OpenCharities

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

← Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Charity

2025-03-31-accounts

The Newcastle Hospitals Charity Annual Report and Accounts 2024-2025

1

Contents page

Contents page
Section title Page number
A message from our Chair and our Charity Director 2
Our Charity details and principle professional advisors 3
Strategic Report
Who we are 4
Our strategy 4
Review of the year 5 - 8
Financial review of the year 9 - 11
Reserves 11
A look forward 12
Structure and governance 13 – 19
Independent auditor’s report 20 – 23
Financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025
Statement of financial activities 25
Balance Sheet 26
Cash Flow Statement 27
Notes to the financial statements 28 - 38

1

Welcome from our Chair and our Charity Director

Welcome to our Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025. As always, we are continually amazed by the kindness and generosity of all our supporters.

Our mission is simple – to go further for our hospitals. Over the last year we have been able to support more than 700 diverse projects with a total value of more than £9.5m – all with the aim of creating a positive impact for the patients, staff and wider communities of Newcastle Hospitals. This is our highest level of funding in any one year in response to a year of need by the hospitals we support. Your support means that we have been able to go further than ever before.

Whilst the projects we support range in both size and scope; each one is a fantastic example of how your support can make a real difference. You can see more about our work and the effect that work can have by reading our latest Impact Report. You will see the difference we make, whether this is through the unique impact of our arts or volunteer programmes, or through funding innovative projects across Newcastle Hospitals. You can also find out more about how you can be part of our journey and help us achieve even more in the future.

We have continued to develop our dedicated charity team this year, building capacity to support and engage volunteers and the local community, and to raise awareness and income from national funders. For the first time we have been able to bring all our colleagues together in our own offices at The Fleming, allowing us to work together much more effectively.

Looking forward, Newcastle Hospitals Charity will continue to work in partnership with Newcastle Hospitals to complement their world-class healthcare services. Building on what has already been achieved, our ambition is to further strengthen our role as a key partner for the Trust and to increase the impact that we can make on improving the health of the region and beyond.

We are very excited that the Committee of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation agreed to use their funds to support the Trust’s development of a £30 million purpose-built cancer clinical trials centre at the Freeman Hospital – named the Sir Bobby Robson Institute. £20 million has already been raised and we have put together a team of experienced staff to develop a fundraising campaign to raise the remaining £10 million and bring this dream to life. We expect the planning application to be submitted in the Autumn of 2025 and works to start in the Spring of 2026.

We remain incredibly grateful to every single supporter of Newcastle Hospitals Charity, and we are committed to delivering our future strategy to continue making a positive difference for the patients, staff and communities of Newcastle Hospitals.

With all the very best

Philip Kane Charity Chair

Teri Bayliss Charity Director

2

Our Charity details

Registered charity name: Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Charity Operating name: Newcastle Hospitals Charity Registered charity number: 01057213 Registered Address: Nelson House, The Fleming, Burdon Terrace, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 3AE Telephone: 0191 213 7235 Website: https://charity.newcastle-hospitals.nhs.uk/ Corporate Trustee: Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Principal professional advisors

Principal professional advisors
Investment Management CCLA Investment Management Ltd,
Senator House, 85 Queen Victoria Street,
London, EC4V 4ET
Newton Investment Management, Bank
of New York Mellon Centre, 160 Queen
Victoria Street, London, EC4V 4LA, UK
Bankers HSBC PLC, 110 Grey Street, Newcastle
upon Tyne, NE1 6JG
Barclays Bank PLC 71 Grey Street,
Newcastle upon Tyne NE99 1JA
External Auditors Robson / Laidler Accountants, Fernwood
House, Fernwood Road, Jesmond,
Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1TJ
Internal Audit AuditOne, Northumbria House, Unit 7/8
Silver Fox Way, Cobalt Business Park,
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE27 0QJ
Counter Fraud Services Corporate Finance, Regent Point, Regent
Farm Road, Gosforth, Newcastle upon
Tyne NE3 3HD
Solicitors Withers LLP, 16 Old Bailey, London
EC4M 7EG

3

Strategic report

The Board of Directors of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as Corporate Trustee (the Trustee) present their annual report together with the audited financial statements of Newcastle Hospitals Charity (the Charity) for the year ended 31 March 2025. This report incorporates the requirements of the Strategic Report as required by Company Law.

The Trustee confirms that the annual report and financial statements of the Charity comply with the current statutory requirements; the requirements of the Charity’s governing document; and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP), applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (Second Edition, effective 1 January 2019).

Who we are

Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Charity, operating as Newcastle Hospitals Charity, is the official charity of Newcastle Hospitals, which includes the Royal Victoria Infirmary, the Freeman Hospital, the Great North Children's Hospital, the Northern Centre for Cancer Care, Newcastle Dental Hospitals, Northern Genetics Service and many community services.

Our overall objective is outlined in our governing document and as such, funds are used “for any charitable purpose or purposes relating to the National Health Service or to general or specific purposes of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.”

We have a set of aims, which benefit the public through our support for Newcastle Hospitals (‘the Trust’). These aims ensure that the Trustee complies with the duty to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission and set out in section 4 of the Charities Act 2006.

Our strategy

Newcastle Hospitals Charity is guided by the three strategic goals , established as part of our 2022-2026 Strategy, that shape how we move forward, as well as informing grant-making decisions.

These three strategic goals are:

These goals are at the heart of what we do and address our key stakeholders; patients and visitors; Newcastle Hospitals staff; and the wider communities surrounding Newcastle Hospitals.

4

Strategic report (continued)

In 2024/25, our main aim has been to provide funding for a range of initiatives that support the health of the Trust’s community by continually enhancing patient care and experience across the hospitals and beyond. This includes providing additional equipment; supporting staff and their development; funding new and innovative research projects and working in partnership with other organisations to support community health initiatives.

To achieve this aim we continue to support:

Review of the year

Partnership working continues to underpin our strategy and, while a large proportion of the funding we have provided has been awarded within the Trust, we are growing partnerships with external organisations who make a real difference to the lives of people while they are in hospital and when they are at home. Our Impact Report for the year sets out more detail and gives a deeper understanding about our activities and our outcomes.

Arts programme

Our arts programme is a core charity activity. Our team deliver regular participatory creative programmes both across trust sites and in the community.

Over the past 12 months sessions have reached over 250,000 patients, visitors, staff and members of the wider community .

With over 140 creative engagement sessions the arts programme has offered a range of activities, such as photography, printmaking, pottery, creative writing, crafting and live music.

