OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2025-12-31-accounts

Charity number: 1003619 Company number: 2626039

Registered number: 2626039Registered number: 2626039

THE BLOOD CARE FOUNDATION

TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

THE BLOOD CARE FOUNDATION (A company limited by guarantee)

CONTENTS

Legal and Administrative information 1
Report of the Trustees 2 - 6
Independent Examiner’s Report 7
Statement of Financial Activities 8
Balance Sheet 9
Notes to the Financial Statements 10 - 16

THE BLOOD CARE FOUNDATION

(A company limited by guarantee)

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

Trustees Mr J. Bruce, Chairman
Dr T. Latham (appointed 24 June 2025)
Dr L. Lord MBE
Mr B.J. Pearson
Dr C.P. Lee
Dr J. Barrett
Mr M.G Bruce
Company registered number 2626039
Charity registered number 1003619
Registered office North House
198 High Street
Tonbridge
Kent
TN9 1BE
Company secretary M.F. Gunton (resigned 31 December 2025)
Chief executive officer J.N. Bruce
Independent examiner J. Mathieson FCA
Lindeyer Francis Ferguson Limited
Chartered Accountants
North House
198 High Street
Tonbridge
Kent
TN9 1BE
Bankers The Royal Bank of Scotland
London Drummonds Branch
49 Charing Cross
London
SW1A 2DX

Page 1

THE BLOOD CARE FOUNDATION

(A company limited by guarantee)

TRUSTEES’ REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

The Trustees (who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act) present their annual report together with the financial statements of The Blood Care Foundation (the company) for the year ended 31 December 2025.

The Trustees confirm that the report and financial statements of the company comply with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the company's governing document, and the provisions of "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019) (Charities SORP (FRS 102)). The Legal and Administrative information on page 1 forms part of this report.

Structure, governance and management

a. Constitution

The company is registered as a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated on 2 July 1991 and governed by a Memorandum and Articles of Association, as revised on 24 April 2013.

The principal object of the company continued to be the supply and distribution of screened blood, resuscitation fluids and sterile transfusion equipment.

In setting objectives and planning for activities, the Trustees have given due consideration to general guidance published by the Charity Commission relating to public benefit.

b. Method of appointment or election of Trustees

Potential new Trustees are usually identified by the Trustee’s as being suitable candidates to approach. If that person is prepared to consider such an appointment and they have the required ability and commitment, they are invited to join the Foundation. The new Trustee is invited to sign a letter of application, following which they are elected to the board.

Appointments made during the year are ratified at the following AGM. Given the size of the charity, there are no formal policies in place for the induction and training of Trustees. However, each Trustee, from their own knowledge and experience, is aware of their responsibilities and is required to keep up to date through technical reading and personal development.

c. Organisational structure and decision making

The Foundation is run by its directors who are also the Trustees of the charity and members of the company. The Trustees bring a broad range of knowledge to the Foundation and, under the chairmanship of Julian Bruce, are responsible for managing the current activities of the Foundation and developing its future plans.

Page 2

THE BLOOD CARE FOUNDATION

(A company limited by guarantee)

TRUSTEES’ REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

Members' liability

The members of the company guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 to the assets of the charity in the event of winding up.

Review of activities for the public benefit and future developments

The Trustees recognise and confirm their awareness of the need for the activities of the Foundation to be for the public benefit.

When the Foundation was first established, its aims and objectives were based on the principle that each country should, in an emergency, be responsible for the provision of blood at an acceptable quality, for its own nationals.

From its inception, the Foundation has been making and continues to make part of its practical contributions to this principle through the training of blood banking staff and by providing a consultancy service in Transfusion Medicine to treating doctors.

Each time the BCF Quality Assurance Manager audits one of its own, or another organisation's dedicated blood banks in a developing country, time is taken to train the local blood bankers in the latest techniques of blood banking, to help increase their own knowledge and contribute to the overall development of blood banking standards in that particular country.

As in-depth Transfusion Medicine does not normally form part of the standard medical training in many countries, the Foundation provides a world-wide consultancy support service to treating doctors when they are faced with difficult transfusion decisions.

