## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** **From 1/01/2022 Period start date: To 31/12/2022 Period end date** **Charity name: Back to Back (Intervertebral Disc Biology and Disease Study Group)** ## **Charity registration number: 1079089** ## **Objectives and Activities** ||SORP
reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the purposes
of the charity as set out in
its governing document|Para 1.17|The relief of sickness by the promotion of
research into all matters relating to the
intervertebral disc disorders and the
disseminationof results ofsuch research| |Summary of the main
activities in relation to
those purposes for the
public benefit, in particular,
the activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.|Para 1.17
and 1.19|With the gradual waning of the Covid-19
pandemic, the charity slowly returned to
activity in 2022.
The delayed two-day B2B meeting at St
Anne’s College Oxford, was held April
2022. It was the first in-person meeting
post-Covid lock-downs for many present.
However as some, particularly those
from Japan, were not able to attend
because of Covid restrictions still in
place, the meeting also allowed for
distance participation. Scientists from
Germany and Japan were thus able to
participate. Around 25 people were
present in person, including some from
Norway and Denmark. The meeting
followed the usual B2B format of short
talks on work in progress followed by
extensive free and friendly discussion.
There were very positive comments
about the content of the meeting and its
format from many of those present.
B2B is now funding two research support
awards. Research was hindered by
closure of research laboratories over
much of 2021 and otherwise hindered by
social distancing restrictions; laboratory
work only gradually returned during
2022. Progress in the study funded by
B2B in 2021 ‘_Apilot study to determine_| |||_if analysis of MRI, serum and urine_
_biomarkers can be used to aid_
_stratification of low back pain patients'_-
was delayed by the effects of Covid on
outpatient clinics and staffing, so
recruitment of patients has so far been
much lower than expected. The grant to
Dr Rebecca Hemmings, Cardiff
University, for her project entitled
‘_Exploring Dynamic Vertebral Movement_
_Using Spinal Fluoroscopy: Establishing_
_Protocols for Innovative Spinal Studies’_
started in 2022. It is funded in two parts;
the initial part, a study of methods to
enable an application for ethical
approval, is progressing; once ethics has
been obtained, funding will be provided
for the second part, viz measurements
on human subjects.
Two new research support grant
applications were received in 2022.
(i) ‘_Correlating internal bone and disc_
_strains with mechanisms of vertebral_
_bone fracture’_from Drs Newell and
Tavena, Dept of Bioengineering, Imperial
College London
(ii) ‘_Forecast+ - factors predicting the_
_transition from acute to persistent pain in_
_people with sciatica’_from Drs Schmid,
Probert, Ridgeway and Kouresh, Nuffield
Dept of Clinical Neurosciences,
University of Oxford. In order to avoid
conflict of interest and as agreed when
setting up details of the B2B grant award
scheme, none of the referees of this
grant were from the home institution of
the applicants viz University of Oxford.
In accordance with recommendations
from referees, both the grants were
awarded,with researchstartingin 2023.| |---|---|---| |Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the
guidance issued by the
Charity Commission on
public benefit|Para 1.18|The trustees of Back to Back have had
regard to the Guidance of the Charity
Commission on public benefit in noting
the purpose of the charity is to work
towards understanding and treating the
enormous problem of low back pain
affecting a large proportion (80%) of the
population at some time, and ending in
chronic disability for around 10% of
sufferers.| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: ||SORP
reference|| |---|---|---| |Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|Thanks to the generous grant from
MAPI, Back to Back is currently able to
award funds for research support into
work that fosters its aims. Applications
are invited from those based at UK
Universities or research organisations
and are advertised on social media and
through relevant scientific societies.
Applications are refereed by scientists
and clinicians with relevant expertise
and with no conflict of interest. Grants
are administered by the host institution of
the successful applicants.| |Policy on social
investment including
program related
investment|Para 1.38|**N/A**| |Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|**N/A**| |Other||| ## **Achievements and Performance** SORP reference |Summary of the main
achievements of the
charity, identifying the
difference the charity’s
work has made to the
circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any
wider benefits to society
as a whole.|Para 1.20|Over the years, by holding small informal
discussion meetings on work in
progress, Back to Back has fostered
research into the biology and pathology
of the intervertebral disc. The meetings
have been particularly helpful for young
scientists, by enabling them to present
and discuss their research work
informally in a friendly, non-competitive
environment, and have lead to many
collaborations which have significantly
furthered knowledge in this neglected
field.| |---|---|---| |**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:| |---|---|---| |Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41|Collaborations fostered by Back to Back
have (i) led to a number of publications
relating to back pain and spinal
disorders, three of which have won major
international prizes (ii) been involved
development of ‘SpineNet’, an aid to
radiologists as it provides a rapid
(seconds) automated means of
analysing a clinicalspinal MRI.| |Performance of
fundraising activities
against objectives set|Para 1.41|**N/A**| |Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|**N/A**| |Other||| ## **Financial Review** |Review of the charity’s
financial position at the
end of the period|Para 1.21|At 31.12.2022 the charity had a balance
of £162,177 in the bank. In 2022, its
income , from MAPI, a donation, and
bank interest, was £62,254. Its
expenditure on meetings’expenses,| |---|---|---| |||running expenses (website, independent
examiner, postage) and funding of
reseach grants was £4604. It has
liabilities of £31,240 arising from
projected payments for research grants
irunning in 2022. The charity’s net
assets were thus £130,937.| |---|---|---| |Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|The charity holds funds in reserve to pay
for at least two large future meetings.
