Company number: 3596996 Charity Number: 1072216 OSCR Number: SC040577 ## The Back-Up Trust Report and financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2025 "If it wasn't for Back Up, I wouldn't be where I am now. That's for sure." The Back-Up Trust Contents For the period ended 31 March 2024 ## Contents Page An overview of our impact in 2024/25...........................................................................................................4 Welcome from Abigail Lock our CEO and Damian Riley our Chair of Trustees........................................5 Limitless Ambition: 2025-2030 strategy........................................................................................................7 How we have supported people affected by spinal cord injury.................................................................8 Living confidently…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….8 Thriving at any age………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….12 Staying Connected………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….14 Financial review...............................................................................................................................................16 How we raised our funds and how we have spent our funds…………………………………………………………..19 Structure, governance and management ...................................................................................................20 Statement of responsibilities of the trustees..............................................................................................21 Future plans…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….22 Relationships with other organisations.......................................................................................................25 Administrative information...........................................................................................................................26 Independent auditors report…………………………………………..………………………………………………………………28 Statement of financial activities (incorporating an income and expenditure account balance sheet and statement of cash flows)...............................................................................................33 Notes to the financial statements.................................................................................................................36 3 The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2025 The Trustees present their report and the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025. Reference and administrative information set out on pages 26-27 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 2024/25 ## Living confidently - Our services have been accessed over 43,000 times up from 31,401 times in 2023/24. This growth is largely due to our dedicated outreach and engagement work across the regions, growth of our family support offer, and launch of new digital assets including our Back Up and Thriving podcasts and Wheelchair Skills App. - 873 people attended our Wheelchair Skills Training sessions, up from 812 in 2023/24, with 98% of participants learning more skills and feeling more confident using a wheelchair. - 135 people attended our virtual What Next? and Skills for Work courses, up from 128 in 2023/24. 89% (82% in 2023/24) of those attending Skills for Work reported being in work, volunteering or education 6-12 months after attending the course. ## Thriving at any age - 221 children and young people have been supported (up from 211 in 2023/24) across all services. 100% of the children and young people Back Up have worked with say they are now feeling happier at school. - 278 one to one support interventions have been successfully delivered (down from 440 in 2023/24) to ensure that children and young people are fully included in education. This decrease is in part due to a change of reporting but also due to carrying a vacancy in this team. By including our information and guidance service there were 870 interventions. ## Staying connected - 487 family members accessed our family support services, up from 338 in 2023/24 (an increase of 44%). This is largely due to our continued work to better engage with families at the acute stage of their loved one’s injury. - 201 people were supported through our mentoring service, down from 221 in 23/24 with 90% (84% in 2023/24) reporting an increase in at least five of seven positive coping strategies. Our new Connections service brought 196 people affected by spinal cord injury together. In total we delivered 397 peer connections. - Our online support group, the Back Up Lounge, was attended 1,061 times (up from 922 times in 2023/24). Across the year 191 new people attended compared to 206 in 2023/24. 4 The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2025 ## Welcome from Abigail Lock, CEO At Back Up, we empower individuals to positively adjust to life after a spinal cord injury. Our services are uniquely designed and delivered by people with lived experience, ensuring genuine understanding and support. With the unwavering dedication of our volunteers, this year we delivered over 43,000 individual support interventions - a 37% increase from the previous year. Each interaction, whether aiding someone in returning to work, practicing wheelchair skills, or simply connecting with others who get it, contributes to rebuilding confidence and independence. Over the course of the year, we launched our new Wheelchair Skills App and introduced the "Back Up and Thriving" podcast series, which ranked in the top 25% of UK podcast downloads. Our new service, Back Up Connect, has facilitated meaningful one-off conversations on topics that matter most to those affected by spinal cord injury. As we conclude our Transforming Lives Strategy (2021–2025), we're proud of the progress made but we want to go further. We are determined to ensure that no one in need of our support is left behind. Looking ahead, our new strategy, Limitless Ambition, guides us to 2030. Building on past successes, with even bolder efforts to reach more people affected by spinal cord injury at critical moments in their journey. Our new strategy demands transformational change in both our digital and in-person delivery. At all times we will be driven by the needs and aspirations of people affected by spinal cord injury. Our impact is not solely measured by numbers of people we help but by the lasting positive changes in people's lives. The unique spirit of Back Up continues to inspire individuals to return as volunteers and supporters, reinforcing our community's strength and resilience. To everyone who has supported Back Up in the past year – thank you. Abigail Lock CEO, 2025 5 The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2025 ## Welcome from Damian Riley, Chair of Trustees When we embarked on Back Up’s Transforming Lives Strategy in 2021, we aimed to be there for everyone affected by spinal cord injury. We believed then that around 2,500 people were sustaining spinal cord injury each year. We now know that was a massive under-representation - at least 4,700 people sustained a spinal cord injury across the UK in 2024/25. In total 105,000 people in the UK live with spinal cord injury. However, it is not just the person who sustains a spinal cord injury who is affected. This is why Back Up is also there for friends and family members in need of our support. I am proud that in the past year Back Up supported 2,921 individuals, 76% more people than when we first embarked on our strategy. With growing numbers of people sustaining a spinal cord injury, we know that we are needed more now than ever. Charities face a complex landscape, increasing demands for their services, financial pressures and higher operational costs. Our team, ably led by Abigail, has faced these challenges has on and have taken Back Up to new heights. Highlights from the year include being named The October Club’s Charity of the Year enabling vital digital investments and receiving The Times and The Sunday Times Spotlight Award as the Best Place to Work for Disabled Employees 2024. Back Up has continued to evolve and innovate to reach more people than ever before. We have done this whilst being careful to retain the culture that makes us unique - what we like to call the ‘Back Up Bug’. As we transition to our Limitless Ambition strategy, we're excited about the possibilities ahead. Our plans are hugely ambitious, focusing on expanding regional delivery, enhancing digital resources, and forging new partnerships to reach those who need us most. We are up for this challenge. None of this would be possible without our dedicated volunteers, funders, and staff. Thank you for your unwavering support and for being an integral part of our journey. Damian Riley Chair of Trustees 2025 6 The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2025 ## Limitless Ambition 2025 - 2030 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. Over 500 people helped create our strategy through workshops, surveys, and focus groups. We are delighted to share Limitless Ambition our new strategy. 7 The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2025 ## 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 “I had the confidence to look at travels and holidays last night and I’ve signed up for the mentoring programme.” |Goal|2025 Aims|2024/25 Objectives|Review of Progress| |---|---|---|---| |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.|We registered and
offered support to
1,135 people with
spinal cord injury
including 48 children
and young people. We
supported 371 family
members. In total we
supported 2,921
individuals a 9%
increase on 2023/24.

