The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust
Accounts for the Year Ending
31st March 2021
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A NOTE FROM THE BOARD
This year has again been another challenging one. We continued to see the impacts of the Covid-19 crisis including within hospitals, the treatment of ectopic pregnancy and creating additional emotional stress on people during one of the toughest experiences of their lives. The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust has continued to be there to support those in need through this traumatic time through all the various lockdowns.
The condition remains the leading cause of death in the first trimester of pregnancy and has a devastating physical and emotional impact. People must come to terms with the risk of life to the woman/pregnant person, the experience of major invasive treatment or surgery, often performed in emergency circumstances, and a loss of part or all of the woman/person’s natural fertility, at the same time as coming to terms with losing their baby. All of this happens in a short period of time, often in circumstances where the people affected have never heard of the condition until it happens, and leaves people vulnerable to emotional difficulties in the months and sometimes years after the loss.
The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust remains a niche charity with limited resources but big ambitions. We provide exceptional support on a large scale and work tirelessly with key stakeholders, such as healthcare professionals and government, to improve diagnosis, treatment and raise awareness. We are successfully positioned and respected as key influencers in affecting change.
These great outcomes are achieved thanks to an amazing team of employees, consultants and volunteers who really care and give their time and support for nothing or nominal financial amounts. Without the dedication of team members. volunteers, fundraisers, trustees, medical advisers and ambassadors, we would not be able to provide our vital services that make such a huge difference at such a difficult time. The success of the Trust over this financial year is testament to everyone’s efforts and I thank everyone for their kind contribution.
Being a small charity, every penny of income is really made to count. No money is ever spent on advertising for donations. Instead, many who support us have used our services historically and understand first-hand the importance we play in helping people through this devastating experience, others have great sympathy for the cause. Thanks to everyone’s generosity and goodwill, we will continue to invest in our support services and work to make the hospital experience the best it can be in the difficult circumstances.
No one should ever die from an ectopic pregnancy and, for anyone affected by the condition, the quality of their hospital experience and emotional support should be excellent.
Chris Woodward, Trustee
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OUR PURPOSE AND STRATEGIC AIMS
Our Purpose
Ectopic pregnancy is a common, life-threatening condition that is the leading cause of maternal death in the first trimester of early pregnancy. The condition affects 1 in 80 pregnancies in the UK and occurs when an embryo grows outside of the womb. The pregnancy can never be saved. A variety of treatments are available depending on the presenting symptoms and speed of diagnosis.
Ectopic pregnancies have an incidence of approximately 11 per 1,000 pregnancies which means that nearly 12,000 women have ectopic pregnancies diagnosed each year [Source: Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths and Morbidity 2009-14, December 2016]. However, from anecdotal evidence, this may be closer to more than 30,000 admissions in the UK alone, as some instances may not be diagnosed as an ectopic pregnancy but instead as a miscarriage and undergo expectant management. Unfortunately, women can still die from an ectopic pregnancy with nine maternal deaths reported between 2009-14. [Source: Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths and Morbidity 2009-14, December 2016]. The 2019 MBRRACE-UK Maternal Deaths and Morbidity Report 2015-17 states that six women died from early pregnancy problems, five of whom had ectopic pregnancies. All five women with ectopic pregnancies died within 48 hours of presentation and three of the six women who died were from Black or other ethnic minority groups. [Source: Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths and Morbidity 2015-17, November 2019]. In the 21[st] century, noone should die of an ectopic pregnancy.
The legacy of suffering an ectopic pregnancy can be far-reaching for women, couples and wider family and friends. Women who suffer have to endure the physical trauma of invasive treatment and face their own mortality, the impact on their future fertility and the sad loss of losing their baby all very quickly. This can be a very frightening and distressing experience. The impact can be long-lasting and many people require ongoing support many months and even years after the experience. We also provide support when people are ready to try for another baby; whether they are struggling to conceive, are trying naturally or through assisted conception routes as well as those who do go on to conceive successfully. Given the increased risk of a subsequent ectopic pregnancy, early pregnancy post-ectopic is also a traumatic time for many people. The Trust also provides its services to medical professionals who treat early pregnancy complications.
We are a small, niche UK-based charity with an extensive reach. We have the support and guidance from world-class health care professionals as our medical advisers and trustees. Our team members are driven to help others through their own experiences and empathise with our service users since many have experienced pregnancy loss and difficulties of their own. We operate with the assistance of our committed team members, volunteers and fundraisers (many of whom have suffered an ectopic pregnancy and used our services historically) and are grateful for the support of our patrons.
Our services have been in demand now more than ever due to the challenges that the Covid-19 pandemic has brought. We continue to rise to that need.
