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2025-03-31-accounts

Trustee’s Annual Report & Financial Statements

For the Year to 31 March 2025

Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Fund also known as ‘WUTH Charity’.

WUTHUavity Registered charity no.

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Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025

Contents

Report of the Trustee for the year ended 31 March 2025.................... 3

Foreword by Chair of Charitable Funds Committee of WUTH Charity .................................. 3 Acknowledgement ................................................................................................................ 3 Public interest benefit ........................................................................................................... 3 Ways to donate. ................................................................................................................... 4 Who we are .......................................................................................................................... 5 What we aim to do: our objectives and activities. ................................................................. 5 Mission Statement ............................................................................................................... 5 Individual funds’ purposes and decision-making ................................................................... 5 Statute ................................................................................................................................. 5 Objects ................................................................................................................................ 6 Fund structure ...................................................................................................................... 6 Governance and management ............................................................................................. 7 Corporate Trustee ......................................................................................................................... 7 Charitable Funds Committee ......................................................................................................... 7 Corporate Trustee’s appointments ................................................................................................ 8 Risk management ................................................................................................................ 9 Fundraising Annual Review ................................................................................................ 10 Reserves policy.................................................................................................................. 14 Background ................................................................................................................................. 14 Level of reserves ......................................................................................................................... 14 Investment policy ............................................................................................................... 14 Background ................................................................................................................................. 14 Investments summary ................................................................................................................. 15 Reference and administrative details .................................................................................. 15 Registration ................................................................................................................................. 15 Principal office Donations & fundraising ............................................................................. 15 Administration and records ................................................................................................. 15 Advisors ............................................................................................................................. 15

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||| |---|---| |Independent examiner's report to the corporate trustee of Wirral University Teaching| |Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Fund ............................................................................ 19| |Statement of Financial Activities......................................................................................... 20| |Balance Sheet ................................................................................................................... 21| |Statement of Cash Flows ................................................................................................... 22| |Notes to the accounts ........................................................................................................ 23| |1.|Accounting policies ......................................................................................................... 23| |2.|Related party transactions .............................................................................................. 26| |3.|Income: Donations and legacies ..................................................................................... 27| |4.|Income: Other trading activities - raising funds ............................................................... 28| |5.|Income: Investments ...................................................................................................... 29| |6.|Expenditure: Raising funds ............................................................................................. 30| |7.|Expenditure: Charitable activities .................................................................................... 31| |8.|Analysis of grants ........................................................................................................... 32| |9.|Analysis of staff costs ..................................................................................................... 32| |10.|Costs of independent examination .................................................................................. 32| |11.|Fixed asset and current asset investments ..................................................................... 32| |12.|Current assets: Debtors .................................................................................................. 33| |13.|Current assets: Cash ...................................................................................................... 34| |14.|Current liabilities: Creditors ............................................................................................. 35| |15.|Contingent assets and liabilities...................................................................................... 36| |16.|Commitments ................................................................................................................. 36| |17.|Analysis of material funds ............................................................................................... 37|

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Finance and performance review ....................................................... 16

Income summary ............................................................................................................... 16 Expenditure analysis .......................................................................................................... 17 Future Plans ...................................................................................................................... 17 Statement as to disclosure to our independent examiners ........................................................... 18

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

Report of the Trustee for the year ended 31 March 2025

Foreword by Chair of Charitable Funds Committee of WUTH Charity

  1. Welcome to our annual report for 2024/25. The Corporate Trustee is pleased to present the Annual Report of Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Fund (‘the Charity’, also known as ‘WUTH Charity’) together with the independently examined financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025. Under Part 8 section 145 of the Charities Act 2011, the Corporate Trustee has exercised the Charity’s exemption from audit. External scrutiny through independent examination is permitted and deemed appropriate for the Charity, as its gross income is below a statutory threshold.

  2. This ‘Annual Report and Accounts’ document has been prepared by the Corporate Trustee in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), 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 Act 2011 and Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 (see Note 1 to the accounts). It addresses all the separately established funds for which Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (‘the Corporate Trustee’, ‘the Trust’, or ‘WUTH’) is the major beneficiary.

Acknowledgement

  1. The activities of the Charity have been achieved through the support and generosity of the local people of Wirral and the surrounding areas, and by the tireless efforts and resources of volunteers and active fundraisers in the community, and the Trust’s staff. Many of our donors have contributed during times of personal difficulty.

We would like to take this opportunity to extend sincere thanks, on behalf of the patients and Trust staff, to everyone who kindly gave to the Charity, as well as any supporters who gave their time and effort. Their contributions, imagination and enthusiasm are greatly appreciated.

Public interest benefit

  1. The Corporate Trustee ensures that the public benefit criteria, as detailed in the Charities Act 2011, are met by demanding that each funding application is critically assessed against those criteria. This process is achieved through compliance with the Charity’s Expenditure Guidance policy document. Applications are prioritised and rejected or pursued based on the availability of funds, compliance with the Expenditure Guidance , and the quality of the application – ‘how much benefit is generated for each pound spent?’

Where possible, funds are used to provide benefit to a wide range of patients. Further descriptions of purchases made by the Charity during the year under review are included in Achievements in 2024/25.

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

Ways to donate.

There are a number of ways to make a donation in confidence to WUTH Charity.

Over the Phone

Credit and debit card payments can be received over the phone by calling the Charity Office, at Arrowe Park Hospital on 0151 482 7788.

JustGiving

Donors a can create a personal JustGiving fundraising page for their own fundraising, or pay securely through the Charity’s own page, with the option to consent to Gift Aid for both single donations and regular giving.

