Charity registration number: 1088432 Max Appeal Annual Report and Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 August 2024 Jordan & Company Chartered Accounlants Knighton House 62 Hagley Road Stourbridge West Midlands DY8 1QD
Max Appeal Contents Reference and Administrative Details Trustees, Report 2to5 Statement of Trustees, Responsibilities Independent Examiner's Report Statement of Financial Activities 8t09 Balance Sheet 10 Notes to the Financial Statements 11 to15
Max Appeal Reference and Administrative Details Chalnman Mrs J Wootton Trustees Mrs J Wootton Mr P Wootton Mrs R Boyle Mr M Kennedy Mrs C Lonsdale Mr M Tripp Mrs T Hennighan Mrs P Biggs Mrs R Molnnes Secretary Mrs R Boyle Charity Registration Number 1088432 PrinGipal Office 15 Meriden Avenue Wollaston Stourbridge West Midlands DY8 4QN Independent Examiner Jordan & Company Chartered Accountants Knighton House 62 Hagley Road Stourbridge West Midlands DY8 1QD Page 1
Max Appeal Trustees. Report The truslees present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2024. Objectivés and activities Objects and aims The charity's objectives are the relief of sickness and the protection and preservation of the health of persons affected by Di George syndrome, Velo-Cardio-Facial Syndrome (VCFS) and 22q11.2 Deletion syndrome and any related condition and their families and carers in particular by. but not restricted to.. (a) the advancement of the education of the medical profession and the general public into Di George syndrome, VCFS and 22q11.2 Deletion syndrome and its implications for the family (b) the promotion of research into the causes, effects. treatment and management of Di George syndrome, VCFS and 22q11.2 Deletion syndrome and to disseminate the useful results thereof The activities to achieve these aims are decided upon by the trustees of the charity who meet at least four times a year and form the executive committee. Page 2
Max Appeal Trustees. Report (continued) Achievements and perfomiance This financial year runs from 1st September 2023 to 31st August 2024. Uncertainty surrounding the general economy continues to impact on Max Appeal's fundraising opportunities. However, over the course of the year we successfully continued to offer a range of services lo our members including family activities, high quality information and family support via email and telephone. All of this was made possible by the support from our members Ihat is vital to our ability to meel our charitable objects. The 22q11 Awareness Week was again successful with continuous Twitter and Facebook feeds which resulted in many hundreds of thousands of hits, likes. reaches. comments. p]leS. re-tweets and favourites being achieved. The lighting up in red of buildings around the UK. continued to be sucSsful despile the impact of the energy Grisis, including a range of new buildings on and around Glasgow, thanks to our keen supporters the McKee family. 22Q at the Zoo is an annual international event that members Gontinue to enjoy, this being its 14th year, The trustees are regularly updated with an income and expenditure position with a mindful eye towards risk and financial exposure against perfomiance and service provision. We have continued to act wilh financial prudence. The administration of Ihe charity is carried by Steph Jasper and we are very grateful to her too. Our trustees and volunteers also do us very proud, in terms of offering services and support to fundraisers and our family activities. We have continued with an extensive programme of activities to bring people together via Zoom meetings for things like have a brew dates, social drop-in sessions and gaming nights for the men, and a family quiz night. With the aid of grant funding we have also been able to offer our family activity weekends in England and Scotland, which have been enthusiastically supported. The 22q11 syndrome APPG (All-Paty Parliamentary Group} continues to Influen MPS. Our retuming chair (Max Appeal acts as the secretariat to the group) is David Duguid MP, MP for Banff and Buchan. His enthusiastic involvement has greatly increased our profile with this highesl level of decision makers. However, David was not re-elected at the General Election. but we are rigorously seeking a new MP to take up this role. Our intemational involvement also continues with attendance at the 22q meeting in Portugal and at board level with the European 22q Neiwork. We have been able to attend some of the specialist clinics around the country and continue to supply information to all clinics and make families aware that we are available for them to contact us and providing °essential packs" for families during hospital stays. Max Appeal has a good reputation with its members and enjoys excellent professional relationships with medical teams and researchers. This has taken many years to achieve and is due to the dedication of a very small team of part-time staff, trustees and volunteers, and the experts in 22q11 DS who have a passion and drive to forward the improvement of knowledge of the condition and services for families. Max Appeal's vision is of a society where children and adults affected by 22q11 DS are valued and able to fulfil their potential. Page 3
Max Appeal Trustees. Report (continued) Financial review Thanks to the generosity of our members and supporters Max Appeal generated total income of £57,568 (2023: £75,508), a decrease of 24Q/o. INCOME General donations at £52,470 represented a decrease of £9,211115'/o on (2023.. £61,681). Our members and supporters continue to participate in a variety of fundraising activities raising £5,031 (2023: £4.453) representing an increase of £578 on 2023. Gift Aid continues to be a valuable source of income and is obtained in two ways., from donations made via Just Giving and Enthuse and from our general donations which is claimed directly from HM Revenue and Customs. We now claim Gift Aid at the end of the financial year rather than the end of the tax year. We received gift aid of £2,286, this compares with (2023: £2,202). EXPENDITURE As in previous years we have continued to provide all of our literature, handbooks. leaflets, newsletters and telephone headlines free of charge to our members, the medical profession and the general public. For the financial year under review rental costs have decreased to £360.00 against £2.016 for 2023, as we ended the lease on our Coombe Lodge office. Charitable event expenditure increased by £16.293 against £19,380 