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Our Vision
The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust believes:
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noone should die from an ectopic pregnancy;
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any woman or person capable of conceiving of childbearing age, who is sexually active or undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment, having ectopic pregnancy symptoms, should be considered to be pregnant until proven otherwise to maximise the speed of diagnosis; anyone diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy should receive as many treatment options as the stability of their medical condition allows; this includes conservative management, medical treatment with methotrexate, and surgical treatment;
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it should be universally recognised that early diagnosis enables treatment choice, preserves fertility and enables a person to feel a greater degree of control over her medical condition. This commonly reduces the emotional impact of the ectopic pregnancy;
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it should be universally recognised that the emotional effects of losing a baby can far outweigh the physical condition even in the early stages of pregnancy; and
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anyone who has suffered an early pregnancy loss should have access to all of the information and support they need to aid their physical and emotional recovery.
Our Aims
Our strategic aims are:
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to provide information and support to all persons affected by ectopic pregnancy and other early pregnancy complications and the healthcare professionals who care for them;
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to advance education and to promote awareness of ectopic pregnancy and other early pregnancy complications among the medical profession and wider public; and
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to support research into ectopic pregnancy and other early pregnancy conditions.
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Strategic aim 1: Information and support
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We play a key role in disseminating information and supporting anyone who experiences the condition during diagnosis, treatment and recovery from the condition. Our medical advisers continue to support us to ensure we provide current and accurate information. Our services have been all the more needed during the Covid19 pandemic and lockdowns.
In spite of the numerous challenges of the pandemic and repeated lockdowns, the team has worked incredibly hard to maintain a consistently high-standard of service and, over the last financial year, we have achieved the following:
Information disseminated via our website
We believe that equipping people with information about the condition at such a challenging time helps to process what is happening to them. Empowering people in this way results in an increase in their personal knowledge (particularly on the assessment and treatment processes and expected outcomes) and thus reduces the degree of stress and confusion, helping the healing process.
The dedicated Covid-19 area on the website was regularly updated as new queries arose and guidance (such as from RCOG) was issued. It has been a much-needed resource and we have been able to provide information and support for people dealing with the trauma of ectopic pregnancy with the added challenges of being in the midst of a global pandemic.
Our website provides a valuable resource for women and their families who are being diagnosed or treated for ectopic pregnancy, with sections covering the definition of ectopic pregnancy, diagnosis and treatment, physical and emotional recovery and trying to conceive again as well as information for partners and medical professionals. The information is relevant, accurate, accessible, peer-reviewed and up-to-date. We had over 700,000 sessions on our website. While this is in the region of previous years’ figures, we aim to increase
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sessions and will be putting in place a focused strategy with the web developer in the forthcoming financial year.
90% of users accessed the site via tablet/phone. This has increased year on year and represents a massive proportion. Reasons for such intense mobile-usage could include increased privacy or people accessing information at the point of need, such as while at hospital. 64% of visitors are female with 36% male and the proportion of male visitors has increased by 10% since last year. This perhaps reflects the increasing recognition of the impact of loss among partners and willingness to seek support and information. This may also be due to the fact that partners have not been with loved ones in hospital during the pandemic and so have sought information in the absence of first hand conversations with doctors.
As mentioned in last year’s accounts, a key priority for this financial year has been to update the website’s “look and feel” and review content, with focus on diversity and inclusivity and search engine optimisation. We have been working closely with medical advisers and volunteers from a range of backgrounds. Medical advisers have reviewed medical content and volunteers have reviewed and created new non-medical content. We have also been working with the LGBT Mummies Tribe to ensure we provide a welcoming space for members of the LGBT communities and SignVideo to create BSL videos, explaining symptoms of ectopic pregnancy and the support we can provide. The new website is close to launch and will be unveiled early next financial year
Information disseminated through hospitals
We distribute a suite of free patient information leaflets to hospitals across the UK. These are then disseminated to patients on diagnosis or when leaving hospital which means that people have access to information quickly and are signposted to our services at the point of need. This information suite was Highly Commended at the BMA Patient Information Awards 2019 and shortlisted for the overall BMA Patient Information Award 2019.
We produce three specialist leaflets on treatment routes for ectopic pregnancy (Surgical, Medical and Expectant Management) as well as one on Pregnancy of Unknown Location. The relevant leaflet is inserted into the back pocket of EPT-branded A5 wallets which have inserts covering general information on ectopic pregnancy and FAQs. This means that the information is tailored to the patient’s individual treatment need. The look and feel of the leaflets and wallets are welcoming yet thoroughly professional in tone and content. We also have produced EPT-branded gestation wheels with a reminder to hospital staff to reorder leaflets. The number of treatment packs sent over the reporting period fell by 16% as compared to the previous reporting year, bucking year on year increases over previous years. This is not surprising given the impact of the pandemic on staff and resources within hospital units. Government health advice during the pandemic included reducing touch-points between people and the reluctance to hand items generally meant there was a significant number of months where hospitals were not giving leaflets to patients and not reordering stock. This is an aberration and we expect subsequent years not only to recover but increase order numbers significantly.
