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2024-03-31-accounts

Company number: 3596996 Charity Number: 1072216 OSCR Number: SC040577

The Back-Up Trust

Report and financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

“One of the things I love about Back Up is that they have given me lots of support at every stage. They helped me right at the beginning but still continue to guide me, inspire me and show me that my voice matters.”

The Back-Up Trust Contents For the period ended 31 March 2024

Contents Page

An overview of our impact in 2023/24.......................................................................................................... 4 Welcome from Abigail Lock our CEO and Damian Riley our Chair of Trustees........................................5 Transforming Lives: 2021-2025 strategy.......................................................................................................7 How we have supported people affected by spinal cord injury.................................................................8 Financial review..............................................................................................................................................13 How we raised our funds and how we have spent our funds..................................................................16 Structure, governance and management ...................................................................................................17 Statement of responsibilities of the trustees..............................................................................................19 Future plans…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….21 Relationships with other organisations........................................................................................................25 Administrative information............................................................................................................................26 Independent auditor ' s report……………………………………………………………………………………………………………28 Statement of financial activities (incorporating an income and expenditure account……………………….33 Balance sheet.…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….34 Statement of cash flows)...................................................................................................................................35 Notes to the financial statements....................................................................................................................36

The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2024

The Trustees present their report and the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024. Reference and administrative information set out on pages 26-28 forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the memorandum and articles of association, the requirements of a directors’ report as required under company law, and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: SORP applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102.

An overview of our impact in 2023/24

Living confidently

Thriving at any age

Staying connected

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The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2024

Welcome from Abigail Lock, CEO

The Back Up community is a positive and welcoming space for everyone affected by spinal cord injury. In the third year of our Transforming Lives strategy, we supported 2622 people, a 23% increase from the year before.

Spinal cord injury is life changing - impacting every area of your life. Back Up gives people the practical skills and crucially the confidence to positively adjust to life following spinal cord injury. Understanding what matters most to individuals and supporting people to achieve their goals takes time. Crucially we have seen an increase in the numbers of times that people are coming to Back Up for support. This year with the help of our amazing volunteers we delivered 31,401 individual instances of help. Each of these interactions are supporting people to get life back on track; whether it be getting back to work or education, travelling to new places or taking the grandchildren to the park.

It is not simply the amount of people that we support but crucially the quality of support provided. As any organization grows there is a risk that that there can be a deterioration in the quality of provision. We have worked tirelessly to retain those things which make Back Up unique and to ensure that our services remain as impactful as ever. Our impact measures which are taken directly from people who have used our services consistently score above 90% and time and again individuals choose to return for support. Many people we have supported will then go on to become volunteers and supporters.

This year we have continued to expand our team working in communities across the UK. For the first time we have a team member based in Northern Ireland. With support from National Lottery Cymru we are expanding our services for people affected by spinal cord injury in Wales. We have expanded our support for family members too. We have also found new ways to support people including our new Back Up Connect Service where we connect someone with a spinal cord injury for one off conversation on key topics.

We have developed new and impactful partnerships most notably with the Motability Foundation which has enabled us to greatly expand our focus on travel confidence - a key issue facing many people with spinal cord injury.

We were also delighted to be selected as the October Club’s charity of the year 2024. Their support will enable us to invest in vital infrastructure which is needed to extend our reach to Major Trauma Centres.

Lived experience continues to be at the heart of everything we do. Many of our staff team are directly affected by spinal cord injury so we were absolutely thrilled to be awarded The Times and The Sunday Times Spotlight Award as the Best Place to work for Disabled Employees 2024.

Abigail Lock CEO, 2024

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The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2024

Welcome from Damian Riley, our Chair of Trustees

For the past five years, Back Up and other charities have been developing services and building new funding streams on the basis that there are 60,000 people in the UK living with a spinal cord injury, with an estimated 2,500 people sustaining an injury every year.

In May the NHS released new data showing that in 2023/24 4,400 people sustained a spinal cord injury across the UK. That is one person every two hours. It is now estimated that there are 105,000 people living with spinal cord injury in the UK.

Back Up wants to be there for everyone affected by spinal cord injury.

Back Up’s work truly does transform lives, and I speak from experience. Five years ago, I sustained a life-changing spinal cord injury, when I broke my neck in a cycling accident, leaving me paralysed from the shoulders down. During my recovery, I had three ambitions:

  1. To return home from hospital and be with my young family

  2. To maximise my physical recovery

  3. To return to work

Back Up have been instrumental in helping me achieve my goals, which is just one of the reasons why I am delighted to be Back Up’s Chair of Trustees.

We couldn’t do what we do without the support of our volunteers, funders and the staff team. I want to thank Abigail for her exceptional leadership over the last year, in which Back Up has gone from strength to strength, and most importantly seen us support more people than ever before. I am hugely excited by the opportunity to work with Abigail, the rest of the Board, and the whole Back Up team in building on our success over the last twelve months, and accelerating our progress in the year ahead.

Damian Riley

Chair of Trustees , 2024

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The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2024

Transforming Lives Strategy 2021 – 2025

We are led by the needs of people affected by spinal cord injury which is why our strategy was developed by people affected by spinal cord injury. In fact, over 300 people helped create our strategy through workshops, surveys, and focus groups.

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The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2024

How we have supported people affected by spinal cord injury – our achievements and performance

Our charitable activities; Mentoring, Courses, Outreach and Support and Children and Young People are focused on achieving our three strategic goals.

Living Confidently - How we have supported people with a spinal cord injury to build the confidence and skills needed to get the most out of life

“It was the best experience – I'm smiling now talking about it. Going with Back Up there’s that underlying understanding. The skiing was liberating. It’s given me that boost and gave me so much confidence feeling comfortable with myself.”

comfortable with myself.”
2025 Year Aims 2023/24 Objectives Review of Progress
By 2025 we will reach all newly
injured people in the UK,
including all children and young
people. By providing support
from the beginning of the
adjustment process we can
make sure people have the
skills and confidence they need
to live life independently.
We will have registered and
offered support to at least
1,000 people with a spinal cord
injury, 150 families and at least
75 children and young people.
We will have delivered at least
13,500 individual support
interventions across all services
using a range of channels and
methods.
Back Up supported more
people than ever before – 2,182
adults up from 1,695 in 22/23,
286 families from 229 and 211
children and young people up
from 145 in 22/23. Moving us
closer to our aim of being there
for everyone affected by spinal
cord injury.
Back Up registered 877 people
with a spinal cord injury, 338
family members and 57 young
people.
In total we provided 31,401
instances of help up from
19,253 in 22/23.
By 2025 we will be more
inclusive, expanding the
number and range of our
transformative courses, online
resources and services for
people who cannot access
specialist support in spinal
centres – making them
accessible wherever they may
be in the UK.
We will develop our What Next?
Course into a wider access
online course that reaches at
least 100 people over the
course of the year.
This year over 146 people
attended a Back Up course with
92% achieving their personal
aim.
We have transformed our What
Next? Course allowing us to
bring key partners together
including: Motability, Wellspect,
NHS Fittleworths and Stewarts
Law to support people to
positively adjust to life following
spinal cord injury. 78 people
accessed What Next?

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The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2024

We continue to grow the
numbers of spinal cord injury
outreach workers in regions
around the UK.
By 2025 we will be leaders in
supporting people with a spinal
cord injury in getting back to
work and volunteering, working
collaboratively with businesses,
the NHS and other
organisations where we can
achieve more together to
provide opportunities.
We will have secured funding
for at least one new service.
We will deliver at least two Skills
for Work online courses.
50% of people accessing our
vocation support will be in work
or volunteering 6-12 months
after engagement.
We have extended our vocation
offer providing 1036 one to one
interventions - up from 308 in
22/23.
We have delivered three Skills
for Work courses.
82% of people who attended
Skills for Work are in work,
volunteering or education 6-12
months after attending the
course.