Due to an inability to
access NHS patient
data we are unable to
definitively say that we
have reached all
rehabilitation settings
where people with
spinal cord injury are.
We can say that we
have greatly extended
our reach through a
targeted
communications
campaign to major
trauma centres and
NHS professionals
working in
rehabilitation settings
where newlyinjured| 8 The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2025 |||We will have delivered
at least 35,000
individual support
interventions across all
services using a range
of channels and
methods.|people are and
organised a series of
drop-in sessions for
NHS professionals
working with people
affected by spinal cord
injury. This reached
over 5,000 individuals.
We delivered over
43,000 support
interventions a 37%
increase up from
31,401 in 2023/24. We
are increasing both the
numbers of people we
are supporting and the
amount of support
that individuals are
accessing.| |---|---|---|---| ||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 to 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|We have grown the
number of in person
courses from 12 to 15.

We have reached 166
people with a
combination of What
Next? course modules
and guides. We
partnered with SIA,
Aspire, Wheel Around
the World, Motability
Foundation and others
for different aspects of
the live courses. We
exceeded targets for
the online course but
did not reach the
numbers of people we
had hoped for with our
e-learning guides. We
are reviewing the
platform to make it
more accessible and
looking for new ways
topromote theguides.| 9 The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2025 |||for launch in 2025/26.
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.|Our first ever City Skills
Cymru course was
delivered in Cardiff in
June 2025.
Thanks to the
Motability Foundation
our new Wheelchair
Skills App was
launched in November
alongside Back Up and
Thriving, our podcast
on travelling with
confidence, and our
travel confidence
videos. We were
delighted to be in the
top 25% of UK podcast
downloads when we
launched.| |---|---|---|---| ||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 wantingto|We ran three Skills for
Work courses, for a
total of 18 people;
100% of participants
improved in at least
three out of our five
impact measures. The
Careers Fair was run
online with 12 service
users attending and six
of our corporate
partners.

Overall, 89% of those
who participated in
one of our vocation
services was in work,
education or training 6-
12 months post
engagement.

We were delighted to
launch our inaugural
Coach to Work
programme forpeople| 10 The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2025 |return to work who are|unable to or who do| |---|---| |unclear on what they|not want to return to| |want to do, and|their pre-injury job.| |Employment Advocacy|The programme was| |for those looking for|developed from| |support to return to|concept stage to| |the same employer|delivery with the help| |post injury.|of a specialist Career| ||Coach. A training| ||weekend was delivered| ||for six Coach Support| ||Volunteers who are| ||supporting the| ||programme with 1-1| ||coaching support| ||sessions. Eight| ||participants started in| ||January, and the first| ||programme runs until| ||the end of April, when| ||we'll evaluate results.| ||Employment Advocacy| ||was not developed as a| ||standalone| ||programme, due to| ||resource constraints,| ||but instead 33 new| ||cases of those seeking| ||advice on returning to| ||their previous work,| ||were supported as part| ||of 1-1 telephone| ||support offered.| 11 The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2025 ## Thriving at Any Age - How we have ensured people with spinal cord injury are able to reach their full potential "It has been the most incredible week for all of us as a family, such a warm and welcoming course with amazing experiences for everyone. Whilst the activities were all amazing (the canoeing was my highlight!), the relationships formed across the course were so special, being able to discuss shared experiences/challenges" |Goal|2025 Aims|2024/25 Objectives|Review of Progress| |---|---|---|---| |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 Young
Person’s pathway.|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.|It has been a
challenging year for
our children and young
people's service due in
part to uncertainty of
funding and rises in
National Insurance
rates leading to
unanticipated cost
increase. This resulted
in a decision to carry a
vacancy and delay
recruitment to our
children and young
people’s team. Despite
this, we still supported
221 children and young
people and delivered
870 support
interventions to
children and young
people including
accredited Information,
Advice, Guidance and
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|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.|80% of those attending
Back Up courses report
achieving their
personal aim.

We have developed
our support for both
people who are ageing
with a spinal cord
injuryand those who| 12 The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2025 ||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 continue to
develop our outcome
measurement to better
understand and
demonstrate where
our services make the
greatest impact.|gain a spinal cord
injury later in life. This
includes our over 50's
course and our ageing
sessions at the Back
Up Lounge.

We were delighted to
be chosen as The
October Club's charity
of the year 2024/25.
Their funding is
supporting
development of our
systems and
infrastructure enabling
us to transform the
way that we are using
our data so that we can
better target support
to those who need it at
times when they need
it most.| |---|---|---|---| ||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
apositive 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.|100% of children we
work with reported
feeling happier at
school.
100% of schools that
work with us report an
improved
understanding of
inclusion.| 13 The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2025 ## 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 "Best thing about the morning was the positivity of the family members who are much further on in their journey. I would like to stay in touch and informed by you as it makes me feel supported. I'm not very good at talking to my friends about this." |Goal|2025 Aims|2024/25 Objectives|Review of Progress| |---|---|---|---| |Staying
connected:
everyone
affected by
spinal cord
injury can
connect with
someone
in a similar
situation
to
themselves,
to overcome
challenges
and achieve
goals that
matter to
them|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 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
connections, either
through medium term
mentoring
relationships or one-off
meaningful
conversations between
peers.
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.|We established 397
connections with peers
including mentoring
and Back Up connect.





Back Up Connect has
been established
answering questions
on travel and holidays,
bladder and bowel
management,
managing care,
managing pain and
getting out and about.
This provides a new
pathway for people
who may not feel that
this is the right time for
mentoring but can still
benefit from hearing
from others who get it.

Ahead of arranging
family mentoring
sessions we are
working with family
members and parents
to raise awareness of
all of the different ways
that Back Up can
support them. This
includes creatinga| 14 The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2025 ||||Family Plan, What
Next? For Family
Members and The
Family Lounge.
We were delighted to
win the Mentoring
Awards 'Most Impactful
Mentoring Programme'
2024.| |---|---|---|---| ||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.|We delivered 28 family
support events,
engaging 198 family
members.
92% of family
members felt more
supported as a result
of our work.

We delivered 355
digital support
interventions to
families. This includes
family members
accessing our online
family guide together
with information packs
being generated via
our website, plus
digital FamilyPlans.| ||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|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.|With almost four out of
five newly injured
people not getting to
specialist spinal cord
injury centres we have
been working to find
new ways to share our
resources with
clinicians, NHS staff
and others who work
alongside people with
spinal cord injury.