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A modest 250 EPT-branded posters were distributed over the reporting period, again reflecting the pressures of the pandemic and demand is expected to increase looking-ahead. These raise awareness of the symptoms and emotional impact of ectopic pregnancy and are disseminated free of charge to hospitals. We also encourage supporters of the charity to disseminate these across GP surgeries, clinics, pharmacies and Urgent Care Centres. Our “symptoms” poster informs the general public of the signs of ectopic pregnancy with the aim of educating communities so that anyone experiencing symptoms seek the care that they need as soon as possible. The “emotions” poster reassures people that their feelings are common. Both posters include the EPT’s contact details and website address.
Key support services
Equipping people with information goes hand-in-hand with our providing more personalised support services by way of helpline, email, Skype and on-line message boards and these are a core part of the Trust's offering to those in need. We were able to provide the first session of two of dedicated bereavement care training for the support services team with the second session scheduled for the beginning of the next financial year. This was funded by a grant from The Hospital Saturday Fund and all team members found it incredibly useful.
We offer emotional support in a number of ways: via support line, email exchange, Zoom group sessions, text exchange, social media direct messaging and through our online forum. Topics range from experiencing symptoms, going through diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy, to information on trying to conceive successfully again. We also frequently help those who need us after a number of years of heartbreak. The information we provide is medically moderated and overseen by trained staff and team members. Our support team members are exceptional in their care for anyone suffering the aftermath of an ectopic pregnancy.
Support line : Support calls provide in-depth opportunities for callers to discuss events, their emotions and ask any questions. Our support line functionality in moving to a call-back service continues to be highly effective. By encouraging callers to leave contact details on voicemail, we are able to communicate quickly via email/text message to arrange a call at a time that suits best which can include evenings or weekends. We aim to respond via text message/email within an hour or two of the message being left so that callers receive acknowledgement fast at an anxious time and strive to ensure calls take place within 24 hours of the original request or accommodate alternative times to suit individuals. To break down barriers, we aim to put in place interpreting services to enable people whose first language is not English to use our support line without hindrance including facilitating British Sign Language.
Emails: We respond to over 300 emails per month requesting specific help and support during or after treatment for ectopic pregnancy. We continue to recruit and train additional team members who are supervised by senior staff. In addition, we also exchange emails and other forms of communication with medical professionals, journalists and supporters, resulting in over 5,000 email exchanges a year. Due to demand, we recruited a further trained team member to respond to emails.
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Forum : Our message boards provide peer support but are moderated and contributed to by trained team members. They can be found via our website and are ’live‘, thereby offering virtually instant information and support for those in need. We had over 430,000 page views in the last report year. We upgraded the forum to the latest software version this financial year. For every person who has the confidence to post on the boards, there are many more who take their comfort from reading the messages of others. Our Forum Moderators continue to monitor the boards on a daily basis and aim to respond to posters within 24 hours; this is so that no person is waiting for more than a day for a reply at an anxious time in their lives.
Social media: We have presence on social media platforms, namely Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn accounts. Some direct message via these social media sites for support and many others read and take comfort. On Facebook, we have open and closed discussion groups with over 4,800 members providing peer support as well as a public page with over 15,000 followers centred on information. Principally, our Facebook pages provide a virtual community enabling those who have experienced ectopic pregnancy to reach out to others going through a similar experience and facilitate our directing users to sources of accurate information on our website and other support services. Some of our top performing Facebook posts reach over a quarter of a million people. The EPT’s Instagram and Twitter accounts have over 5,000 and 3,000 followers respectively. We aim to launch our presence on TikTok next financial year.
Face-to-face support : As a very small charity, we do not have the resources for regular face-to-face support across the country. However, harnessing the power of technology and the appetite for using video calling etc, we offer remote face-to-face support now using Zoom. This can be requested on an individual, couples or group basis. Since the pandemic, Zoom group sessions have increased in demand with slots being filled through individuals’ enquiries organically rather than needing publicity. We are looking to increase sessions to at least once a month in the forthcoming financial year.
Live Chat: We offer a Live Chat service using the Skype platform to accommodate anyone who prefers to type and receive replies in real-time. This is currently operated on a requested basis due to resourcing constraints. We aim to explore incorporating chat functionality via the website.
The support services process involves recruitment, training and on-going support and pastoral care. The support is medically overseen and moderated. While our aim for the last financial year, to promote couples support has not been at the pace that we had hoped due to day to day challenges of the pandemic, nonetheless we have worked hard to improve sections on the website so that it reflects all types of relationships and none. Facilitating support for couples remains an on-going task.
Implementing Office 365 in March 2020 proved to show excellent planning in light of the pandemic and has proved a huge success. It has meant that we have been able to connect even as circumstances were becoming increasingly challenging. In addition, our Project Support Team (members help with a variety of administrative tasks on an ad hoc basis) grew to 50 during the report year. Our improved newsletter, e-topic, continues to be delivered electronically.