Thriving at Any Age - How we have ensured people with spinal cord injury are able to reach their full potential

Our lovely granddaughter was 13 when she suffered a spinal stroke, which left her paralysed below the waist. As you can imagine our family were devastated. The support she’s received from Back Up has been fantastic. She is now back at school, plays wheelchair basketball and competes in athletics.”

2025 Year Aims 2023/24 Objectives Review of Progress
By 2025 we will provide
specialist advice and
information to children, young
people and their parents in
order for them to access care,
equipment and social support
to help them live well. We will
work with the NHS to ensure
that all children and young
people with spinal cord injury
receive the treatment that they
deserve through the
established Children and Young
Person’s pathway.
We will deliver at least 1000
individual support interventions
using a range of channels and
methods to children and young
people with a spinal cord injury.
We achieved over our target of
providing more than 1,000
individual support interventions
to children, young people and
their parents.
We offered 597 instances of
help up from 587 in 22/23 to
211 children and young people
up from 145 in 22/23.
We had 21 attendees on our
online Youth Break Out Lounge.
Plus 440 one to one education
support interventions.
By 2025 we will ensure our
support will be targeted at
times ofgreatest need,helping
90% of those attending Back Up
courses will report having
achieved theirpersonal aim.
92% of people attending a Back
Up course reported achieving
theirpersonal aim.

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The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2024

people affected by spinal cord
injury overcome barriers they
may face in their education,
career, family life, hobbies and
social life, so that they can live
the life they want. We will have
increased our resources for
people who are ageing with
spinal cord injury and have
established a course for newly
injured people who have
sustained a spinal cord injury
later in life.
We will have developed
resources for those ageing with
a spinal cord injury.
We are developing new
resources for older people with
spinal cord injury which we will
launch in the nextyear.
We will further develop our
outcome measurement to
better understand and
demonstrate where our
services make the greatest
impact.
We have a better
understanding of the social
return on investment of our
service offer. We are now able
to report to our largest funders
a £ value of social return due to
their funding .
By 2025 we will provide support
to every child and young person
with a spinal cord injury who
wants our help to ensure that
they are fully included in their
education and that their voice is
heard in this process. We will be
there for any teacher, school,
college or university that needs
our support around inclusion
and meeting the needs of a
child or young person with a
spinal cord injury, to ensure
they have a positive education
experience.
90% of children we work with
will feel happier at school.
90% of schools that work with
us will report an improved
understanding of inclusion.
440 one to one support
interventions have been
successfully delivered to ensure
that children and young people
are fully included in education –
engaging with 77 educational
settings, 29 in 22/23 with 100%
reporting an improved
understanding of inclusion.
Most importantly 100% of the
children and young people Back
Up have worked with say they
are now feeling happier at
school.
We remain the only UK wide
charity with dedicated services
for children and young people
with spinal cord injury.

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The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2024

Staying Connected- How we have helped connect people affected by spinal cord injury with others in a similar situation to achieve goals which matter to them

“It’s been amazing talking to someone who’s already done the journey and listening to me even when I think it’s silly and doubtful. They reassure me that it’s ok to take baby steps, it’s not a race.”

2025 Year Aims 2023/24 Objectives Review of Progress
By 2025 we will provide more
in-depth one to one support to
those who are really struggling,
increasing our capacity to
mentor three times more
people with a spinal cord injury
and their family members. We
will also establish a parent
support programme and parent
mentoring. This will involve
sharing experiences and
parents being provided with
practical support to help them
come to terms with what has
happened, and adjust positively
to life post-injury.
We will establish 300 mentoring
relationships.
We will develop and widen our
approach to 'Staying
Connected’, listening to
feedback to
create new solutions that will
extend to support parents of
those affected by spinal cord
injury.
We established 221 mentoring
relationships up from 203 in
22/23.
This year we have averaged a
real time quality score of 4.53
out of 5 for our mentoring.
We have developed and piloted
‘Back Up Connect’. This is a new
service where individuals
affected by spinal cord injury
can connect with a trained Back
Up Connector on a range of
topics. Nine new peer
connections were made in the
testphase.
By 2025 we will offer the family
of each newly injured person a
‘family rehab service’. This
begins with the acute phase
through information and advice
online and in-person at
relatives’ days, to post-
discharge from the hospital,
through peer mentoring and
dedicated courses.
We will attend or deliver 28
family support events.
80% of families will report
feeling more supported as a
result of our work.
We will deliver at least 100
digital support interventions to
families.
Due to challenges accessing
some spinal cord injury centres,
we have attended 20 family
support events in venues
around the UK.
338 family members registered
for Back Up’s support or used
Back Up’s services up from 229
in 22/23.
We have delivered 169 digital
support interventions to
families.
89% of families report feeling
more supported as a result of
our work.
By 2025 we will be integrated
into the NHS’s spinal services
rehabilitation pathway in order
to increase access to the first-
hand knowledge that comes
We will extend our NHSE Back
Up on Track model to all of
England’s Spinal Cord Injury
Centres.
In August we started the final
year of a three-year partnership
agreement with NHS England,
and we are working with the
NHS on futureplans for

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The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2024

from living with a spinal cord
injury. We will work in
partnership with the spinal
centres’ psychology,
physiotherapy and occupational
therapy professionals for in-
patient support. We will work in
partnership with the outreach
and out- patient teams to
support those with a spinal
cord injury in other hospital
settings, and in the community.
evolving the programme. The
programme is designed to
improve knowledge, skills and
confidence. It works with newly
injured people, family members
and centre staff to build
bespoke packages of support.
We have already signed up 580
patients exceeding the
programme target of 250
participants. Impact is
measured through pre and post
engagement measures which
shows distance travelled. We’re
delighted that on average, 98%
of participants have reported
improvements in their
wellbeing and confidence
scores.

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The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2024

Financial review – how we have spent our funds

Charity financial position

This year we have raised £2,615,743 (2023 £2,068,948) and our expenditure was £2,412,523 (2023: £2,093,809).

Back Up relies on the generosity of our supporters and partners. Many of our partners prefer to fund specific charitable activities through restricted grants and donations. We also aim to raise sufficient unrestricted income each year to ensure the smooth operation of the charity, investment in its future development and to cover shortfalls on restricted projects where they arise.

Reserves policy and going concern

Reserves

The Trustees have agreed a level of unrestricted reserves of £1,005,000 (2023: £799,000) to ensure sufficient cashflow for day-to-day activities, meet opportunities that arise over time, and mitigate any unforeseen events that could come up over the next 12 months. This is in line with the Reserves Policy which is to hold a reserves equivalent to four month’s budgeted expenditure for 2024/25 financial year. At the end of the 23/24 financial year, total funds were £1,406,476 (2023: £1,190,648) This was made up of £1,014,052 (2023: £995,191) of unrestricted funds, £270,512 (2023: £56,129) of restricted funds, £20,999 (2023: £38,415) of tangible fixed assets and £100,913 (2023: £100,913) of endowments.

To support Back Up’s ambitious growth strategy, the Trustees have approved a break-even budget for the next financial year. (I.e. projected in year expenditure equals in year projected fundraising). Investment in the fundraising team will support increased income generation over the coming years. Further investment in the services team and in digital tools will support expansion of support for people affected by spinal cord injury. The Trustees will aim to grow the Charity’s reserves in the coming years in line with the Charity’s growth ambition.

Investments

Part of the unrestricted reserves which are not needed in the short term, are invested in UK Common Investment Funds or fixed term interest bearing bank deposits mainly to mitigate the long-term risk of inflation and to maximise return to support charitable activities. The market value of investments at the end of the year was £566,845 (2023: £137,757). The Board of Trustees review the investment performance quarterly and review the policy at least every three years.