Standing order

Regular donors can submit a standing order form (website, or by request) to the Charity Office.

Bank transfer

Direct transfers can be made into the WUTH Charity bank account. Sort code: 60 – 70 – 80 Account number: 10029753

Cash

Cash donations can be received at the Trust’s cash offices at Arrowe Park or be paid to the Charity through a local bank or post office, with account details as above.

Cheque

Cheques can be posted or handed in to the Charity Office or cash office, made payable to WUTH Charity. The postal address of the Charity Office is on page 11.

Gift Aid

Gift Aid forms are available (website, or by request) to accompany any donation to WUTH Charity. The form seeks consent from the donor for the Charity to reclaim tax amounts that the donor has paid as a UK tax payer, maximising the power of a donation.

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

Who we are

  1. Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Charity (WUTH) is a registered charity (registered number 1050469). We exist to raise funds and receive donations for the benefit of the our key partner organisation Wirral Universiry Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, their patients and their staff. By securing donations, legacies, and sponsorship, WUTH Charity can help upgrade and improve existing services while working to support and improve patient experience.

  2. Having support from our local community is crucial to our work so please read on to learnabout our work what we have achieved and the difference we have made.

What we aim to do: our objectives and activities.

  1. Income received by the Charity is accepted, held and administered as funds and property held on trust for purposes relating to the Health Service in accordance with the National Health Service Act 2006. These funds are held on trust by the Corporate Trustee.

  2. On an everyday basis, the Charity exists to support the Trust. The Trust delivers patient care at Arrowe Park Hospital, Clatterbridge Hospital, and Wirral Women and Children’s Hospital, as well as at several community locations throughout Wirral.

Mission Statement

  1. WUTH Charity’s Mission Statement, adopted in 2016, is as follows.

“To further improve the quality of WUTH’s patient care, by issuing grants for the purchase of medical equipment, improvement of Trust facilities and for the direct enhancement of the patient experience in other imaginative ways. This is achieved through the spontaneous generosity of the public and by fundraising activities, events and appeals.”

  1. This Mission Statement is the cornerstone of the Charity’s Expenditure Guidance policy and explains the Charity’s main activities.

Individual funds’ purposes and decision-making

  1. Decision-making is governed by the Charity’s Expenditure Guidance policy, with compliance managed by the Trust’s Financial Services Department on behalf of the Charitable Funds Committee. Within this framework, fund-holders are involved in delegated decision-making for the purposes of each individual fund’s specialty area, or, in the case of Patient Wish, for the general purposes of the Trust.

  2. For Patient Wish, the fund-holder is the Trust’s Chief Finance Officer and Chief People Officer, For the other specialty funds, fundholding is undertaken by the relevant senior Trust team comprising the most senior divisional clinician, nurse and manager, or the triumvirate. Any member of staff can apply for consideration. All fund applications are reviewed by the relevant fund holders and submitted to a grants panel for approval, up to the limits specified in the Standing Financial Instructions. Any request above this limit must be approved in line with the requirements of the Standing Financial Instructions.

  3. In decision-making, there is always due regard for legal trusts imposed. Moreover, staff do attempt to acknowledge any non-binding ‘expressions of wish’ from donors about the area, function, department or specialty which should ideally benefit from their generosity.

Statute

  1. The Charity is committed to spend in line with the statutory public interest benefit criteria, discussed in the previous section. It is additionally guided by its objects, below.

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

Objects

  1. The principal objects of WUTH Charity as set out in the Declaration of Trust deed as follows.

To provide ‘for any charitable purpose or purposes relating to the National Health Service.’

  1. WUTH Charity’s strong governance measures have been put into place so that donors and grantors can be assured that every pound spent generates the highest standards of public benefit, and so that the Trust and the Charity can be proud of each, and every project undertaken.

Fund structure

  1. There are eight specialty restricted funds which includes the Tiny Stars Neonatal Appeal fund which was established in 2019/20. There were also a number of other restricted funds where donations have been received for specific purposes.

  2. The Charity has one unrestricted Patient Wish general fund. Further fund details are included in Note 17 to the accounts.

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25 Governance and management

Corporate Trustee

  1. The sole trustee of WUTH Charity is Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. This is a ‘corporate trustee’, and the Charity’s primary beneficiary; the public is the ultimate beneficiary. The address of the Trust’s principal office is the same as that of the Charity.

  2. The Corporate Trustee is managed by its Board of Directors which consists of executive and non-executive directors. It has responsibility for ensuring that the NHS body fulfils its duties in managing the charitable funds. Members of the Trust Board are not individual trustees under Charity Law but act as agents on behalf of the Corporate Trustee. They fulfil the Trustee’s legal duty by ensuring that funds are spent in accordance with objects and in pursuit of patient benefit, and independently determine the Charity’s strategy through meetings of the Charitable Funds Committee.

  3. The voting members of the Board of Directors of the Corporate Trustee (‘Trust Board’) who served during the financial year were as follows:

Chairman Sir David Henshaw Chief Executive Janelle Holmes Chief Finance Officer Mark Chidgey Deputy CEO / Medical Director Dr Nicola Stevenson (to December 2024)

Charitable Funds Committee

  1. This is a Committee of the Trust Board, established to ensure that the Corporate Trustee’s duties are discharged.

  2. The formal purposes of the Charitable Funds Committee can be summarised as follows.

  3. i. To agree the purpose, strategy, and policies of the Charity.

  4. ii. To oversee the Charity’s financial and treasury management processes. iii. To control expenditure from the funds.

  5. iv. To control fundraising initiatives.