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Strategic aim 2: Education and awareness
The Trust seeks to raise awareness among the medical profession and public at large so that earlier diagnosis can be achieved. To facilitate this over the last year, we have:
Collaborations
Pregnancy & Baby Charities Network: The EPT is a member of this Network which represents UK charities whose focus includes improving care throughout the path to parenthood before, during and after pregnancy and after losing a baby or pregnancy. The group collaborates to influence the Government and the NHS to improve care for parents. The EPT strives to ensure that people who experience early pregnancy losses are represented. The Director of the EPT is appointed secretary of the Network and is instrumental in governance, oversight, and strategy.
All-Party Parliamentary Group: We are members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Baby Loss which brings together MPs and Peers from across parties to work on this vital issue. The EPT has been a part of the Group from inception in 2016. The APPG’s overall aims are to develop policy that supports families dealing with the grief and loss of a baby and to raise awareness of what more can be done by the government, Parliament or other agencies to help those affected. By participating in discussions, The EPT constantly ensures that ectopic pregnancy and early pregnancy loss remain within the Government’s agenda.
Royal College of Nursing: Building on this existing relationship, The EPT worked again with the Royal College of Nursing to produce combined pocket guides covering a range of women’s health issues. These combined guides cover a range of women’s health issues including specific cards on ectopic pregnancy and will be distributed to thousands of nurses so that they can be more aware of the symptoms of ectopic pregnancy to ensure that women get the care that they need as quickly as possible. These guides also provide information on the support services provided by the EPT so that nurses can advise women and couples on where to go for support during and after treatment
Campaigning
We participated in three focused campaigns: Baby Loss Awareness Week; Small Charity Week and Volunteers’ Week as opportunities for our voice to be part of a powerful, collective message.
Baby Loss Awareness Week takes place annually from 9 to 15 October and is an opportunity for bereaved parents and their loved ones to acknowledge and remember their losses. It is also a chance to raise awareness of the emotional impact of pregnancy and infant loss, and the scale of the tragedy, which affects up to one in five families in the UK. Baby Loss Awareness Week is a collaboration of a number of charities united in their support for families who experience the death of a baby including Bliss, Child Bereavement UK, The Miscarriage Association and Tommy’s as well as the EPT. We have participated since inception in 2004. Today, the EPT continues to drive the Week forward extensively alongside other charities as the EPT Director sits on the core Working Group as well as the group for Public Affairs and Policy. Ms
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Oza participated in a panel discussion held by Natwest during Baby Loss Awareness Week focusing on remembrance and highlighted early pregnancy loss including ectopic pregnancy through the conversation.
As part of the campaign, we sold special Baby Loss Awareness pins and used social media to reach out to our followers, particularly on Facebook. On 15 October, the week closed with the Global ‘Wave of Light’ where candles were lit across the globe as part of the international Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day. In posting our image of our candle on our Facebook page and encouraging people to share, we united with others across the world in honour of those babies who lit up lives for such a short time and in doing so our image reached over 150,000 people. Posts from the charity reached over 310,000 people and had over 31,000 engagements. Collectively across the participating charities, the number of families reached will have reached into the many hundreds of thousands. As well as participating in Baby Loss Awareness Week on an annual basis, this group shares best practice and identifies potential joint opportunities.
During Baby Loss Awareness Week, the EPT was publicly thanked in the House of Commons. This was during the Baby Loss debate which was again held in Parliament putting pregnancy complications and baby loss on the political agenda and bringing the issue wider recognition.
Small Charity Week takes place annually and is devoted to raising the profile of small charities. We participated in June 2020 highlighting the services we provide and the big impact they can have. Our posts reached over 24,000.
The first week of June sees Volunteers’ Week and, by highlighting our volunteers and opportunities, we often receive new interested volunteers with this financial year being no exception. During Volunteers Week 2020, we received record number of enquiries.
Conferences
We frequently participate in external conferences focusing on early pregnancy. Our Chair sits on the Board of the Association of Early Pregnancy Units (AEPU) and the Patient Committee for the International Society for Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ISUOG), offering the patient's voice. Our Chair represents the Trust at AEPU meetings and would usually be part of the annual conference presenting the patient's perspective on ectopic pregnancy. The 2020 Association of Early Pregnancy Units conference was postponed due to the pandemic. Our Chair and Director also usually present at in-house hospital seminars and meetings and we often provide EPT materials for displays which largely ceased during lockdowns.
Media
We continued to assist a number of media outlets covering print, on-line and television/radio formats. We received wide ranging exposure in print newspapers and magazines. Our ambassador Charlotte Crosby spoke about her experience on MTV and raised awareness for the charity on the BBC’s Mastermind. After the piece on MTV, our Instagram followers and demand for support requests increased over the weekend. She also raised awareness and funds on the platform Memmo.uk through personalised video messages.