Following the success
of ourpilot work with| 15 The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2025 |||injury in other hospital settings,
and in the community.||NHS England we
agreed a three-year
contract which sees us
continuing our
partnership with all of
England's specialist
spinal cord injury
services toJuly2027.| |---|---|---|---|---| ## Financial review ## Charity financial position This year we have raised £3,591,754 (2023/24 £2,628,352) and our expenditure was £3,071,913 (2023/24: £2,412,523) 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 and going concern The Trustees have agreed a level of unrestricted reserves of £1,100,000 (2023/24: £1,005,000) or, expressed as a ratio as holding reserves equivalent to 4 months expenditure. This is 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. The level of reserves agreed by the Trustees represents a buffer and is not intended as a fixed limit. Therefore unrestricted funds may temporarily drop slightly below that level as part of regular cash management, with the expectation that they return to or above the agreed level as a result of forecast cashflows within a short period of time. At the end of the 2024/25 financial year, total funds were £1,926,317 (2023/24: £1,406,476). This was made up of £982,649 (2023/24: £1,35,051) of unrestricted funds, slightly below the agreed level set out above, £100,913 (2023/24: £100,913) of expendable endowments* and £842,755 (2023/24: £270,512) of restricted funds. Subsequent to the year-end, as expected, unrestricted funds have increased to above the agreed reserves level. 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 our digital infrastructure and CRM (Customer Relationship Management) will support us to reach more people and drive efficiency. The Trustees will aim to grow the Charity’s reserves in the coming years in line with the Charity’s growth ambition. > *An expendable endowment is a fund where the trustees have power to convert all or some of the capital fund into income, at its discretion. 16 The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2025 ## 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: - A clear five-year strategy (2025-2030). - Clear five-year services growth and fundraising strategic plans (2025-2030). - An indicative five-year budget to help us understand the scale of our ambition. - A detailed one-year budget, linked to business plans and approved by trustees. - Quarterly review of financial targets and results, variance from budgets and non-financial performance indicators by Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and Trustees. - Quarterly in-depth review of financial performance by the Finance, Audit and Risk committee. - Scaled authority and segregation of duties. - Identification and management of risks reviewed and approved by trustees. 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 leadership 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 to support even more people affected by spinal cord injury. 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: - Increasing the focus on multi-year grants. - Diversifying our income streams and ensuring we are not overly reliant on any one area. - Focusing on under-developed fundraising streams such as Legacy. - Monthly reforecasts enabling us to take early action to address any shortfall in any one area. - An annual risk-based review of our income streams which guides the level which we set our reserves. - A measured approach to expenditure commitments (i.e. fixed term contracts). - The development of a five-year fundraising strategic plan which is tied back to service delivery - performance against the plan is overseen by our Fundraising Committee. - Stewardship plans across our fundraising streams. - Support from a fundraising development board. - Support from specialist fundraising consultants. 17 The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2025 ## Macro instability The past 12 months has seen a change of government in the UK, a new President in the US and continued advances in AI all leading to changes in the external operating environment across a wide range of areas such as health policy (including the announced abolition of NHSE), welfare reform (including proposed changes to Access to Work), increases in the rates of employers NI, changing attitudes to Diversity and Inclusion, changing expectations of consumers, global market instability and workforce regulation. With the scale and rapidity of changes we face a challenge in being able to effectively monitor, anticipate and respond to changes in the external environment. Mitigation in place includes: - Regular meetings with our key stakeholders such as NHS commissioners. - Membership of umbrella bodies such as NCVO and engagement with training and resources from sector specialists such as the Charity Finance Group, Sayer Vincent, Charity Times and others who provide regular briefings and analysis of key issues facing the charity sector. - • Access to external advisors. - A gap analysis of our board of trustees (undertaken in July 2024) enabled us to target trustee recruitment to fill skills gaps and introduce new expertise of these high-risk areas at a governance level. - A quarterly review of all risks facing the charity and identification of any new risk areas and mitigations. - The introduction of a balanced score card at board level. ## Recruitment and retention Our staff team make Back Up the organisation it is today. To deliver our plans, we need to maintain low vacancy levels. When we do recruit, we want to ensure we employ and retain staff with the right skills, values and behaviours. Like many charities we face a mixed picture when recruiting. This has been mitigated by: - A focus on our culture which ensures that all team members recognise the impact of their work in delivering Back Up’s mission and recognises the importance of having fun. Aiding both retention and recruitment. As an example, Back Up has been awarded The Times and Sunday Times Spotlight Award for best place to work for disabled employees 2024. - We have recently introduced a role focused on People and Culture. - A focus on health and wellbeing – with all staff members having access to a wellbeing group, wellbeing action plans and an Employee Assistance Programme. - Regular benchmarking of salaries against other similar sized charities. - Flexible working arrangements. - A focus on learning and development including dedicated resources to develop training programmes. - Regular all-together staff activities to maintain a strong sense of belonging. - Improving internal planning to aid handovers and wider succession planning. - Recognising, valuing and thanking staff. 18 The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2025 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. ## How we raised our funds In 2024/25, with the help of our incredible donors, partners and fundraisers, we raised £3,591,754. 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 were chosen as The October Club’s Charity of the Year 2024 raising £690k to invest in Back Up’s infrastructure in order that we can reach more people affected by spinal cord injury. To all of our funders thank you so much. Quite simply we couldn’t do what we do without you. "I love working with Back Up – your whole team is so enthusiastic and collaborative. The work you do is amazing and having attended one of the Activity Courses myself as a Corporate Buddy I have seen firsthand how much difference the course makes to the people that attend. It was one of the most rewarding weeks I have experienced, lots of tears (of pride), laughter and fun." (Corporate partner) Voluntary income (£1,315,127) Our voluntary fundraising areas are: - Individuals (£337,831) - these include regular and one-off gifts including in memory - Charitable Trusts and Corporate (£977,296) Income from charitable activities (£1,304,375) - Outreach and Support (£723,519) - Mentoring (£201,465) - Courses (£221,612) - Children and Young People (£42,940) - Raising Awareness (£114,839) Income from events (£763,047) - Major Events (£450,916) - including The City Dinner, Front Row Fashion Show and the Back Up Ball. - General Events (£312,131) - including Do the Loop and The Marathon. Trading income (£154,386) - This includes income from the Back Up online shop and corporate sponsorship of our services. Other income (£54,819) - This includes income from our investments. 