It has been proven that arts and health (or creative health) programmes have the potential to hasten recovery times, address health inequalities and challenges facing healthcare, including ageing, long-term conditions, loneliness, isolation and mental health.

This year live music has returned to our sites, through a new hospital sessions programme which has seen the recruitment of 7 freelance musicians, who provide 20 sessions a month across wards, clinics and waiting areas. We had an extensive live performance programme over the festive period, with pop-up performances from choirs, bands and dancers.

5

Strategic report (continued)

Listening to music has been proven to have positive effects on our health and wellbeing, with research demonstrating the effects of music on elevating mood, improving memory and cognitive function, reducing stress, anxiety and blood pressure, having anti-inflammatory effects and enhancing immune systems. We also have a Singing for Lung Health programme that brings people together who have breathing or lung issues like COPD, lung cancer, asthma, to sing in groups.

Singing has been proven to help reduce being short of breath, strengthens muscles and helps people to manage their symptoms better. As a group activity it also reduces social isolation and loneliness and improves quality of life.

Volunteer programme

Our exceptional team of Newcastle Hospitals Charity volunteers continue to go above and beyond to help support patients, visitors and staff across Newcastle Hospitals. Each year our volunteers complete around 37,000 hours of volunteering in a variety of roles including meet and greet, mealtime support, charity events, retail and wardbased support. Their support is invaluable and makes a real difference to patient experience.

Some details about our volunteers:

220 volunteers

Aged 16 – 92 years old

Over 90% give up their time to volunteer at least once a week

95% said they were happy in their role and felt valued and supported by staff and patients.

This year, we are pleased to reintroduce our student volunteer Summer and Winter programme. This initiative will provide students from local schools and colleges - who are interested in pursuing a career in healthcare - with the opportunity to gain valuable insights into a healthcare environment while also developing their communication skills and building confidence.

Over the next 12 months, we will collaborate with Helpforce, an independent charity dedicated to partnering with NHS volunteer services to create impactful volunteering programmes. They will assist us in creating a three-year volunteering strategy aimed at enhancing the growth and effectiveness of volunteering across our services. This initiative will focus on a volunteer programme that will address frailty, falls prevention, as well as establishing a responder volunteer programme to help expedite discharge times.

6

Strategic report (continued)

Funding programme

Over the last year we have been proud to commit funding totalling more than £9.5 million to over 700 diverse projects across Newcastle Hospitals, all with the aim of creating a positive impact.

Each of the projects we support is directly linked to one of our three strategic aims, as set out in our 2022-2026 strategy. This year our funding broadly supported the following key areas:

following key areas:
Enhance the patient experience and environment £6,812,814
Improve staff health, wellbeing and development £1,908,008
Fund major developments and health related clinical research and
innovation		 £1,088,304

As well as supporting patients and hospital staff directly, the larger projects we’ve supported play an enabling role in funding research and innovation, tackling health inequalities, and creating healthier communities across Newcastle and the wider region.

Staff from across the Trust brought a wide range of ideas for projects and equipment to the Charity, which included small gestures that made a big difference to the experiences of patients in our hospitals.

Of the projects that were supported over the year, we allocated £1.1 million in easy to access, small project funding. Much of this was focused on staff health, wellbeing and development, and on initiatives that improved the everyday experience of patients.

The majority of our funding is made to the Trust, but we also supported a number of other organisations this year with £1.0 million of funding (2024: £0.4 million) for partnership activities. Some examples of the organisations we have partnered with are:

Citizens Advice Gateshead - A
Helping Hand: Social Welfare
Advice for Trust Staff.		 Newcastle United
Foundation - NUF
Movement and Motivation
Project		 Read for good - Bringing the
Therapeutic Power of Books
and Stories to Children In
GNCH
Coping with Cancer -
Additional Support for Cancer
Patients.		 Newcastle University -
Musical Study: MSI Urine
Surveillance to Identify
Cancers in Lynch
Syndrome.		 The Give a Duck
Foundation - Chemo Duck
and Huggable Hope to The
Children in GNCH.
Daft as a brush - Cancer
Patient Care		 North East Speak their
Name - Suicide Memorial
Quilt Community Book
Initiative.		 Ways to wellness - SPACE
Pilot NHSCT.
Medicinema - Medicinema
Newcastle 2025-2028

To read more about these and other funded projects please see our 2024-2025 Impact Report.

7

Strategic report (continued)

Raising funds

Charity supporters

We are incredibly grateful to the continued and very generous support of our many supporters throughout 2024/25. Our activities are set out below highlighting the amazing commitment that our supporters have shown.

We achieve all that we do through the generosity of the many individuals willing to help raise vital funds, often undertaking their own personal challenges to show their appreciation for the work of staff at Newcastle Hospitals. The creativity, energy and dedication, from all parts of our community, has been incredible.

Individual supporters

Individual support is shown in many ways, including spending in our charity retail shops, regular monthly donations, or philanthropic donations. Some of our donors make significant gifts to the Charity each year but every gift contributes to how we can better support Newcastle Hospitals.

We also want to give special thanks to those donors that chose to remain anonymous; their philanthropic support continues to help shape the future of healthcare.

Corporate support

We work hard to develop our key relationships with those businesses across the region that share our vision, developing meaningful partnerships that help support business need and charity objectives. We received £143,000 from 130 different organisations in the year (2024: £139,000; 165 organisations). Our thanks go to all the businesses that helped us this year.

Trust and Foundations

We continue to develop relationships with key local, regional and national Trust and Foundation bodies, to work collaboratively on key initiatives that improve healthcare provision for staff, patients and their families.

Legacies

A gift to Newcastle Hospitals Charity in the form of a legacy is the greatest honour the Charity can receive. We rely on the hard work of Executors and their professional advisors to administer the estates of our benefactors and to bring them to a conclusion. We do not administer estates, as we recognise we do not have the expertise or the resources to offer this, and we recognise the efforts made by others on our behalf.

This year we saw 71 estates brought to a conclusion (2024: 57 estates).

Thank you to all those who have helped us and are helping us to provide support to our hospitals.

8

Strategic report (continued)

Financial review of the year

This section provides a financial summary of Newcastle Hospitals Charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. A full copy of the audited financial statements is included with this report, but the table below summarises our income and expenditure compared to the prior year.