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Our dedicated team of volunteer fundraisers continue to spread the word through interviews such as with BBC local radio stations and local press, which often include the Trust's contact details. We also were referenced in a podcast. With the joining of a new press officer, we implemented a strategy for link-building with journalists and referrals from external websites.
Merchandise
Our on-line shop stocks a range of branded merchandise that promotes the Trust. By purchasing and using our products, awareness about ectopic pregnancy and the Trust's name and website get increased exposure among the general public.
Our biggest sellers continue to be Christmas cards and pin badges which are excellent for increasing awareness about the condition. =
Led by requests from our social media followers, we launched a new fitness item, running buffs branded with the EPT tulip logo. We will be focusing on updating the shop in the forthcoming financial year.
Fundraising
We receive no Government funding and exist through the goodwill of our fundraisers.
Our bespoke fundraising initiatives EPTea Party, EPT1000 Challenge, and EPT Mini Challenges continued to be popular. Responding quickly to the limitations placed by the Covid-19 lockdown, we had already adapted many fundraising ideas to facilitate remote/virtual participation and also generated new ideas in 2021.
Mass participation events, such as the Virgin London Marathon, were paused and the quick thinking of our committed Fundraising Coordinator and social media team planned alternative fundraising ideas for the changing landscape and expected reduction of donations. We launched a fundraising at home section which enabled people to adapt ideas and have a focus while recovering at home during the pandemic. We enabled Facebook birthday fundraisers which sees a steady monthly stream of income. We also embraced the virtual offerings by VLM and GNR.
The most successful idea was the launch of the EPT 80 in 1 where people cover 80 miles during the month of August (8[th] month) to raise awareness of the 1 in 80 pregnancies that are ectopic. This was a huge success and will be an annual event. The impact of these initiatives have meant that we have had a successful fundraising year.
Our Fundraising Coordinator has been supported by the new press officer who assists fundraisers in getting press coverage and a new fundraising social media coordinator who looks after dedicated closed Facebook pages for fundraisers to offer a space for mutual support and encouragement.
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Strategic aim 3: Supporting research
We believe that the drugs [that are the subject of this trial]... will be of greater benefit to women in terms of fewer operations, hospital visits and blood tests
- Professor Andrew Horne, University of Edinburgh
The EPT continues to seek to effect change by improving speed of diagnosis, treatment choice and levels of care. Over the last year, we have participated in the following to support this objective:
Improving treatment choice
The Trust is involved in supporting ground-breaking research with medical adviser and trustee Professor Andrew Horne of the University of Edinburgh on combining two drugs (methotrexate with gefitinib) to improve the effectiveness of medical treatment. Following approval of the stage three clinical trial into this potential treatment, Professor Horne’s team is running the GEM3 trial which is a multi-centre, double-blind, placebocontrolled randomised trial. The study is available at around 50 centres across the UK which are being publicised by the EPT via our website and social media platforms. It is hoped that this treatment will help preserve fertility and decrease the need for invasive surgery through increasing the percentage of women whose bodies respond successfully to medical management.
The EPT supports research into biological processes that may be connected to ectopic pregnancy. The Trust sponsors a PhD student at The University of Edinburgh who is researching the causes of ectopic pregnancy. This involves examining cellular changes in the lining the Fallopian tube with may result in ectopic embryo implantation. This work was supported by a joint Medical Research Council/Ectopic Pregnancy Trust PhD Fellowship.
The EPT is assisting Monash University with research in ectopic pregnancy with the aim of standardising core outcomes in published papers. We provided feedback on the patient information leaflet and survey questions and helped to promote to gather participants.
The EPT worked with Sands, The Miscarriage Association, and Antenatal Results and Choices on audit questions concerning bereavement care in early pregnancy/gynaecology units and participated in the Pregnancy Loss Review on whether the law should be changed to allow registration of pregnancy losses before 24 weeks. We await the publishing of the report.
We were approached to review and provide input on a study to assess the safety of using a standard dose treatment for women with unruptured tubal ectopic pregnancy (OSPREY) and on research on psychological therapies for post traumatic stress after an ectopic pregnancy.
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Representing the patient's voice
The Trust has forged key relationships with a number of similar focused organisations and inform the debate through the "patient's voice" and best practice. These include other charities and groups such as:
The Association of Early Pregnancy Units: The Trust has a representative on the executive board of the AEPU which develops best practice to managing ectopic pregnancy and other early pregnancy complications, participating in regular meetings and the AEPU strategy day.
Professional/governmental organisations: These include NHS Direct, the Department of Health and Social Care, the Royal College of Nurses, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the International Society for Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and the Health Protection Agency. This ensures that the condition and the "patient's voice” is well represented and included in the development of best practice.
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The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust
The report of the trustees for the year ended 31 March 2021.