  6. v. To recommend an Annual Report and Accounts to the Corporate Trustee, outlining all of the Charity’s key achievements.

  7. Decisions are made and approved at meetings of the Charitable Funds Committee, in which only Charity business is conducted. Board members do not receive any additional remuneration or payment for expenses whilst serving on the Charitable Funds Committee.

  8. The Charitable Funds Committee is continuously improving the objectives and effectiveness of WUTH Charity. This activity includes ongoing review of the following areas.

  9. Governance arrangements.

  10. Expenditure compliance and effectiveness - value for money.

  11. Income generation strategy.

  12. Risk management arrangements.

  13. Investment and reserves review.

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

  1. The members of the Charitable Funds Committee who served during the financial year were as follows:

Non-Executive Director and Chair of Committee Sue Lorimer Chief Finance Officer Mark Chidgey Chief People Officer Debs Smith Non-Executive Director Steve Ryan Non-Executive Director Lesley Davies

  1. All the members were in post for the 12-month period to 31 March 2025. When unable to attend, a nominated deputy is expected to attend. The Trust’s Chair and all non-executive directors have a right to attend the Committee. The Chief Finance Officer and Chief People Officer are the Executive Leads for the Committee.

Corporate Trustee’s appointments

  1. Non-executive directors of the Trust Board are appointed by the Trust’s Council of Governors. Executive directors are recruited by the Trust Board. Further details regarding appointment to the key governance roles within the Trust Board and the Council of Governors of the Corporate Trustee are reported in the Corporate Trustee’s Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25 and are contained within the Corporate Trustee’s Constitution. Copies of these documents can be obtained by contacting the Trust (see Reference and administrative details), and the Trust’s Annual Report and Accounts can be viewed on the Trust website.

  2. Trust staff including executive and non-executive directors, are required to complete a corporate induction programme, which includes a briefing on Charity responsibilities. Directors are encouraged towards continuous professional development through the Trust’s on-going performance management arrangements, and they are able to seek individual professional advice or training at the Trust’s expense in the furtherance of their duties.

Constitution of the Charity - including the reservation and delegation of the powers of the Corporate Trustee

  1. The unrestricted general umbrella fund was established using the Charity Commission’s model Declaration of Trust, dated 18 October 1995. This Declaration of Trust was amended by Supplemental Deed, dated 1 November 2007, which reflected the Trust’s new status as an NHS foundation trust. A number of ‘special purpose trusts’ were individually registered with the Charity Commission as constituent/subsidiary charities in 1997 and were ‘linked charities’ under the Charity’s single registration number. WUTH Charity applied for full dissolution of all linked charities within 2017/18 and Charity Commission records have been amended accordingly.

  2. Any member of Trust staff can make a grant application. Delegated ‘fund-holders’ for each fund may approve an application, up to a specified financial limit. Above this limit, further approvals are required by the Corporate Trustee. The Trust’s Financial Services department is responsible for the financial administration of the Charity and undertakes the ‘technical approval’ of all applications, ensuring compliance with the Expenditure Guidance policy and charity law on behalf of the Corporate Trustee.

  3. Although the Corporate Trustee has delegated some day-to-day decision-making in terms of grant approvals, the Corporate Trustee and its Charitable Funds Committee reserve the power to apply any funds to any purpose in any area of the Trust’s hospitals in accordance with the Health Service Act 2006, subject to any imposed restrictions.

  4. The full current name of the Charity is Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Fund. It is also known as ‘WUTH Charity’, which is a registered ‘working name’. The Charity’s registration number is 1050469.

  5. Governors’ knowledge is refreshed through a range of briefing sessions and workshops. The Trust Board, Charitable Funds Committee and governors all have had the benefit of access to advice from the Board Secretary and the Assistant Director of Finance – Financial Services, who were responsible throughout 2024/25 for ensuring that the Corporate Trustee’s procedures are followed, and that applicable regulations are complied with.

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

Risk management

  1. The Charity’s key systems are designed and implemented by Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and the Charity therefore benefits from the Trust’s robust internal control framework. Risks to which the Charity is exposed are identified, and mitigating actions are considered, in meetings of the Charitable Funds Committee.

  2. As at 31 March 2025, the Corporate Trustee has determined that the Charity did not have any significant residual risks.

  3. As a grant-giving charity, WUTH Charity’s aims and objectives are expressed through purchases made for the benefit of the Trust’s patients and their careers. Details of some key funds’ activities and achievements are set out in the next section; Fundraising Annual Review.

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

Fundraising Annual Review

  1. The reporting period witnessed the restructure of WUTH Charity. The Charity moved from being part of the Finance Directorate portfolio to sit within the that of Workforce – in line with the findings of a charity review whereby staff / fundholder engagement was highlighted as a key area for development. The staff structure of the new core team comprises Head of Service, Fundraising Manager and Community and Events Fundraiser plus a small number of designated WUTH Charity volunteers. The core team is supported by a matrix charity team chaired by the Deputy Director of People which includes members from Finance, Procurement and Communications. The charity is further supported by the Fundholders group which it meets with quarterly to maximise income generation for the charity via the eight designated funds and to identify and request items for charitable expenditure.

Achievements 2024-25 - WUTH Highlight Events

  1. The Arrowe Park Abseil in May 2024 . This was kindly sponsored by Archway Homes and is our flagship fundraiser. It was back by popular demand for its fifth year raising £17,910 for the charity by 238 participants including staff, local businesses and former patients who wished to say thank you for the care they have received at WUTH.