Income and expenditure summary 2024
£’000		 2025
£’000
Income:
Voluntary income 4,260 7,572
Grants received - 325
Other trading activities 596 315
Investment income 1,265 1,271
Total income 6,121 9,483
Expenditureon:
Generating income 997 867
Charitable activities 6,488 6,992
Governance, support and other 626 973
Total expenditure 8,111 8,832
Net surplus/(deficit) before investment gains and
losses		 (1,990) 651

This year we saw an increase in total income from £6.1 million to £9.5 million. The greatest impact has been the change in accounting policy in relation to legacy income. We now correctly accrue for those legacies where we have been notified we have an entitlement, and we can reasonably accurately estimate the amount of the gift. Grants receivable has increased to £0.3 million, including funding from NHS Charities Together. The reduction in income from trading activities relates directly to our decision to move our retail activities to a trading subsidiary at 1 October 2024. The initial six months of profit from the new trading subsidiary will be paid to the Charity under the corporate gift aid scheme before 31 December 2025 and accounted for within the Charity’s income for 2025/2026 in accordance with recommended accounting practice.

Total expenditure has increased by £0.7 million, of which £0.5 million relates to a net increase in funding awards. The costs of generating our income have fallen with the transfer of the cost of goods for sale to the trading subsidiary.

£9.5 million of funding was awarded in the year, off-set by the cancellation of £3.0 million of older awards that had not been utilised or were no longer required. The net cost of the awards, along with the cost of our arts and volunteering programmes are included in the cost of our charitable activities.

9

Strategic report (continued)

We have shown the costs of governance, support and other expenditure as a separate heading in this year’s report to provide a clearer understanding of our activities in the year, restating the prior year to give consistency. Our costs have increased as we have grown our activities and taken on our own premises to bring our charity teams together on one site. The change has helped us to develop a stronger team and improve collaboration in our activities.

Charity management costs

The Trust employs staff with relevant experience to generate income, manage our charitable activities, manage the strategy, finances and operations of the Charity. The total cost of those staff is recharged to the charity along with any specific associated costs incurred on the Charity’s behalf.

The direct costs of managing the restricted fund of The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation are charged to the fund along with a management recharge – a fixed 1% (of the Foundation’s income) as agreed with the Committee members. All other operating costs are currently allocated to the general purposes fund, but the Trust recognises the need to ensure the Charity has resources to manage the existing 280 funds.

Investment performance

Newcastle Hospitals Charity’s investment objectives are to take a medium-term view and generate income and growth from low-risk investments. Our investments have been managed for several years by two experienced investment managers who have experience working with charitable clients and who operate within the requirements of Newcastle Hospitals Charity’s investment policy and within an agreed risk appetite.

The two portfolios are managed on a discretionary basis with income distributed rather than accumulating. The Investment Managers report to the Charity Committee and performance of the portfolio is reviewed each quarter, providing information relating to performance, a market review and projection, and appropriate investment recommendations.

Like many investors we saw a fall in the value of our portfolios at the end of 2024/25. In the period since the year end we have seen our investment values recover the reductions incurred in March and April. Markets remain volatile and we continue to monitor performance.

To meet ongoing operating expenditure, and to meet the payments of our funding awards, £5.6 million was transferred from investments to operating cash. In the coming year it is proposed to move further investment monies to a short-term liquidity fund, to reduce the risk of needing to withdraw funds in a potentially falling or volatile market.

During the year, it was decided to move cash held on behalf of The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation into a short-term liquidity fund, to generate a better rate of return. With the decision to commit funds to the new clinical trial centre it was decided to reduce the risk associated with those investments held on behalf of the Foundation. £3.2 million was moved from the investments to the liquidity fund. It is proposed to move all remaining investments held for the Foundation into the liquidity fund as we move towards financially supporting development of the new Institute.

10

Strategic report (continued)

During 2024/25, Newcastle Hospitals Charity received £1,271 (2024: £1,265k) in dividends and interest from long and short-term investments. Income attributable to funds held for The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation is allocated to that fund. The remaining income is allocated to the general purposes fund to help meet the running costs of the Charity.

Newton Investment Management Ltd

The objective of the Growth & Income Fund for Charities is to generate capital and income growth over a period of 5-7 years by investing at least 70% of the Sub-Fund’s assets in a global portfolio of equities (company shares) and fixed income securities.

Newton’s established charities team actively manages the fund. There are no investments in derivatives, no underwriting and distributions are made on a quarterly basis.

CCLA

The investment objective of the Ethical Investment Fund is to provide an average return over a business cycle of inflation plus 5%, whilst maintaining income in real terms. The Responsible Investment Policy of CCLA has three strands:

Reserves

The Newcastle Hospitals Charity reserves policy intends to ensure an appropriate balance between enabling the Charity to fund strategic and transformational priorities in the medium term and to provide a financially sustainable approach to ensuring the meaningful role that the Charity can continue to provide in the long term.

Financial reserves are split into four areas:

The total reserves at 31 March 2025 are £37.0 million (2024: £36.7 million) of which £19.8 million are restricted funds (2024: £18.8 million) and £17.1 million are unrestricted/designated funds (2024: £17.9 million). The Charity aims to hold free reserves with a value sufficient to meet the coming year budget for operating costs. At 31 March 2025 the free reserves are calculated as £2.5 million, which compares with the 2024/25 budgeted operating costs of £2.2 million.

11

Strategic report (continued)

A look forward

Newcastle Hospitals Charity has been working to an ambitious strategy to 2026 which puts people at the heart of all our activities and is united with the aim of Newcastle Hospitals to make a real difference to the health and care of the people across the Trust and beyond. Our ambition is to strengthen our role as a key partner for the Trust and to increase the impact that we can make on improving the health of our region and beyond.

Working in close partnership with the Trust, our goals are to:

The most significant new area of activity in the coming year will be the support for the development of The Sir Bobby Robson Institute. The reserves of The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation will begin to be reduced as we support the initial costs of the development before there is a formal start on site in Spring 2026. Our ambitious £10 million capital fundraising campaign is being developed to support the cost of the Institute.

12

Structure and governance

Good governance is fundamental to Newcastle Hospitals Charity’s continued success and enables us to continue to manage risks appropriately and deliver our charitable activities in compliance with all relevant legislation.

Charitable objects

Newcastle Hospitals Charity was formed by a Declaration of Trust on 16 July 1996 as The Freeman Group of Hospitals NHS Charity which was amended by a Supplemental Deed dated 17 March 1999 to the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Charity, Registration Number 1057213.