Charity name: The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust
Registered charity number: 1071811
Date of registration: 2 October 1998
Principal address : 483 Green Lanes, London, N13 4BS
Telephone : Admin - 020 7096 1838; Helpline - 0207 733 2653
Trustees : Mrs Alex Peace-Gadsby (Chair); Mrs Shabana Masavi (Treasurer) Miss Julie Price; Prof. Tom Bourne; Dr Suzie Hollamby (to January 2021); Prof. Andrew Horne; Mr Chris Woodward; Mrs Sam Gold (to November 2020); Rachel Small (from January 2021); Michael Wood-Williams (from November 2020)
Staff/Team members: Munira Oza (Director); Jill Ansell (Fundraising coordinator); Sonal Colvin (Shop and donations coordinator); Sam Page (Hospital leaflets coordinator); Kerri Stedman (Social Media Coordinator); Helen Corsi-Cadmore (Projects coordinator); Lois Rowland (Fundraising support coordinator); Tara Moverley (Volunteer support coordinator/Administration); Natalie Max (Press officer); Karen Donovan (Support Team); Michele Fugiel Gartner (Support Team); Joanne Cadle-Junor (Support Team); Gita Noren (Support Team); Katharine Christopher (Support Team); Beth Pidd (Support Team)
Medical advisers: Cecilia Bottomley MB BChir MRCOG; Fiona Bottomley, Superintendent Sonographer; Prof. Tom Bourne PHD MD MRCOG; Sonal Colvin BSc;Janine Elson MD FRCOG; Prof Andrew Horne Ph.D, MRCOG; Suzanne Hollamby MB.BS, MRCOG CCST; Davor Jukovic PHD MD MRCOG; Emma Kirk BSc, MD, MRCOG; Marjorie McLean; Julie Price MBBS FROCG; Jackie Ross MBBS MROCG; Prof. Siobhan Quenby; Nick Raine-Fenning MRCOG, MBChB Ph.D; Rachel Small RGN, RM, FRCOG (Hon): Dirk Timmerman MD, Ph.D
Ambassadors: Michelle Gayle (Actress and Singer); Susan Penhaligon (Actress); Amanda Redman MBE (Actress); Philip Cairns (Actor); Charlotte Crosby (TV Personality)
Volunteers
Volunteers continue to be an essential resource in ensuring that the charity is able to deliver its objectives. They are typically people who have been affected by the condition and want to give something back to the charity, such as by answering helpline enquiries, facilitating the message boards, becoming a buddy through to administrative tasks. The charity has strict policies and procedures for vetting, training and supervision.
The charity ensures that no person applying for employment or for admission as a volunteer to the charity will be treated less favourably on the grounds of their sex, race, class, colour, racial group, ethnicity, marital status, sexual orientation, age, trade union membership or otherwise, religious belief or physical or mental disability.
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Decision making
The Trustees are responsible for strategic decisions with appropriate consultation with the staff. Where medical information is required, the Medical Advisors are consulted. The staff have the authority to make operational decisions without prior Trustee consultation.
Records maintenance
The charity's records are maintained and annual accounts are prepared by the treasurer.
Type of governing document
Trust deed.
How the charity is constituted
The charity is constituted as a Trust.
Charity Trustee selection methods
The Charity has a clear policy and procedure for the recruitment, selection and induction of Trustees, which runs alongside our equal opportunities policy.
Policy on reserves
The charity holds two bank accounts with Charities Aid Foundation, a cash account and a Gold account. The Treasurer takes responsibility for ensuring that excess funds are moved into the Gold account to ensure that the potential for interest is maximised.
The trustees have set a reserves policy which requires that the reserves be maintained at a level that ensures that the charity's core activity continue during the period of unforeseen difficulty. The calculation of the level is an integral part of the organisation's planning, budget and forecast cycle and takes into account risks associated with each stream of income and expenditure being different from that budgeted, the planned activity level and the organisation's commitments.
Further financial review details
The 2021 accounts continue the improvement in income generation shown in the 2020 results. During the year the Trustees spending on charitable activities was broadly consistent with 2020, however fundraising expenses were c.30% lower. This was largely as a result of COVID-19 – leading to lower travelling and meeting costs. Overall, this has led to a modest increase in the funds carried forward at the end of the year.
The strong position in the 2021 accounts is as a result of the strategy introduced at the end of the 2016 year to create a strong base. The Trustees will, however, continue to monitor the situation to ensure the Charity is in a position to enable it to continue to meet its objectives for the foreseeable future and continue to grow.
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Availability and adequacy of funds
The board of trustees is satisfied that the charity's assets in each fund are available and adequate to fulfil the obligations in respect of each fund.
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Statement of Trustees Responsibilities
Charity Law requires the Board to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity as at the end of the financial year and of the surplus or deficit of the charity. In preparing those financial statements, the Board is required to;
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select suitable accounting methods and them apply them consistently;
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make estimates and judgements which are prudent;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
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state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.
The trustees are also responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and which are sufficient to show and explain the charity's transactions and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with regulations made under the Charities Act. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees are also responsible for the contents of the trustees' report.