19 The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2025 ## 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 three complaints relating to fundraising this year. Two related to communication around challenge events and one related to our newsletter. All complaints are reviewed by the senior leadership team to ensure that we learn if we can do things better. Our complaints policy is reviewed by the board on a three-yearly cycle and is available on our website. ## 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 to: - Rehabilitate and encourage independence. - Promote reintegration within society. - Promote education and awareness of spinal cord injury. - Support family members regarding their emotional health and welfare needs which arise from the spinal cord injury of the relative. These activities are undertaken to further the Back Up Trust’s charitable purposes for the public interest. In September 2024 we updated our articles to align with charity commission guidance. Our objects remained substantively the same, but the articles were updated to reflect changes in legislation and recommended practice. Thanks to DLA Piper who have supported this work. 20 The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2025 Our trustees are all volunteers with a range of skills from diverse backgrounds. Well over half have personal experience of spinal cord injury. To develop a robust trustee pipeline, we have introduced a future trustee programme for people with a spinal cord injury interested in becoming a trustee. Trustees who served during 2024/25 are named on page 26. To support its work, the board has established three committees. Each committee meets quarterly and has a terms of reference describing their roles and responsibilities. They are: - The Services and Disclosure and Barring Committee - The Fundraising Committee - The Finance, Audit and Risk Committee 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. ## 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: - Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently. - Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP. - Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent. - State whether applicable UK Accounting Standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements. - Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation. 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. 21 The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2025 In so far as the trustees are aware: - There is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company’s auditor is unaware. - The trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information. 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 2025 was 12 (2023/24:11). The trustees are members of the charity, but this entitles them only to voting rights. The trustees have no beneficial interest in the charity. ## Future Plans Back Up’s 2030 Strategy Limitless Ambition was launched on 2[nd] April 2025. We’ve identified three core goals: - Goal One: Living Confidently – Empowering people with a spinal cord injury with the confidence, knowledge and practical skills to live a full and independent life. - Goal Two: Everyone Thriving – Ensuring all individuals affected by spinal cord injury can reach their full potential. - Goal Three: Meaningful Connections – Creating opportunities for people affected by spinal cord injury to connect with others in similar situations to achieve their goals. We’re making bold changes to ensure we can be there for everyone. These include: - Expanding Regional Delivery – Delivering more in-person services across every region, bringing support closer to home for all. - Growing Digital Resources – Full scale digital transformation, providing support right from the start of the adjustment process to all who need our services. - Targeting Those Who Need Us the Most – To transform even more lives, we’ll remove barriers and provide targeted support to those who face the greatest challenges in adjusting to life following spinal cord injury. - Supporting Families – From the acute phase to post-discharge and beyond, supporting more family members to create a positive future for themselves and their loved ones. - Partnerships for Greater Impact – Working with the NHS, wheelchair services and other organisations to reach those almost four in five people who don’t get to specialist spinal cord injury centres. 22 The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2025 Each financial year we will set a series of objectives to measure progress against our strategy. Our objectives for 2025/26 are detailed below: |Goal|Our Focus to 2030|2025/26 Objectives| |---|---|---| |Living
Confidently
Empowering
people with a
spinal cord
injury with
the
confidence,
knowledge
and practical
skills to live a
full and
independent
life|Expand Regional Delivery:
We will grow the number and variety of
our in-person services, closer to where
people live, offering support when it
matters. We’ll ensure our services
better reflect the diversity of the spinal
cord injured community. We will deliver
services in every region of the UK.|We will deliver 15 in person courses
including our first City Skills Cymru
Course in Cardiff.
90% of those attending Back Up courses
will report having achieved their personal
aim.
We will develop a new model for the
deliveryof regional courses.| ||Growing Digital Resources:
Our online support will be available
right from the beginning of the
adjustment process so that individuals
have the skills, knowledge and
confidence they need to live life
independently.
Using data and insight we’ll target our
services to those who need them the
most.|We will have delivered at least 40,000
individual support interventions across
all services using a range of channels and
methods.
We will procure and roll-out a new CRM
platform. Our Data and Systems
Transformation programme will support
us to make better use of our data
enabling us to target support to those
who need it the most.| ||Supporting Return to Work,
Education and Volunteering:
We’ll be leaders in helping people with
spinal cord injury return to work,
education or volunteering. Taking a
confidence building approach to
addressing life’s barriers in areas such
as travel and transport so that they
don’t get in the way or stop people
realising their ambitions.
We will collaborate with education
providers, employers, the NHS, partner
charities and other organisations to
enable people with spinal cord injury to
realise their ambitions.|60% of people will be in work, education
or volunteering 6-12 months after
receiving support from our vocation
service.
We will deliver a second season of our
'Back Up and Thriving' podcast
empowering people with spinal cord
injuries to travel confidently.
We will run 4 webinars targeted at NHS
professionals across the UK.
We will engage with 100 education
providers.| 23 The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2025 |Everyone
Thriving
Ensuring all
individuals
affected by
spinal cord
injury can
reach their
full potential|Reaching those who need us the most:
Our services will be targeted at those
who need us most. We will focus on
engaging with and removing barriers
for people who face the greatest
challenges in adjusting to life following
spinal cord injury - at those times when
we can have the most impact.|We will better map our stakeholders to
understand how we can communicate
with traditionally ‘hard-to-reach’ groups;
potentially forming partnerships and
going to those groups rather than
expecting them to come to us.
We will establish at least one formal
partnership that can support us to
remove barriers for people who face the
greatest challenges adjusting to life
followingspinal cord injury.| |---|---|---| ||Tailored support for every stage of life:
From childhood to old age, we will tailor
our approach to what matters to an
individual throughout their lives.
Whatever background or level of injury
– we will be there helping people fulfil
their education, career, family life,
travel, hobbies and social life goals, so
that they can live the life they want.|We will have supported at least 3,175
people affected by spinal cord injury
across all age groups up from 2,921.
We will map our service offers to key life
stages, supporting our teams to target
the right interventions at the right time.
We will continue to develop resources for
those ageingwith a spinal cord injury.| ||Supporting Children and Young People:
We will be there for every child and
young person affected by spinal cord
injury - giving young people and their
families the skills, confidence and
knowledge to overcome barriers and
open up a world of possibility.|We will scope a new digital resource
aimed at giving children, young people
and their families crucial advice and
guidance.
We will do more to ensure the voices of
children and young people affected by
spinal cord injury are heard at a board
level.| |Meaningful
Connections
Creating
opportunities
for people
affected by
spinal cord
injury to
connect with
others in
similar
situations to
achieve their
goals.|Creating Meaningful Connections:
We will create more opportunities for
people affected by spinal cord injury to
connect with others who understand
their experience. These connections will
help people gain confidence and
practical support, guiding them through
their adjustment to life post-injury. We
will provide clear pathways for
individuals to become supporters and
mentors, helping others along their
journey.|We will establish 380 peer connections,
either through medium term mentoring
relationships or one-off meaningful
conversations between peers.