A Supplemental Deed dated 1 February 2016, which applies to the Charity today, refined the Charity’s objects. Newcastle Hospitals Chairty is constituted with a sole Corporate Trustee, which is the Board of Directors of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

With effect from 1 April 2016, the Corporate Trustee was appointed as Trustee of the charitable funds formerly held on behalf of the NHS Trust by Newcastle Healthcare Charity (Reg.502473) under a Scheme formally approved by the Charity Commission for England & Wales on 21 March 2016. The funds were subsequently merged under the umbrella of the Trust’s appointed charitable body, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Charity (Reg. 1057213) and have subsequently formed part of Newcastle Hospitals Charity’s financial accounts from 2016/17 onwards.

The objects of Newcastle Hospitals Charity are to support any charitable purpose or purposes relating to the National Health Service or to general or specific purposes of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Corporate Trustee

The Trustee(s) are the people and/or body who govern any charity. The trustee(s) have ultimate responsibility to ensure that legal or regulatory requirements and duties are complied with, and that good practice is followed and applied.

As defined by the Charities Act (2022) the sole Corporate Trustee of Newcastle Hospitals Charity has the responsibility for ensuring that the Trustee duties defined by the Charity Commission are upheld. There are no individual trustees of NHC, only the single voting body of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Statement of trustee responsibilities

The Trustee is responsible for ensuring that the Annual Report and Accounts are prepared in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations and company law requires financial statements are prepared annually.

Under that law, the Corporate Trustee has prepared the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Accounting Standards, comprising FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland”, and applicable law (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting 26 Practice). Under company law, the Trustee must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the charitable company.

13

Structure and governance (continued)

In preparing this Annual Report and Accounts, the Trustee is required to:

The Trustee is responsible for ensuring that adequate accounting records are kept that are sufficient to show and explain Newcastle Hospitals Charity’s transactions. The Trustee is also responsible for disclosing, with reasonable accuracy at any time, the financial position of Newcastle Hospitals Charity to ensure compliance with the Companies Act 2006. It is also responsible for safeguarding the assets of Newcastle Hospitals Chairty and for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Finally, the Trustee is responsible for the maintenance and integrity of Newcastle Hospitals Charity’s website.

Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Charity Committee

The Charity Committee has delegated authority from the Corporate Trustee as a statutory Committee established by the Board of Directors to manage, on behalf of the Board, “all charitable funds of the trust charity, considering the requirements and regulations of the Department of Health and Social Care and the Charity Commission for England and Wales”.

The Charity Committee membership for 2024 - 2025 comprised:

14

Structure and governance (continued)

All members of the Committee receive training and development support both before joining, and on a continuing basis, to ensure their effectiveness as members. This is supported by the process of annual appraisal for all Non-Executive Directors.

The Charity Committee annually reviews their Terms of Reference and meets a minimum of four times per year. Agendas are set for each meeting utilising an agreed Schedule of Business. This provides assurance to the Board of Directors in its capacity as Corporate Trustee that robust processes are in place to enable statutory duties to be discharged, to enable the Trust’s strategic objectives to be met, and to address and mitigate risk.

The quorum required for the transaction of business is three members, which includes at least one Executive and at least one Non-Executive Director.

Newcastle Hospitals Charity team

We have a dedicated team who develop and deliver the charity strategy, providing and managing our charitable activities, and includes administrative, financial, and fundraising resource. Newcastle Hospitals Charity does not directly employ staff; team members are employees of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle Hospitals Charity is recharged for costs incurred in relation to both staffing and non-pay related expenditure incurred directly in relation to charity activities.

Charity funds

There are over 280 individual designated funds, which formally form part of our unrestricted funds, and which make up Newcastle Hospitals Charity. In line with guidance from the Charity Commission for NHS charities we treat funds as designated, as we are often told by donors they would like their donations to be used for a particular purpose. Work continues to rationalise our funds where possible, ensuring donor wishes are respected, and making funds available for use both Trust wide and in specialty areas.

Newcastle Hospitals Charity manages a significant restricted fund, The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation. The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation works to help find more effective ways to detect and treat cancer for patients across the North East, Cumbria and beyond. The Foundation funds clinical trials and cancer research, pioneering cancer treatment and innovative cancer support services, such as acupuncture, complementary therapies and counselling.

During the year The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation Committee and the Trust Board approved the commitment of £20 million of The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation funds to build a dedicated cancer clinical trials centre named The Sir Bobby Robson Institute. A fundraising campaign has been established to raise an additional £10 million to meet the total cost of the Institute, to be built on the site of the Freeman Hospital.

Policies and procedures

All Newcastle Hospitals Charity policies and associated procedures are designed to provide guidance that ensures consistent, ethical and professional standards are maintained in relation to charitable donations and fundraising, and that they are compliant with charity law and the regulations and standards set out by the Charity Commission, the Fundraising Regulator and the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

15

Structure and governance (continued)

All working practices and procedures conform to the Charity Commission’s guidelines and are subject to scrutiny by Internal and External Audits.

Newcastle Hospitals Charity follows The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s stance and efforts to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking in its supply chain.

The Trust has reviewed and met its requirements in line with Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

Funding and fund management

Newcastle Hospitals Charity comprises 289 individual funds, 2 of which are restricted in purpose and 1 of which is designated for general purposes. The remaining 286 unrestricted funds are linked to individual wards or clinical services, research into clinical areas, education, training and specific schemes/projects in accordance with the wishes of donors and charity objectives.

This includes the following 2 restricted funds:

Use of the restricted funds by the Charity Committee is based on the recommendations of Committees connected to those funds. Use of the unrestricted funds is based on applications from members of Trust staff.

The application process currently uses ‘SmartApprove’ which ensures all application requests are assessed. Applicants must be able to demonstrate why it is appropriate to use charity funds in terms of additional benefit or enhancement to the service. This provides an assurance that expenditure is appropriate and can demonstrate benefit to the service.

The Committee considers all expenditure over £20,000 with a scheme of delegation to transfer authority to individual Committee Members or other members of staff as appropriate.

Newcastle Hospitals Charity has a policy of turning-over the balance of any fund in 5 years and colleagues are encouraged to use at least 20% of the available funds each year. Newcastle Hospitals Charity can apply to the Charity Commission to re-organise funds that are no longer relevant or cannot be usefully used and are encouraged to actively manage funds.

During 2024/25 we considered 700 (2023/24: 625) applications for funding from staff and external partners. That figure includes a very wide range of proposals some of which will span several years, and funding has been reserved.