Signature
Shabana Masavi
Treasurer/Trustee
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Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust
I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 March 2021.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under Section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the 1993 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 43 of the 1993 Act;
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity
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Commission under section 43(7)(b) of the 1993 Act; and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the 1993 Act and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 1993 Act have not been met or to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signature
Date: 26 January 2022
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| The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year ended 31 March 2021 | |||
| 2021 | 2020 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Statement of Financial Activities | |||
| VoluntaryIncome | 17,750 | 13,097 | |
| FundraisingActivities | 109,869 | 111,279 | |
| Revenuefrom Merchandise | 8,070 | 7,261 | |
| InvestmentIncome | 69 | 236 | |
| Total Income | 135,758 | 131,873 | |
| FundraisingExpenses | 16,336 | 22,578 | |
| Cost ofCharitableActivities | 100,604 | 99,566 | |
| Governance Costs | 10,543 | 10,053 | |
| Total Expenses | 127,483 | 132,196 | |
| Netmovement of funds | 8,275 | (323) | |
| Funds broughtforward | 169,752 | 170,075 | |
| Funds carried forward | 178,028 | 169,752 | |
| Income & Expenditure | |||
| Turnover | 135,689 | 131,638 | |
| Direct Costs | (116,940) | (122,143) | |
| GrossIncome/(Deficit) | 18,749 | 9,495 | |
| Governance Costs | (10,543) | (10,053) | |
| OperatingIncome/(Deficit) | 8,206 | (559) | |
| Interestreceivable | 69 | 236 | |
| Net Income/(Deficit) | 8,275 | (323) | |
| Statement of recognisedgains & losses | |||
| Excess of income overexpenditure | 8,275 | (323) | |
| 8,275 | (323) | ||
| Movement in revenue & capital funds | |||
| Accumulatedfunds broughtforward | 169,752 | 170,075 | |
| Recognised gains &losses | 8,275 | (323) | |
| Closingrevenue accumulated funds | 178,028 | 169,752 | |
Note: In 2020 all funds were unrestricted. In 2021 £1,000 was received towards ‘Remote Enhanced Training’ for the Trust’s Support Team and these funds were used in the 2021/22 reporting year.
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| The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year ended 31 March 2021 | ||||
| Balance Sheet | ||||
| 2021 | 2020 | |||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Fixed Assets | ||||
| TangibleFixedAssets | ||||
| Total Fixed Assets | - | 0 | ||
| Current Accounts | ||||
| Current bankaccount | 3,729 | 16,949 | ||
| GoldDepositAccount | 171,461 | 151,393 | ||
| Creditors | ||||
| Amounts duewithinone year | 0 | 0 | ||
| Net CurrentAssets | 2,837 | 1,411 | ||
| Total Assets less Current Liabilities | 178,028 | 169,752 | ||
| Creditors | ||||
| Amounts due after more thanone year | - | - | ||
| Provision for liabilities & Charges | - | - | ||
| Net Assets | 178,028 | 169,752 | ||
| AccumulatedFunds | 178,028 | 169,752 | ||
| Total Charity Funds | 178,028 | 169,752 |
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Notes to the accounts
1. Accounting policies
Basis of preparation of accounts
These accounts have been prepared on the basis of historic cost in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities - Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP 2006) and with Financial Reporting Standards for Smaller Enterprises (FRSSE) and with the Charities Act 1993.
The accounts are prepared on a going concern basis under the historic cost convention.
Incoming resources
Incoming resources are accounted for on a receivable basis.
Investment income
Bank interest is included on an actual receipts basis.
Deferred income
In accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP 2006), grants received in advance and specified by the donor as relating to specific accounting periods or alternatively which are subject to conditions which are still to be met, and which are outside the control of the charity or where it is uncertain whether the conditions can or will be met, are deferred on an accruals basis to the period to which they relate. Such deferrals are shown in the notes in the accounts and the sums involved are shown as creditors in the accounts.
Recognition of liabilities
Liabilities are recognised on the accruals basis in accordance with normal accounting principles, modified where necessary in accordance with the guidance in the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP 2006).
Resources expended
All resources expended relate to marketing and administration of fundraising activities.
Fixed assets and depreciation
All tangible fixed assets, except buildings and freehold land, are stated at cost less depreciation. Items of less than £500 are not capitalised. Depreciation has been provided for at the following rates in order to write off the assets (less their estimated residual value) over their estimated useful economic lives.
Fixtures and fittings: 25% straight line
Computers: 25% straight line
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Capital Gains
The Board of Trustees consider that, in order to comply with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP 2006), gifts or tangible fixed assets or grants of a capital nature given for specific purposes and fully utilised in the furtherance of the objects of the charity should be credited to the relevant fixed asset fund after the sums have been properly expended on the restricted purpose. The related asset is shown in the balance sheet at the cost of acquisition or subsequent revaluation.
