## Annual Report April 2023 – March 2024 Disability Challengers | Company No: 4300724 | Registered Charity No: 1095134 ## CEO Report Challengers is a charity that exists to transform the lives of disabled children and young people through the power of play. This year has been a year marked by an ever-growing demand for our services, financial constraints and a tough fundraising environment, however we have continued to support over 750 families by providing over 75,000 hours of service, and have welcomed the whole family into Challengers through our new Family Fun Days and Family Cooking Breaks. The launch of our Guildford playground gave us the opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of inclusive play, and we’re proud to be the first space in the UK with a revolutionary We-Go-Swing which allows wheelchair users and non-wheelchair users to play together. Inspired by our playground launch party for families, we have committed to running our first ever family festival next year. Investing in our staff remains a priority – from training through to recognition with our Staff Awards. We work hard to provide an inclusive working environment where everyone is free to be themselves. When staff feel included and appreciated, they bring their best selves to work. One member of the team wrote to me recently saying: _**"I am grateful to work in an environment that continues to excite and motivate me each day. I deeply value the impact my role has making a meaningful difference in the lives of children, young people and their families. It is also incredibly rewarding to collaborate with colleagues who are consistently driven to go above and beyond in achieving the best outcomes for the families who use our services."**_ As we went through the year, we were delighted to refresh our charitable mission to better reflect our vital work, and we look forward to developing our strategy at the start of next year to ensure we remain ambitious for the families we are working with, and for those we are yet to meet. **Gen Dearman, CEO of Challengers** 2 ## Chair Report As I conclude another remarkable year as Chair of the Board at Challengers, I would like to express deep gratitude on behalf of the entire Trustee Board to CEO Gen Dearman and the Senior Leadership Team for their tireless dedication to the charity. Navigating a year of financial constraints and balancing this with the everincreasing demand for services is not easy, but you have displayed strong leadership and I’m very proud of the collective progress that Team Orange has made this year. We are lucky to have a wonderful staff team who never fail to impress me with how creative, resilient and ambitious they are for the children and families we support. Despite these obstacles, we’ve made significant strides such as the completion of the inclusive playground in Guildford. This is a true milestone in advancing our mission, and it has been a joy to see the smiles from children, young people and their families as they explore our incredible inclusive play facilities. Looking forward, as a Board we look forward to defining new strategic goals for the charity and supporting the team to continue to provide Challengers’ vital services. I’m hopeful about the opportunities ahead, and the difference we can make together. ## **Russell Harvey, Chair of Challengers Trustee Board** The Trustees present their report and the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024. Reference and administrative information set out on page 18 forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the memorandum and articles of association and the Statement of Recommended Practice - Accounting and Reporting by Charities: SORP applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102. This Trustees’ annual report includes a directors’ report as required by company law. 3 ## About Challengers As of 2024, Challengers has been providing support for disabled children, young people and their families for 45 years. It’s a milestone achievement and we’re very proud of the charity’s heritage. Our vision remains true since 1979, as sadly disabled young people are still routinely excluded from play, however in line with our new strategy launched in September 2024, we have updated our charitable mission to better reflect our important work. ## **Our vision** A world where all children and young people can play together freely. ## **Our mission** To transform the lives of disabled children, young people and their families through the power of play. ## **Our approach** The Challengers Approach is a set of five values which define our organisation, guiding our actions and decisions, and shaping our culture. 4 ## Strategy For the last three years, Challengers’ strategy was focused on post-pandemic stabilisation, and the need to re-build our strong foundations. We made good progress against the three core goals we defined, which included ensuring we continue to excel at providing inclusive play opportunities, the build of a new playground in Guildford which contributes to a more inclusive community, and connecting families through the launch of Challengers’ Community Hub programme. Towards the end of 2023 we started work on refreshing our strategic objectives, to define a 5-year strategy which would lead us to the charity’s 50th anniversary. Our new strategy, launched in September 2024, has been created in collaboration with our service users, parent carers and staff, looking at how we can add the most value to disabled children, young people and their families. We look forward to advancing our strategic objectives in 2024 and beyond, driven by our ambitious new charitable mission. The Trustees review the aims, objectives and activities of the charity each year. This report looks at what the charity has achieved and the outcomes of its work in the reporting period. The trustees report the success of each key activity and the benefits the charity has brought to those groups of people that it is set up to help. The review also helps the trustees ensure the charity's aims, objectives and activities remain focused on its stated purposes. The Trustees have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity's aims and objectives and in planning its future activities. In particular, the trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the aims and objectives that have been set. 5 ## 2023-24 in numbers **----- Start of picture text -----**
75,817
