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.

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

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.

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 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
THE ASTOR FOUNDATION	3	£7k
LORD BARNBY'S FOUNDATION	2	£11k
DUCHY OF LANCASTER BENEVOLENT FUND	2	£3k
THE BAND TRUST	1	£520k
EVERY YOUTH	1	£219k
THE OVO CHARITABLE FOUNDATION	1	£191k
THE STEVE MORGAN FOUNDATION	1	£120k
THE EARL OF NORTHAMPTON'S CHARITY	1	£66k

Charities like this

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

PRIORITY YOUTH PROJECT income £367k
THE TOGETHER PROJECT CIO income £335k
YESU income £108k
FRIENDS OF BRIGHT EYES income £179k
GIRLS FRIENDLY SOCIETY IN ENGLAND AND WALES income £443k
THE EXODUS PROJECT income £305k

Side by side with its peers

Charity	Income	Top pay band	Staff >£60k	Reserves vs policy	Fundraising cost	Going concern
THE FRIENDSHIP PROJECT	£108k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
PRIORITY YOUTH PROJECT FY2025	£367k	—	0	unclear	—	noted
THE TOGETHER PROJECT CIO FY2025	£335k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
YESU FY2025	£108k	—	0	above	—	no doubt
FRIENDS OF BRIGHT EYES FY2025	£179k	—	0	unclear	—	no doubt
GIRLS FRIENDLY SOCIETY IN ENGLAND AND WALES FY2025	£443k	—	—	unclear	—	no doubt

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