If the related assets are subject to restrictions by the grant making organisation or on their use and disposal, then these restrictions are noted in the fixed asset section of these accounts. In such circumstances, the fixed asset fund created is treated as a restricted fixed asset fund. As the related assets are depreciated, then a transfer is made from restricted fixed asset funds to unrestricted revenue reserves to reflect the diminution in the asset subject to the restriction. In this year there were no restricted funds.
If the related assets are not subject to restriction by the grant making organisation on their use, then the fixed asset fund created is treated as a designated fixed asset fund. As the related assets are depreciated, then a transfer is made from designated fixed asset funds to unrestricted revenue reserves to reflect the diminution in the asset in the year.
Any residual liability to the donor arising from, for example, the assets future sale, is disclosed as a contingent liability unless the event that would trigger repayment of the grant becomes probable in which case a liability for repayment is recognised.
Taxation
As a registered charity, The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust is exempt from income and corporation tax to the extent that its income and gains are applicable to charitable purposes only. Value Added Tax is not recoverable by the charity and is therefore included in the relevant costs in the Statement of Financial Activities.
Funds structure policy
The charity maintains a general unrestricted fund which represent funds which are expendable at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the objects of the charity. Such funds may be held in order to finance both working capital and capital investment.
Restricted funds have been provided to the charity for particular purposes and it is the policy of the Board to carefully monitor the application of those funds in accordance with the restrictions placed upon them.
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2. Winding up or dissolution of the charity
If upon winding up or dissolution of the charity there remain any assets, after the satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, the assets represented by the accumulated fund shall be transferred to some other charitable body or bodies having similar objects to the charity.
3. Analysis of Incoming Sources
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |||||
| Voluntary Income | ||||||
| Personal donations | 3,055 | 6,411 | ||||
| Corporate donations | 9,434 | 3,077 | ||||
| Payrollgiving | 4,262 | 3,609 | ||||
| Other donations | 1,000 | |||||
| Total Voluntary Income | 17,750 | 13,097 | ||||
| Fundraising activities | ||||||
| Other fundraising platforms | 9,449 | 1,341 | ||||
| PayPal | 9,162 | 27,325 | ||||
| Just Giving | 72,679 | 49,732 | ||||
| Virgin Money | 18,579 | 32,881 | ||||
| Additional GiftAid | - | |||||
| Merchandise | 8,070 | 7,261 | ||||
| Total of Activities forgenerating funds | 117,939 | 118,541 | ||||
| Investment Income | ||||||
| Bank Deposit Interest Received | 69 | 236 | ||||
| Total Investment Income | 69 | 236 | ||||
| Total Incoming Resources | 135,758 | 131,873 |
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4. Analysis of resources expended
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |||||
| Fundraising costs | ||||||
| London Marathon costs | 3,300 | 7,716 | ||||
| Other fund raisingexpenses | 13,036 | 14,862 | ||||
| 16,336 | 22,578 | |||||
| Cost of Charitable activities | ||||||
| Helpline consultants | 17,905 | 13,529 | ||||
| Leaflets & distribution | 17,570 | 18,350 | ||||
| Shopcosts | 9,180 | 9,000 | ||||
| Shopmerchandise | 6,421 | 7,975 | ||||
| Research | 14,000 | 14,000 | ||||
| Management costs | 20,205 | 18,960 | ||||
| Trainingand welfare | 0 | 2,307 | ||||
| Travel and subsistence | 0 | 2,069 | ||||
| Meetings | 150 | 1,396 | ||||
| Website | 8,955 | 5,241 | ||||
| Insurance | 407 | 401 | ||||
| Postage & Stationary | 4,621 | 5,341 | ||||
| Telephone | 1,190 | 998 | ||||
| 100,604 | 99,566 | |||||
| Governance costs | ||||||
| Payroll costs | 198 | 673 | ||||
| Depreciation of fixed assets | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Membershipfees | 285 | 305 | ||||
| Bankingfees | 673 | 627 | ||||
| Gross wages | 9,051 | 8,000 | ||||
| Sundryexpenses | 336 | 448 | ||||
| 10,543 | 10,053 | |||||
| Total expenditure | 127,483 | 132,196 |
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5. Paid employees
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross wages & salaries | 37,655 | 34,542 | ||||
| Support consultants | 36,385 | 31,529 | ||||
| Total staff costs | 74,040 | 66,070 | ||||
| Number of full time employees | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Number ofpart time employees | 2 | 2 | ||||
| Number of helpline consultants | 12 | 10 | ||||
| Engaged on charitable activities | 14 | 12 | ||||
| There were no employees with emoluments in excess of £30,000. | ||||||
6. Tangible fixed assets
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asset cost,valuation or revalued amount at start ofyear | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Accumulated depreciation | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Net book value end ofyear | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Charge foryear | 0 | 0 |
7. Creditors and accruals
| 2021 | 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accrued expenses | 0 | 0 | ||||
| PAYE/NIC | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Employee expenses | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 0 | 0 |
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