16

Structure and governance (continued)

Code of Fundraising Practice

Newcastle Hospitals Charity fully adheres to the Code of Fundraising Practice, which sets the standards that apply to fundraising carried out by all charitable institutions and third-party fundraisers in the UK.

Our donor promise

Without the generosity of our supporters, we would not be able to continue our work to enhance and improve the experience of patients and their families, as well as the amazing staff across all sites. Our ambition is to make the biggest difference, so we promise to make sure we look after supporters in the best way possible.

We are honest and open:

We are committed to high standards:

We are respectful:

Donor care

We will always aim to:

17

Structure and governance (continued)

Privacy statement

We are committed to protecting and respecting personal information and always ensure transparency about how data will be used. Newcastle Hospitals Charity is fully compliant with the European General Data Protection Regulation and the UK Data Protection Act 2018.

Newcastle Hospitals Charity has a Privacy Statement, which sets out how we collect and use personal information and why it is important in enabling us to fulfil our charitable objectives. The statement is available in full on our website:

Investment policy

Newcastle Hospitals Charity invests any funds not required immediately for expenditure through portfolios managed by two investment managers, CCLA and BNY Mellon Newton Investment Management, allowing performance comparisons and reducing the levels of risk. The CCLA element is held in their Ethical Investment Fund whilst Newton’s is held in their Growth & Income Fund for Charities.

The portfolios are managed on a discretionary basis, with elements and investments chosen by the Investment Managers and comprise of equities, property, and cash. The equities comprise shareholdings in public companies with stock market quotations; however, both portfolios refrain from the direct investment in companies that derive a substantial amount of their profit from investment in tobacco.

Risk management and internal control

The Corporate Trustee considers that Newcastle Hospitals Charity has the necessary practices currently in place to assess all associated risks. A detailed Risk Register is continually maintained and monitored which identifies risk areas, the potential impact of those risks, and the steps taken to mitigate them. The Charity risk register has been maintained throughout 2024/2025, recording when a risk has been identified, who owns it, likelihood of occurrence, potential impact, and mitigating action.

Newcastle Hospitals Charity has adopted The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (the Trust) Risk Management Policy and Procedures. The Risk Management Policy sets out the structures and processes for the identification, evaluation, and control of risk, as well as the system of internal control.

Principal risks

Newcastle Hospitals Charity continues to review risks on a quarterly basis with a risk report presented to the Charity Committee to provide assurance that charity risks continue to be managed effectively. The Charity Committee is chaired by a NonExecutive Director and has Trust Board of Directors membership.

The following areas of risk are considered the principal risks facing the charity. There are actions and controls in place for each to help mitigate the risk.

Investment risk

There is a finance risk to Charity investments and liquidity, which is caused by the potential impact of market downturn on generating target annual returns from investments, and maximising interest income from cash holdings. This could result in the inability to fulfil funding commitments / make new funding awards.

18

Structure and governance (continued)

Sustainability risk

There is a risk to the financial and operational sustainability of the Charity caused by changes to NHS Terms and Conditions which impact on the operational cost of the Charity, and on reasonable ROI and value for money.

Governance and reputational risk

There is a risk to Charity Governance and reputation caused by clear lack of guidance and criteria that reflect charity law which could result in poor decision making and challenge from Charity Commission.

Strategic income risk

There is a risk that focusing fundraising on strategic priorities may result in a reduction in unrestricted income for other activities

Appointment of auditors

A resolution proposing the reappointment of Robson Laidler as auditors for the year ended 31 March 2026 will be put to the Trust Audit Committee.

Disclosure of information to auditors

Each of the persons who act for the Trustee at the time when this Trustee’s report is approved has confirmed that:

In signing this report the Chair of the Charity Committee approves the strategic report in their capacity as representative of the Corporate Trustee.

Approved by the Trustee on 27 September 2025 and signed on their behalf by

_______ Philip Kane (Non-Executive Director)

19

Independent Auditor’s report

To the Corporate Trustee of Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Charity

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Charity (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Cash Flow and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion, the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustee’s use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Charity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the Charity Annual Report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

20

Independent Auditor’s report (continued)

To the Corporate Trustee of Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Charity

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements, or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information.

If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In light of the knowledge and understanding of the Charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Charity Annual Report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the statement of trustee’s responsibilities set out on page 13, the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the Charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate,

21

Independent auditor’s report (continued)

To the Corporate Trustee of Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Charity

they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of the financial statements.

The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud.

Based on our understanding of the Charity and its sector, we considered that noncompliance with the following laws and regulations might have a material effect on the financial statements: employment regulation, health and safety regulation, anti-money laundering regulation, non-compliance with implementation of government support schemes relating to COVID-19.

To help us identify instances of non-compliance with these laws and regulations, and in identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect to noncompliance, our procedures included, but were not limited to:

We also considered those laws and regulations that have a direct effect on the preparation of the financial statements, such as tax legislation, pension legislation, the Companies Act 2006, the Charities Act 2011 and the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice.

In addition, we evaluated the trustees’ and management’s incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements, including the risk of management override of controls, and determined that the principal risks related to posting manual journal entries to manipulate financial performance, management bias through judgements and assumptions in significant accounting estimates, income recognition (which we pinpointed to the cut-off assertion), and significant one-off or unusual transactions.

Our audit procedures in relation to fraud included but were not limited to:

22

Independent auditor’s report (continued)

To the Corporate Trustee of Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Charity

There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above and the primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of irregularities including fraud rests with management. As with any audit, there remained a risk of non-detection of irregularities, as these may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations or the override of internal controls.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Use of the audit report

This report is made solely to the Charity’s trustee, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Charity’s trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the Charity’s trustee as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Signed

Nicholas Cunningham MSc BSc FCCA (Senior Statutory Auditor)

For and on behalf of Robson Laidler Accountants Limited, Statutory Auditor Fernwood House, Fernwood Road, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 1TJ

Date

Robson Laidler Accountants Limited is eligible for appointment as auditor of the charity by virtue of its eligibility for appointment as auditor of a company under section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.

