Charity registration number: 1088432
Max Appeal
Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 31 August 2025
Jordan & Company Chartered Accountants Knighton House 62 Hagley Road Stourbridge West Midlands DY8 1QD
Max Appeal
Contents
| Reference and Administrative Details | 1 |
|---|---|
| Trustees' Report | 2 to 4 |
| Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities | 5 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 6 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 7 to 8 |
| Balance Sheet | 9 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 10 to 14 |
Max Appeal
Reference and Administrative Details
Chairman Mrs J Wootton Trustees Mrs J Wootton Mr P Wootton Mrs R Boyle Mr M Kennedy Mr M Tripp Mrs T Hennighan Mrs P Biggs Mrs A Sanderson Secretary Mrs R Boyle Charity Registration Number 1088432 Principal 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
Trustees' Report
The trustees present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 August 2025.
Objectives 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:
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the advancement of the education of the medical profession and the general public into Di
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(a) George syndrome, VCFS and 22q11.2 Deletion syndrome and its implications for the family
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the promotion of research into the causes, effects, treatment and management of Di George
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(b) 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.
Achievements and performance
This financial year runs from 1st September 2024 to 31st August 2025.
Geopolitical uncertainty has headlined throughout the year. This impacts upon individuals and households as the need to be financially cautious is always in mind; charity donations are directly affected by disposable income.
Over the course of the year we offer a range of services to 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 that is vital to our ability to meet our charitable objects.
The 22q11 Awareness Week was again successful with lots of social media traffic being generated. A big thank you to all those who petitioned for a building in their area to be lit up in red on 22nd November. 22Q at the Zoo is an annual international event that members continue to enjoy, this being its 15th year. Our venues were Twycross Zoo in Derbyshire, England and Five Sisters Zoo, West Calder, Scotland. Our summer camp at Wiston Lodge, Biggar, Scotland, has flourished over the last few years and many of those families are in regular contact via a What’s App group throughout the year. 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. Our Scarborough Beach days, run by Trustee Martin Kennedy, are always very popular.
The trustees are regularly updated with an income and expenditure position with a mindful eye towards risk and financial exposure against performance and service provision. We have continued to act with financial prudence. The administration work is carried out by Steph Jasper and we are very grateful to her. The mainstream work of the charity is undertaken by our ‘hands-on’ trustees and volunteers.
Page 2
Max Appeal
Trustees' Report (continued)
Our international involvement also continues with attendance at many international conferences and events to promote Max Appeal and to gather information, ideas and resources regarding the condition and other parent organisations’ work, including at board level with the European 22q Network. A visit to the only adult specialist 22q clinic, in Toronto, run by top psychiatrist Anne Basset was incredibly illuminating and certainly something to aspire to achieve within the UK. 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. We also work with other charities to increase our ‘reach’ on issues such as new born screening.
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 22q11DS who have a passion and drive to forward the improvement of knowledge of the condition and services for families. We are always keen to embrace new ideas and anyone interested in joining as a volunteer or trustee with a specific skill, such as social media management, would be positively encouraged.
Max Appeal's vision is of a society where children and adults affected by 22q11DS are valued and able to fulfil their potential.
Financial review
Thanks to the generosity of our members and supporters Max Appeal generated total income of £72,584 (2024: £57,568), an increase of 26%.
INCOME
General donations at £54,519 represented an increase of £4,335/9% on (2024: £50,184). Our members and supporters continue to participate in a variety of fundraising activities raising £9,116 (2024: £5,031) representing an increase of £4,085/81% on 2024. 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 £8,905. this compares with (2024: £2,286). This represents an increase of £6,619/289%, £4,494/ 68% of this was backdated Gift Aid due from Enthuse, an online fundraising platform used by many of our supporters for their fundraising events
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. Charitable event expenditure at £31,089 decreased by £4,584/13% against £35,673 for 2024. By way of comparison telephone costs at £3,355 have increased by £642 / 24% against £2,713 for 2024.
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 substantial printing and postage costs.
