**Charity number: 1089306** ## **FRIENDS OF SUSSEX HOSPICES** **TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** ## **FRIENDS OF SUSSEX HOSPICES** ____________________________________________________________________________ ## Contents ||Page| |---|---| |Reference and administrative details of the charity,|| |its trustees, and advisers|1| |Trustees' report|2 - 3| |Chairman’s report|4| |Independent examiner's report|5| |Statement of financial activities|6| |Balance sheet|7| |Notes to the financial statements|8 - 10| ## **FRIENDS OF SUSSEX HOSPICES** ## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE CHARITY, ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** |**Trustees**|Dr David Scott, Chairman| |---|---| ||Helen Searle| ||Simon Baer| ||Andrew Hicks, Treasurer| ||Chantal Wilson| ||Dr Ian Gough| ||Patricia Akers (Appointed 6thOctober 2023)| ||Christopher Stebbing (Retired 4thMarch 2024)| |**Charity number**|1089306| |**Principal office**|The Granary,| ||Cornfords Yard,| ||High Street,| ||Uckfield,| ||East Sussex,| ||TN22 1RJ| |**Independent Examiner**|Simon Barden BSc FCCA| ||The Vicarage,| ||Old Heathfield,| ||Heathfield,| ||East Sussex, TN21 9AB| |**Bankers**|CAF Bank Limited| ||Kings Hill| ||West Malling| ||Kent| ||ME19 4TA| ||Metro Bank PLC| ||One Southampton Row| ||London| ||WC1B 5HA| Page 1 ## **FRIENDS OF SUSSEX HOSPICES** ## **TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** The Trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of Friends of Sussex Hospices (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2024. The Trustees confirm that the Annual Report and financial statements of the charity comply with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the charity's governing document and the provisions of the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (as amended for accounting periods commencing 1 January 2019). ## **Structure, governance, and management** ## **a. Constitution** The management of the charity is the responsibility of the Trustees who are elected and co-opted under the terms of the Declaration of Trust, which was adopted in August 2001 and amended in June 2012. ## **b. Method of appointment or election of Trustees** The charity's constitution requires at least three trustees. Upon the resignation of any of the current trustees, the remaining trustees will invite nominations for new trustees. These nominations would be voted on at a Special Meeting of the Trustees and the appointment would be made at this meeting. The charity has a succession policy ensuring the Board of Trustees has the right skills mix. The Board of Trustees maintains a skills matrix of all Trustees to identify any shortfall in desired competencies. The Trustees of the charity meet at least four times a year to discuss all aspects and functions of the charity. Decisions regarding the charity are made by the Trustees at these meetings. The volunteers of the charity are organised through the Friends of Sussex Hospices Management Committee, which consists of members appointed to the committee with particular areas of responsibility for events and their support with a chairman appointed and approved by the Board of Trustees. ## **Objectives and Activities** Friends of Sussex Hospices is a charity whose objects are to raise funds and invite and encourage contributions to relieve patients of hospices which treat patients in Sussex and to support the charitable work of these hospices. In setting objectives and planning for activities, the Trustees have given due consideration to general guidance published by the Charity Commission relating to public benefit. They have also considered the Charity Governance Code; actions were noted, followed through, and will be kept under review by the Governance Committee. The Trustees embrace the challenges set down in the document. ## **Achievements and performance** The charity through its programme of fund-raising activities during the year raised a total of incoming resources amounting to £135,313 (2023: £202,395). These included donations of £68,415 (2022: £137,174) and legacies which amounted to £0 (2022: £168). The contribution made by all our supporters enabled £60,000 (2022: £160,000) to be distributed to the hospices during the year. ## **Financial review and Reserves policy** The Trustees consider that, to safeguard and maintain the operation of the charity's activities, the charity's funds should be sufficient in the trustees’ view to enable contractual commitments to future events to be met in full and any costs of ending current operations. As of 31 March 2024, the charity had funds of £54,150 (2022: £22,389) which in the Trustees’ view exceed the necessary level required. Page 2 ## **FRIENDS OF SUSSEX HOSPICES** ## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** ## **Going Concern** Taking into consideration the Charity’s reserves and the costs of future fundraising events, the Trustees believe that the Charity will be able to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future, and therefore have adopted the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements. ## **Trustees' responsibilities statement** The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). The law applicable to charities in England & Wales 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: - select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently. - observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP. - make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and - prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation. The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity's transactions and 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 Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They 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. This report was approved by the Trustees on 2[nd] December 2024 and signed on their behalf by: Dr David Scott, **Chairman** Page 3 ## **FRIENDS OF SUSSEX HOSPICES** ## **CHAIRMAN’S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023** ## **CHAIRMAN’S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 MARCH 2024** Our fundraising activities during the year continued to make a steady and slow recovery, although are still not at prepandemic levels. Friends of Sussex Hospices (FSH) continues to raise money to support the provision of hospice care in the counties of East and West Sussex. During the year Chris Stebbing stepped down as a trustee and treasurer, with Andrew Hicks taking over as treasurer. Diane Akers was appointed as a new trustee and Dr Ian Gough returned as a trustee. The Board of Trustees met regularly during the year and a several fund-raising events were held. For the second time, the Gruffalo Event was held over two days at Framfield Grange, courtesy of Kathy Gore, and raised £8,000. The Christmas Fair was again held at the East Sussex National Resort and was very successful. The Mega March Hospice Quiz this year was again organised by The Alliance of Chambers in East Sussex (ACES), on behalf of FSH, and raised approximately £2,000. People have been kept in touch with the progress of the charity during the year by email, social media and the website. It has been another challenging year but one which has confirmed that the fundraising activities of FSH are appreciated, and its continuation is supported by the hospices and people in Sussex. My thanks go to all my fellow trustees and all our supporters for their continued generosity and the effort which they have made to raise funds and help to raise much-needed funds for the hospices in Sussex. David J Scott Chairman of the Board of Trustees Page 4 ## **FRIENDS OF SUSSEX HOSPICES** ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF FRIENDS OF SUSSEX HOSPICES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** I report on the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023 which are set out on pages 6 to 10. This report is made solely to the charity's Trustees, as a body, in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 and regulations made under section 154 of that Act. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the charity's Trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an independent examiner's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity's Trustees as a body, for my work or for this report. ## **Respective responsibilities of Trustees and examiner** The charity's Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements, and they consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to: - examine the financial statements under section 145 of the Act. - follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act; and - 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 financial statements presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements 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 financial statements 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: • to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Act; and - to prepare financial statements which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 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 financial statements to be reached. Signed: Dated: 7[th] October 2024 Simon Barden BSc FCCA The Vicarage, Old Heathfield, Heathfield, East Sussex, TN21 9AB Page 5 ## **FRIENDS OF SUSSEX HOSPICES** ## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** ||| |---|---| |**Note**
**Income on:**
**Incoming resources from generated**
**funds:**
**Voluntary income**
**2**
**Direct donations**
**2/5**
**Legacies**
**2**
**Activities for generating funds**
**3**
**Investment income**
**4**
**Total incoming resources**
**Expenditure on:**
**Fundraising expenses and other costs**
**3**
**Distributions to hospices**
**5**
**Direct Donations**
**5**
**Total resources expended**
**Movement in total funds for the year**
**Net surplus/(deficit) for the year**
**6**
**Total funds at 1 April 2023**
**Total funds at 31 March 2024**|**2024**
**2023**
**£**
**£**
**68,288**
**136,957**
**127**
**217**
**0**
**168**
**66,887**
**65,004**
**11**
**49**| ||**135,313**
**202,395**| ||**43,552**
**35,989**
**60,000**
**160,000**
**0**
**217**| ||**103,552**
**196,206**
**31,761**
**6,189**
**22,389**
**16,200**| ||**54,150**
**22,389**| **All funds are unrestricted. Income received for a specific hospice is accounted for within unrestricted funds, if all the funds received are paid over to that hospice before the Charity’s year end.** **The notes on pages 8 to 10 form part of these financial statements.