23

Financial statements for the year ending 31 March 2025

24

Newcastle Hospitals Charity

Statement of financial activities Year ended 31 March 2025

Unrestricted Designated Restricted 2025 2024
funds funds funds total total
Note £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Income from:
Voluntary income 3 & 4 1,166 4,885 1,521 7,572 4,260
Grants receivable 5 202 123 - 325 -
Other trading activities: 15 300 - 315 596
Investment income 926 - 345 1,271 1,265
Total income 2,309 5,308 1,866 9,483 6,121
Expenditure on:
Generating income 7 537 261 69 867 997
Charitable activities 7 1,276 5,170 546 6,992 6,488
Governance, support and other
costs		 7 973 - - 973 626
Total expenditure 2,786 5,431 615 8,832 8,111
Net income/(expenditure)
before investment gains and
losses (477) (123) 1,251 651 (1,990)
Net (losses)/gains on
investments 10 (284) - (68) (352) 3,503
Net income/(expenditure) (761) (123) 1,183 299 1,513
Transfers between funds 141 - (141) - -
Net movement in funds (620) (123) 1,042 299 1,513
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward 15 3,071 14,811 18,803 36,685 35,172
Total funds carried forward 15 2,451 14,688 19,845 36,984 36,685

The accounting policies and notes on pages 28 to 38 form part of these financial statements.

Comparatives for the year ended 31 March 2024 have not been restated to incorporate accrued legacy income following the change in accounting policy set out at Note 1 and Note 4 to these Financial Statements.

25

Newcastle Hospitals Charity

Balance sheet Year ended 31 March 2025

Unrestricted Designated Restricted 2025 2024
funds funds funds total total
Note £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Fixed assets
Investments 10 11,408 16,020 7,444 34,872 44,175
Current assets
Stocks and work in progress - - - - 41
Debtors 11 499 2,505 592 3,596 284
Short term investments - - 12,555 12,555 -
Cash at bank and in hand 922 233 985 2,140 8,402
Total current assets 1,421 2,738 14,132 18,291 8,727
Liabilities
Creditors: Amounts falling due
within 1 year		 12 (7,914) (4,070) (861) (12,845) (10,963)
Net current (liabilities)/assets (6,493) (1,332) 13,271 5,446 (2,236)
Total assets less current
liabilities		 4,915 14,688 20,715 40,318 41,939
Creditors: Amounts falling due
after more than 1 year		 13 (2,464) - (870) (3,334) (5,254)
Total net assets 2,451 14,688 19,845 36,984 36,685
Funds
Total funds 15 **2,451 ** 14,688 19,845 **36,984 ** 36,685

The accounting policies and notes on pages 28 to 38 form part of these financial statements.

The Balance Sheet for the year ended 31 March 2024 has not been restated to include accrued legacy income following the change in accounting policy set out in Notes 1 and 4.

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Corporate Trustee and were signed on its behalf by:

Philip Kane Non-Executive Director

27 September 2025

26

Newcastle Hospitals Charity

Cashflow statement Year ended 31 March 2025

Total funds Total funds
2025 2024
£000 £000
Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash provided by operating activities (3,929) (2,773)
Cash flows from investing activities
Dividends and interest from investments 1,271 1,265
Transfer to short term investments 3,346 -
Investment in retail subsidiary
Withdrawals from investments		 (20)
5,625		 -
-
Net cash provided by investing activities 10,222 1,265
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting
period		 6,293
8,402		 1,508
9,910
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the accounting
period		 14,695 8,402
Reconciliation of cash flows from operating activities
Net income / (expenditure) for the period as per SOFA
Adjustments for:
Decrease in stock
Dividends and interest from investments
(Increase) in debtors
(Decrease)/Increase in creditors		 Total funds
2025
£000
651
41
(1,271)
(3,312)
(38)		 Total funds
2024
£000
(1,990)
18
(1,265)
(2)
466
Net cash provided by operating activities (3,929) (2,773)
Analysis of cash and cash equivalents
Cash in hand
Short term investments		 Total funds
2025
£000
2,140
12,555		 Total funds
2024
£000
8,402
-
Total cash and cash equivalents 14,695 8,402

The accounting policies and notes on pages 28 to 38 form part of these financial statements.

27

Newcastle Hospitals Charity

Notes to the financial statements Year ended 31 March 2025

1 Accounting policies

a) Basis of preparation

The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention as modified to include the revaluation of investments at market value, and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice for Charities (SORP 2019) (Second Edition, effective 1 January 2019) and applicable accounting standards (FRS 102). Newcastle Hospitals Charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102.

The accounts are prepared in pounds sterling rounded to the nearest thousand.

b) Going concern

The Trustee considers that there are no material uncertainties regarding the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern. Using cash flow projections to March 2026, based on monthly cash flows in the budget and business plan, the Trustee considers current assets are sufficient to meet the cash flows required to meet current liabilities. In addition, the charity’s investments are sufficiently liquid to meet future challenges and commitments.

c) Critical accounting judgements and estimates

In preparing these financial statements, management has made judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of the charities accounting policies and the reported assets, liabilities, income and expenditure and the disclosures made in the financial statements. Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

Judgements have been made in respect of the valuation of legacy income accrued at the year end. This is a change to prior years where no accruals were prepared for legacy income. The judgements and changes in policy are explained fully at (j) below.

d) Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short-term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

e) Financial instruments

The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments, including trade and other debtors and creditors are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.

f) Creditors and provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably.

g) Foreign currency translation

The charity’s functional and presentation currency is pounds sterling. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded at the rate ruling at the date of the transaction. All differences are recognised in the Statement of financial activities.

h) Income

Income is included in the Statement of financial activities as soon as all conditions for receipt have been met – including entitlement, probability of receipt and measurement of the amount.

28

Newcastle Hospitals Charity

Notes to the financial statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2025

1 Accounting policies (continued)

i) Gifts in kind

In line with our income policy, gifts in kind are only included in the financial statements where the value of the gift can be measured and ascertained easily and accurately.

j) Legacies

In line with our income policy, legacy income is accrued at the balance sheet date if it can be shown there is an entitlement to the funds, if there is probability of receipt and the amount can be fairly measured. Only where all three of these factors can be satisfied is an amount included for the year. Legacy notifications and receipts are reviewed up to the date of the approval of the accounts and the results are adjusted if the likely receipt is considered material and there is evidence that we were entitled to the income at the year end.

In prior years no accrual for legacy income was prepared with income recognised only on receipt. The change in accounting policy arises from a review of the information available and now complies with Charities SORP 2019 (FRS 102). The prior year accounts have not been restated as the income accrual could not have been estimated with reasonable accuracy at that time.

k) Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

l) Grants payable and reserves

Grants payable are awards approved for payment by the Charity Committee. Awards are made to third parties (including NHS bodies) in the furtherance of the charitable objectives wholly or mainly for the service provided by the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (patient welfare, staff welfare, equipment and research). They are accounted for on an accruals basis where the conditions for their payment have been met or where a third party has a reasonable expectation that they will receive the grant.