Principal risks and going concern

Our Trustees have reviewed the major risks Back Up faces, and confirm that the following systems are in place to manage them:

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The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2024

We have a framework which is used at all levels of management to identify risks and respond to them appropriately. Our ‘risk register’ includes an assessment of key risks, causes, consequences, their likelihood and significance, and a description of how they will be managed and mitigated. The register is regularly monitored by the senior management team and the Finance, Audit and Risk committee of the board.

Our plans balance risks and opportunities. We won’t take risks that undermine our impact or the safety of our service users and volunteers, but we do want to be in a position where we can realise potential opportunities.

At the time of writing, the biggest risks we face are:

Financial – failure of our fundraising team to meet targets

We have an ambitious strategy which sees us growing our services in order to support even more people affected by spinal cord injury. In order to deliver our ambitions, we need to increase income. We are fundraising against a backdrop of economic uncertainty, geopolitical instability and cost of living pressures.

This has been mitigated by:

Financial – overfunding of projects

In order to meet our ambition we need to increase our income. Our fundraising strategy sees us growing income across multiple income streams including shifting a focus to larger multi-year grants, increasing the number of donors and ways to support and increasing the headcount and participant numbers at our events. Fundraising is not an exact science so there is the possibility that the success rate is higher than anticipated.

This has been mitigated by:

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The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2024

Recruitment and retention

Our staff team make Back Up the organisation it is today. With high levels of job vacancies across the UK economy and relatively, low unemployment rates it is a challenging time to recruit.

This has been mitigated by:

In light of the above, and the current level of unrestricted funds, the Trustees are confident that the Charity can continue to operate in the next 12 months.

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The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2024

How we raised our funds

In 2023/24, with the help of our incredible donors, partners and fundraisers, we raised £2,615,743. From riding bikes, to hosting barbecues to birthday fundraisers and everything in between, hundreds of individuals have stepped up to support Back Up this year. Corporate supporters, trusts and foundations and major donors have continued to partner with us to deliver our vital services to people with spinal cord injury. Most significantly we secured a three-year grant from the Motability Foundation for £1.86 million which is enabling us to reach many more people affected by spinal cord injury and build on our work supporting people affected by spinal cord injury to be travel confident. To all of our funders thank you so much. Quite simply we couldn’t do what we do without you.

Voluntary income (£610,496)

Our voluntary fundraising areas are:

Income from charitable activities (£1,169,121)

Income from events (£676,900)

Trading Income (£132,947) - This includes income from the Back Up online shop and corporate sponsorship of our services.

Other income (£26,279)

Fundraising approach, regulation and complaints

Back Up is registered with the Fundraising Regulator and we comply with the standards as set out in the Code of Fundraising Practice across all of our fundraising activity. We comply with the key principles and behaviours of the Code to ensure that any vulnerable persons are treated fairly.

We gained consultancy support from third-party fundraisers in this period. Where we worked with third parties we had agreements in place to ensure compliance with Back Up’s policies and the Code of Fundraising Practice. We have commercial participator agreements in place with corporate partners where appropriate.

Our ethical donations and partnerships policy outlines our position on not accepting donations from companies or individuals where there is a conflict with our mission and values.

We received one complaint relating to one of our fundraising events this year. Our complaints policy is reviewed by the board on a three-yearly cycle and is available on our website.

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The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2024

Structure, governance and management

We are governed by a board of trustees which meets formally four times a year. As well as attending board meetings our trustees support us in a range of ways including supporting the development of our strategy, agreeing policies and making sure they are put into practice and providing guidance on projects.

Our trustees ensure the charity’s aims, objectives and activities remain focused on its stated purposes. The trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity’s aims and objectives and in planning its future activities. In particular, the trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives that have been set.

Our trustees ensure that all of Back Up’s charitable activities, as defined in the charity’s articles, focus on people affected by spinal cord injury in order to:

These activities are undertaken to further the Back Up Trust’s charitable purposes for the public interest.

Work is underway to update our articles to align with charity commission guidance. Our objects will remain substantively the same but the articles will be updated to reflect changes in legislation and recommended practice. Thanks to DLA Piper who have supported this work.

Our trustees are all volunteers with a range of skills from diverse backgrounds. Well over half have personal experience of spinal cord injury.

Trustees who served during 2023/24 are named on page 26.

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The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2024

To support its work, the board has established three committees. Each committee meets quarterly and has a term of reference describing their roles and responsibilities. They are:

The Board of Trustees also runs a Remuneration and Nominations Committee which oversees the salary structure, sets the pay for the CEO and oversees recruitment, induction and ongoing training for trustees. The committee runs as necessary and at least annually.

All committee meetings have declarations of interests as a standing agenda item and where a conflict arises, we ensure our Conflict of Interest Policy is followed. All Trustees including the Chair have an annual performance review. This supports our trustees and governance structure to develop and make sure we are best placed to support people affected by spinal cord injury.

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The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2024

Statement of responsibilities of the trustees

The trustees (who are also directors of The Back-Up Trust for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the trustees’ annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and group and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company or group for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

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

In so far as the trustees are aware:

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Members of the charity guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 to the assets of the charity in the event of winding up. The total number of such guarantees at 31 March 2024 was 11 (2023:11). The trustees are members of the charity, but this entitles them only to voting rights. The trustees have no beneficial interest in the charity.

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The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2024

Auditor information

Sayer Vincent LLP is appointed as the charitable company's auditor during the year and has expressed its willingness to continue in that capacity.

The trustees’ annual report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime.

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The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2024

Future Plans

As we enter the final year of our Transforming Lives Strategy, we are actively working on developing our 2025-30 strategy.

Our strategy development is based on a number of principles and assumptions. We believe that Transforming Lives is an effective strategy which is owned by the Back Up team. We are proud of the progress that has been made in implementation. So, our 2025-30 strategy will be an evolution and not revolution. We will focus on developing Back Up’s strengths and areas of expertise, identifying opportunities which are complementary to our existing offers and expertise. We will ask what do we want to become? And what do we want to achieve?

We will prioritise areas that enhance our ability to deliver for people affected by spinal cord injury.

People affected by spinal cord injury are at the heart of everything that we do. We are engaging both people that we have supported and those who do not currently use Back Up’s services to better understand the barriers which are preventing us from truly being there for everyone affected by spinal cord injury.

Our reach 500 campaign involves all Back Up team members and trustees calling individuals affected by spinal cord injury to gather insights and identify what they would like to see from Back Up in the future.

In depth engagement is taking place with people with higher level injuries, ethnic minorities and children and young people affected by spinal cord injury to ensure that their voices are heard.

New figures from the NHS show that almost 4 out of 5 people sustaining spinal cord injury in the UK will not be admitted to specialist spinal cord injury centres. In response we will continue to expand our regional services to be closer to where people live and will focus beyond NHS specialist centres.

We were delighted to be selected as October Club’s partner of the year 2024. This partnership will enable us to build vital infrastructure to reach the UK’s 33 Major Trauma Centres which is a major focus.

Goal 2025 Aims 2024/25 Objectives
Living
confidently:
people with a
spinal
cord injury have
the confidence
and
practical skills to
get
the most out of
life
By 2025 we will reach all newly injured
people in the UK, including all children
and young people. By providing support
from the beginning of the adjustment
process we can make sure people have
the skills and confidence they need to
live life independently.
We will have registered and
offered support to at least
1,275 people with a spinal
cord injury, including at least
75 children and young
people.
We will reach all NHS
rehabilitation settings where
newly injured people are.