We will develop clearer pathways for
people to support us whether through
volunteering, fundraising or by raising
awareness.| ||Supporting Families:
We will be leaders in supporting family
members of those with a spinal cord|We will attend or deliver 24 family
support events engaging at least 180
familymembers.| 24 The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2025 ||injury. This begins with the acute phase,
through information and support online
and in-person at relatives’ days, to post-
discharge from the hospital through
peer mentoring, family rehabilitation,
online courses and dedicated digital
pathways. Helping family members
recognise that a positive future is
possible.|80% of families will report feeling more
supported as a result of our work.| |---|---|---| ||Partnerships for Greater Impact:
We will work alongside the NHS,
wheelchair services and other partner
organisations to reach those who may
not have access to specialist spinal cord
injury centres. By sharing resources
based on lived experience we’ll
challenge negative perceptions of spinal
cord injury and show that a positive
future ispossible.|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.
We will continue to roll out and develop
our wheelchair skills training for
professionals service.| ## 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. Working alongside Spinal Research 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. ## 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. The trustees’ annual report has been approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by: Richard Rawstron Treasurer 12 August 2025 25 The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2025 ## 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* Ben Parker ** (Resigned on 6[th] November 2024) Richard Rawstron (Treasurer) Damian Riley* (Chair, appointed on 1[st] May 2024) Tom Roberts** Rebecca Stevenson Grace Spence Green* Joanna Wright* (Resigned on 6[th] November 2024) Paul Fairhurst* Louise Jolliffe* Harmesh Chauhan* (appointed on 7[th] May 2025) Annelore Hill-Verhaegen** (appointed on 7[th] May 2025) Meryl Bushell** (appointed on 30[th] July 2025) Alan Cook* (appointed on 30[th] July 2025) 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. Our Future Trustee Programme is focused on supporting people with spinal cord injury to acquire the skills and knowledge become trustees either with Back Up or some other organisation. > *spinal cord injured > ** immediate family member has/had a spinal cord injury 26 The Back-Up Trust Trustees annual report For the period ended 31 March 2025 |President|Konrad Bartelski| |---|---| |Chief Executive|Abigail Lock| |Officer|| |Senior Leadership|Kevin Filby**| |Team|Salvatore La Monica (Company Secretary)| ||Charlene Vallory| ||Phillipa Hunt| |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 23,246 (2023/24: 22,273) hours to our work this year. This works out at almost 969 days (2023/24: 928 days) 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 2025 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: - Give a true and fair view of the state of the group’s and of the parent charitable company’s affairs as at 31 March 2025 and of the group’s incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended. - Have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. - Have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and regulations 6 and 8 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulation 2006 (as amended). ## **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. Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report. 28 Independent auditor’s report To the members of The Back-up Trust ## **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: - The information given in the trustees’ annual report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and - The trustees’ annual report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements. ## **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: - Adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or - The financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or - Certain disclosures of trustees’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or - We have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or - The directors were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies’ exemptions in preparing the trustees’ annual report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report. 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: - We enquired of management, which included obtaining and reviewing supporting documentation, concerning the group’s policies and procedures relating to: - ❖ Identifying, evaluating, and complying with laws and regulations and whether they were aware of any instances of non-compliance; - ❖ Detecting and responding to the risks of fraud and whether they have knowledge of any actual, suspected, or alleged fraud; - ❖ The internal controls established to mitigate risks related to fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations. - We inspected the minutes of meetings of those charged with governance. - We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework that the group operates in, focusing on those laws and regulations that had a material effect on the financial statements or that had a fundamental effect on the operations of the group from our professional and sector experience. - We communicated applicable laws and regulations throughout the audit team and remained alert to any indications of non-compliance throughout the audit. - We reviewed any reports made to regulators. - We reviewed the financial statement disclosures and tested these to supporting documentation to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations. - We performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud. - In addressing the risk of fraud through management override of controls, we tested the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments, assessed whether the judgements made in making accounting estimates are indicative of a potential bias and tested significant transactions that are unusual or those outside the normal course of business. 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 August 2025 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 2025 |For theyear ended31 March 2025|For theyear ended31 March 2025|||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Unrestricted
£
Income from:
2
624,439
4
168,500
3
917,433
52,026
1,762,398
957,908
-
5
957,908
6
804,490
(856,892)
(52,402)
Reconciliation of funds:
1,035,051
982,649
Investments
Total income
Expenditure on:
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Other trading activities
Activities for raising funds
Note
Raising funds
Net income for the year
Total expenditure
Charitable activities
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
Transfers between funds
Net movement in funds||Restricted
£
690,688
1,135,875
-
-|Endowment
£
-
-
-
2,793|2025
Total
£
1,315,127
1,304,375
917,433
54,819|Unrestricted
£
610,496
150,000
809,847
36,507|Restricted
£
-
1,019,121
-
-|Endowment
£
-
-
-
2,381|2024
Total
£
610,496
1,169,121
809,847
38,888| ||1,762,398|1,826,563|2,793|3,591,754|1,606,850|1,019,121|2,381|2,628,352| ||957,908
-|-
2,111,212|-
2,793|957,908
2,114,005|721,984
203,333|-
1,484,825|-
2,381|721,984
1,690,539| ||957,908|2,111,212|2,793|3,071,913|925,317|1,484,825|2,381|2,412,523| ||804,490
(856,892)|(284,649)
856,892|-