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

  1. Baby Loss Awareness Week Memorial Service, October 2024. For the first year WUTH Charity hosted a Baby Loss event offering support and comfort to families who have experienced a loss of a child. The event which was well received and attended by over a hundred families, featured personal tributes and a touching performance by the local choir Sing Me Merseyside. Families wrote messages on paper lanterns, creating a shared sense of remembrance. Over £8000 was pledged for a baby loss garden in the Women & Children’s Department at Arrowe Park Hospital

  2. Winter Ball, November 2024 . One of the social highlights of the year was the spectacular Winter Ball, held at Thornton Hall Hotel in aid of The Children’s Fund. Hosted by local fundraiser Mandy Molby, the event raised over £45,555 for the Children’s Fund. With 300 guests in attendance and entertainment from Simon Webbe (Blue), the funds were raised through an auction on the night of highly sought after items. Mandy, a long-time supporter of children’s health, commented: “Every penny raised goes towards ensuring families receive the best possible care.”

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

  1. Elf Run, December 2024. This was kindly sponsored by Activities 4 All and saw 2,424 school children from schools across the Wirral get involved in this annual festive fundraiser. The event raised a record £8,393 despite school closures due to the severe weather and delays in doing the run.

  2. BTR Liverpool Road Races. Through the charity’s membership of BTR Liverpool Road Races the charity has benefitted from over £10K in sponsorship from individuals raised through personal sponsorship. This includes the extraordinary efforts of staff member Zara Delamere who has raised over £5K by running the BTR Liverpool Half Marathon to purchase Chemotherapy chairs for use by patients on ward 30.

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

  1. In addition to the road race opportunities offered by the charity, the charity has also benefitted from donations from other personal challenges including the 3 Peak Challenge which raised £9,249 this year. The charity has continued to receive many generous cash and in-kind donations and sponsorship from individuals and organisations for both general and specific appeals and events.

In-kind donations included pamper pack gifts from Sarah White Aesthetics for our ED and Critical Care colleagues, and 50 comfort gifts from Home Instead to

  1. Arrowe Park League of Friends . This year saw the closure of a great ally, the Arrowe Park League of Friends Charity after 42 years of remarkable support. During a fond farewell event, Martin Greaney, Chair of the League handed over a final cheque of £204,000 to WUTH Charity. This brought the total they have raised to nearly £4.5 million, benefitting countless patients and hospital departments over the years. We are deeply grateful to all who contributed to the League’s incredible success. An Arrowe Park League of Friends Grant round was rolled out in Spring 2025 and to date a spend of £180,000 has been approved and this is all focused on improving patient care and experience.

support our patients aged over 50 at Christmas. It has also received many in memory donations as a thank you for good care received and a major donation of £20K from a patient to support ward 22 and the Parkinsons Disease department. : .

  1. In addition to the Arrowe Park League of Friends Grant round the charity also rolled out two Small Grant rounds from the Patient Wish Fund for the support of patient care and staff wellbeing across the WUTH sites.

  2. It has been an extraordinary year, and all contributions are truly appreciated and help us to provide outstanding care for our community.

Ngozi Ikoku Fundraising Manager July 2025

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

Reserves policy

Background

  1. In accordance with Charity Commission guidance, the Corporate Trustee acknowledges that there is a requirement to hold a minimum reserve balance. This is to allow freedom to initiate expenditure when required, in advance of donations, and to mitigate the impact of any unforeseen circumstances.

  2. Conversely, the Charity Commission asserts that charities should not hold substantial unspent reserves as a matter of course. The Corporate Trustee recognises its statutory obligation to ensure that funds should be spent effectively and promptly.

Level of reserves

  1. As at 31 March 2025, the Charity did not have any staff-based obligations or large ongoing projects, which might generate significant unforeseen obligations, and the Charity has the ability to reactively scale back expenditure to trivial levels, as discussed in the Charity’s Going concern policy (page 27). Therefore, the Corporate Trustee cannot identify any need to hold high levels of reserves to March 2025.

  2. Reserves are that part of a charity’s unrestricted funds that is freely available to spend on any of that charity’s purposes. The actual level of reserves held is usually calculated as the total funds of a charity, less restricted funds and any other funds earmarked against, or committed to, future projects.

  3. The Charity’s restricted funds have narrower objects than those of the Charity and so are not ‘freely available’. However, they still have broad objects within their own areas, are subject to the apportionment of overheads, and are not often subject to very narrow restrictions from imposed trusts. This means that, for internal management purposes only, an ‘operational reserves’ figure might be alternatively broadly expressed as the total funds held. It could be argued that this represents a high level of ‘operational reserves’, given the very low risk of unforeseen obligation, and the growing needs of the Charity’s beneficiary trust.

  4. The Corporate Trustee is committed to ensuring that high fund balances are not held unnecessarily, and that the Charity’s funds are put to prompt and prioritised use for the benefit of the Trust’s patients.

  5. The Charitable Funds Committee has established a reserves policy as part of its plans to provide long term support to WUTH Charity.

  6. The Charitable Funds Committee calculate the reserves as that part of the charity’s unrestricted income funds that is freely available after taking account of designated funds that have been earmarked for specific projects.

  7. Because, with the exception of one fund, the funds held are classed as restricted, the actual reserves figure for WUTH Charity at 31 March 2025 was £313k (2023/24 £314k). This level of reserves is consistent with the reasoning above and is calculated as follows:

Total funds of £ 1,443k
Less restricted funds of £ 1,130k
Total free reserves £ 313k

Investment policy

Background

  1. By law, the Charity must ensure it spends any income received within a ‘reasonable time of receipt’. Charities should not hold substantial unspent reserves as a matter of course. However, where NHS charitable funds have surplus monies not needed to fund immediate charitable activities, the Corporate Trustee may elect to invest some (or all) of this surplus to generate additional income to fund future activities.