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The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2024

We will have delivered at
least 35,000 individual
support interventions across
all services using a range of
channels and methods.
By 2025 we will be more inclusive,
expanding the number and range of our
transformative courses, online resources
and services for people who cannot
access specialist support in spinal
centres – making them accessible
wherever they may be in the UK.
We will grow the number of
in person courses from 12-
15.
We will expand our What
Next? course collaborating
with more charity partners
and reaching at least 225
people with online sessions
and e-learning guides over
the course of the year.
We will develop plans for our
first City Skills course in
Wales ready for launch in
25/26.
We will relaunch our
Wheelchair Skills App and
develop a range of new travel
and transport resources
focused on giving people the
confidence to get out and
about.
By 2025 we will be leaders in supporting
people with a spinal cord
injury in getting back to work and
volunteering, working collaboratively
with businesses, the NHS and other
organisations where we can
achieve more together to provide
opportunities.
We will deliver at least three
Skills for Work courses and
run a careers fair with
corporate partners.
50% of people accessing our
vocation support will be in
work or volunteering 6-12
months after engagement.
We will launch Coach to Work
- more intensive support for
people wanting to return to
work who are unclear on
what they want to do, and
Employment Advocacy for
those lookingfor support to

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The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2024

return to the same employer
post injury.
Thriving at any
age:
all people with a
spinal
cord injury are
able to
reach their full
potential.
By 2025 we will provide specialist advice
and information to children, young
people and their parents in order for
them to access care, equipment and
social support to help them live well. We
will work with the NHS to ensure that all
children and young people with spinal
cord injury receive the treatment that
they deserve through the established
Children and YoungPerson’spathway.
We will deliver at least 1,200
individual support
interventions using a range of
channels and methods to
children and young people
with a spinal cord injury –
including accredited
Information Advice and
Guidance support.
By 2025 we will ensure our support will
be targeted at times of greatest need,
helping people affected by spinal cord
injury overcome barriers they may face
in their education, career, family life,
hobbies and social life, so that they can
live the life they want. We will have
increased our resources for people who
are ageing with spinal cord injury and
have established a course for newly
injured people who have sustained a
spinal cord injury later in life.
90% of those attending Back
Up courses will report having
achieved their personal aim.
We will have further
developed resources for
those ageing with a spinal
cord injury.
We will continue to develop
our outcome measurement
to better understand and
demonstrate where our
services make the greatest
impact.
By 2025 we will provide support to every
child and young person with a spinal
cord injury who wants our help to ensure
that they are fully included in their
education and that their voice is heard in
this process. We will be there for any
teacher, school, college or university that
needs our support around inclusion and
meeting the needs of a child or young
person with a spinal cord injury, to
ensure they have a positive education
experience.
90% of children we work with
will feel happier at school.
90% of schools that work with
us will report an improved
understanding of inclusion.
Staying
connected:
everyone affected
by
spinal cord injury
can
connect with
someone
By 2025 we will provide more in-depth
one-on-one support to those who are
really struggling, increasing our capacity
to mentor three times more people with
a spinal cord injury and their family
members. We will also establish a parent
support programme and parent
mentoring. This will involve sharing
We will establish 300
connections, either through
medium term mentoring
relationships or one-off
meaningful conversations
between peers.

23

The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2024

in a similar
situation
to themselves, to
overcome
challenges
and achieve goals
that
matter to them
experiences and parents being provided
with practical support to help them come
to terms with what has happened and
adjust positively to life post-injury.
We will roll out our new Back
Up Connect service. Our team
of volunteer connectors will
support people to find the
right support on issues which
matter to those affected by
spinal cord injury.
We will further develop our
approach to family mentoring
with new support for parents
of those affected by spinal
cord injury.
By 2025 we will offer the family of each
newly injured person a ‘family rehab
service’. This begins with the acute phase
through information and advice online
and in-person at relatives’ days, to post-
discharge from the hospital, through
peer mentoring and dedicated courses.
We will attend or deliver 24
family support events.
80% of families will report
feeling more supported as a
result of our work.
We will deliver at least 225
digital support interventions
to families.
By 2025 we will be integrated into the
NHS’s spinal services
rehabilitation pathway in order to
increase access to the first-hand
knowledge that comes from living with a
spinal cord injury. We will work in
partnership with the spinal centres’
psychology, physiotherapy and
occupational therapy professionals for
in-patient support. We will work in
partnership with the outreach and out-
patient teams to support those with a
spinal cord injury in other hospital
settings,and in the community.
We will actively engage with
professionals who support
people affected by spinal
cord injury, raising awareness
of the full range of Back Up’s
services.

24

The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2024

Relationships with other organisations

Back Up is committed to collaboration. We work closely with Aspire, Spinal Research, Wings for Life, Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby , Spinal Injuries Scotland, Horatio's Garden, Spinal Injuries Association and other organisations to provide better support for people affected by spinal cord injury. We do this by sharing ideas and information with a view to delivering complementary services. We recently brought a coalition of charities together with colleagues from the NHS to get a better understanding of spinal cord injury data. By working together, we were able to gain new insights which benefitted the whole sector. Our partnership with Aspire means that anyone who accesses one of our organisation’s services – with their permission, automatically gains access to the services of the other.

The trustees’ annual report has been approved by the trustees on 31 July 2024 and signed on their behalf by:

Richard Rawstron

Treasurer

25

The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2024

Administrative Information

Company number 3596996 Country of incorporation United Kingdom Charity number 1072216 Country of registration England & Wales, Scotland OSCR Number SC040577 Registered office and 4 Knightley Walk operational address London SW18 1GZ

Our People

Trustees[1] Trustees, who are also directors under company law, who served during the year and up to the date of this report were as follows:

Gordon Craig Helen Cooke Anne Luttman-Johnson Christopher Morgan (Resigned on 13[th] November 2023) Ben Parker ** Richard Rawstron (Treasurer) Damian Riley (Chair, appointed on 1[st] May 2024) Tom Roberts Rebecca Stevenson Grace Spence Green Joanna Wright (Interim Chair of Trustees until 1[st] May 2024) Paul Fairhurst Louise Jolliffe (Appointed on 26[th] July 2023) Martine Petetin (Resigned on 3[rd] May 2023)

In keeping with the charity’s ethos of inclusion, Back Up aims to have 50% representation on the board from people who are spinal cord injured.

President Konrad Bartelski

Chief Executive Abigail Lock Officer

** immediate family member has/had a spinal cord injury

26

The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2024

Senior Management Kevin Filby Team Salvatore La Monica (Company Secretary) Sean McCallion* Charlene Vallory Patrons:** Mike Nemesvary * Barbara Broccoli Valerie Singleton Eric Lanlard Sophie Morgan * Martin Bell (to 17 June 2024) Sophie Carrigill * Claire Danson *

Volunteers

We could not operate without the support of our amazing volunteers. Whilst we can't name everyone in total, we estimate that our services, fundraising and office volunteers, alongside our trustees, have contributed 22,273 hours to our work this year. This works out at almost 928 days (22/23: 957 days), or over’ worth of time. We are extremely appreciative of the amazing support offered to us and proud of the contributions our volunteers make.

Company Secretary Salvatore La Monica

Bankers NatWest 153 Putney High St. Putney London SW15 1RX

Auditor Sayer Vincent LLP Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditor 110 Golden Lane LONDON EC1Y 0TG

27

Independent auditor’s report

To the members of

The Back-up Trust

Independent auditor’s report

We have audited the financial statements of The Back-Up Trust (the ‘parent charitable company’) and its subsidiary (the ‘group’) for the year ended 31 March 2024 which comprise the consolidated statement of financial activities, the group and parent charitable company balance sheets, the consolidated statement of cash flows and the notes to the financial statements, including 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 group 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 trustees' 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 Back-Up Trust'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.