-|519,841
-|681,533
(680,087)|(465,704)
680,087|-
-|215,829
-| ||(52,402)
1,035,051|572,243
270,512|-
100,913|519,841
1,406,476|1,446
1,033,605|214,383
56,129|-
100,913|215,829
1,190,647| ||982,649|842,755|100,913|1,926,317|1,035,051|270,512|100,913|1,406,476| 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 20 to the financial statements. 33 The Back-Up Trust ## Consolidated and Charity balance sheet ## Company no. 3596996 ## As at 31 March 2025 |As at 31 March 2025
Consolidated and Charity balance sheet|||Company no. 3596996|Company no. 3596996| |---|---|---|---|---| |Note
Fixed assets:
11
12
Current assets:
15
Liabilities:
16
20a
Total unrestricted funds
Total funds
Net current assets
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Funds:
General funds
Short term deposits
Investments
Cash at bank and in hand
Tangible assets
Debtors
Stock
Unrestricted income funds:
Endowment funds
Total net assets
Restricted income funds|2025
2024
£
£
25,389
20,999
-
-
25,389
20,999
2,746
2,317
283,765
363,058
684,599
152,746
1,275,454
1,193,211
2,246,564
1,711,332
(345,636)
(325,855)
1,900,928
1,385,477
1,926,317
1,406,476
842,755
270,512
100,913
100,913
982,649
1,035,051
982,649
1,035,051
1,926,317
1,406,476
Group||2025
2024
£
£
25,389
20,999
100
100
25,489
21,099
-
-
425,163
402,550
684,599
152,746
1,127,827
1,138,966
2,237,589
1,694,262
(337,011)
(308,885)
1,900,578
1,385,377
1,926,067
1,406,476
842,755
270,512
100,913
100,913
982,399
1,035,051
982,399
1,035,051
1,926,067
1,406,476
Charity|| ||25,389
2,746
283,765
684,599
1,275,454|20,999
2,317
363,058
152,746
1,193,211|25,489
-
425,163
684,599
1,127,827|21,099
-
402,550
152,746
1,138,966| ||2,246,564
(345,636)|1,711,332
(325,855)|2,237,589
(337,011)|1,694,262
(308,885)| ||1,900,928|1,385,477|1,900,578|1,385,377| ||1,926,317|1,406,476|1,926,067|1,406,476| ||842,755
100,913
982,649|270,512
100,913
1,035,051|842,755
100,913
982,399|270,512
100,913
1,035,051| ||982,649|1,035,051|982,399|1,035,051| ||1,926,317|1,406,476|1,926,067|1,406,476| Approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by Richard Rawstron Treasurer 12 August 2025 34 The Back-Up Trust ## Consolidated statement of cash flows ## For the year ended 31 March 2025 |For the year ended 31 March 2025|For the year ended 31 March 2025|For the year ended 31 March 2025||| |---|---|---|---|---| |Note
£
£
Net income for the year
519,841
(as per the statement of financial activities)
Depreciation charges
20,274
Dividends, interest and rent from investments
(54,819)
(429)
Decrease/ (Increase) in debtors
79,292
Increase in creditors
19,781
583,940
54,819
(24,663)
-
30,156
614,096
1,345,957
1,960,053
2025
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
(26,279)
(2,317)
(50,276)
65,938
220,629
26,279
(318)
137,757
163,718
384,347
961,610
1,345,957
2024|| |||583,940
30,156||220,629
163,718| |||||| |||614,096
1,345,957||384,347
961,610| |||1,960,053||1,345,957| 35 The Back-Up Trust Notes to the financial statements For the year ended 31 March 2025 ## 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 2025 - 1 Accounting policies (continued) ## h) Fund accounting Restricted funds are to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor. Expenditure which meets these criteria is charged to the fund. 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: - Costs of raising funds relate to the costs incurred by the charity in inducing third parties to make voluntary contributions to it, as well as the cost of any activities with a fundraising purpose - Expenditure on charitable activities includes the costs of delivering services undertaken to further the purposes of the charity and their associated support costs - Other expenditure represents those items not falling into any other heading 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|33%| |---|---|---| ||Mentoring|9%| ||Courses|10%| ||Children Young People|10%| ||Cost of Raising funds|27%| ||Raising awareness|11%| 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 2025 ## 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) Short term deposits Short term deposits includes cash balances that are invested in accounts with a maturity date of between 3 and 12 months. ## r) 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. ## s) 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. ## t) 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||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Major events
Other trading activities
Individuals
Charitable Trusts
General events
Income from activities for raising funds
Corporates|Unrestricted
£
337,831
97,200
189,408|£
-
-
690,688
Restricted|2025
Total
£
337,831
97,200
880,096|Unrestricted
£
429,667
68,063
112,766|£
-
-
-
Restricted|2024
Total
£
429,667
68,063
112,766| ||624,439|690,688|1,315,127|610,496|-|610,496| ||Unrestricted
£
312,131
450,916
154,386|£
-
-
-
Restricted|2025
Total
£
312,131
450,916
154,386|Unrestricted
£
292,465
384,435
132,947|£
-
-
-
Restricted|2024
Total
£
292,465
384,435
132,947| ||917,433|-|917,433|809,847|-|809,847| - 3 Income from activities for raising funds 38 The Back-Up Trust Notes to the financial statements ## For the year ended 31 March 2025 - 4 Income from charitable activities |theyear ended 31 March 2025
Income from charitable activities||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Outreach and Engagement
Children and Young People
Raising Awareness
National Lottery Community Fund - Scotland
The Childwick Trust
The Medicash Foundation
Persula Foundation
The Big Yellow Foundation
Wesleyan Foundation
Barbour Foundation
James Weir Foundation
Heart of Bucks Community Foundation
Porticus Foundation
National Lottery Community Fund Wales: People
and Places 3
The City of London Corporation
The Big Yellow Foundation
R S Macdonald Charitable Trust
The Childwick Trust
William Allen Young Charitable Trust Grant Dons
The Mickel Fund
NHS England Back on Track
Motability
Henry Smith Charity
Other Charitable Trusts
Hugh Fraser Foundation
National Lottery Community Fund Wales: People
and Places 3
Total income from charitable activities
Courses
James Anderson Charitable Trust
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
POM Charitable Trust
National Lottery Community Fund Wales: People
and Places 3
Other Charitable Trusts
Hays Travel Foundation
Ryvoan Trust
The Meikle Foundation - Scotland
Alstom Transport
Charlotte Grobien
NHS England Family Rehab Service
The Eveson Trust
Mitre Trust
Mentoring
Motability
Henry Smith Charity
National Lottery Community Fund - Scotland
The City of London Corporation
The Varrier-Jones Foundation
The Rectory Foundation|Unrestricted
£
-
168,500
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|£
312,462
-
95,286
28,130
-
29,500
17,000
15,000
10,000
-
-
-
-
6,000
-
-
-
-
4,000
2,100
10,000
10,000
5,000
2,841
7,700
Restricted|2025
Total
£
312,462
168,500
95,286
28,130
-
29,500
17,000
15,000
10,000
-
-
-
-
6,000
-
-
-
-
4,000
2,100
10,000
10,000
5,000
2,841
7,700|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| ||168,500|555,019|723,519|150,000|512,751|662,751| ||-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|72,428
72,370
16,000
10,530
19,039
-
-
-
900
-
4,000
6,198|72,428
72,370
16,000
10,530
19,039
-
-
-
900
-
4,000
6,198|-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|58,488
36,184
15,800
10,700
6,907
6,750
3,000
2,500
2,400
1,000
-
5,700|58,488
36,184
15,800
10,700
6,907
6,750
3,000
2,500
2,400
1,000
-
5,700| ||-|201,465|201,465|-|149,429|149,429| ||-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|103,942