  2. All investment decisions must comply with the Trustee Act 2000 and have regard to the Act’s standard investment criteria; and must be informed by appropriate professional investment advice.

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

Administration and records

  1. The Charity avoids investments involving alcohol, arms and tobacco.

  2. The overriding objective, as expressed through the Charity’s Treasury Management Policy, is to safeguard the Charity’s assets and minimise risk, whilst maximising returns net of administrative expense.

Investments summary

  1. The Charity has no investment assets.

  2. In 2024/25 investment income of £66k (2023/24 £56k) was earned. This income solely relates to bank interest.

Reference and administrative details

Registration

  1. Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Fund (‘WUTH Charity’), registered charity number 1050469, was entered onto the Register of Charities on 8 November 1995. Registered administrative details and overview are available on the Charity Commission website: www.charitycommission.gov.uk

Principal office Donations & fundraising

  1. The accounting records and day-to-day administration of the funds are handled by the Trust’s Financial Services department, located at Willow House, Clatterbridge Hospital, Bebington, Wirral CH63 4JY.

Advisors

The following services were retained by the Charity during 2024/25.

Banks

Barclays Bank PLC Independent Examiner Leicester Katherine Parkin LE87 2BB Azets Audit Services Ty Derw Government Banking Lime Tree Court Services Cardiff Gate Business Park National Westminster Bank Cardiff PLC CF23 8AB 280 Bishopsgate London EC2M 4RB Legal Advisor Hill Dickinson LLP Nationwide Building Society No. 1 St Paul’s Square Kings Park Road Liverpool Northampton L3 9SJ NN3 6NW

WUTH Charity Office Arrowe Park Hospital Arrowe Park Road Wirral CH49 5PE Q ~~o_~~ wuth.charity@nhs.net ~~—S————~~ ©@ 0151 482 7788 Ej We WuTtCharity ~~

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

Finance and performance review

  1. Fundraising activities and events are a wonderful way for the local community to contribute and get involved. They are usually more effective if undertaken with the WirralTeachingUniversity Hospital Chavity-

Income summary

  1. The Charity relies upon donations and legacies as its main source of income. Total income for 2024/25 was £540k (2023/24 £383k). The following chart analyses this year’s income by source.

knowledge and approval of the Corporate Trustee, and the Charity’s fundraising team (page 4) can offer advice and help.

  1. We thank all donors for their kindness and effort.

Legacies - £1k

  1. We are very fortunate to be remembered through wills by kind legacy donors, and we extend our thoughts and thanks to their families and friends.

Other trading activities - £182k

  1. The income relates to income received in exchange for supplying goods and services to raise funds for the Charity. This was primarily generated by both internal and external fundraising events. Additional funds were generated through lottery activity, Just Giving and Gift Aid income.

Investment income - £66k

  1. To maximise the benefit of every penny donated, the Charity seeks to invest any funds which are not likely to be used in the short-term subject to the requirements of the Reserves Policy. All investment income generated during 2024/25 was through bank interest.

Donations - £291k

  1. Investment opportunities are subject to ongoing review.

  2. Many of our on-site donors give to the Charity in times of personal difficulty, whilst other donors may be motivated to say ‘thank-you’ after returning home from an experience as a patient or carer, which leads to postal donations, JustGiving collections and external (third party) fundraising events.

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

Expenditure analysis

  1. Of the total expenditure of £179k (2023/24 £247k), £11k (2023/24 £25k) was spent on charitable activities across a range of programmes for patient benefit.

  2. The allocation of support costs to these charitable activities is detailed in Note 7 to the accounts.

Computer Hardware – £5k

A small gesture like funding Televisions for wards can significantly improve the patient experience and emotional well-being. Being in the hospital can be stressful or isolating - especially for long-term patients. TVs provide distraction from pain, anxiety, and boredom, making the hospital stay more bearable and less mentally taxing.

Raising funds - £168k

  1. This category includes budgeted fundraising services and resources, which will underpin future income growth.

Future Plans

  1. The Trust, as a body operating within the NHS, is subject to uncertainty due to changes in government policy, departmental and regulatory reforms, and local developments. The Corporate Trustee is therefore committed to flexibility in the Charity’s spending decisions, to accommodate the changing needs of its major beneficiary.

  2. The Charity therefore did not require or compile comprehensive future spending plans in 2024/25.

  3. As the Charity grows, this position will adapt to incorporate the spending plans associated with appeals schemes.

Patient education and welfare – £5k

  1. As a rule, the Corporate Trustee is committed to utilising funds as soon as is practical, based on patient benefit priorities. Other future plans for the development of the Charity’s activities and incomes are outlined in the Head of Fundraising’s review of the year (page 10).

  2. We continue to fund initiatives in support of patient welfare. Investing in patient welfare purchases such as resistance bands for in support of Physio or Occupational Therapy exercises directly improves patients’ health and recovery. These initiatives can help boost recovery and aid in swift and safe discharges.

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

Statement as to disclosure to our independent examiners

  1. So far as the Corporate Trustee is aware, at the time of approving this Annual Report and Accounts, there is no relevant information of which the Charity’s independent examiner is unaware. The Corporate Trustee has taken all the steps that it ought to have taken to make itself aware of any relevant information and to establish that the Charity’s independent examiner is aware of that information.