Independent auditor’s report

To the members of

The Back-up Trust

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 trustees’ annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. 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 this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. 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.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and the parent charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the trustees’ annual report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) require us to report to you if, in our opinion:

29

Independent auditor’s report

To the members of

The Back-up Trust

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the statement of trustees’ responsibilities set out in the trustees’ annual report, the trustees (who are also the directors of the parent charitable company for the purposes of

company law) 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 group’s and the parent charitable company’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 group or the parent charitable company 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 44(1)(c) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and under the Companies Act 2006 and report in accordance with regulations made under those Acts.

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

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

30

Independent auditor’s report

To the members of

The Back-up Trust

Capability of the audit in detecting irregularities

In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, our procedures included the following:

that had a fundamental effect on the operations of the group from our professional and sector experience.

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.

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

31

Independent auditor’s report

To the members of

The Back-up Trust

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company's members as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and section 44(1)(c) of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members 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 charitable company and the charitable company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Noelia Serrano (Senior statutory auditor)

13 September 2024

for and on behalf of Sayer Vincent LLP, Statutory Auditor 110 Golden Lane, LONDON, EC1Y 0TG

Sayer Vincent LLP is eligible to act as auditor in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006

32

The Back-Up Trust

Consolidated statement of financial activities (incorporating an income and expenditure account)

For the year ended 31 March 2024

For the year ended 31 March 2024 For the year ended 31 March 2024
Unrestricted
£
Income from:
2
610,496
4
150,000
3
809,847
23,898
1,594,241
721,984
203,333
5
925,317
12,608
6
681,532
(680,087)
1,445
Reconciliation of funds:
1,033,606
1,035,051
Investments
Total income
Expenditure on:
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Other trading activities
Activities for raising funds
Note
Raising funds
Net income / (expenditure)
for the year
Total expenditure
Net
income
/
(expenditure)
before net gains / (losses) on
investments
Charitable activities
Net gains / (losses) on
investments
668,924
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
Transfers between funds
Net movement in funds
Restricted
£
-
1,019,121
-
-
Endowment
£
-
-
-
2,381
2024
Total
£
610,496
1,169,121
809,847
26,279
Unrestricted
£
574,070
150,000
875,418
3,906
Restricted
£
3,000
460,615
-
Endowment
£
-
-
-
1,939
2023
Total
£
577,070
610,615
875,418
5,845
1,594,241 1,019,121 2,381 2,615,743 1,603,394 463,615 1,939 2,068,948
721,984
203,333
-
1,484,825
-
2,381
721,984
1,690,539
748,498
152,485
-
1,190,887
-
1,939
748,498
1,345,311
925,317 1,484,825 2,381 2,412,523 900,983 1,190,887 1,939 2,093,809
12,608
668,924
-
(465,704)
-
-
12,608
203,220
(8,535)
702,411
-
(727,272)
-
-
(8,535)
(24,861)
681,532
(680,087)
(465,704)
680,087
-
-
215,828
-
693,876
(783,401)
(727,272)
783,401
-
-
(33,396)
-
1,445
1,033,606
214,383
56,129
-
100,913
215,828
1,190,648
(89,525)
1,123,131
56,129
-
-
100,913
(33,396)
1,224,044
1,035,051 270,512 100,913 1,406,476 1,033,606 56,129 100,913 1,190,648

All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disclosed in Note 22 to the financial statements.

33

Company no. 3596996

The Back-Up Trust

Consolidated balance sheet

As at 31 March 2024

As at 31 March 2024
Consolidated balance sheet
Company no. 3596996 Company no. 3596996 Company no. 3596996 Company no. 3596996
Note
11
12
15
16
20a
Fixed assets:
Tangible assets
Investments
Current assets:
Stock
Debtors
Short term deposits
Cash at bank and in hand
Liabilities:
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Net current assets
Total net assets
Funds:
Restricted income funds
Endowment funds
Unrestricted income funds:
General funds
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds
Approved by the trustees on
31July2024
2024
2023
2024
2023
£
£
£
£
20,999
38,415
20,999
38,415
-
137,757
100
137,857
20,999
176,172
21,099
176,272
2,317
-
-
-
363,058
312,782
402,550
391,413
152,746
-
152,746
-
1,193,211
961,610
1,138,966
861,463
1,711,332
1,274,392
1,694,262
1,252,876
(325,855)
(259,916)
(308,885)
(238,500)
1,385,477
1,014,476
1,385,377
1,014,376
1,406,476
1,190,648
1,406,476
1,190,648
270,512
56,129
270,512
56,129
100,913
100,913
100,913
100,913
1,035,051
1,033,606
1,035,051
1,033,606
1,035,051
1,033,606
1,035,051
1,033,606
1,406,476
1,190,648
1,406,476
1,190,648
and signed on their behalf by
Charity
Group
20,999
2,317
363,058
152,746
1,193,211
176,172
-
312,782
-
961,610
21,099
-
402,550
152,746
1,138,966
176,272
-
391,413
-
861,463
1,711,332
(325,855)
1,274,392
(259,916)
1,694,262
(308,885)
1,252,876
(238,500)
1,385,477 1,014,476 1,385,377 1,014,376
1,406,476 1,190,648 1,406,476 1,190,648
270,512
100,913
1,035,051
56,129
100,913
1,033,606
270,512
100,913
1,035,051
56,129
100,913
1,033,606
1,035,051 1,033,606 1,035,051 1,033,606
1,406,476 1,190,648 1,406,476 1,190,648

Richard Rawstron Treasurer

34

The Back-Up Trust

Consolidated statement of cash flows

For the year ended 31 March 2024

For the year ended 31 March 2024
Note
Net income / (expenditure) for the year
(as per the statement of financial activities)
Depreciation charges
(Gains) / losses on investments
Dividends, interest and rent from investments
(Increase) / Decrease in debtors
Increase in creditors
23
Purchase of investments
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year
Cash flows from operating activities
Net cash (used in) investing activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Dividends, interest and rents from investments
Purchase of fixed assets
Net cash provided by operating activities
(Increase) in stock
Proceeds from sale of investments
£
£
215,828
17,735
(12,608)
(26,279)
(2,317)
(50,276)
65,938
208,021
26,279
(318)
(140,138)
137,757
23,580
231,601
961,610
1,193,211
2024
£
£
(33,396)
15,659
8,535
(5,845)
-
139,351
91,020
215,324
5,845
(31,221)
(1,937)
-
(27,313)
188,012
773,598
961,610
2023
208,021
23,580
215,324
(27,313)
231,601
961,610
188,012
773,598
1,193,211 961,610

35

The Back-Up Trust

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

1 Accounting policies

a) Statutory information

The Back-Up Trust is a charitable company limited by guarantee and is incorporated in United Kingdom.

The registered office address is 4 Knightley Walk, London, SW18 1GZ.

b) Basis of preparation

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

These financial statements consolidate the results of the charity and its wholly-owned subsidiary Back-Up Promotions Limited on a line by line basis. Transactions and balances between the charity and its subsidiary have been eliminated from the consolidated financial statements. Balances between the two entities are disclosed in the notes of the charity's balance sheet. A separate statement of financial activities, or income and expenditure account, or cashflow for the charity itself is not presented because the charity has taken advantage of the exemptions afforded by section 408 of the Companies Act 2006.

Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy or note.

In applying the financial reporting framework, the trustees have made a number of subjective judgements, for example in respect of significant accounting estimates. 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. The nature of the estimation means the actual outcomes could differ from those estimates. Any significant estimates and judgements affecting these financial statements are detailed within the relevant accounting policy below.

c) Public benefit entity

The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.

d) Going concern

In assessing the going concern, the Trustees have considered the uncertainties that the charity could face over the next 12 months and all the severe but reasonably plausible scenarios show that there is reasonable assurance that the Charity will have sufficient funds to continue operating on a going concern basis. The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.

e) Income

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and that the amount can be measured reliably.

Income from government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.

For legacies, they are included on the earlier of when the charity is advised by the personal representative of an estate that payment will be made or property transferred and the amount involved can be quantified or when a distribution is made.