Page 3
Max Appeal
Trustees' Report (continued)
Wages and salaries at £7,200, decreased by £7,021/ 49% against £14,221 for 2024. This is due to the fact that we now have only one part time administrator employed. Conference and training costs at £5,467, represented an increase of £975/ 22% against £4,492 for 2024 as more conferences reverted to face to face. Printing, stationery and postage costs together at £6,392 represented a decrease of £4,669 / 42% against £11,061 for 2024. Travel expenses at £11,923 represented a decrease of £263/ 2% against £12,186 for 2024. Website costs at £3,545 showed a decrease of £451 / 11% against £3,996 for 2024. Telephone costs at £3,355 represented an increase of £642 / 24% against £2,713 for 2024
Total expenditure for the year amounted to £74,095 representing a decrease of £15,140 / 17% as compared with £89,235 in 2024.
ASSETS
The accounts for the year show a net deficit of £1,511 as compared with a net deficit of £31,667 in 2024. Retained funds at £19,398 showed a decrease of £1,511 / 7% as compared with £20,909 (2024), of which the whole amount is unrestricted.
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.
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 SCO51380.
The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on 2 July 2026 and signed on its behalf by:
......................................... Mr P Wootton Trustee
Page 4
Max Appeal
Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) and applicable law and regulations.
The law applicable to charities 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 charity 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:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern 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 integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
Approved by the trustees of the charity on 2 July 2026 and signed on its behalf by:
......................................... Mr P Wootton Trustee
Page 5
Max Appeal
Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of Max Appeal
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Max Appeal for the year ended 31 August 2025.
Responsibilities and basis 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 (‘the 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 statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of Max Appeal as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts 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 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 understanding of the accounts to be reached.
...................................... Mark Jordan FCA
Knighton House 62 Hagley Road Stourbridge West Midlands DY8 1QD
2 July 2026
Page 6
Max Appeal
Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 August 2025
| Note Income and Endowments from: Donations and legacies Other trading activities Investment income 4 Total income Expenditure on: Charitable activities Other expenditure 6 Total expenditure Net expenditure Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward 11 |
Unrestricted funds £ 63,424 9,116 44 72,584 (69,353) (4,742) (74,095) (1,511) (1,511) 20,909 19,398 |
Total 2025 £ 63,424 9,116 44 |
|---|---|---|
| 72,584 | ||
| (69,353) (4,742) |
||
| (74,095) | ||
| (1,511) | ||
| (1,511) 20,909 |
||
| 19,398 |
The notes on pages 10 to 14 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 7
Max Appeal
Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 August 2025 (continued)
| Note Income and Endowments from: Donations and legacies Other trading activities Investment income 4 Total income Expenditure on: Charitable activities Other expenditure 6 Total expenditure Net expenditure Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward 11 |
Unrestricted funds £ 52,470 5,031 67 57,568 (85,167) (4,068) (89,235) (31,667) (31,667) 52,576 20,909 |
Total 2024 £ 52,470 5,031 67 |
|---|---|---|
| 57,568 | ||
| (85,167) (4,068) |
||
| (89,235) | ||
| (31,667) | ||
| (31,667) 52,576 |
||
| 20,909 |
All of the charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods. The funds breakdown for 2024 is shown in note 11.
The notes on pages 10 to 14 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 8
Max Appeal
(Registration number: 1088432) Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2025
| Note Current assets Cash at bank and in hand 10 Funds of the charity: Unrestricted income funds Unrestricted funds Total funds 11 |
2025 £ 19,398 19,398 19,398 |
2024 £ 20,909 |
|---|---|---|
| 20,909 | ||
| 20,909 |
The financial statements on pages 7 to 14 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for issue on 2 July 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
......................................... Mr P Wootton Trustee
The notes on pages 10 to 14 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 9
Max Appeal
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 August 2025
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, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 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 convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts.
Going concern
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
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 obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to 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.
Charitable 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 10
Max Appeal
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 August 2025 (continued)
Governance costs
These include the costs attributable to the charity’s 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 charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered 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 trustees discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.