The remainder of its funds will go to
supporting small informal meetings and
grants.| |Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|**£20,000**| |Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|**N/A**| |Details of fund materially
indeficit|Para 1.24|**N/A**| |Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a
going concern|Para 1.23|**None**| **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47|The principal source of funding has been
from MAPI organisation, a non-profit
organization based in France and
dedicated to improving patients' quality of
life by facilitating access to Patient-
centred Outcome (PCO). Fees from
licencing the Oswestry Disability Index
(ODI), widely used for assessing function
and quality of life in patients with low back
pain, were directed to Back to Back,
where they will be used to fund research
projects and scientific meetings.| |---|---|---| |Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|**N/A**| |A description of the
principal risks facing the
charity|Para 1.46|The pandemic was an unexpected risk,
and completely halted the major activity
of Back to Back, viz. holding scientific
meetings. It also halted laboratory
research work, and hence application for
research awards. Otherwise, the charity
has no financial risks; grants are awarded
and meetings held according to funds
available.| |Other||| ## **Structure, Governance and Management** |Description of charity’s
trusts:||| |---|---|---| |Type of governing
document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|A constitution| |How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|Unincorporated association| |Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions
e.g. election to post or
name of any person or
body entitled to appoint
one or moretrustees|Para 1.25|Trustees are selected by personal
recommendation.| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees|Para 1.51|| |---|---|---| |The charity’s
organisational structure
and any wider network
with which the charity
works|Para 1.51|| |Relationship with any
related parties|Para 1.51|| |Other||| ## **Reference and Administrative details** |Charity name|Back to Back (**Intervertebral Disc Biology and**
**Disease Study Group)**| |---|---| |Other name the charity
uses|B2B| Registered charity number **1079089** Charity’s principal address B2B Secretary, 3 Squitchey Lane, Oxford OX2 7LB. ## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** |1
2
3
4
5
6
7
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20|**Trustee name**|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for**
**whole year**|**Name of person (or**
**body) entitled to appoint**
**trustee(if any)**| |---|---|---|---|---|---| ||Prof Jeremy
Fairbank|Chairman|||| ||Dr Judith Meakin|Treasurer|||| ||Dr Jocelyn Urban|Secretary|||| ||Prof Victor
Duance||||| ||Prof Sally
Roberts||||| ||Prof Valerie
Sparkes||||| ||Prof Peter
Winlove||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| – Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved **Director name N/A** Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity |**Trustee name**|**Dates acted if not for**
**whole year**|| |---|---|---| |**N/A **||| |||| |||| |||| |**Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others**|**Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others**| |---|---| |Description of the assets
held in this capacity|None| |Name and objects of the
charity on whose behalf
the assets are held and
how this falls within the
custodian charity’s objects|N/A| |Details of arrangements
for safe custody and
segregation of such assets
from the charity’s own
assets|N/A| ## **Additional information (optional)** ## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** ## **Type of Name Address adviser** ## **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)** N/A ## **Exemptions from disclosure** Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details **N/A** ## **Other optional information** ## **Declarations** **The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.** **Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees** **Signature(s) Full name(s)** Jocelyn Urban **Position (eg Secretary,** Secretary **Chair, etc) Date** 28th October, 2022 ## BACK TO BACK Financial statements 31 December 2022 ## Income and Expenditure |**INCOME**|**2022**
**_2021_**| |---|---| |Donations
Bank interest
Gift aid from HMRC
ODI royalties from MAPI trust|3,000.00
£
_50.00_
_£_
104.45
£
_2.15_
_£_
-
£
_5,549.65_
_£_
59,149.87
£
_45,887.26_
_£_| |**TOTAL INCOME**|**62,254.32**
**£**
**_51,489.06_**
**_£_**| ||| |**EXPENDITURE**|**2022**
**_2021_**| |Meeting expenses
Running expenses
Research grant funding
Donations|913.25
£
-
£
651.20
£
-
£
3,039.53
£
-
£
-
£
_100.00_
_£_| |**TOTAL EXPENDITURE**|**4,603.98**
**£**
**_100.00_**
**_£_**| |**SURPLUS**|| ||**57,650.34**
**£**
**_51,389.06_**
**_£_**| ## Balance Sheet |**ASSETS**|**2022**
**_2021_**| |---|---| |Cash|162,176.94
£
_104,526.60_
_£_| |**TOTAL ASSETS**|**162,176.94**
**£**
**_104,526.60_**
**_£_**| ||| |**LIABILITIES**|**2022**
**_2021_**| |Research grant (2021 Fairbank)
Researchgrant(2022 Hemming)|11,297.47
£
_14,337.00_
_£_
19,942.61
£
-
£| |**TOTAL LIABILITIES**|**31,240.08**
**£**
**_14,337.00_**
**_£_**| |**NET ASSETS**|| ||**130,936.86**
**£**
**_90,189.60_**
**_£_**| ## Bank Reconciliation |Bank balance 01 Jan 2022|£|104,526.60
| |---|---|---| |+ Income in 2022|£|62,254.32
| |- Expenditure in 2022|£|4,603.98
| |**Balance 31 Dec 2022**|**£**|**162,176.94**
| ## **To the Trustees of Back to Back** **(Intervertebral Disc Biology and Disease Study Group)** ## **Charity No. 1079089** I report to the trustees of Back to Back (Intervertebral Disc Biology and Disease Study Group) on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31[st] December, 2022. ## **Respective responsibilities and basis of report** As the charity trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). I report in respect of my examination of the Charity’s accounts carried out under Section 145 of the 2011 Act; and in carrying out my examination I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under Section 145 (5) (b) of the Act. ## **Independent Examiner’s Statement** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in any material respect: - accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 - Act; or - the accounts did not accord with the accounting records. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Date 22nd October, 2023 John Robert Eke Fellow of the Association of Charity Independent Examiners Soarview 4 Stable Court Malborough, Devon, TQ7 3FB