Income received in advance of the provision of a specified service is deferred until the criteria for income recognition are met.

f) Donations of gifts, services and facilities

Donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised as income when the charity has control over the item or received the service, any conditions associated with the donation have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charity of the item is probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), volunteer time is not recognised so refer to the trustees’ annual report for more information about their contribution.

g) Interest receivable

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.

36

The Back-Up Trust

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

1

h) Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are donations and other incoming resources received or generated for the charitable purposes.

Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes.

Endowment funds are held on trust and the return on investments can be spent on each restricted fund.

i) Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.

j) Allocation of support costs

Resources expended are allocated to the particular activity where the cost relates directly to that activity. However, the cost of overall direction and administration of each activity, comprising the salary and overhead costs of the central function, is apportioned on the following basis which are an estimate, based on staff time, of the amount attributable to each activity.

Support and governance costs are re-allocated to each of the activities on the following basis which is an estimate, based on staff time, of the amount attributable to each activity

Outreach and engagement 31%
Mentoring 13%
Courses 9%
Children Young People 9%
Cost of Raising funds 28%
Raising awareness 10%

Governance costs are the costs associated with the governance arrangements of the charity. These costs are associated with constitutional and statutory requirements and include any costs associated with the strategic management of the charity’s activities.

k) Operating leases

Rental charges are charged on a straight line basis over the term of the lease.

l) Tangible fixed assets

Items of equipment are capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £1,000. Depreciation costs are allocated to activities on the basis of the use of the related assets in those activities. Assets are reviewed for impairment if circumstances indicate their carrying value may exceed their net realisable value and value in use. Major components are treated as a separate asset where they have significantly different patterns of consumption of economic benefits and are depreciated separately over its useful life.

Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write down the cost of each asset to its estimated residual value over its expected useful life. The depreciation rates in use are as follows:

 Office equipment

3 years

m) Listed investments

Investments are a form of basic financial instrument and are initially recognised at their transaction value and subsequently measured at their fair value as at the balance sheet date using the closing quoted market price. Any change in fair value will be recognised in the statement of financial activities. Investment gains and losses, whether realised or unrealised, are combined and shown in the heading “Net gains/(losses) on investments” in the statement of financial activities. The charity does not acquire put options, derivatives or other complex financial instruments. Cash held on deposit with a maturity date of more than three months after year end is treated as an investment.

n) Investments in subsidiaries

Investments in subsidiaries are at cost.

37

The Back-Up Trust

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

1 Accounting policies (continued)

o) Stocks

Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Net realisable value is based on the selling cost less further costs expected to be incurred to completion and disposal.

p) Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

q) 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.

r) 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. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

s) Financial instruments

The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

2 Voluntary income

Voluntary income
Individuals
Charitable Trusts
Corporate Donations
Unrestricted
£
429,667
68,063
112,766
£
-
-
-
Restricted
2024
Total
£
429,667
68,063
112,766
Unrestricted
£
379,441
62,500
132,129
2023
Total
£
£
-
379,441
3,000
65,500
-
132,129
3,000
577,070
Restricted
610,496 - 610,496 574,070

3 Income from activities for raising funds

Major events
Other trading activities
General events
2024
2023
Total
Total
£
£
292,465
379,999
384,435
385,113
132,947
110,306
809,847
875,418

All income from raising funds is unrestricted for 2024 and 2023.

38

The Back-Up Trust

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

4 Income from charitable activities

theyear ended 31 March 2024
Income from charitable activities
Outreach and Engagement
Children and Young People
National Lottery Community Fund
Wales: People and Places 3
Other Charitable Trusts
The Big Yellow Foundation
National Lottery Community Fund -
Scotland
The Childwick Trust
The Medicash Foundation
Persula Foundation
The Big Yellow Foundation
Mitre Trust
Porticus Foundation
National Lottery Community Fund
Wales: People and Places 3
R S Macdonald Charitable Trust
The Childwick Trust
William Allen Young Charitable Trust
The Mickel Fund
NHS England Back on Track
Motability
Henry Smith Charity
The City of London Corporation
Other Charitable Trusts
Total income from charitable
activities
Courses
The Alice Ellen Cooper Dean
Henry Smith Charity
The City of London Corporation
The Eveson Trust
Persula Foundation
The Medicash Foundation
Other Charitable Trusts
St James Place Charitable Foundation
Motability
National Lottery Community Fund -
Scotland
Bruce Wake Charitable Trust
Other Charitable Trusts
Motability
Raising Awareness
POM Charitable Trust
NHS England Family Rehab Service
The Eveson Trust
Hugh Fraser Foundation
National Lottery Community Fund
Wales: People and Places 3
Henry Smith Charity
National Lottery Community Fund -
Scotland
The City of London Corporation
The Varrier-Jones Foundation
The Rectory Foundation
Mentoring
Motability
Unrestricted
£
150,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
£
235,750
-
42,868
34,065
30,867
29,801
17,000
12,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
7,500
6,000
5,500
5,500
5,000
5,000
5,000
4,000
3,600
33,300
Restricted
2024
Total
£
235,750
150,000
42,868
34,065
30,867
29,801
17,000
12,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
7,500
6,000
5,500
5,500
5,000
5,000
5,000
4,000
3,600
33,300
Unrestricted
£
-
150,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2023
Total
£
£
-
-
-
150,000
-
-
20,000
20,000
33,244
33,244
31,389
31,389
-
-
10,000
10,000
-
-
-
100,000
100,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
64,981
64,981
259,614
409,614
2023
Total
£
£
-
-
35,000
35,000
16,450
16,450
-
-
-
-
7,361
7,361
5,000
5,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
22,835
22,835
86,646
86,646
-
-
14,000
14,000
8,356
8,356
-
-
5,000
5,000
-
-
4,880
4,880
-
-
36,444
36,444
68,680
68,680
30,075
30,075
15,600
15,600
45,675
45,675
-
-
-
-
460,615
610,615
Restricted
Restricted
150,000 512,751 662,751 150,000
Unrestricted
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
£
58,488
36,184
15,800
10,700
6,907
6,750
3,000
2,500
2,400
1,000
5,700
Restricted
2024
Total
£
58,488
36,184
15,800
10,700
6,907
6,750
3,000
2,500
2,400
1,000
5,700
Unrestricted
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- 149,429 149,429 -
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
87,433
15,000
12,896
10,000
5,000
4,750
4,649
3,274
8,520
87,433
15,000
12,896
10,000
5,000
4,750
4,649
3,274
8,520
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- 151,522 151,522 -
-
-
31,559
3,500
31,559
3,500
-
-
- 35,059 35,059 -
- 170,360 170,360 -
- 170,360 170,360 -
150,000 1,019,121 1,169,121 150,000

39

The Back-Up Trust

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

5a Analysis of expenditure (current year)

Charitable activities

Staff costs (Note 7)
Other direct costs
Premises
Insurance
Communications
Office expenses
Finance costs
Audit/Accountancy fees
Professional fees
Trustee expenses
Depreciation
Support and Governance costs
Total expenditure 2024
Total expenditure 2023
Raising
funds
£
358,965
219,689
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Outreach and
Engagement
£
408,271
49,936
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Mentoring
£
165,185
31,410
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Courses
£
112,421
176,810
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
289,231
44,888
334,119
290,279
Children and
Young People
£
123,460
21,643
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
145,103
49,296
194,399
175,090
Raising
awareness
£
134,560
89,956
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Governance
costs
£
32,237
-
-
-
-
-
-
14,490
7,804
4,009
-
Support
costs
£
193,247
-
103,285
18,672
91,565
22,856
12,522
-
1,795
-
17,735
2024
£
1,528,346
589,444
103,285
18,672
91,565
22,856
12,522
14,490
9,599
4,009
17,735
2023
£
1,295,962
532,662
97,750
16,421
78,855
16,164
7,082
17,270
13,901
2,083
15,659
578,654
143,330
458,207
163,018
196,595
65,956
224,516
53,728
58,540
(58,540)
461,677
(461,677)
2,412,523
-
2,093,809
-
721,984 621,225 262,551 278,244 - - 2,412,523 -
748,498 490,169 235,350 154,424 - - - 2,093,809

Raising Awareness comprises charitable activities at a cost of £72,527 funded from restricted income and charitable activities at a cost of £206,198 funded from unrestricted income.