2 Income from donations and legacies
| Donations and legacies; Donations from individuals Gift aid reclaimed Total for 2025 Total for 2024 |
Unrestricted funds General £ 54,519 8,905 63,424 52,470 |
Total funds £ 54,519 8,905 |
|---|---|---|
| 63,424 | ||
| 52,470 |
3 Income from other trading activities
| Events income; Other events income Total for 2025 Total for 2024 |
Unrestricted funds General £ 9,116 9,116 5,031 |
Total funds £ 9,116 |
|---|---|---|
| 9,116 | ||
| 5,031 |
Page 11
Max Appeal
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 August 2025 (continued)
4 Investment income
| Interest receivable and similar income; Interest receivable on bank deposits Total for 2025 Total for 2024 |
Unrestricted funds General £ 44 44 67 |
Total funds £ 44 |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | ||
| 67 |
5 Expenditure on charitable activities
| Direct charitable activities Total for 2025 Total for 2024 |
Unrestricted funds General £ 69,353 69,353 85,167 |
Total funds £ 69,353 |
|---|---|---|
| 69,353 | ||
| 85,167 |
Page 12
Max Appeal
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 August 2025 (continued)
6 Other expenditure
| Bank charges Merchant fees Independent examiner fees Examination of the financial statements Legal fees Total for 2025 Total for 2024 |
Unrestricted funds General £ 121 75 1,080 3,466 4,742 4,068 |
Total funds £ 121 75 1,080 3,466 |
|---|---|---|
| 4,742 | ||
| 4,068 |
7 Trustees remuneration and expenses
No trustees, nor any persons connected with them, have received any remuneration from the charity during the year.
8 Independent examiner's remuneration
| Examination of the financial statements | 2025 £ 1,080 |
2024 £ 1,080 |
|---|---|---|
9 Taxation
The charity is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation.
10 Cash and cash equivalents
| Cash at bank | 2025 £ 19,398 |
2024 £ 20,909 |
|---|---|---|
Page 13
Max Appeal
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 August 2025 (continued)
11 Funds
| 11 Funds | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted funds General Unrestricted funds General |
Balance at 1 September 2024 £ 20,909 Balance at 1 September 2023 £ 52,576 |
Incoming resources £ 72,584 Incoming resources £ 57,568 |
Resources expended £ (74,095) Resources expended £ (89,235) |
Balance at 31 August 2025 £ 19,398 |
| Balance at 31 August 2024 £ 20,909 |
12 Analysis of net assets between funds
| 12 Analysis of net assets between funds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Current assets Current assets |
Unrestricted funds General £ 19,398 Unrestricted funds General £ 20,909 |
Total funds at 31 August 2025 £ 19,398 |
| Total funds at 31 August 2024 £ 20,909 |
Page 14
Max Appeal
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 August 2025
| Income and Endowments from: Donations and legacies (analysed below) Other trading activities (analysed below) Investment income (analysed below) Total income Expenditure on: Charitable activities (analysed below) Other expenditure (analysed below) Total expenditure Net expenditure Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Total 2025 £ 63,424 9,116 44 72,584 (69,353) (4,742) (74,095) (1,511) (1,511) 20,909 19,398 |
Total 2024 £ 52,470 5,031 67 |
|---|---|---|
| 57,568 | ||
| (85,167) (4,068) |
||
| (89,235) | ||
| (31,667) | ||
| (31,667) 52,576 |
||
| 20,909 |
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements. Page 15
Max Appeal
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 August 2025 (continued)
| Donations and legacies Appeals and donations Gift Aid tax reclaimed Other trading activities Fundraising events Investment income Interest on cash deposits Charitable activities Wages and salaries Conferences and training Travelling Charitable events expenses Rent Insurance Telephone and fax Printing, postage and stationery Website costs Other expenditure Bank charges Merchant fees Independent examiner's fee Legal and professional fees |
Total 2025 £ 54,519 8,905 63,424 9,116 9,116 44 44 (7,200) (5,467) (11,923) (31,089) - (382) (3,355) (6,392) (3,545) (69,353) (121) (75) (1,080) (3,466) (4,742) |
Total 2024 £ 50,184 2,286 |
|---|---|---|
| 52,470 | ||
| 5,031 | ||
| 5,031 | ||
| 67 | ||
| 67 | ||
| (14,221) (4,492) (12,186) (35,673) (360) (465) (2,713) (11,061) (3,996) |
||
| (85,167) | ||
| (135) (13) (1,080) (2,840) |
||
| (4,068) |
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements. Page 16