2025-06-30-accounts - Yorkshire And Humberside Asbestos Victims Support Group

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Yorkshire and Humberside Asbestos Support Group (SARAG)

( Registered charity. Number 1080365 )

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

for the year ended 30 June 2025

Contents	Page
Legal and administrative information	2
Trustee's report	3-6
Examiners report	7
Statement of financial activities	8
Balance sheet	9
Notes to the accounts	10-11

Yorkshire and Humberside Asbestos Support Group (SARAG)

Legal and administrative information

Trustees

Nigel Ball Vice Chair Simon Bolton Treasurer Beth Cheshire Helena Stanley Steve Whitfield

Registered Charity number

1080365

Principal Address

Unit 20, Moorgate Crofts Business Centre South Grove Rotherham S60 2DH

Independent Examiner

Craig Williamson White Rose Accounting for Charities The Ghyll Threapland Aspatria Cumbria CA7 2EL

Bank

The Co-operative Bank Plc PO Box 250 Skelmersdale WN8 6WT

Yorkshire and Humberside Asbestos Support Group (SARAG)

Trustee's report

The Trustees present their report and financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2025.

The trustees have adopted the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" issued in March 2005 in preparing the annual report and financial statements of the charity.

Structure, governance and management

The charity was established by a declaration of Trust dated 18 October 1999 as amended by supplemental Deed dated 20 March 2000 and 17 February 2003 and was entered on the Register of Charities effective from 17 April 2000. A voluntary Trustee management committee holds statutory responsibility for Yorkshire & Humberside Asbestos Support Group (SARAG), with the day-to-day management carried out by the Head of Service. The trustees who served during the year are listed on page 2 on the report.

SARAG holds an Annual General Meeting in October each year at different locations throughout Yorkshire and Humberside to ensure the meeting is accessible to all people resident or working, in all parts of the region. All people affected by asbestos related diseases, their carers, medical staff, legal firms, trade unions, corporate supporters, voluntary organisations and the general public are invited and welcome to attend. Additionally, the Trustees meet every two months to review the work of the charity and check its progress against the development plan. The Trustees encourage people with an interest and appropriate skills or experience to consider becoming a Trustee of the organisation and nominations for new trustees are considered as applications are received.

Objectives and activities

To increase awareness of the dangers and hazards of asbestos; to offer expert benefits advice, emotional support and information, to those diagnosed with asbestos-related conditions, their families, carers and dependants; to signpost our service users to expert asbestos legal representation, throughout the Yorkshire, Humberside and North Nottinghamshire region.

Yorkshire and Humberside Asbestos Support Group (SARAG)

Trustee's report continued

Public benefit statement

The SARAG Trustees take their responsibility seriously and are confident that the activities of the organisation meet the Charity Commission public benefit guidance.

Our beneficiaries are members of the general public who are directly or indirectly affected by asbestos-related disease, for example those diagnosed with an illness, their carers, relatives, colleagues, and any member of the general public who may need information about the historical consequences of asbestos and the continuing hazards of asbestos.

We aim:

to provide a free and confidential, quality advice and information service for all people in the locality whose life is affected by asbestos related disease.
to advocate on behalf of those affected by working in partnership with other groups and organisations that share our concerns by raising issues facing those affected and seeking to effect relevant policy change.
to facilitate mutual support and enable people whose life is affected by asbestos related disease.
to meet one another to share experiences.
to produce and disseminate appropriate information to the wider general public that increases understanding about asbestos related diseases and the continuing hazards of asbestos.

Our main activities are:

The provision of advice, information, assistance and support for people affected by asbestos related diseases, the majority of whom are terminally ill with mesothelioma cancer, asbestos related lung cancer or who have chronic health problems from diseases such as asbestosis and pleural thickening. We provide a home visiting service where required, for everyone who may be terminally ill, chronically sick or disabled. We also provide individual support, group support meetings and arrange events, which are an effective way of supporting people who are often isolated by their condition.

We provide information and awareness briefings to the wider community which have proved to be a very effective way of increasing understanding about the continuing hazards of asbestos, the incidence of disease in the region and the issues facing sufferers. Working with ‘The Asbestos Forum UK’ we have been effective in bringing about social policy change that should go some way towards preventing future needless exposure and consequential disease.

The Trustees regularly give due consideration to the Charity Commission guidance in deciding what activities SARAG will undertake and ensure that the services are appropriate to the beneficiaries and that no detriment or harm arises from the activities we carry out.

Yorkshire and Humberside Asbestos Support Group (SARAG)

Trustee's report continued

Review of Progress and Achievement

Throughout the year, we have been extremely grateful to receive very kind donations, which this year has totalled £49,082.44 from individual supporters, many of whom are themselves affected by asbestos related diseases. We would like to thank those people who make donations to SARAG and we are particularly appreciative for the very kind memorial donations in support of the work and aims of SARAG.

We also need to express our gratitude to our Solicitor panel firms; Asbestos Law Partnership, Asbestos Claims Lawyers, Leigh Day, Irwin Mitchell, Slater & Gordon and Thompsons for their continued support and donations to SARAG. This much appreciated support is significant in enabling us to continue working to help service users, and their relatives. Asbestos related personal injury is a specialist area, and all our panel solicitors have extensive experience of asbestos related disease claims and give independent, impartial, confidential advice.

We are fortunate to continue to receive support from the Trade Unions throughout the region, who have provided £6040 in donations throughout the year. UNITE branches have continued to make one off donations, along with donations from Unison branches and GMB Yorkshire region.

We also need to thank those who funded us through grants totalling £84,710.10.. Thank you to the Alex Ferry Foundation whose provision of a grant throughout this reporting period, has enabled us to run support groups throughout the region. We would also like to thank the B and CE Trust who have helped fund a welfare advisor position and the national lottery community fund whose award has meant many of our service users have benefited from the support of our bereavement support worker.