Chairman’s Report

The availability of Screened Blood, Rabies Immunoglobulin and their Quality

Throughout 2025, the Foundation has remained steadfast in its commitment to ensuring the provision of screened blood and rabies treatment in cases of emergency. However, the need for an emergency blood transfusion in developing countries can pose all kinds of problems. Frequently, these countries experience considerable shortages of blood due to the lack of donors; in addition, their screening of blood is often rudimentary, due to the lack of reagents and the costs involved. The availability of rabies treatment also provides great challenges as few medial establishments can afford to hold the necessary supplies of vaccines or rabies immunoglobulin which have a relatively short shelf-life.

Blood

Throughout 2025, the Foundation continued to receive the active and enthusiastic encouragement and support from three of the world's leading blood processing centres in the UK and the USA. These close relationships have enabled the charity to provide routine deliveries of screened blood to two hospitals in Asia and to some of the NATO operational forces. Provision of these supplies to developing countries enables

Page 3

THE BLOOD CARE FOUNDATION

(A company limited by guarantee)

TRUSTEES’ REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

patients to avoid the frequent risks of their being transfused with locally acquired, potentially contaminated, blood. This blood can carry, for example, HIV1 & 2, Dengue fever, Hepatitis B & C, Syphilis and/or Malaria.

Rabies

Untreated, a patient who contracts rabies is almost certain to die a very painful death; this risk is little appreciated, which explains why expatriates and travellers frequently do not bother to be pre-vaccinated before they travel to developing countries. Rabies is endemic in many Third World countries. The WHO states that the virus is present in some 150 countries with 90% of deaths occurring in Africa and Asia. The danger lies not only in being bitten but also by being scratched or even licked by an animal carrying the virus. In response to this danger and the timeframe for treatment before death being very narrow, the Foundation has arrangements in place to provide the necessary vaccines or immunoglobulin very quickly to the treating doctor.

Consultancy Services

In addition to the delivery of screened blood and rabies treatment in an emergency, the Foundation also provides a support service for the treating doctor. With developments in medical care moving so quickly, this on-demand service enables them to benefit from the latest techniques of blood transfusion and rabies treatment.

Quality

The quality of its products and services lies at the heart of the Foundation’s activities. For example, when blood is packed for hand delivery by a doctor or paramedic, a data logger is included in its special container; this records the temperature of blood every 5 minutes until its arrival at the clinic where the blood is to be transfused. When the blood is unpacked, the recordings made by the date logger are e-mailed to the Foundation’s Clinical Director for examination, to ensure the blood is safe to be transfused.

In addition, all the Foundation’s procedures are monitored on a regular basis by an External Audit Panel and by the UK Medicines and Health products Regulation Agency (MHRA). The Charity Commission also reviews the Foundation’s activities on an annual basis.

Finance

2025 has been a difficult year for the Foundation’s finances with the need to amortise and impair the earlier £26,872 investment made in its website and marketing activities. In addition, as the Foundation holds significant USD balances (over $100,000), the strengthening of Sterling during the year led to a substantial foreign exchange loss of £9,065. Although this is an unrealised non-cash accounting movement, it has to be recognised under standard accounting practice. At the end of 2025, net assets (capital and reserves) stood at £108,461, with assets of a £154,085 and liabilities of £45,624.

Management

The Trustees were delighted to welcome Sir Richard Thompson KCVO as Patron of the Foundation. Sir Richard, a former President of the Royal College of Physicians, was a member of the Medical Household of Elizabeth

Page 4

THE BLOOD CARE FOUNDATION

(A company limited by guarantee)

TRUSTEES’ REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

II, and its head from 1993 until 2005. During 2025, The Foundation’s Trustees have continued their unstinting support for its work and, together with Advisory Council and External Audit Panel, have proved an invaluable source of advice and help. To each of these participants, the Foundation owes a great debt.

Conclusion

Although overall this has not been an easy year, the Foundation is looking forward to 2026 and to the realisation of some major plans for the development and expansion of its life-saving services in the developing world.

Relationship with other organisations

The Foundation has a relationship with Asclepius (International) Limited. This company, which is beneficially owned by members of the Bruce family, is a UK based organisation active in the fields of expatriate health and general medical services. Asclepius provides the Foundation with the clinical and general management services, quality assurance, legal and administrative services which are vital to the operations of the charity. Although the Foundation can provide these services itself, they have been outsourced to protect the Foundation, by enabling it to operate with the minimum level of overheads. Asclepius has been instrumental in its formation and has contributed to its development by charging less than the full fees payable by the Foundation (see note 11).

Asclepius arranges the recruitment of administrative staff for the Foundation and pays their fees or salaries. The objective of this arrangement is to protect the Foundation, so that if its income fell for any reason, the Foundation would not be left with an unsustainable overhead to carry.