15,000
-
8,000
20,000
9,500
4,500
10,677
5,000
10,000
2,000
24,993
8,000|103,942
15,000
-
8,000
20,000
9,500
4,500
10,677
5,000
10,000
2,000
24,993
8,000|-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|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| ||-|221,612|221,612|-|151,522|151,522| ||-
-|32,940
10,000|32,940
10,000|-
-|31,559
3,500|31,559
3,500| ||-|42,940|42,940|-|35,059|35,059| ||-|114,839|114,839|-|170,360|170,360| ||-|114,839|114,839|-|170,360|170,360| ||168,500|1,135,875|1,304,375|150,000|1,019,121|1,169,121| 39 The Back-Up Trust ## Notes to the financial statements ## For the year ended 31 March 2025 - 5a Analysis of expenditure (current year) |Raising
funds
£
454,661
346,489
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-||Charitable activities|Charitable activities|Charitable activities||Governance
costs
£
33,914
-
-
-
-
-
-
17,180
8,338
2,985
-|Support
costs
£
215,341
-
103,025
18,950
96,880
43,689
11,518
-
-
-
20,274|2025
£
1,908,558
840,516
103,025
18,950
96,880
43,689
11,518
17,180
8,338
2,985
20,274|2024
£
1,528,346
589,444
103,285
18,672
91,565
22,856
12,522
14,490
9,599
4,009
17,735| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| ||Outreach and
Engagement
£
545,383
121,454
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Mentoring
£
150,562
26,215
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Courses
£
169,810
193,996
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Children and
Young People
£
163,794
13,597
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Raising
awareness
£
175,093
138,765
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-||||| |801,150
156,758|666,837
188,037|176,777
51,911|363,806
58,547|177,391
56,473|313,858
60,369|62,417
(62,417)|509,677
(509,677)|3,071,913
-|2,412,523
-| |957,908|854,874|228,688|422,353|233,864|374,227|-|-|3,071,913|-| 40 The Back-Up Trust ## Notes to the financial statements ## For the year ended 31 March 2025 - 5b Analysis of expenditure (prior year) ## Charitable activities |Staff costs (Note 7)
Other direct costs
Premises
Insurance
Communications
Office expenses
Finance costs
Audit/Accountancy fees
Professional fees
Trustees and Board Meeting Expenses
Depreciation
Support and Governance costs
Total expenditure 2024|Raising
funds
£
358,965
219,689
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Outreach and
Engagement
£
408,271
49,936
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Mentoring
£
165,185
31,410
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Courses
£
112,421
176,810
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Children &
Young People
£
123,460
21,643
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|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
£
1,528,347
589,444
103,285
18,672
91,565
22,856
12,522
14,490
9,599
4,009
17,734| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| ||578,654
143,330|458,207
163,018|196,595
65,956|289,231
44,888|145,103
49,296|224,516
53,728|58,540
(58,540)|461,677
(461,677)|2,412,523
-| ||721,984|621,225|262,551|334,119|194,399|278,244|-|-|2,412,523| 41 The Back-Up Trust ## Notes to the financial statements ## For the year ended 31 March 2025 - 6 Net income for the year This is stated after charging / (crediting): |This is stated after charging / (crediting):||| |---|---|---| ||2025|2024| ||£|£| |Depreciation|20,274|17,735| |Operating lease rentals:||| |Property|83,944|80,273| |Auditor's remuneration (excluding VAT):||| |Audit|10,000|9,500| |Other services|5,000|3,370| 7 Analysis of staff costs, trustee remuneration and expenses, and the cost of key management personnel Staff costs were as follows: |Staff costs were as follows:||| |---|---|---| |Salaries and wages
Training
Recruitment
Other staff costs
Social security costs
Operating costs of defined benefit pension schemes|2025
£
1,629,852
164,414
65,566
10,459
28,702
9,565|2024
£
1,285,133
117,809
60,514
12,298
28,976
23,616| ||1,908,558|1,528,347| The following number of employees received employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs and employer's national insurance) during the year between: |||2025|2024| |---|---|---|---| |||No.|No.| |£70,000|- £79,999|1|1| |£80,000|- £89,999|-|1| |£90,000|- £99,999|1|-| The total employee benefits (including pension contributions and employer's national insurance) of the key management personnel were £352,998 (2024: £342,663). The charity trustees were neither paid nor received any other benefits from employment with the charity in the year (2024: £nil). No charity trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2024: £nil). Trustees' expenses represents the payment or reimbursement of travel and subsistence costs totalling £97 (2024: £1,266) incurred by 1 (2024: 1) member relating to attendance at meetings of the trustees. £593 of costs was incurred in the recruitment of new trustees (2024: £1,770). In addition there were a further £923 (2024: £972) expensed for trustees' meetings by the charity. The aggregate figure for trustee donations in the year was £12,767 received from 9 trustees (2024: £12,884 from 11 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 56 (2024: 46). Staff are split across the activities of the charity as follows: |Staff are split across the activities of the charity as follows:||| |---|---|---| |Support
Fundraising
Services
Governance|2025
No.
13
37
5
1|2024
No.
11
29
5
1| ||56|46| 42 The Back-Up Trust Notes to the financial statements ## For the year ended 31 March 2025 ## 9 Related party transactions During the year the charity charged expenses of £31,007 (2024: £32,842) to Back-Up Promotions Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. The Company also received income of £122,395 (2024: £97,183) on behalf of Back-Up Promotions Limited. The amount due to them at the year end was £150,906 (2024: £70,025). 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, who served during the year, 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 24-25 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||| |---|---|---| |The group and charity|Office
equipment|Total| ||£|£| |Cost||| |At the start of the year|87,723|87,723| |Additions in year|24,663|24,663| |Disposals in year|(1,984)|(1,984)| |At the end of the year|110,402|110,402| |Depreciation||| |At the start of the year|66,724|66,724| |Charge for the year|20,274|20,274| |Eliminated on disposal|(1,984)|(1,984)| |At the end of the year|85,014|85,014| |Net book value||| |At the end of the year|25,389|25,389| |At the start of the year|20,999|20,999| All of the above assets are used for charitable purposes. ## 12 Investments |Investments||||| |---|---|---|---|---| |Disposals
Net (losses)/ gain on change in fair value
Fair value at the end of the year
Shares in Trading subsidiary (Note 13)
Total value of investments
Additions
Historical Cost
Fair value at the start of the year|2025
2024
£
£
-
137,757
-
-
-
(137,757)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
The group||2025
2024
£
£
-
137,757
-
-
-
(137,757)
-
-
-
-
100
100
100
100
-
-
The charity|| ||-|-|-|-| ||-|-|100|100| ||-|-|100|100| ||-|-|-|-| The Trustees disposed UK common investment funds 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 2025 ## 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. Joanna Wright resigned 6 November 2024. A summary of the results of the subsidiary is shown below: |
Richard Rawstron are also Trustees of the parent charity. Joanna Wright resigned 6 November 2024.