Yorkshire and Humberside Asbestos Support Group (SARAG)

Trustee's report continued

Reserves Policy

In line with the Charity Commission guidelines on reserves it is the policy of SARAG to aim to maintain unrestricted funds, which are the free reserves of the charity, at a level that equates to approximately six months expenditure. This provides sufficient funds to cover management, administration, and support costs and to respond to emergency applications for grants that arise from time to time. Additionally, we will hold designated reserves at a level to cover any future redundancy costs and wind down cost should they be required, this is calculated at £9,150. On current expenditure levels, the forecast for six months running costs is £153,000. As at 30 June 2024, our reserves stand at £156,478.10 of which £9,150 is designated as outlined above, and the remainder will carry forward for project running costs for the next financial year.

Trustees responsibilities for the financial statements

Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial period which show the state of affairs of the charity and of net income or expenditure of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

q select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
q make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.
q prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it
is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
q state whether applicable accounting standards of recommended
practice have been followed subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable the Trustees to prepare financial statements. The Trustees

are responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention of fraud and other irregularities.

This report was approved by the Trustees on ______ and is signed on their behalf by:

Trustee

Yorkshire and Humberside Asbestos Support Group (SARAG)

Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Yorkshire and Humberside Asbestos Support Group (SARAG)

I report on the accounts for the year ended 30 June 2025, which are set out on pages 8 to 11.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

It is my responsibility to:

q examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;

q to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145 (5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and

q to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent examiner’s report

My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner’s statement

In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:

(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:

q to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and

q to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act

have not been met; or

(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed:______

Craig Williamson White Rose Accounting for Charities The Ghyll Threapland Aspatria Cumbria CA7 2EL

Date:______

Yorkshire and Humberside Asbestos Support Group (SARAG)

Statement of Financial Activities

For the Year Ended 30 June 2025

Notes Incoming Resources Grants and donations 4 Fundraising Total Incoming Resources Resources Expended Wages, NI and Payroll Service 5 Supporting events Action Mesothelioma Day Lippy People Project Insurance Software Rent & Room Hire Utilities General running costs Telephone and Postage Travel and Transport Training and Supervision Independent Examination and payroll Other Expenditure Total Resources Expended Net Incoming/(Outgoing) Resources Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward	Total 2025 £ 305,401 7,393 312,794 229,012 12,869 288 0 823 5,211 10,040 95 10,781 8,616 7,098 1,958 1,349 3,273 291,412 21,382 108,266 129,648	Total 2024 £ 222,444 1,839 224,283 196,516 8,491 216 858 817 2,898 5,597 1,561 5,387 8,023 6,534 1,897 645 2,541 241,981 (17,697) 125,964 108,266

Yorkshire and Humberside Asbestos Support Group (SARAG) Balance Sheet as at 30 June 2025

2025 Notes £ Current Assets Balance at Bank 156,143 156,143 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Creditors 2 (26,115) Accruals 3 (380) (26,495) Net Current Assets 129,648 Net Assets 129,648 Represented By FUNDS Designated funds 9,150 Unrestricted Funds 120,498 129,648	. 2024 £ 150,962 150,962 (42,356) (340) (42,696) 108,266 108,266 8,000 100,266 108,266

This report was approved by the Trustees on ______ and is signed on their behalf by:

Trustee

Yorkshire and Humberside Asbestos Support Group (SARAG)

Notes to the Accounts For the Year Ended 30 June 2025

1 Accounting Policies

(a) Basis of preparation

The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102), and the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS102 (effective from January 2015 and updated with effect from January 2016) - (the Charities SORP (FRS102)), as modified for smaller charities.

The Charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity as defined under FRS102.

(b) Income

Grants donations and Income from charitable trading activities are recognised in full in the Statement of Financial Activities in the year in which they are received.

(c) Restricted Funds

Restricted funds are used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor. Expenditure which meets the criteria is identified to the fund together with a fair allocation of management and support costs.

(d) Unrestricted Funds

Unrestricted Funds are other income received or generated for the objects of the charity without further specified purpose and are available as general funds.

(e) Resources expended

Resources expended are included in the Statement of Financial Activities on an accruals basis, inclusive of V.A.T. The charity is not VAT registered.

Governance costs of the charity relate to the costs of running the charity such as

the costs of meetings, professional costs and statutory compliance, and includes any costs which cannot be specifically identified to another expenditure classification. In the opinion of the trustees all support costs relate to charitable expenditure.

(f) Tangible Fixed Assets and Depreciation

Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the cost of each asset over its useful life.

(g) Fund Accounting

Funds held by the charity are either restricted funds or unrestricted general funds. Unrestricted funds are funds which can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the trustees. Restricted funds that can only be used for a particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

Yorkshire and Humberside Asbestos Support Group (SARAG)

Notes to the Accounts continued For the Year Ended 30 June 2025

2 Creditors

These are amounts owed by the group but not paid during the accounting period. They are in respect of:

Creditors Solicitor donations paid half year in advance	£ 615 25,500 26,115

3 Accruals

These are expenses that have been incurred but have not been billed or paid for during the accounting period. They are in respect of:

Independent Examination 4 Grants and donations Grants Alex Ferry Foundation B&CE Charitable fund National Lottery Community Fund North Yorkshire Council Sir George Earl South Yorkshire Community Foundtion Donations Individual supporters & PI panel donations 5 Staff Costs and Trustees Expenses Staff costs for the year were as follows: Salaries Employers NIC	£ 380 380 £ 9,967 13,500 53,012 1,000 2,034 4,715 221,173 305,401 £ 216,678 12,334 229,012

The average number of employees during the year was 7

No other Trustees received any remuneration or expenses during this financial year.