By delegated authority on behalf of the Corporate Trustee:

Lesley Davies

Chair - Charitable Funds Committee / Non-Executive Director of the Corporate Trustee

Mark Chidgey

Executive Lead - Charitable Funds Committee / Chief Finance Officer of the Corporate Trustee

Date: 29/01/2026

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

Independent examiner's report to the corporate trustee of Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Fund

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

Responsibilities and Basis of Report

As the Trustee of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act').

I report in respect of my examination of the charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Katherine Parkin FCA Azets Audit Services Ty Derw Lime Tree Court Cardiff Gate Business Park Cardiff CF23 8AB

Date: 30 January 2026

Independent Examiner’s Statement

Since the charity’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 ICAEW, which is one of the listed bodies.

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

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act; or

  2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair' view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

Statement of Financial Activities For the year ended 31 March 2025

20

Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25 Balance Sheet

As at 31 March 2025

The notes on pages 23 to 37 form part of these accounts. Approved by the Corporate Trustee and signed on its behalf:

Lesley Davies

Chair of the Charitable Funds Committee Non-Executive Director of the Corporate Trustee

Date: 29/01/2026

Mark Chidgey

Executive Lead for the Charitable Funds Committee Chief Finance Officer of the Corporate Trustee

Date: 29/01/2026

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

Statement of Cash Flows As at 31 March 2025

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

Notes to the accounts

1. Accounting policies

a. Basis of preparation

  1. Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Fund (‘the Charity’) is a public benefit entity.

  2. The Charity’s financial statements have been prepared under the going concern basis and historical cost convention as modified by the revaluation of assets, and in accordance with applicable United Kingdom accounting standards and 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) issued on 1 January 2019 (‘Charities SORP (FRS 102)’), its published updates and amendments pertaining to small entities, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, and Charities Act 2011.

  3. The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared to give a ‘true and fair’ view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a ‘true and fair view’. This departure has involved following Charities SORP (FRS 102) issued on 1 January 2019, rather than Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005, which has since been withdrawn.

b. Going concern

  1. The Corporate Trustee has satisfied itself that there are no material uncertainties about the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least 12 months from the date these financial statements are approved. This is because the Charity’s expenditure and obligations are with Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. The Charity has the ability to scale costs back, in line with available cash / funds. There are no contractual staff obligations, and no long-term programmes or projects to create unfunded obligations. Grants

are committed after assessing fund balances, and grant commitments can, in certain circumstances, be reversed, are short-term, and are non-recurrent in nature.

  1. The Corporate Trustee has therefore adopted the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements and a material uncertainty is not considered to exist in relation to going concern.

c. Fund structure

  1. Unrestricted income funds comprise those funds which the Corporate Trustee is free to use for any purpose in furtherance of the charitable objects. After a significant restructure, as at 31 March 2018, the Charity has a single unrestricted general purpose (Patient Wish fund), and eight restricted specialty funds. Restricted funds are to be used in accordance with their specific restrictions, which could be imposed by the donor through a written trust, or through ‘appeals’ fundraising.

  2. The major funds held are disclosed in Note 17.

d. Income

  1. All income is recognised once the Charity has entitlement to it, it is probable that it will be received, and its monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.

  2. Given the absence of a reliable measurement basis, the significant voluntary contribution of Trust staff members is not included as Charity income in these accounts.

e. Income from legacies

  1. Legacy sums notified but not received at year end will be recognised as in-year income if their receipt is considered to be ‘probable’ (more likely than not), in line with d., above.

  2. Therefore, legacies are accounted for as income upon cash receipt, or where the receipt of the legacy meets each of the following ‘probable’ criteria.

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

g. Expenditure on irrecoverable VAT

f. Expenditure

  1. All expenditure is accounted for on an accrual basis and is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation, as a result of a past event, committing the Charity to the expenditure. In addition, settlement must be ‘probable’ – that is, it must be more likely than not that a transfer of cash will occur, and the amount of the obligation must be able to be measured or estimated reliably.

  2. When transacting directly with third parties, contractual obligations are recognised as goods or services are supplied to the Charity. When funding Trust expenditure, constructive grant obligations are recognised by the Charity when the conditions of each grant are met. Grant conditions for day-to-day transactions are deemed to be satisfied when the Trust fully completes the purchase transaction correctly and promptly, and the details of the purchase can be demonstrated to match the original grant claim, which has itself been approved by the Corporate Trustee or delegated officer(s).

  3. Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the same category of resources expended as the underlying purchases.

h. Expenditure on raising funds

  1. These are costs associated with generating incoming resources and are recognised as per the Charity’s other expenditure. The costs of budgeted fundraising services and resources have been included. Unless directly attributable to a particular fund, such costs are split across the Charity’s funds.

i. Charitable activities and apportionment

  1. The costs of charitable activities include all costs incurred in the pursuit of the charitable objects of the Charity.

  2. Charitable activities costs comprise the direct and grant-funding expenditures of charitable projects, and all overheads (administration and governance costs), charged directly to funds. The apportionment of the overheads (‘support costs’) across the different categories of charitable activity is usually then achieved using the value of expenditure transactions undertaken within the financial year in each category.

  3. Governance costs comprise the costs of independent examination and the element of the administration fee which is deemed attributable to supporting the Charitable Funds Committee and for providing policies, papers, advice and recommendations, in addition to the creation of this Annual Report and Accounts.

  4. The apportionment of support costs across the different categories of charitable activity is disclosed in Note 7.

  5. Extraordinary grants may be issued in advance of grantee expenditure. Such grants are only issued if they are contractually required and/or are directed by the Corporate Trustee.