Trustees' responsibilities statement

The Trustees (who are also directors of The Blood Care Foundation for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).

Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

Page 5

THE BLOOD CARE FOUNDATION

(A company limited by guarantee)

TRUSTEES’ REPORT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charitable company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to small companies subject to the small companies’ regime in Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006

This report was approved by the Trustees on 16 June 2026 and signed on their behalf by:

Michael G. Bruce, Chairman Emeritus & Trustee

Page 6

(A company limited by guarantee)

THE BLOOD CARE FOUNDATION

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

I report to the charity Trustees on my examination of the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 December 2025.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the Trustees of the company (and its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the company’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

Since the company’s gross income exceeded £250,000, your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

In my opinion, in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached, attention should be drawn to the disclosures made in Note 2.1 to the financial statements concerning the accounting treatment of a balance disclosed as a contingent liability.

James Mathieson FCA Dated: 13 July 2026 Lindeyer Francis Ferguson Limited Chartered Accountants North House 198 High Street Tonbridge Kent TN9 1BE

Page 7

THE BLOOD CARE FOUNDATION

(A company limited by guarantee)

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

(incorporating income and expenditure account) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

Unrestricted Unrestricted
funds funds
2025 2024
£ £
Notes
Income from:
Donations and legacies 386 69
Charitable activities 3 242,909 296,516
Investments 370 676
Total income 243,665 297,261
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities 4 283,392 295,260
Total expenditure 283,392 295,260
Net (expenditure) / income and net movement in funds ( 39,727) 2,001
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward 148,188 146,187
Total funds carried forward 108,461 148,188

Page 8

THE BLOOD CARE FOUNDATION

(A company limited by guarantee)

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2025

2025 2024
£ £ £ £
Notes
Fixed assets
Intangible assets 7 - 11,686
- 11,686
Current assets
Debtors 8 41,966 60,109
Cash at bank and in hand 112,119 157,974
154,085 218,083
Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year 9 ( 45,624) ( 81,581)
Net current assets 108,461 136,502
Net assets 108,461 148,188
The funds of the charity
Unrestricted funds 108,461 148,188

For the financial year ended 31 December 2025 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Directors' responsibilities:

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime.

The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 16 June 2026 and signed on their behalf by:

Michael G. Bruce, Chairman Emeritus & Trustee

Company Registration Number: 2626039

Page 9

THE BLOOD CARE FOUNDATION

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

1 Status

The Blood Care Foundation is a private charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in England & Wales. Its registered address is North House, 198 High Street, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1BE.

The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:

2.1 Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees have concluded that the financial statements give a true and fair view of the charity’s financial position and financial performance. The charity has complied with FRS 102 except that it has departed from Section 21 ‘Provisions and Contingencies’ to the extent necessary to give a true and fair view. The charity has accounted for a contingent liability of £205,499 at the balance sheet date, as shown in note 11. Section 21 of FRS 102 requires recognition of a provision in the balance sheet where it is probable that the obligation will be repaid but the timing or amount is uncertain. In recent years there has been a partial repayment of the amount due which makes it probable that some or all of the debt will be repaid. However the trustees consider that to include a provision in the accounts would not present a true and fair view. The charity is only required to repay the balance out of future income taking into account the charity’s resources. In the event of the charity winding up the amount due would be waived. The Trustees therefore consider that disclosure of a contingent liability gives a true and fair view.

The accounts are presented in pounds sterling and rounded to the nearest pound.

The Blood Care Foundation meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.

There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue, and so the going concern basis of accounting has been adopted.

Page 10

(A company limited by guarantee)

THE BLOOD CARE FOUNDATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

2 Accounting policies (continued)

2.2 Income

Total income comprises the invoiced value of membership fees, other services supplied to third parties and interest received. Income from membership fees is recognised over the period covered by the membership subscription on a straight-line basis. Income from other services is recognised in the period when the service is performed. Interest is recognised in the period to which it relates.

2.3 Expenditure and liabilities

Charitable activities includes expenditure on the supply and distribution of blood and equipment. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them including governance costs incurred in connection with administration of the company and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.

2.4 Financial instruments

2.5 Intangible fixed assets and amortisation

Amortisation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following basis:

Website

Straight line over 3 years

2.6 Foreign currencies

Monetary assets and Iiabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date.

