2024-03-31-accounts - Upbeat

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Upbeat Trustees Annual Report 2024

Approved 7 May 2024

Charity Number 1087415 www.upbeatheartsupport.org.uk

Objectives of The Charity :

The relief of sickness among people who have or have had coronary heart disease and related illnesses, within the area generally known as West Suffolk.

Activities :

Upbeat Heart Support was set up in July 1995 by cardiac patients and registered as an independent charity in 2001. This is currently its 29th year. During 2018 Upbeat received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service – the equivalent of an MBE for Charities. We were the only charity in Suffolk to receive the award and were delighted to have been selected.

In May 2021 following the pandemic in-person activities restarted slowly and have been gradually expanding. Currently, we are offering two classes on a Monday at New Bury Centre, Bury St. Edmunds, two classes on a Tuesday at Long Melford near Sudbury, and two classes on Wednesday, again at New Bury Centre. The fortnightly coffee morning at Southgate Centre, Bury St. Edmunds restarted and the Zoom coffee morning on a Friday continues. Twice-yearly we produce and distribute to members our Upbeat Magazine.

The group offers exercise to assist rehabilitation, support and help for people in the West Suffolk area who have had heart attacks or other heart-related problems and their carers. We have expanded this to cover people who have lung problems, circulatory problems, and diabetes. At the year end, membership stood at 720.

All Executive Committee members are Trustees who are aware of, and have regard to, the guidance issued by the Commission on Public Benefit and that Upbeat exists for the benefit of the public.

The Group is self-funding and relies on its own fund-raising activities and private donations and the occasional grant, when available.

It is not empowered to make grants.

Upbeat is run entirely by unpaid volunteers and only utilises paid professional employment of cardiac nurses and qualified cardiac exercise instructors.

Governing Document :

Constitution

How the Charity Is Constituted:

By the Executive Committee and approved at the AGM.

Trustees :

As listed.

Trustee Selection method :

Elected by members annually at the Annual General Meeting.

Additional Governance Issues :

The Executive Committee usually meet every two months (not August and December) and currently in person or by Zoom and may include non-voting representatives from our cardiac nurses and cardio-vascular trained exercise instructors. All aspects of the charity are monitored with emphasis on current legislation, all relevant financial matters, and the day-today running of our exercise sessions to ensure that the group is well-run and delivers its charitable objectives for the benefit of the public, for which it is set up.

A regular review of education and training of our nurses, instructors, and trustees is conducted and suitable courses made available where necessary.

Upbeat is currently affiliated to The British Heart Foundation and to The Arrhythmia Alliance and is recognised by hospitals, health organisations, and doctors’ surgeries and practices throughout the area in which it operates.

The group has adopted and regularly reviews policies on:

DBS Code of Practice Equal Opportunities Complaints Procedure Conflict of Interests Data Protection and Privacy Confidentiality Safeguarding and Prevent Risk Assessments Emergency Procedures Internal Financial Self- Audit - yearly

There is a detailed and comprehensive handbook available.

Achievements and Performance :

During the last year our activities have stabilized, and we have continued to increase social and fund-raising activities. A second class on a Monday was introduced and we have made links to other groups to try to increase membership. Membership has changed but increasingly we have older members joining.

Unfortunately, we are very short of able and willing volunteers as many of our members are more mature and have health problems and this is a serious issue for us going forward.

Qualified cardiac nurses and exercise instructors are used to ensure the highest quality care and advice are available. The aim is to ensure the best possible programme, at the right level, to help with exercise, relaxation, diet, and confidence.

Policy on Reserves:

Upbeat has a financial policy to maintain a minimum of six months expenditure requirement reserve.

Details of Any Funds Materially in Deficit:

None

Financial Review Details :

The Charity’s principal sources of funding were: Exercise sessions, fund-raising activities, members’ and supporters’ donations, the occasional grant and some funeral donations.

How Expenditure Has Supported the Key Objectives :

Upbeat has a current average monthly expenditure of £4,000 on Nurses’ & Exercise Instructors’ remuneration and room rental – key expenditure to achieve the objectives of the Group. Expenditure has increased due to higher room rentals and charges overall.

Investment Policy:

Upbeat currently has no Investment Policy.

Valerie Axton Treasurer May 2024

(registered charity no 1087415) Income and Ex enditure Account for the Year Ended 31st March 2024 Income 2024 2023 Exercise Income Nurse Donations Gift Aid Coffee Sales Trips Clothing net Bonus Ball 20698.03 2163.00 8429.74 1553.13 17382.65 1972.10 12638.13 0.00 284.50 7317.50 623.93 0.00 3809.00 508.75 0.00 L 11 Fund Raising Advertising 100 Club Interest Received Grant income Medicard Amazon Smile Easy Fundraising Sexton's Manor Closure of funds 4938.32 0.00 3399.00 1629.51 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 4916.45 0.00 3326.50 546.32 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Total Income 47128.48 49008.08 Exercise and Nurse Milèagé Training Room Hire Postage, Stationery and Telephone Printing Annual Lunch Sundry Expenses Examination of Accounts Fund Raising 100 Club Trips Christmas Cards for Fund Raising Mrs H Lunch Caterlng Bank Charges Stock Adjustment M6rchandis8 Raffle Equipment Creative Cl DA Lunches Webmaster Advertising 32258.30 2637.60 550.00 8623.70 1595.95 1724.00 30700.43 2475.20 375.00 8072.53 863.07 1821.20 938.69 300.r)o 652.40 1669.50 5363.50 2925.94 300.00 4142.83 1777.00 4774.00 2629.91 60.00 2026.72 84.60 0.00 159.89 Total Expenditure 59163.44 60338.52 N8t Surplusl(d8ficit) for the year -12034.96 -11330.44

(registered charity no 1087415) Balance Sh88t as at 31st March 2024 Assets 2024 2023 Cash in Hand Cash at Bank - Cuent Account 0.00 7346.30 0.00 12930.50 CAF Gold Account Natwest Account DebtorslPrepayments Stocks 73242.92 7957.63 0.00 0.00 76633.39 11017.92 0.00 0.00 Total Gross Assets 88546.85 100581.81 Less Creditors 312.00 312.00 Total N8t Assets 88234.85 100269.81 Accumulated R8S8rv8s Brought Forward 100269.81 111600.25 Surplusl{deficit) for the Year -12034.96 -11330.44 Accumulated Reserves Carried FonNard 88234.85 100269.81 v.[ Jt£k Mrs V Axton For and on behalf of the Trustees Date kFfLI Ioiy

Independent Examlnefs Report to the Trustees of Upbeat I report on the accounts of tha Charity for the year ended 31st March 2024 which are set out on the following pages. Responslbilitles and basls of report As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ("the Act"). I r8POrt in respect of my examination of th8 charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145((5)(b) of the act. Independent examlnerfs statement I confirm that l am qualified to undertake the examination because l am a member of The Association of Chartered Accountsntg, which is one of the listed bodias. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection wilh the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1) accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by sectlon 130 of thè act; or 2) the 8ccounts do not accord wlth thos8 records. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper undertaking of the accounts to be reached. Nicholas Farr Moore Green Chartered Accountants 22 Friars Street Sudbury Suffolk COI0 2AA Date 2f/v/L