A summary of the results of the subsidiary is shown below:||| |---|---|---| |The aggregate of the assets, liabilities and reserves was:
Total retained earnings carried forward
Reserves
Profit for the financial year
Profit for the financial year
Distribution under Gift Aid to parent charity
Retained earnings
Administrative expenses
Total retained earnings brought forward
Cost of sales
Assets
Liabilities
Management Recharge
Profit on ordinary activities before taxation
Turnover
Taxation on profit on ordinary activities
Gross profit|2025
£
154,386
43|2024
£
132,947
(570)| ||154,343
(31,007)
(941)|133,517
(32,842)
(3,492)| ||122,395
-|97,183
-| ||122,395|97,183| ||-
122,395
(122,395)|-
97,183
(97,183)| ||-|-| ||159,730
(159,630)|87,195
(87,095)| ||100|100| 44 The Back-Up Trust Notes to the financial statements ## For the year ended 31 March 2025 ## 14 Parent charity The parent charity's gross income and the results for the year are disclosed as follows: |15
16
Deferred income (note 17)
Taxation and social security
Gross income
Result for the year
Prepayments and accrued income
Other creditors
Accruals
Trade creditors
Amounts due from group undertakings
Debtors
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Trade debtors|2025
2024
£
£
54,437
96,221
-
-
229,328
266,837
283,765
363,058
2025
2024
£
£
69,901
54,434
35,622
37,908
17,010
24,356
38,334
30,871
184,768
178,286
345,636
325,855
The group
The group|2025
2024
£
£
54,437
96,221
-
-
229,328
266,837
283,765
363,058
2025
2024
£
£
69,901
54,434
35,622
37,908
17,010
24,356
38,334
30,871
184,768
178,286
345,636
325,855
The group
The group|2025
£
3,590,770
519,593|2024
£
2,625,431
215,828| |---|---|---|---|---| ||345,636|325,855|337,011|308,885| 45 The Back-Up Trust ## Notes to the financial statements ## For the year ended 31 March 2025 ## 17 Deferred income Deferred income comprises of income received in advance for events taking place within 2025/26. |Deferred income comprises of income received in advance for events taking|place within 2025/26.|place within 2025/26.||| |---|---|---|---|---| |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|2025
2024
£
£
178,286
107,619
(178,286)
(107,619)
184,768
178,286
184,768
178,286
The group||2025
2024
£
£
167,903
94,369
(167,903)
(94,369)
179,893
167,903
179,893
167,903
The charity|| ||184,768|178,286|179,893|167,903| ## 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 £65,566 (2024: £60,515). £1,613 (2024: £1,698) 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
Net current assets
Net assets at 31 March 2025|General
unrestricted
£
25,389
957,260|£
-
100,913
Endowment
funds|Restricted
funds
£
-
842,755|Total funds
£
25,389
1,900,928| ||982,649|100,913|842,755|1,926,317| 19b Analysis of group net assets between funds (prior year) |Analysis of group net assets between funds (prior year)||||| |---|---|---|---|---| |Tangible fixed assets
Net current assets
Net assets at 31 March 2024|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| 46 The Back-Up Trust ## Notes to the financial statements ## For the year ended 31 March 2025 20a Movements in funds (current year) |Total restricted funds
Total endowment funds
Motability
National Lottery Community Fund Wales
October Club
Motability
National Lottery Community Fund Wales
Motability
National Lottery Community Fund Wales
Motability
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
Total unrestricted funds
Infrastructure Development Project|At 1 April
2024
£
-
104,000
-
-
24,561
-
-
36,716
-
-
105,235
-|Income &
gains
£
147,271
312,462
95,286
109,998
72,428
19,039
106,993
103,942
10,677
42,940
114,839
690,688|Expenditure
& losses
£
(427,401)
(312,308)
(95,286)
(131,485)
(72,846)
(19,039)
(293,051)
(106,011)
(10,677)
(228,426)
(365,525)
(49,158)|Gain on
revaluation
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Transfers
£
280,130
-
-
21,487
-
-
186,058
-
-
185,486
183,731
-|At 31 March
2025
£
-
104,154
-
-
24,143
-
-
34,647
-
-
38,280
641,530| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| ||270,512|1,826,563|(2,111,213)|-|856,892|842,755| ||50,000
50,913|1,397
1,397|(1,397)
(1,397)|-
-|-
-|50,000
50,913| ||100,913|2,793|(2,793)|-|-|100,913| ||1,035,051|1,762,398|(957,908)|-|(856,892)|982,649| ||1,135,964|1,765,191|(960,701)|-|(856,892)|1,083,562| ||1,406,476|3,591,754|(3,071,913)|-|-|1,926,317| 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 2025 20b Movements in funds (prior year) |Total restricted funds
Total endowment funds
Unrestricted funds:
Raising Awareness
Alasdair Ross Memorial Fund
Outreach and Engagement (General) Fund
Mentoring Services
General Fund
Total funds
Courses
Endowment funds:
Mentoring Services (General) Fund
Children & Young People
Children and Young People (General) Fund
Restricted funds:
Total unrestricted funds
Raising Awareness (General) Fund
Courses (General) Fund
Outreach & Support
William Gardner Victoria Cross Fund|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|1,180
1,201|(1,180)
(1,201)|-
-|-
-|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| ## Purposes of restricted funds The Outreach and Engagement Fund provides individual support for spinally injured individuals during their rehabilitation. Motability purpose is to expand The Back Up Trust 's skills training, mentor programme and courses provided to individuals with spinal National Lottery Community Fund Wales provide support to individuals with spinal cord injury 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. October Club relates to core infrastructure to implement a new CRM platform. ## 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. 48 The Back-Up Trust ## Notes to the financial statements ## For the year ended 31 March 2025 ## 21 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|2025
2024
£
£
88,845
88,845
120,002
208,847
208,847
297,692
Property|2025
2024
£
£
88,845
88,845
120,002
208,847
208,847
297,692
Property| |---|---|---| ||208,847|297,692| ## 22 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 £2,259 (2024: £2,158). ## 23 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. 49 "I feel like I'm not alone, I'm now part of the Back Up family" Back Up 4 Knightly Walk London SW18 1GZ Tel: 020 8875 1805 Email: admin@backuptrust.org.uk @backuptrust @backuptrust @backuptrust @backuptrust @BackUp10 Charitable Company No 3596996 I Registered in England and Wales I Registered Charity Numbers 1072216 & SC040577 4 Knightley Walk, London, SW18 1G 50