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

j. Fixed asset and current asset investments.

  1. Any investments held would be stated at market value as at the Balance Sheet date. The Statement of Financial Activities would include the net gains and losses arising on revaluation and disposals throughout the year. The Charity held no investments within 2024/25 or in the prior year.

transaction value and are subsequently measured at amortised cost which equates to settlement value.

m. Contingent assets and liabilities.

k. Realised gains and losses from investment.

  1. All gains and losses are taken to the Statement of Financial Activities as they arise. Realised gains and losses on investments are calculated as the difference between sales proceeds and market value at the start of the year (or purchase cost if bought in year). Unrealised gains and losses are calculated as the difference between market value at the year end and opening market value (or purchase cost if bought in year).

  2. In line with the principles of fund accounting, all gains (or income) and losses (or expenditure) pertaining to treasury activity are allocated back to each individual ‘originating’ fund.

  3. The Charity had no such gains/losses in 2024/25 or in the prior year.

l. Financial instruments.

  1. Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised when the Charity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. All financial assets and liabilities are initially measured at transaction price (including transaction costs). The Charity’s financial instruments comprise balances from across the Balance Sheet: Debtors, cash and creditors.

  2. The Charity’s financial assets and financial liabilities qualify as ‘basic financial instruments. These basic financial instruments are initially recognised at

  3. A contingent asset is a possible asset that arises from a past event, but which is not recognised in the Charity’s Balance Sheet as its existence can only be confirmed by future events which are not within the Charity’s control.

  4. If receipt of a legacy is probable, but it cannot be reliably measured by the date of compilation of these accounts, then the legacy is shown as a contingent asset until all the conditions for income recognition are met.

  5. A contingent liability is either a possible but uncertain obligation, or a present obligation that is not recognised in the Charity’s Balance Sheet because.

  6. a transfer of economic benefit to settle the possible obligation is not probable; or

  7. the amount of the obligation cannot be estimated reliably.

  8. Grants approved in principle but with unmet application or performance conditions are disclosed as contingent liabilities.

n. Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

  1. In the application of the Charity’s accounting policies described above, the Corporate Trustee is required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about carrying amounts of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

experience and any other factors that are relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

  1. In assessing whether conditions have been met such that a grant claim is formally fully agreed and therefore recorded as expenditure, judgement is applied by delegated officers of the Corporate Trustee. Similarly, when applying the Charity’s accounting policies to the recognition of legacies, judgement is required to assess the circumstances surrounding each legacy. The Corporate Trustee’s going concern judgement is discussed in section b.

  2. The Corporate Trustee does not consider that there are any other significant judgements, nor has it identified sources of estimation uncertainty, which present a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the accounts within the next reporting period.

2. Related party transactions

  1. The Charity is a subsidiary of Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the Trust is therefore a related party. The Trust’s ‘place of business’ is Trust Headquarters, as detailed in the Reference and administrative details section of the Annual Report. The Trust is a public benefit corporation established under the NHS Act 2006 and is both the Corporate Trustee and the primary beneficiary of the Charity. The Charity’s ultimate parent is HM Government.

Charity, and none of these individuals have undertaken any material transactions with the Charity or received honoraria, emoluments or expenses in the year which wcrc CAvavity were funded by the Charity.

  1. Board members, and other senior staff, take decisions on both Charity and Trust matters, but endeavour to keep the interests of each discrete, and do not seek to benefit personally from such decisions. Declarations of personal interest have been made in both capacities and are available to be inspected by the public. The Corporate Trustee purchases Directors and Officers liability insurance which covers both the Charity and the Trust under a shared limit, and separate trustee indemnity insurance has therefore not been deemed necessary.

  2. Prior to 31 March 2013, NHS charitable funds considered to be subsidiaries were excluded from accounts consolidation (‘group accounts’), in accordance with a Treasury accounting direction. This dispensation is no longer available and NHS foundation trusts need to consolidate any material NHS charitable funds.

  3. The Trust reviewed the figures contained in the single-entity financial statements within this Annual Report and Accounts and has determined that they are immaterial to the ‘Trust group’. Consolidation has therefore not occurred in 2024/25 nor did it occur in any previous year.

  4. The Charity provides funding to the Trust for approved expenditure made on behalf of the Charity. All of the Charity’s non-treasury expenditures, other than the costs of independent examination, bank charges and JustGiving fees, are with the Trust. In 2024/25 the Charity made repayment of £1,092k to Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

  5. At 31 March 2025, the Charity owed Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust £21k (2023/24 £977k) for support services delivered but not yet paid. All transactions entered into during the year were conducted on an arm’s length basis.

  6. During the year, none of the members of the Trust Board, Charitable Funds Committee or senior Trust staff, or parties related to them, were beneficiaries of the

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

3. Income: Donations and legacies

  1. Donations from individuals are gifts from members of the public, relatives of patients and staff. This income is usually collected through “In Memory Of” donations as well as general gifts.

  2. Corporate donations are gifts from organisations that have supported WUTH Charity during the past year.

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

4. Income: Other trading activities - raising funds

  1. This income category only includes raised income for which there is an exchange; for example, monies collected due to ticket sales for official events, or the selling of goods.

  2. This figure therefore does not capture the flow of income generated by the ongoing and ad hoc representation of the Charity to patients and visitors by Trust staff, or the donations collected at any of the Charity’s many events held in 2024/25, which would be included under Donations in Note 3.

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

5. Income: Investments

  1. To maximise the benefit of every penny donated, the Charity seeks to invest any funds which are not likely to be used in the short-term subject to the requirements of the Reserves Policy. All investment income generated during 2024/25 was through bank interest.