for 2023, as more interest was generated in participation in the larger fundraising events. By way of comparison telephone costs have decreased to £2,713 against £3,809 for 2023. One of our ongoing objectives is to increase the amount of information we distribute electronically via email or over the web to reduce the cost of printing and postage. We hope that over time this will reduce our running costs. The regular monthly E-zine publication now enables Max Appeal to regularly update members on activities and events etc without the need to incur substsntial printing and postage costs. Wages and salaries at £14.221 showed a minor decrease of £10.141 on 2023 (£24,362). Conference and training costs at £4,492, represented a £364 decrease from £4.856 in 2023, as conferences and meetings were delivered on a mix of face to face and hybrid basis. Printing, stationery and postage costs together at £11,061 represented an increase of £7,595 on 2023. Travel expenses are £12,186 against £14,141 for 2023. Website costs al £3,996 showed a decrease of £727 against £4.723 for 2023. Total expenditure for Ihe year amounted to £89.235 representing an increase of £9,201 111 /0 as compared with £80.034 in 2023. ASSETS The accounts for the year show a net deficit of £31,667 as compared with a net deficit of £4.526 in 2023. As a result, retained funds decreased to £20,909 as compared with £52,576 (2023). of which the whole amount is unreslricted. The assets of Max Appeal are held in cash which is deposited with CAF Bank. CAF Bank is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and is a member of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme which covers deposits up to £85,000 in the event of the insolvency of the bank. Page 4
Max Appeal Trustees. Report (continued) structure, governance and management Nature of governing document Max Appeal was registered as a charity in England and Wales on 14th September 2001 under the Charities Act 1993. Our registered charity number is 1088432. Max Appeal was registered as a charity in Scotland on 14th November 2021 under the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005. Our registered charity number is SC051380. The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on 16 April 2025 and signed on its behalf by- Mr P Wootton Trustee Page 5
Max Appeal Statement of Trustees. Responsibilities The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees, report and the financial statements in accordance with Ihe United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice} and applicable law and regulations. The law applicable to charities requires the truslees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charily and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity 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 accounting standards have been ft)Ilowed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements: and prepare the financial statements on the going concem basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business. The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, and the provisions of the constitution. The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrtty of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable companls website. Legislation governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. Approved by the trustees of Ihe charity on 16 April 2025 and signed on its behalf by: Mr P Wootton Trustee Page 6
Max Appeal Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of Max Appeal I report to the Irustees on my examination of the accounts of Max Appeal for the year ended 31 August 2024. Responsibilities and basls of report As the charity trustees of Max Appeal you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {'Ihe Act,). I report in respect of my examination of the Max Appeal's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 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 examiner's ststement I have completed my examination. I confim that no material matt8rs have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect- 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of Max Appeal as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or 3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in Ihe Charities {Aocounts and Reports} Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair view, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order lo enab18 a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Mar Jordan FCA Knighton House 62 Hagley Road Stourbridge West Midlands DY8 1QD 16 April 2025 Page 7
Max Appeal Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 August 2024 Unrestricted funds Total 2024 Note Income and Endowments from: Donations and legacies Other trading activiiies Investment income 52.470 5,031 67 52,470 5,031 67 Total income 57,568 57,568 Expenditure on: Charitable activities other expenditure (85,167) 4,068 {85,167) 4,068 Total expenditure 89.235 89.235 Net expenditure 31.667 31,667 Net movemenl in funds {31.667) (31,667) Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward 52,576 52,576 Total funds carried forward 12 20.909 20,909 The notes on pages 11 to 15 fomi an integral part of these financial ststements. Page 8
Max Appeal Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 August 2024 (continued) Unrestrlcted funds Total 2023 Note Income and Endowments from: Donations and legacies Charitable activities Other trading activities Investment income 61.681 9,260 4,453 114 61,681 9,260 4,453 114 Total income 75,508 75.508 Expendlture on: Charitable activities Other expenditure {76,962) 3,072 (76,962) (3,072 Total expenditure (80,034 {80,034 Net expenditure (4,526 4,526) Net movement in funds (4,526) {4,526) Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward 57,102 57.102 12 52,576 52,576 All of the charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above periods. The funds breakdown for 2023 is shown in note 12. The notes on pages 11 to 15 fom an integral part of these financial statements. Page g
Max Appeal (Registration number: 1088432) Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2024 2024 2023 Note Current assets Cash at bank and in hand 11 20,909 52.576 Funds of the charity: Unrestrlcted income funds Unrestricted funds 20,909 52,576 Total funds 12 20,909 52,576 The financial statements on pages 8 to 15 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for issue on 16 April 2025 and signed on Iheir behalf by: Mr P Wootton Trustee The notes on pages 11 to 15 fomi an integral part of these financial statements. Page 10