The amount spent on grants in any year is related to the reserves policy of the Trustee, which seeks to maintain a maximum level of unrestricted funds. This allows the charity to maintain its working capital, which provides a regular flow of investment income for grants in future periods.

m) Governance and Support Costs

This includes all expenditure, including salaries, relating to activities that are not directly related to fundraising, charitable activities relating to the Arts or Volunteering Programmes, or the management of grant funding.

n) Investments

Investments are shown at market value. Changes in value during the year, whether realised or unrealised, are included in the statement of financial activities. Investment managers are appointed to manage the portfolios as common investment funds on a discretionary basis. The Trustees do not dictate changes to individual funds within the portfolios. The Trustees choose to disclose investments or withdrawals in relation to the portfolios but not individual acquisitions and disposals within the common investment funds. Investment management costs are met within the net returns notified to the charity by the investment managers and are not disclosed as separate items of expenditure.

29

Newcastle Hospitals Charity

Notes to the financial statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2025

1 Accounting policies (continued)

o) Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

Assets costing more than £5,000 are capitalised. Tangible fixed assets are carried at cost, net of depreciation and any provision for impairment.

Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of the assets, less any residual value, over their expected useful lives

p) Intangible fixed assets and amortisation

Intangible fixed assets are carried at cost, net of amortisation and any provision for impairment.

Amortisation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of the assets, less any residual value, over their expected useful lives.

Designated – unrestricted funds for which the Trustee has set a specific purpose or which are subject to restriction or use within the clinical boards of the NHS Trust; and

Unrestricted – resources that can be used by the Trustee at their discretion.

s) General information

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Charity is registered as a Charity under the Charities Act 2011. The address of its registered office is:

Newcastle Hospitals Charity, Nelson House, The Fleming, Burdon Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 3AE.

Where tangible or intangible assets are in the course of construction or development at the year end, the costs incurred to the balance sheet date are shown as fixed assets.

q) Stocks

Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value.

r) Fund structure and objects

All funds are used for the main Objects of the charity. The main categories of funds are:

Restricted – trusts created by donors with specific objects or linked charities;

Expendable endowment – unrestricted incoming resources exceeding £500,000 received which are not expected to be spent within one year;

30

Newcastle Hospitals Charity

Notes to the financial statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2025

2 Related Party Transactions

The Trust Board of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust acts as Corporate Trustee for The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals Charity. The principal purpose of Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the provision of NHS healthcare. The charitable trust has made revenue and capital payments to The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. During the year none of the members of the Corporate Trustee Board, key management staff or parties related to them has undertaken any material transactions with the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals Charity.

During the financial year payments of £8,193k (2023/24: £7,207k) were made to the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in respect of grants and other charges made to the Trust. A further sum of £971k was due for payment at 31st March 2025 (This was £720k in 2023/24).

Charges made by Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (£1,293k) for administrative support and overheads, include the provision of staff and office accommodation (part year), which enables the charity to fulfil its statutory duties and provide support for the day-to-day running of the charity. This was (£971k 2023/24).

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the ultimate parent entity as Corporate Trustee. The Corporate Trustee maintains control of the Charity via a Committee - the Charity Committee - which comprises executive and non-executive Directors of the Trust.

The consolidated accounts of Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are available from: Regent Point, Regent Farm Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 3HD.

There were no expenses or remuneration paid to the Trustees during the year (2023-24: Nil).

There were no transactions with Trustees or connected persons for the year to 31st March 2025 (2023-24: Nil).

No indemnity insurance was provided to the Trustees in the year to 31st March 2025 (2023-24: Nil).

There were no loans or guarantees secured against assets of the Charity in the year to 31st March 2025 (2023-24: Nil).

31

Newcastle Hospitals Charity

Notes to the financial statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2025

3 Donations
2025 2024
£’000 £’000
Unrestricted 196 1,457
Designated 899 -
Restricted 353 385
Total 1,448 1,842
Donations from individuals are gifts from members of the public, relatives of patients and staff.
4 Legacies
2025 2024
£’000 £’000
Unrestricted 969 909
Designated 3,987 -
Restricted 1,168 1,509
Total 6,124 2,418

Legacies are gifts included in Wills, which are for the benefit of services within our local hospitals. Our review of legacies in the year has provided us with sufficient information to recognise accrued legacy income at 31 March 2025. Had the information been available at the prior year, and accruals calculated, this would have increased the prior year income by £2,845k with a subsequent reduction in the current year income.

5 Grants receivable

In this Financial year grants totalling £325k were received. The Charity received notable grant awards from NHS Charities Together, Red Sky Foundation, and CHUF.

6 Donated facilities and services, including volunteers

The Charity recognises the contribution of volunteers who supplement the work in our retail subsidiary at the Freeman NHC Shop, the NCCC Shop, and the GNCH Pop up stand. It also notes the contribution at charitable events, such as Great North Run, Great Run 5k, Summer Volunteer Appreciation Event, Freeman Haven Opening, Festive Launch Celebration, and Wag&Co Partnership Launch. Volunteer services are provided across the Trust. The lack of a reliable method of measuring, and the volume of volunteers used, has meant that this contribution is not financially recognised in the accounts of the Charity or the Trust.

32

Newcastle Hospitals Charity

Notes to the financial statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2025

7 Expenditure by activity Cost of Governance Cost of Governance
Charitable Raising and support 2025 Charitable Raising and support 2024
activities funds costs total activities funds costs total
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
£’000		 £’000
Grant commitments:
Patient education and welfare 2,146 - - 2,146 2,129 - -
-		 2,129
Equipment 2,235 - - 2,235 1,073 - -
-		 1,073
Staff education and welfare 1,484 - - 1,484 2,376 - -
-		 2,376
Medical research 668 668 701 - -
-		 701
Grant commitments (Note 14) 6,533 - - 6,533 6,279 - -
-		 6,279
Expenditure
Audit fees - - 12 12 - - -
12		 12
Other fees and services 10 105 189 304 - 178 178
96		 274
Promotion/publicity/events 112 79 8 199 6 22 22
8		 36
NHS services (accommodation/ IT/
Office)		 26 5 85 116 60 60
Property related expenditure 28 24 20 72 - - -
-		 -
Staff costs (Note 8) 283 446 659 1,388 203 387 387
438		 1,028
Goods for resale - 208 - 208 - 410 410
12		 422
Total expenditure 6,992 867 973 8,832 6,488 997 997
626		 8,111

Grant commitments are shown net of those commitments unused and released in the year (grants written back). More details are shown in Note 14. All grants are made directly to The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust via a scheme of delegation operated by the Corporate Trustee. All grant funded activity by fund advisors is in accordance with standing orders and financial instructions.

