. Only positive answers and figures are listed; items not listed are simply not shown.

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2025

Volunteers: 90
Government income: £644 — grants £644 (1); under 1% of the £108,449 total gross income on the same return

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2024

Volunteers: 90
Government income: £5,000 — grants £5,000 (1); 5% of the £95,752 total gross income on the same return

Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/12/2023

Volunteers: 90

Source: this charity’s annual returns on the Charity Commission register.

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — The Friendship Project For Children (matched by registered charity number).

Funders the charity credits

Named as funders/supporters on the charity’s own website (the charity’s claim, distinct from accounts-verified grants).

Bodies & Co — “Thank you to Bodies & Co for their £3,508 donation” (source page)
Stoneleigh Male Voice Choir — “With thanks to Stoneleigh Male Voice Choir for their £1000 donation” (source page)

Trustees · trustee networks

MRS CHERYLL RAWBONEchair · trustee of 1 other charity
Ashima Rani Chander
Cheryl Stephanie Jackson Treasurer
Esther Jones
Mary Keane
Mr Chris Buck Webmaster and IT
Nishi Mehta
RICHARD MARK BARRETT · trustee of 1 other charity
Rachel Hodge Hon Sec

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Coventry City · Warwickshire

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/12/2025	£108k	£91k
31/12/2024	£96k	£95k
31/12/2023	£78k	£93k
31/12/2022	£68k	£78k
31/12/2021	£63k	£60k

Common questions

Is THE FRIENDSHIP PROJECT financially healthy?

Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity achieved a surplus of £17,615, increasing its reserves to £49,682. The trustees confirm the charity has sufficient funding to continue operations for at least the next 12 months. However, the financial review notes that the reserves cushion will be used in early 2026 as some grants are not due until later in the year. Its FY2025 accounts were independently examined.

Who funds THE FRIENDSHIP PROJECT?

Funders whose own accounts filings name THE FRIENDSHIP PROJECT as a grant recipient include THE ALAN EDWARD HIGGS CHARITY, STRATFORD-UPON-AVON TOWN TRUST, THE KING HENRY VIII ENDOWED TRUST, WARWICK, THE DULVERTON TRUST, THE EDWARD CADBURY CHARITABLE TRUST.

Known funders

Grants to this charity found in funders’ own accounts filings.

Funder	Year	Amount	Purpose (as stated by the funder)
THE ALAN EDWARD HIGGS CHARITY	FY2025	£12k	Go Beyond
THE ALAN EDWARD HIGGS CHARITY	FY2024	£8k
STRATFORD-UPON-AVON TOWN TRUST	FY2021	£6k	2021/22 Stratford younger friends
THE KING HENRY VIII ENDOWED TRUST, WARWICK	FY2025	£6k	Town Share Grant
THE KING HENRY VIII ENDOWED TRUST, WARWICK	FY2024	£5k
THE DULVERTON TRUST	FY2024	£5k	Towards volunteer befriending.
THE KING HENRY VIII ENDOWED TRUST, WARWICK	FY2023	£4k	Town Share Grant
THE ALAN EDWARD HIGGS CHARITY	FY2022	£4k	To support an individual counselling and befriending scheme in Coventry and Warwickshire
THE ALAN EDWARD HIGGS CHARITY	FY2021	£4k	To support an individual counselling and befriending scheme in Coventry and Warwickshire
THE KING HENRY VIII ENDOWED TRUST, WARWICK	FY2022	£4k
THE KING HENRY VIII ENDOWED TRUST, WARWICK	FY2021	£4k
THE EDWARD CADBURY CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2024	£3k	Education and Training
THE SISTERS OF THE POOR CHILD JESUS	FY2023	£2k	Other donations
THE SISTERS OF THE POOR CHILD JESUS	FY2024	£2k
THE SISTERS OF THE POOR CHILD JESUS	FY2022	£2k	Other donations
THE MICHAEL MARSH CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2024	£2k	Children / Young People
MISSES BARRIE CHARITABLE TRUST	FY2025	£1k
THE SISTERS OF THE POOR CHILD JESUS	FY2025	£1k
THE WARWICKSHIRE MASONIC CHARITABLE ASSOCIATION LIMITED	FY2021	£1k
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF ST MARK, BILTON	FY2024	£350
THE PAROCHIAL CHURCH COUNCIL OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL PARISH OF WHITNASH	FY2022	£50

Government & lottery funding

Grants to this charity published as open data by government and lottery funders (360Giving).

Funder	Date	Amount	Purpose
The National Lottery Community Fund	02/12/2022	£10k	2023 Friendships
The National Lottery Community Fund	12/03/2021	£9k	Growing friendships in 2021
UK government	04/08/2020	£7k	Coronavirus Community Support Fund
UK government	01/01/2019	£5k	Tampon Tax Community Fund

Funders of similar charities

Funders whose accounts show grants to charities similar to this one (and no recorded grant to this charity) — a starting list for fundraisers.

Funder	Similar charities funded	Amount to them
Thomas Waley-Cohen Charitable Trust	1	£110k
DOVEDALE	1	£60k
The Teesside Charity	1	£45k
THE DODGSON FOUNDATION	1	£17k
THE COLYER-FERGUSSON CHARITABLE TRUST	1	£10k
WARWICK RELIEF IN NEED CHARITY	1	£10k
THE ALLEN OVERY SHEARMAN STERLING FOUNDATION	1	£7k
THE SIR JAMES ROLL CHARITABLE TRUST	1	£7k

Charities like this

Semantically similar by activities and financial character, from our analysed corpus. Compare with THE PARENTING PROJECT.

THE PARENTING PROJECT income £566k
PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN income £365k
FRIENDS FIRST income £132k
FRIENDLY SOCIETIES' CONVALESCENT SCHEME income £52k
VISION25 income £942k
FAMILY FRIENDS income £348k

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
THE FRIENDSHIP PROJECT	£108k	—	unclear	—	no doubt
THE PARENTING PROJECT FY2026	£566k	—	below	—	no doubt
PARTNERSHIP FOR CHILDREN FY2025	£365k	—	unclear	—	no doubt
FRIENDS FIRST FY2025	£132k	—	above	—	no doubt
FRIENDLY SOCIETIES' CONVALESCENT SCHEME FY2025	£52k	—	unclear	—	no doubt
VISION25 FY2025	£942k	—	below	—	no doubt

Each row is that charity’s latest analysed filing; every value is quote-backed on its own page.