Max Appeal Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 August 2024 1 Accounting policies Statement of compliance The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the second edition of the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice issued in October 2019, Ihe Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Acl 2011. Basis of preparation Max Appeal meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared under the historical cost convenlion with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note{s) to these accounts. Golng concern The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going COnM. Income and endowments Voluntary income including donations, gifts, legacies and grants that provide core funding or are of a general nature is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability. Donations and legacies Donations and legacies are recognised on a receivable basis when receipt is probable and the amount can be reliably measured. Investment income Investment income is recognised once the income has been declared and notification has been received of the income due. Expenditure All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligalion to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated lo the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed lo particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of resources, with central staff costs allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset's use. Other support costs are allocated based on the spread of staff costs. Charitabla activities Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them. Page 11
Max Appeal Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 August 2024 (continued) Govemance costs These include Ihe costs attributable to Ihe charitys compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements. Taxation The charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitsble company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains reiVed within categories Govered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992. to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes. Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value. Fund structure Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the twstees discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity. 2 Income from donations and legaci¢s Unrestricted funds General Total funds Donations and legacies; Donations from individuals Gift aid reclaimed 50.184 2.286 50,184 2,286 Totsl for 2024 52,470 52,470 Total for 2023 61,681 61,681 3 Income from charitable activitles Unrestrlcted funds General Total funds Totsl for 2023 9,280 9,260 Page 12
Max Appeal Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 August 2024 (continued) 4 Income from other trading activities Unrestricted funds General Total funds Events income: Other events income 5,031 5,031 Total for 2024 5.031 5.031 Total for 2023 4,453 4.453 5 Investment income Unrestrlcted funds General Total funds Interest receivable and similar income: Interest receivable on bank deposits 67 67 Total for 2024 67 67 Total for 2023 114 114 6 Expenditure on charitable activities Unrestricted funds General Total funds Direct Gharitable activities 85.167 85,167 Total for 2023 76.962 76,962 Page 13
Max Appeal Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 August 2024 (continued) 7 Other expenditure Unrestricted funds General Total funds Bank charges Merchant fees Independent examiner fees Examination of the financial statements Legal fees 135 13 135 13 1.080 2.840 1,080 2.840 Total for 2024 4.068 4.068 Total for 2023 3,072 3,072 8 Trustees remuneration and expenses No trustees, nor any persons connected with them, have reiVed any remuneration from the charity during the year. 9 Independent examlner's remuneration 2024 2023 Examination of the financial statements 1.080 1,080 10 Taxatlon The charity is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation. 11 Cash and cash equivalents 2024 2023 Cash at bank 20,909 52,576 Page 14
Max Appeal Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 August 2024 (continued) 12 Funds Balance at 1 September 2023 Incoming resources Resources expended Balance at 31 August 2024 Unrestricted funds General 52,576 57.568 (89,235} 20,909 Balance at 1 September 2022 Incoming resources Resources expended Balance at 31 August 2023 Unrestricted funds General 57.102 75,508 {80,034 52,576 13 Analysis of net assets between funds Unrestricted funds General Total funds at 31 August 2024 Current assets 20,909 20.909 Unrestricled funds General Total funds at 31 August 2023 Current assets 52,576 52,576 Page 15
Max Appeal Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 August 2024 Total Total 2024 2023 Incorne and Endowments from: Donations and legacies (analysed below) Charitable activities (analysed below) Other trading activities (analysed below) Investment income (analysed below) 52,470 61.681 9,260 4.453 114 5,031 67 Total income 57,568 75.508 Expenditure on: Charitable activities (analysed below) Other expenditure {analysed below) Total expenditure (85,167) (4,068) (89,235) (31,667) (76,962) 3,072) 80,034) Net expenditure (4,526) Net movement in funds (31.667) {4,526) Reconciliation of funds Total fvnds brought forward 52,576 57,102 Total fvnds carried forward 20.909 52.576 This page does not form part of the stalutory financial statements. Page 16
Max Appeal Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 August 2024 (continued) Total 2024 Total 2023 Donations and legacies Appeals and donations Gift Aid tax reclaimed 50,184 2,286 59,479 2,202 52,470 61,681 Charitable activitles Grants receivable 9.260 9.260 Other trading activities Fundraising events 5,031 4.453 5,031 4,453 Investment income Inlerest on cash deposits 67 114 67 114 Charitabl• actlvltles Wages and salaries Conferences and training Travelling Charitable events expenses Rent Insurance Telephone and fax Printing. postage and stationery Website costs (14,221) (4,492) (12,186) (35,673} (360) (465) (2,713) (11.061} 3,996 (24,362) {4.856) (14.141) (19,380) {2,016) (209) (3,809) (3,466) (4,723 (76,962 85,167} Other expendlture Bank charges Merchant fees Independent examinerfs fee Legal and professional fees (135) (13) (1.080) 2,840 {72) {1,080) 1,920 3,072 4.068 This page does not fom part of the statutory financial statements. Page 17