Activities undertaken on Grant Funding, providing the Arts Programme and the Volunteering Services are shown as costs supporting these charitable activities. Activities to provide and manage Grant Funding have not been allocated to the grant commitments but are shown separately in the Statement of Financial Activities. The cost of time spent by governance and support staff on fundraising is allocated to the cost of raising funds based on an assessment of time spent on that activity. Fundraising, governance and support costs are allocated to the restricted funds on an assessment of time spent on that activity.

33

Newcastle Hospitals Charity

Notes to the financial statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2025

8 Staff costs

There are no staff employed directly by the Charity, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NHS Foundation Trust employs staff to manage the Charity and provide deliver Charity services. Salaries for NHS staff are based on the appropriate NHS Agenda for Change salary bands, terms and conditions.

As employees of Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust all staff are eligible to join the NHS Pension Scheme. All costs associated with the NHS Pension Scheme are recharged to the Charity.

Key management personnel

The key management personnel during the year were the members of the Charity Committee and the senior leadership team. The Charity Committee members received no remuneration in relation to their positions. The senior leadership team is made up of the Charity Director, the Head of Arts Programmes, Associate Director (Fundraising), Associate Director (Funding & Partnerships), Operations Manager and the Charity Head of Finance. All of the senior leadership team are employed by Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

There were no redundancy or termination payments made in the year (2024: none) for those NHS employees working on the Charity’s affairs.

9 Taxation

No tax charge has arisen in the year as the registered charity falls within Chapter 3 of the Corporation Taxes Act 2010 and section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, and is therefore potentially exempt from taxation of income and gains to the extent that they are applied to its charitable purposes. The Charity is not registered for VAT. Expenditure is shown inclusive of VAT.

34

Newcastle Hospitals Charity

Notes to the financial statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2025

10 Fixed asset investments

2025 2024
total total
Common investment funds (Note 10.1) £’000 £’000
Market value at 1 April 44,175 40,672
Withdrawals (8,971) -
Net movements in valuation (352) 3,503
Market value at 31 March 34,852 44,175
NHC Retail Limited (Note 10.2) 20 -
Total investments at 31 March 34,872 44,175
10.1
Common investment funds

The charity holds two investment portfolios; all held within the UK. The Trustee chooses not to show investments or withdrawals in relation to these common investment funds as the investment managers make all changes within the portfolios at their own discretion. Performance is measured on a total return and details of changes during the year are not disclosed.

Withdrawals

£5,625,000 was withdrawn during the year to meet operational need.

The Trustee approved the transfer of £3,346,000 held on behalf of The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation to a short-term liquid investment with CCLA to reduce the investment risk associated with equity-based investments.

Historic cost of investment

The original value of the investments placed into the portfolios was £25,831,000.

35

Newcastle Hospitals Charity

Notes to the financial statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2025

10.2 NHC Retail Limited

At 1 October 2024 the Trustee approved the creation of a trading subsidiary to carry out the retail activities of the Charity. 20,000 £1 shares were acquired by the Charity, representing 100% of the ordinary share capital.

The financial results of the subsidiary for the six months ended 31 March 2025 were as follows:

2025
total
£’000
Income 276
Expenditure 236
Profit for the period 40
Closing net assets at 31 March 2025 60
11 Debtors 11 Debtors
2025 2024 2024
total total total
£’000 £’000 £’000
Accrued income 3,491 211 211
Prepayments 105 73 73
3,596 284 284

Our review of legacies in the year has provided us with sufficient information to recognise accrued legacy income at 31 March 2025. Had the information been available at the prior year, and accruals calculated, this would have increased debtors at 31 March 2024 by £2,845k, with no impact on the debtors at 31 March 2025.

.

36

Newcastle Hospitals Charity

Notes to the financial statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2025

12 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

12 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
2025 2024
total total
£’000 £’000
Trade creditors 972 721
Funding awards payable (Note 14) 11,873 10,242
12,845 10,963

Trade Creditors represents the amount owed to a related party - The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, for costs incurred on behalf of the charity in the furtherance of the Charity's objects.

13 Creditors: amounts falling due after one year

2025 2024
total total
£’000 £’000
Funding awards payable (Note 14) Funding awards payable (Note 14) Funding awards payable (Note 14) Funding awards payable (Note 14) Funding awards payable (Note 14) 3,334 5,254

14 Funding awards payable

2025 2025 2025 2024
Current Non-current Total Total
liabilities liabilities
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Funding commitments at start of year 10,242 5,254 15,496 15,751
Funding commitments made during the year 7,646 1,936 9,582 6,279
Funding commitments released in year (3,049) - (3,049) -
Funding commitments paid in year (2,966) (3,856) (6,822) (6,534)
Funding commitments at end of year 11,873 3,334 15,207 15,496

The majority of our grant commitments are made to Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

37

Newcastle Hospitals Charity

Notes to the financial statements (continued) Year ended 31 March 2025

15 Funds

Total funds summary (current Balance Transfers Gains and Balance 31
year): 1 April 2024 Income Expenditure between funds losses March 2025
£’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000 £’000
Unrestricted funds
Designated funds 14,811 5,308 (5,431) - - 14,688
Operational reserve 3,071 2,309 (2,786) 141 (284) **2,451 **
17,882 7,617 (8,217) 141 (284) 17,139
Restricted funds 18,803 1,866 (615) (141) (68) 19,845
Total Funds 36,685 9,483 (8,832) - (352) 36,984

Designated funds

The unrestricted funds total includes c.280 funds that the Trustee has historically agreed to treat as designated funds attached to a specific ward or service. A process of appropriately rationalising these funds is underway.

16 Commitments

The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation Committee agreed to provide funding up to £30 million towards the development of the Sir Bobby Robson Institute, a cancer clinical trials research facility at the Freeman Hospital site. This includes the restricted funds available at 31 March 2025 with a further £10 million to be raised through philanthropy and fundraising support. A formal gift agreement will be agreed prior to funds being formally payable to the Trust.

38

This page had been left intentionally blank