40

The Back-Up Trust

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Staff costs (Note 7)
Other direct costs
Premises
Insurance
Communications
Office expenses
Finance costs
Audit/Accountancy fees
Professional fees
Trustee expenses
Depreciation
Support and Governance costs
Total expenditure 2023
Raising
funds
£
356,221
264,715
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Charitable activities Charitable activities Charitable activities Governance
costs
£
15,976
-
-
-
-
-
-
17,270
13,901
2,083
-
Support
costs
2024
£
£
130,329
1,295,962
-
532,662
97,750
97,750
16,421
16,421
78,855
78,855
16,164
16,164
7,082
7,082
-
17,270
-
13,901
-
2,083
15,659
15,659
362,260
2,093,809
(362,260)
-
2,093,809
Outreach and
Engagement
£
323,136
51,816
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Mentoring
£
156,059
21,682
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Courses
£
115,210
133,920
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
249,130
41,149
290,279
Children &
Young People
£
118,717
15,223
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
133,940
41,149
175,090
Raising
awareness
£
80,314
45,306
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
620,936
127,562
374,952
115,217
177,741
57,609
125,620
28,804
49,230
(49,230)
748,498 490,169 235,350 154,424 -

41

The Back-Up Trust

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

6 Net income for the year

This is stated after charging / (crediting):

This is stated after charging / (crediting):
2024 2023
£ £
Depreciation 17,735 15,659
Operating lease rentals:
Property 80,273 87,421
Auditor's remuneration (excluding VAT):
Audit 11,120 8,900
Other services 3,370 5,150

7 Analysis of staff costs, trustee remuneration and expenses, and the cost of key management personnel

Staff costs were as follows:

Salaries and wages
Training
Recruitment
Other staff costs
Social security costs
Operating costs of defined benefit pension schemes
2024
2023
£
£
1,285,133
1,097,917
117,809
103,156
60,514
51,519
12,298
20,863
28,976
15,633
23,616
6,873
1,528,346
1,295,962

The following number of employees received employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs and employer's national insurance) during the year between:

2024 2023
No. No.
£70,000 - £79,999 1 2
£80,000 - £89,999 1 -

The total employee benefits (including pension contributions and employer's national insurance) of the key management personnel were £342,663 (2023: £299,422).

The charity trustees were neither paid nor received any other benefits from employment with the charity in the year (2023: £nil). No charity trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2023: £nil).

Trustees' expenses represents the payment or reimbursement of travel and subsistence costs totalling £1,266 (2023: £931) incurred by 1 (2023: 3) member relating to attendance at meetings of the trustees. £1,770 of costs was incurred in the recruitment of new trustees (2023: £0). In addition there were a further £972 (2023: £896 ) expensed for trustees' meetings by the charity.

The aggregate figure for trustee donations in the year was £12,884 received from 11 trustees (2023: £19,969 from 13 trustees). All of these were unrestricted.

8 Staff numbers

The average number of employees (head count based on number of staff employed) during the year was 46 (2023: 38).

Staff are split across the activities of the charity as follows:

Support
Fundraising
Services
Governance
2024
2023
No.
No.
11
10
29
24
5
3
1
1
46
38

42

The Back-Up Trust

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

9 Related party transactions

During the year the charity charged expenses of £32,842 (2023: £29,044) to Back-Up Promotions Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. The Company also received income of £95,183 (2023: £76,407) on behalf of Back-Up Promotions Limited. The amount due from them at the year end was £68,025 (2023: £105,451).

Following an in-depth procurement process, in November 2022 the Charity has subscribed an annual licence for a Fundraising platform of which one of the trustees is a Director. The decision to subscribe to the platform was made on the basis of functionality and cost. The decision to subscribe to the platform was made at an operational level. The annual cost is £1,620 (£1,620 recognised as an expense in FY 23-24 and £675 held as a prepayment at the year end). There are no donations from related parties which are outside the normal course of business and no restricted donations from related parties.

10 Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes. The charity's trading subsidiary Back-Up Trust Promotions Limited distributes under Gift Aid available profits to the parent charity.

11 Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets
Disposals in year
Eliminated on disposal
Fair value at the end of the year
Disposals
Net (losses)/ gain on change in fair value
All of the above assets are used for charitable purposes.
Investments
Additions
Net book value
Shares in Trading subsidiary (Note 13)
Total value of investments
At the end of the year
At the start of the year
At the end of the year
At the end of the year
At the start of the year
Charge for the year
Fair value at the start of the year
Historical Cost
Depreciation
At the start of the year
Additions in year
Cost
The group and charity
2024
2023
£
£
137,757
144,355
-
1,937
(137,757)
-
-
(8,535)
-
137,757
-
-
-
137,757
-
124,577
The group
Office
equipment
£
87,405
318
-
Total
£
87,405
318
-
87,723 87,723
48,990
17,735
-
48,990
17,735
-
66,725 66,725
20,999 20,999
38,415 38,415
- 137,757 - 137,757
- - 100 100
- 137,757 100 137,857
- 124,577 - 124,577

12 Investments

Investments comprised only of UK common investment funds. There have been no transactions within the year, other than the transfer to short term investments. The Trustees intend to dispose of the investments in 2024 to increase liquidity in support of Back-Up's growth plans.

43

The Back-Up Trust

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

13 Subsidiary undertaking

The charity owns the whole of the issued ordinary share capital of Back-Up Trust Promotions Limited, a company registered in England. The company number is 02719893. The registered office address is 4 Knightley Walk, London, England, SW18 1GZ .

The subsidiary is used for non-primary purpose trading activities. All activities have been consolidated on a line by line basis in the statement of financial activities. Available profits are distributed under Gift Aid to the parent charity.

The Subsidiary is exempt from the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to the audit of individual accounts by virtue of Section 479a.

Joanna Wright, Richard Rawstron and Abigail Lock were appointed as Directors of the subsidiary on 29 April 2021. Joanna Wright and Richard Rawstron are also Trustees of the parent charity.

A summary of the results of the subsidiary is shown below:


Richard Rawstron are also Trustees of the parent charity.
A summary of the results of the subsidiary is shown below:
Turnover
The aggregate of the assets, liabilities and reserves was:
Total retained earnings carried forward
Profit for the financial year
Distribution under Gift Aid to parent charity
Reserves
Total retained earnings brought forward
Profit on ordinary activities before taxation
Administrative expenses
Gross profit
Cost of sales
Assets
Liabilities
Management Recharge
Taxation on profit on ordinary activities
Retained earnings
Profit for the financial year
2024
£
132,947
570
2023
£
110,306
(2,578)
133,517
(32,842)
(3,492)
107,728
(29,044)
(2,277)
97,183
-
76,407
-
97,183 76,407
-
97,183
(97,183)
-
76,407
(76,407)
- -
87,195
(87,095)
127,061
(126,961)
100 100

44

The Back-Up Trust

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Notes to the financial statements

14 Parent charity

The parent charity's gross income and the results for the year are disclosed as follows:

15
16
Taxation and social security
Gross income
Other creditors
Accruals
Deferred income (note 17)
Result for the year
Prepayments and accrued income
Amounts due from group undertakings
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Debtors
Trade creditors
Trade debtors
2024
2023
£
£
96,221
65,708
-
-
266,837
247,074
363,058
312,782
2024
2023
£
£
54,434
69,483
37,908
32,915
24,356
31,639
30,871
18,260
178,286
107,619
325,855
259,916
The group
The group
2024
£
2,625,431
215,828
2023
£
2,064,093
(24,861)
308,885 238,500

45

The Back-Up Trust

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

17 Deferred income

Deferred income comprises of income received in advance for events taking place within 2024/25.