** Page 6 ## **FRIENDS OF SUSSEX HOSPICES** ## **BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2024** ~~PC~~ |**BALANCE SHEET**
**AS AT 31 MARCH 2024**
~~PC~~|~~PC~~||| |---|---|---|---| |||**2024**|**2023**| ||**Note**|**£**|**£**| |**Current assets**|||| |**Cash at bank**||**56,471**|**11,499**| |**Stock**|**7**|**2,326**|**3,785**| |**Debtors**|**8**|**8,579**|**10,245**| |||**67,376**|**25,529**| |||**-**|| |**Creditors: falling due within one year**|**9**|**13,226**|**-3,140**| |**Net current assets**||**54,150**|**22,389**| |**Net assets**||**54,150**|**22,389**| |**Charity funds**|||| |**Unrestricted funds**|**10**|**54,150**|**22,389**| |**Total funds**||**54,150**|**22,389**| **The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 16[th] September 2024 and signed on their behalf, by:** **David J Scott, Chairman** **The notes on pages 8 to 10 form part of these financial statements.** Page 7 ## **FRIENDS OF SUSSEX HOSPICES** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** ## **1. Accounting policies** ## **1.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements** The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (as amended for accounting periods commencing from 1 January 2019) – Charities SORP (FRS102), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared to give a ‘true and fair’ view have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a ‘true and fair’ view. This departure has involved following the Charities SORP (FRS 102) published on 16 July 2014 rather than the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice effective from 1 April 2005 which has since been withdrawn. Friends of Sussex Hospices meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102. Assets and Liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s). There are no material uncertainties about Friends of Sussex Hospices ability to continue as a going concern. ## **1.2 Fund accounting** General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes. Investment income, gains and losses are allocated to the appropriate fund. ## **1.3 Incoming resources** All incoming resources are included in the Statement of financial activities when the charity has entitlement to the funds, certainty of receipt and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation. ## **1.4 Resources expended** Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been included under expense categories that aggregate all costs for allocation to activities. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular activities they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of the resources. Fundraising costs are those incurred in seeking voluntary contributions and do not include the costs of disseminating information in support of the charitable activities. Governance costs are those incurred in connection with administration of the charity and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements. Grants payable are charged in the year when the offer is made except in those cases where the offer is conditional, such grants being recognised as expenditure when the conditions attaching are fulfilled. Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year-end are noted as a commitment, but not accrued as expenditure. Page 8 ## **FRIENDS OF SUSSEX HOSPICES** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** - **Voluntary** - **2 income** |**2024**
**£**
**£**
Donations
68,288
Direct donations
(also note 5)
127
Legacies
0
68,415
**3**
**Fundraising**
**activities**
**Fundraising**
**Fundraising**
**Surplus**
**income**
**expenditure**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
Events and
Functions
66,887
-35,989
29,015
2023
65,004
-43,552
21,452
**4**
**Investment**
**income**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
Interest received
11
**5**
**Distribution to hospices**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
Chestnut Tree House Children's Hospice
1,106
St Catherine's Hospice
6,552
St Wilfrid's Hospice - Eastbourne
8,863
Hospice in the Weald
1,375
St. Peter and St. James Hospice
3,994
The Martlets Hospice
9,028
St Michael's Hospice
9,578
Demelza Hospice Care for Children
418
Leo House at Home
600
The Sussex Snowdrop Trust
407
The Sussex Beacon
1,441
St Barnabas House
10,811
St Wilfrid's Hospice - Chichester
5,826
_______
__
Total
60,000|**2023**
136,957
217
168
137,342
**Surplus**
**2023**
**£**
21,452
**2023**
49
**2023**
2,949
17,473
23,634
3668
10,651
24,075
25,542
1115
1,599
1086
3,844
28,828
15,536
_____
160,000| |---|---| Page 9 **FRIENDS OF SUSSEX HOSPICES** ## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024** ## **6 Net income** During the year, no Trustees received any remuneration (2023 - £NIL). During the year, no Trustees received any benefits in kind (2023 - £NIL). During the year, no Trustees received any reimbursement of expenses (2023 - £NIL). ## **7 Stock** |**2024**
**£**
**£**
Goods for resale
2,326
**Debtors**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
Gift aid receivable
8,579
Prepaid & income
due
0
_______
__
10,245
**Creditors:**
**Amounts falling due within one year**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
Income in advance and
accruals
13,226
_______
__
13,226|**2023**
3,786
**2023**
7,781
2,464
_____
10,245
**2023**
3,140
_____
3,140| |---|---| ||
_| ## **8 Debtors** ## **9 Creditors:** Deferred income and expenditure relate to events which take place after the financial year end. ## **10 Statement of funds** |**Brought**
**Forward**
**£**
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
General funds|**Incoming**
**Resources**
**Carried**
**Resources**
**Expended**
**Forward**
**£**
**£**
**£**
22,389
135,313
103,552
54,150| |---|---| ## **11[Related Parties ] Transactions** No transactions with related parties took place during the year (2023 – Nil). Page 10