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

6. Expenditure: Raising funds

  1. The Corporate Trustee has approved the recharge of service and resource costs from the Trust to the Charity, on a recurring basis.

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

7. Expenditure: Charitable activities

  1. The Charity grants funding to support Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, through the purchase of goods and services for the Trust, consistent with the charitable objects of the Charity.

  2. Support costs (overheads) comprise the Charity’s administration fee, which is explained in Note 9, legal fees and the costs of independent examination, detailed in Note 10.

  3. Support costs can be split between administration costs and governance costs, which have been separately disclosed below. The basis for the apportionment of overheads is detailed in Note 1.

  4. Further details regarding expenditure due to charitable activities are included in the Achievements in 2024/25 and Finance and performance review sections of the Annual Report.

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

8. Analysis of grants

  1. Grants are made to support Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in its purchase of revenue goods or services and fixed assets. This expenditure is described in Note 7, and in the descriptions of management arrangements and performance reporting within the Annual Report.

  2. The Charity does not make grants to individuals or third parties.

11. Fixed asset and current asset investments

  1. No fixed asset or current asset investments have been held by the charity during the financial year, or prior year.

  2. There have been no direct investments made outside the UK by the Charity, and further details of the Charity’s treasury activity are contained within the Investment policy section of the Annual Report.

9. Analysis of staff costs

  1. The Charity does not directly employ staff. Instead, the resources of Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust are used, and an administration fee is levied by the Trust in order that the Trust can recover estimated costs incurred. This administration fee is subject to the approval of the Charitable Funds Committee.

  2. The staff who perform administrative and fundraising functions work within Trust policy and under Trust direction, with identical terms and conditions to all other Trust staff, and their workload may be covered by colleagues interchangeably. These points would all suggest that these staff have not been seconded into the Charity, and that the supply is one of service, not of staff.

  3. The Charity therefore does not require separate staff costs disclosures, and the service expenditure (administration fee) is contained within Note 6. The fundraising service charge is additionally disclosed in Note 6.

10. Costs of independent examination

  1. The independent examiner’s fee of £6,100 (23/24 £6,500) including VAT relates solely to the independent examination of these accounts. No other additional services have been provided by the independent examiner. This fee is included wholly within Raising Funds in the Statement of Financial Activities, through the apportionment of governance costs within total Fundraising Services / Resources (Note 6).

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

12. Current assets: Debtors

  1. Due to the balance and nature of the Charity’s debtors, exposure to credit risk is negligible. No debts are past due or impaired.

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

13. Current assets: Cash

  1. The carrying value of financial assets measured at amortised cost is measured as the total of balances in Notes 12 and 13.

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

14. Current liabilities: Creditors

  1. Amounts owed to Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust relate to unpaid obligations for services delivered, and grants issued but not yet paid. The carrying value of financial liabilities measured at amortised cost equates to the accruals row above.

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

15. Contingent assets and liabilities

  1. If receipt of a legacy is probable at 31 March, but it cannot be reliably measured by the date of compilation of these accounts, then the legacy is disclosed as a contingent asset until all of the conditions for income recognition are met. The Charity had no contingent assets as at 31 March 2025 and 2024.

  2. Grants approved in principle but with unmet application or performance conditions are disclosed as contingent liabilities. If the conditions are not met within six months, the conditional approval expires. As at 31 March 2025 the estimated contingent liability was £0k (2023/24 £0k).

16. Commitments

  1. The Charity has no other undisclosed commitments.

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Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25

17. Analysis of material funds

The objectives of all of the Charity’s funds are disclosed in the Aims and objectives section of the Annual Report. A summary of 2024/25 fund movements is as follows:

a) Analysis of restricted fund movements

a) Analysis of restricted fund movements
Fund balance B/Fwd
Income
Expenditure Transfers Fund Bal/Cfwd
2024/25
2023/24
2024/25 2023/24
2024/25
2023/24
2024/25 2023/24
**2024/25 **
2023/24
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
Breast Care Fund 64
51
14
17
(5)
(4)
0
0
73
64
Cancer Fund 3
(2)
15
8
(2)
(3)
0
0
15
2
Childrens Fund 11
4
86
10
(36)
(3)
0
0
61
11
Critical Care Fund 24
17
14
16
(3)
(9)
1
0
36
24
Heart Care Fund 0
(5)
11
6
(2)
(1)
0
0
9
0
Respiratory Fund 26
20
15
7
(3)
(2)
0
0
37
26
Stroke Fund 6
2
14
8
(2)
(4)
0
0
18
6
Tiny Stars Neonatal Appeal 635
540
43
264
(33)
(169)
0
0
644
635
League of Friends of Arrowe Park 0
0
204
0
0
0
0
0
204
0
Jane Roffe Parkinsons (Ward 22) 0
0
20
0
0
0
0
0
20
0
Other Restricted Funds 0
0
11
0
0
0
1
0
12
0
Total restricted funds 769
627
447
336
(87)
(195)
2
0
1,130
769
b) Analysis of unrestricted fund movements Fund balance B/Fwd
Income
Expenditure Transfers Fund Bal/Cfwd
2024/25
2023/24
2024/25 2023/24
2024/25
2023/24
2024/25 2023/24
**2024/25 **
2023/24
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
£000
Patient Wish Fund 314
319
93
47
(92)
(52)
(2)
0
313
314
Total unrestricted funds
Total
314
319
93
47
(92)
(52)
(2)
0
313
314
1,083
946
540
383
(179)
(247)
0
0
1,443
1,083
~~see~~

37