Deferred income comprises of income received in advance for events taking place within 2024/25. place within 2024/25.
Balance at the beginning of the year
Amount released to income in the year
Amount deferred in the year
Balance at the end of the year
2024
2023
2024
2023
£
£
£
£
107,619
64,086
94,369
47,933
(107,619)
(64,086)
(94,369)
(47,933)
178,286
107,619
167,903
94,369
178,286
107,619
167,903
94,369
The group
The charity
94,369

18 Pension scheme

The company operates a stakeholder pension scheme. Employees can make contributions to the scheme and the company contributes between 2-3% plus an additional matching amount up to a maximum of 5%. The pension cost charge for the year is £60,515 (2023: £51,519 ). £1,698 (2023: £nil) was owing to the pension scheme at the year end.

19a Analysis of group net assets between funds (current year)

Analysis of group net assets between funds (current year)
Tangible fixed assets
Analysis of group net assets between funds (prior year)
Tangible fixed assets
Investments
Net current assets
Net assets at 31 March 2023
Net current assets
Net assets at 31 March 2024
General
unrestricted
£
38,415
137,757
857,434
General
unrestricted
£
20,999
1,014,052
£
-
100,913
Endowment
funds
Restricted
funds
£
-
270,512
Total funds
£
20,999
1,385,477
1,035,051 100,913 270,512 1,406,476
Designated
funds
£
-
-
-
£
-
-
100,913
Endowment
funds
Restricted
funds
£
-
-
56,129
Total funds
£
38,415
137,757
1,014,476
1,033,606 - 100,913 56,129 1,190,648

19b Analysis of group net assets between funds (prior year)

46

The Back-Up Trust

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

20a Movements in funds (current year)

Total restricted funds
Total designated funds
Endowment funds:
Restricted funds:
Mentoring Services
Total funds
Children and Young People (General) Fund
Outreach & Support
Mentoring Services (General) Fund
Courses
Outreach and Engagement (General) Fund
Courses (General) Fund
Children & Young People
William Gardner Victoria Cross Fund
Unrestricted funds:
Alasdair Ross Memorial Fund
Raising Awareness (General) Fund
Raising Awareness
General Fund
Total unrestricted funds
At 1 April
2023
£
56,129
-
-
-
-
Income &
gains
£
512,751
149,430
151,521
35,059
170,360
Expenditure &
losses
£
(621,225)
(262,551)
(334,119)
(194,399)
(72,530)
Gain on
revaluation
£
-
-
-
-
-
Transfers
£
156,345
137,682
219,314
159,340
7,405
At 31 March
2024
£
104,000
24,561
36,716
-
105,235
56,129 1,019,121 (1,484,825) - 680,087 270,512
50,000
50,913
1,191
1,191
(1,191)
(1,191)
-
-
-
-
50,000
50,913
100,913 2,381 (2,381) - - 100,913
1,033,606 1,594,241 (925,317) 12,608 (680,087) 1,035,051
1,134,519 1,596,622 (927,698) 12,608 (680,087) 1,135,964
1,190,648 2,615,743 (2,412,523) 12,608 - 1,406,476

The narrative to explain the purpose of each fund is given at the foot of the note below.

47

The Back-Up Trust

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

20b Movements in funds (prior year)

Total restricted funds
Total designated funds
Courses
Endowment funds:
Mentoring Services (General) Fund
Children & Young People
Children and Young People (General Fund)
Restricted funds:
Courses (General) Fund
Outreach & Support
William Gardner Victoria Cross Fund
Total funds
Mentoring Services
Total unrestricted funds
Designated funds
General Fund
Unrestricted funds:
Alasdair Ross Memorial Fund
Outreach (General) Fund
At 1 April
2021
£
-
-
-
-
Income &
gains
£
262,614
86,646
68,680
45,675
Expenditure &
losses
£
(490,169)
(235,350)
(290,279)
(175,090)
Loss on
revaluation
£
-
-
-
-
Transfers
£
283,684
148,704
221,599
129,415
At 31 March
2023
£
56,129
-
-
-
- 463,615 (1,190,887) - 783,401 56,129
50,000
50,913
970
970
(970)
(970)
-
-
-
-
50,000
50,913
100,913 1,939 (1,939) - - 100,913
1,056,131
67,000
1,603,394
-
(833,983)
(67,000)
(8,535)
-
(783,401)
-
1,033,606
-
1,123,131 1,603,394 (900,983) (8,535) (783,401) 1,033,606
1,224,044 2,068,948 (2,093,809) (8,535) - 1,190,648

Purposes of restricted funds

The Outreach Fund provides individual support for spinally injured individuals during their rehabilitation.

The Mentoring Services Fund provides a matched mentoring service for those affected by spinal cord injury.

The Courses Fund provides a variety of courses for people with a spinal cord injury and able bodied volunteer helpers.

The Children and Young People’s Fund provide services for participants under eighteen years of age.

The Raising Awareness Fund provides digital and other information to support people affected by spinal cord injury.

48

The Back-Up Trust

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2024

Purposes of endowment funds

With The Alasdair Ross Memorial Fund, Alasdair's family and Back Up trustees intend to create a lasting memory (for at least 10 years) of Alasdair Ross, who was Back-Up's treasurer. An expendable endowment fund of £50,000 has been established. The income generated from cash deposits or investments of the fund's assets is to be applied to support an annual winter course in memory of Alasdair Ross. The capital in the expendable endowment may be spent to support general expenditure at Trustees discretion, but only in exceptional circumstances, in consultation with the Ross Family.

The William Gardner Victoria Cross Fund is being funded from the sale of a Victoria Cross awarded to William Gardner in 1958. His family wish to create a bursary to support a tetraplegic participant and their carer on a summer course each year. This participant would be selected by the Services Team and would be the person most in need of support. The capital in the expendable endowment may be spent to support general expenditure at Trustees discretion, but only in exceptional circumstances, in consultation with the Gardner family.

The transfer between unrestricted and restricted income, is to cover the costs of the key projects, that were not fully covered by restricted funding.

Purposes of designated funds

The fund has been designated for costs related to the CYP Information, Advice and Guidance project, which was fully utilised in 2023-24.

21 Note to the Group Cash Flow Statement - analysis of cash and cash equivalents

Cash in Hand
Notice Deposits maturing in less than 3 months
2024
£
244,561
948,650
2023
£
961,610
-
1,193,211 961,610

22 Analysis of changes in net debt

Cash
Cash Equivalents
Investments maturing after 3 months
At 1 April
2023
Cash Flows
Fair Value
Movement
961,610
(717,049)
-
-
948,650
-
137,757
2,381
12,608
1,099,367
233,982
12,608
At 31 March
2024
244,561
948,650
152,746
1,345,957

23 Operating lease commitments payable as a lessee

The group's total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases is as follows for each of the following periods:

Less than one year
One to five years
2024
2023
£
£
88,845
88,845
208,847
296,150
297,692
384,995
Property
2024
2023
£
£
88,845
88,845
208,847
296,150
297,692
384,995
Property
297,692 384,995

24 Indemnity Insurance

Funds belonging to The Back-Up Trust have been used in the purchase of professional indemnity insurance, to protect the charity from loss arising from the neglect or defaults of its Trustees and employees. The amount paid this year is £2,158 (2023: £1,997).

25 Legal status of the charity

The charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. The liability of each member in the event of winding up is limited to £1.

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