Charity number: 1089306
FRIENDS OF SUSSEX HOSPICES
TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
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 2025
| Trustees | Helen Searle, Chairperson |
|---|---|
| Simon Baer | |
| Andrew Hicks, Treasurer | |
| Chantal Wilson | |
| Dr Ian Gough | |
| Patricia Akers | |
| Heather Woolcott (Appointed 2ndDecember 2024) | |
| Dr David Scott (Retired 2nd December 2024) | |
| Charity number | 1089306 |
| Principal office | The Granary, |
| Cornfords Yard, | |
| High Street, | |
| Uckfield, | |
| East Sussex, | |
| TN22 1RJ | |
| Independent Examiner | Simon Barden BSc FCCA |
| 25 Coast Road | |
| Pevensey Bay, | |
| East Sussex, TN24 6NX | |
| 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 2025
The Trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of Friends of Sussex Hospices (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2025. 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 £212,072 (2024: £135,313). These included donations of £96,707 (2024: £68,415) and legacies which amounted to £0 (2024: £0).
The contribution made by all our supporters enabled £140,000 (2024: £60,000) 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 2025, the charity had funds of £60,697 (2024: £54,150) which in the Trustees’ view exceed the necessary level required.
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FRIENDS OF SUSSEX HOSPICES
TRUSTEES' REPORT (continued) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
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:
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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 judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; 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 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 6[th] October 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
Helen Searle
Helen Searle Chairperson
Page 3
FRIENDS OF SUSSEX HOSPICES
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
Friends of Sussex Hospices (FSH) continues to raise money to support the provision of hospice care in the counties of East and West Sussex. This year has seen a significant increase in both fundraising events income and donations.
During the year we had 4 major fund raising events; the Gruffalo event was repeated again this year at Framfield Grange. 2 events in the summer with a cabaret evening with Jon Caulshaw (amongst others) and a ‘Shakespeare in a Suitcase’ performance with the year finishing with the ever popular Christmas Fair at East Sussex National Resort. These events were in addition to the regular quarterly lunch clubs and other smaller fundraising activities. We thank all of those that supported these events and the loyal band of volunteers who run them all successfully.
During the year David Scott stepped down as chairman of the trust, we thank him for his invaluable service over many years. Helen Searle is currently acting as chairperson. We also welcomed Heather Woolcott to the board as a trustee.
The Board of Trustees met regularly during the year and a several fund-raising events were held.
It has been another challenging year for the hospices across Sussex, and we are pleased to have been able to support their work to the tune of £140,000 during the year.
This year is the 30[th] anniversary of the Friends of Sussex Hospices and we will be pleased to celebrate the fantastic work of our predecessors. 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.
Helen Searle
Helen Searle Chairperson 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 2025
I report on the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025 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:
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examine the financial statements under section 145 of the Act.
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follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act; and
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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:
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(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
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to prepare financial statements which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Act have not been met; or
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(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: 11[th] January 2026
Simon Barden BSc FCCA 25 Coast Road Pevensey Bay, East Sussex, TN24 6NX
Page 5
FRIENDS OF SUSSEX HOSPICES
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
| 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 2024 Total funds at 31 March 2025 |
2025 2024 £ £ 96,678 68,288 29 127 0 0 115,052 66.887 313 11 |
|
|---|---|---|
| 212,072 135,313 |
||
| 65,525 43,552 140,000 60,000 0 0 |
||
| 205,525 103,552 6,547 31,761 54,150 22,389 |
||
| 60,697 54,150 |
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 2025
| Note Current assets Cash at bank Stock 7 Debtors 8 Creditors: falling due within one year 9 Net current assets Net assets Charity funds Unrestricted funds 10 Total funds |
2025 2024 £ £ 62,65 1 56,471 2,621 2,316 3,811 8,579 |
|
|---|---|---|
| 69,08 3 67,376 -8,386 - 13,226 |
||
| 60,69 7 54,150 |
||
| 60,69 7 54,150 |
||
| 60,69 7 54,150 |
||
| 60,69 7 54,150 |
||
The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 6[th] October 2025 and signed on their behalf, by:
Helen Searle
Helen Searle, Chairperson
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 2025
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.
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FRIENDS OF SUSSEX HOSPICES
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
| 2 | Voluntary income |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||
| £ | £ | |||||
| Donations | 96,678 | 68,288 | ||||
| Direct donations (also note 5) |
29 | 127 | ||||
| Legacies | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 96,707 | 68,415 | |||||
| 3 | Fundraising activities |
|||||
| Fundraising | Fundraising | Surplus | Surplus | |||
| income | expenditure | 2025 | 2024 | |||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||
| Events and Functions |
115,052 | -60,020 | 55,032 | 29,015 | ||
| 2024 | 66,887 | -35,989 | 29,015 | |||
| 4 | Investment income |
|||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||
| £ | £ | |||||
| Interest received | 313 | 11 | ||||
| 5 | Distribution to hospices | |||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||
| £ | £ | |||||
| Chestnut Tree House Children's Hospice | 3,684 | 1,106 | ||||
| St Catherine's Hospice | 17,491 | 6,552 | ||||
| St Wilfrid's Hospice - Eastbourne | 19,892 | 8,863 | ||||
| Hospice in the Weald | 3,194 | 1,375 | ||||
| St. Peter and St. James Hospice | 11,468 | 3,994 | ||||
| The Martlets Hospice | 21,577 | 9,028 | ||||
| St Michael's Hospice | 20,609 | 9,578 | ||||
| Demelza Hospice Care for Children | 1,157 | 418 | ||||
| Leo House at Home | 0 | 600 | ||||
| The Sussex Snowdrop Trust | 1,056 | 407 | ||||
| The Sussex Beacon | 4,414 | 1,441 | ||||
| St Barnabas House | 23,249 | 10,811 | ||||
| St Wilfrid's Hospice - Chichester | 12,209 | 5,826 | ||||
| _ | _ |
Page 9
140,000
60,000
Total
FRIENDS OF SUSSEX HOSPICES
Page 10
FRIENDS OF SUSSEX HOSPICES
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
6 Net income
During the year, no Trustees received any remuneration (2024 - £NIL). During the year, no Trustees received any benefits in kind (2024 - £NIL).
During the year, no Trustees received any reimbursement of expenses (2024 - £NIL).
7 Stock
| Stock | |
|---|---|
| 2025 £ £ Goods for resale 2,621 Debtors 2025 £ £ Gift aid receivable 3,811 Prepaid & income due 0 _ __ 3,811 |
2024 2.326 |
| 2024 8,579 0 _____ 8.579 |
8 Debtors
9 Creditors:
Amounts falling due within one year
| 2025 £ £ Income in advance and accruals 8,386 _ _ 8,386 |
2024 13,226 ______ 13,226 |
|---|---|
Deferred income and expenditure relate to events which take place after the financial year end.
10 Statement of funds
| Brought | Incoming | Resources | Carried | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forward | Resources | Expended | Forward | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted | ||||
| funds | ||||
| General funds | 54,150 | 212.072 | 202,525 | 60,697 |
Related Parties
11 Transactions
No transactions with related parties took place during the year (2024 – Nil).
Page 11