Transactions in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the rate ruling on the date of the transaction.

Exchange gains and losses are recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities.

Page 11

THE BLOOD CARE FOUNDATION

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

3 Income from charitable activities

Income from charitable activities
2025 2024
£ £
Membership fees 75,467 72,078
Provision of blood and services to contracted clients 167,442 224,438
242,909 296,516

77.12% of the charity's income (2024 - 84.68%) is attributable to geographical markets outside the United Kingdom.

4 Expenditure on charitable activities

Expenditure on charitable activities
2025 2024
£ £
Direct costs
Blood supplies and testing 113,700 138,388
Transport and shipping 32,942 51,047
Clinical and quality assurance 45,847 44,950
Service fees 30,345 34,831
Support costs
Administration and support fees 7,586 7,208
Alarm centre - ( 1,957)
Telephone and fax 1,336 1,022
Printing and stationery 54 320
Postage 148 482
Travel and subsistence 1,917 4,604
Rent and rates 4,224 4,224
Exchange differences 9,065 ( 1,692)
Other office costs 5,803 5,832
Legal and professional fees 815 598
Amortisation 7,493 1,461
Impairment of website 17,919 -
Governance costs
Independent Examiners' remuneration 2,898 2,642
Independent Examiners' other services 1,300 1,300
283,392 295,260

Page 12

THE BLOOD CARE FOUNDATION

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

5 Net (expenditure) / income
2025 2024
£ £
This is stated after charging:
Independent Examiners' remuneration 2,898 2,642
Independent Examiners' other services 1,300 1,300
4,198 3,942

Key management personnel are defined as the Trustees only. During the year, no Trustees received any remuneration or benefits in kind for their services as trustees (2024: £nil).

The total amount remibursed to trustees was £3,503 (2024: £4,172) for business and travel expenses for the AGM. All expenses of MG Bruce are invoiced to the Foundation by Asclepius. This has been disclosed within the accounts.

Page 13

THE BLOOD CARE FOUNDATION

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

7 Intangible fixed assets

Intangible fixed assets
Website
£
Cost
Cost brought forward 13,147
Additions 13,725
At 31 December 2025 26,872
Amortisation
Amortisation brought forward 1,461
Charged for the year 7,492
Impairment 17,919
At 31 December 2025 26,872
Net book Value
At 31 December 2025 -
At 31 December 2024 11,686

During the year it was identified that the website was not generating income as planned. As a result of this the trustees consider that net book value of the asset should be written off as an impairment charge.

8 Debtors

Debtors
2025 2024
£ £
Fees receivable 15,500 18,842
Prepayments and accrued income 26,466 41,267
41,966 60,109

Page 14

THE BLOOD CARE FOUNDATION

(A company limited by guarantee)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
2025 2024
£ £
Trade creditors 36,969 68,662
Accruals and deferred income 8,655 12,697
Other Creditors -
45,624
222
81,581
Fees invoiced in advance included in deferred income £ £
Balance at 1 January 2025 8,644 8,806
New amounts invoiced 4,655 8,644
Amounts released to income for services rendered ( 8,644) ( 8,806)
Balance at 31 December 2025 4,655 8,644

10 Contingent liabilities

A contingent liability exists towards Asclepius (International) Limited, which has charged less than the full fees payable by The Blood Care Foundation for services provided. This contingent liability amounts to £205,449 at 31 December 2025 (2024: £205,449) and is only payable in the future out of surplus income (if any) at such time and in such manner as the Trustees shall consider appropriate.

A contingent liability also exists in relation to a possible obligation for alarm centre costs. This service has been provided, but has not been invoiced by the supplier for a number of years, despite these being requested. Due to the supplier seemingly not seeking payment for these services, these costs are now deemed possible but not probable. Given the uncertainty it is not possible to estimate the financial effect as at the balance sheet date.

Page 15

(A company limited by guarantee)

THE BLOOD CARE FOUNDATION

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025

11 Related party transactions

Asclepius (International) Limited is a supporter of the objectives of the Blood Care Foundation having been responsible for its formation. It is beneficially owned by members of the Chairman's family and charges service, administration and support fees to the Foundation.

charges service, administration and support fees to the Foundation.
2025 2024
£ £
Service fees, management and administrative services 37,931 38,422
Office rent 4,224 4,224

At the balance sheet date £17,664 (2024: £25,860) was due to Asclepius (International) Limited and this is included in creditors.

Page 16