AGM

Bosom Friends (Bradford) Charity no. 1134938

Trustees Annual Report 2025

The Charity Commission require that small charities (income between £10,000 – 25,000 per year) submit a financial return within 10 months of the end of the financial year. Although there is no requirement for small charities to have a Trustees Annual Report, we consider it good practise to produce one which:

• Outlines the purposes/objectives of the Charity

• How our activities have achieved these objectives

• Identifies funding sources and how expenditure has supported our key objectives

• States our policy on holding financial reserves

Bosom Friends (Bradford) became a Charity separate from Bradford Cancer Support with the Constitution registered with the Charity Commission in March 2010.

In January 2024 the Trustees sought to amend the first of the 5 Objectives listed in the version of the Constitution passed down by the founding Trustees, to replace outdated and disrespectful terminology. It later transpired that the Objectives listed in the version of the Constitution held by the Charity Commission differed from that we held on file and the CC concluded we held an incorrect version which we have now accepted. Discussions with the CC are still ongoing to change the wording of the one Objective as previously documented. In all other aspects, our version of the Constitution is as the CC have on file.

In May 2025 we had to find new premises to hold our meetings with the closure of the Cancer Support Yorkshire Premises and relocated to St Martins Church, Haworth Rd, Bradford BD9 6LL, chosen for its proximity geographically to the old CSY premises and the suitability of the facilities. We believe that this has impacted on the numbers attending meetings but are hopeful that this is a transitional issue and numbers will increase. We remain open to suggestions from members of other premises which may prove to be more suitable.

Objectives

• To provide help, support and friendship to women living with and beyond breast cancer

• Provide information and advice about breast cancer treatment and aftercare

• Provide financial assistance to breast cancer patients in need

• Supplement services provided by the hospital by providing facilities and equipment

• Take account of Charity Commission guidance on public benefit

The Committee who manage Bosom Friends meet on the first Wednesday of each month. Since the lockdown in March 2020, this has been conducted virtually via facetime and this has continued to reduce unnecessary face to face meetings and costly travel. All members of the committee (Trustees) are users of the service so the need to utilise resources effectively whilst being mindful of potential conflicts of interest is paramount. The Trustees receive no remuneration.

In accordance with the Constitution, new Trustees are appointed by the current ones following the criteria laid down by the Charity Commission. All stand for one year but are eligible for re-election annually.

Annual General Meeting 2025

This took place on 19th March 2025, to report on the previous financial year to December 2024. This took place at The Tyke in Thornton and was attended by 23 people.

Audited Accounts 2025

The audited accounts for the year ending December 31st 2025

2025 2024

Income 11,467.88 13,010.02

Expenditure 11,924.64 12,696.82

Income over Expenditure 313.20

Expenditure over income 456.76

We ended the year showing a small deficit overall possibly related to the move in premises but also because the Fashion Show was a less successful fundraiser than in previous years. Despite this, the Fashion Show, remained our largest source of income. Other significant amounts came from a sky dive by Sarah Morrison (and a donation from her employer), and donations from Skipton Building Society and the Freemans Group. The amount received from raffles/sales, donations in memory of and collection boxes continue to show how even in a largely cashless world how relatively modest amounts all add up. The £1 subscription collected at the social meetings funds the tea/coffee/biscuits at social meetings.

The charity has financial reserves which mean that we are in a sound position to continue to fulfil our aims despite variations in income, although year on year this usually remains fairly consistent. We take a cautious view with regard to our reserves and have in the last year received interest for the current and deposit accounts.

Expenditure

We are always aware of the need to ensure that any expenditure benefits the greatest number of women with breast cancer, whilst fulfilling our stated objectives. To this end we have:

• Held monthly social events during the year, including our popular mystery trip in July, which this year was a trip to Lotherton Hall with a buffet before a guided tour around the Hall and a drive home into a beautiful sunset

• Continued to provide sets of post surgery cushions in large pink bags to the Dales Suite for distribution by the Breast Care nurses

• Advertised who we are through the distribution of our postcards and leaflets in the pink packs given in clinic by the Breast Care Nurses, small pink bags provided by us

• Given talks to women’s groups who have supported us through donations

• Provided patterned ceiling light panels in 2 clinic rooms at The Dales Suite at SLH to help reduce anxiety during clinical procedures

• Sent flowers to members needing support after receiving bad news

• Provided grants to individuals referred by the Welfare Service (Cancer Support Yorkshire) and Breast Care Nurses as in financial need

• Funded family experiences for members experiencing difficult times

• Responded to requests for help/support/information from both personal callers and agencies such as the mainstream media

• Maintained high visibility on social media through educational posts and the sharing of posts from other agencies

• Subsidised the cost of the Xmas party at The Moorlands

• Funded the cost of the meal at The Tyke for the AGM in March

Applications for grants remain less than we would anticipate given the economic situation caused by the cost-of-living crisis but we continue to remind the Breast Care Nurses and Welfare advisors at Cancer Support Yorkshire of this opportunity. We believe we should utilise our resources to provide a direct, positive impact on the lives of our users and are open to new ideas and methods to achieve this

Liz Carrington Secretary Bosom Friends (Bradford) 6th February 2026

Report approved by the Trustees

Barbara Bartle (Chair) Julia Sunderland (Vice Chair) Sue Depledge (Treasurer)

Robina Amin, Pat Asquith, Maria Ostick, Ania Kaminska, Liz Brook.

Accounts audited by Craig AN Smith, Fellow Chartered Certified Accountants