Hours of play
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**----- Start of picture text -----**
752 18,036
Children Sessions
supported delivered
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## **Our services** - **Pre-school** - Inclusive Pre-school setting for disabled and non-disabled children aged 2-5. - **Play** - Opportunities for children aged 4-12 to play and make friends. Services run in Surrey, Hampshire, Kingston upon Thames and Richmond upon Thames. - **Youth** - Opportunities for young people 13-18 to have fun and make friends. Services run in Surrey, Hampshire, West Sussex, Kingston upon Thames and Richmond upon Thames. - **555 Service** - Emergency support service for disabled individuals aged 8-18 who are out of education. - **Transition Days** - Days organised to support children transitioning from our Play services to Challengers Youth services. This delivery for all services was in line with our contractual commitments and other delivery targets. ## **Hours by service** **Pre-school** - 30,371 hours **Play** - 21,590 hours **Youth** - 17,214 hours **555 Service** - 6,288 hours **Transition days** - 354 hours 6 ## 2023-24 in numbers ## **Here’s what our families think** 95% of families scored our staff as good or excellent 94% of parents say that Challengers improves their own wellbeing as a parent/carer 89% of parents agree Challengers reduces their child’s loneliness and isolation 87% of families feel that Challengers helps improve their child's social skills _Challengers 2024 Parent & Carer Survey_ 7 ## Fundraising statement and conditions At Challengers, our mission is to provide truly inclusive, fun, and safe places where all disabled children and young people can spend time with their friends, while positively impacting their families and the wider community. Achieving this mission is only possible through raising the necessary funds for the services. The mission informs the fundraising choices we make as we strive to provide promote inclusion throughout our fundraising. Despite the continued challenges of fundraising post-pandemic and with the increase in the cost of living, we received £1,054k of voluntary income, up 24% from the previous financial year. This was in line with targets for the year. Our biggest area of growth was in corporate fundraising, up 61% on the previous year from £145k to £234k. Throughout the year, we also received the generous support of many local companies, individuals and community groups through donations, staff fundraising, events and street collections, among many other incredible contributions! Our thanks go out to everyone who gave donations of their time and other resources to enable Challengers to provide vital support to disabled children and young people. Volunteers are a vital part of #TeamOrange, and in 2023-24 contributed over 1,200 hours helping out at our Play and Youth schemes, lending a hand to decorating projects, coming into the office and supporting our admin work, and being the faces of Challengers at our many public events. We are grateful to everyone who has given up their time to make what we do possible. 8 Challengers remains committed to a fair and ethical approach to all our fundraising practices. We strive to build long-term relationships to grow a more sustainable approach to fundraising which will maximise return over the longer term. We are registered with the Fundraising Regulator, are signed up to the Fundraising Preference Service, and comply with Fundraising Regulator’s Code of Fundraising Practice for the UK and our own Ethical Fundraising Policy and Vulnerable People Policy. All our fundraising is carried out by our in-house fundraising team, alongside volunteers who are supported by us. Volunteers, whether acting as individuals, in the workplace or as community groups, receive information and guidance from us and we maintain regular contact to oversee their activities to ensure they comply with the Code of Fundraising Practice. We do not work with Professional Fundraising Organisations to solicit donations, have a strict policy of never selling or passing on our supporters’ personal data for marketing purposes, and have never bought fundraising data from a third party. In the period 2023-24 we received no complaints about fundraising. ## **With thanks to all of our donors and supporters** Farnham Town Council - Church Crookham Parish Council - Betty Riseley Trust Charity for Children Councillor Groves - Hampshire County Council Councillor Davidson - Surrey County Council Councillor Reid - Hampshire County Council Children in Need - Small Grants Garfield Weston - Heathrow Community Trust - Awards for All - Community Foundation for Surrey - The Lawson Trust CIO 9 ## Financial overview The 2023/24 year reported a surplus of £50k across all funds. Unrestricted funds had a surplus of £9k, the restricted funds had a surplus of £33k and the designated funds had a surplus of £8k. The designated funds deficit relates to depreciation charges against assets acquired in previous years. The restricted funds surplus was a result of restricted income received in the current year that will be spent in future years, or was used to fund capital expenditure. The unrestricted funds recorded a surplus as a result of increased income from re-tendered local authority contracts, growth in other services, and increased fundraising income. ## **2023-24 income** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Other trading Donations
9% 10%
Trusts & Legacies
17%
Local Authority
33%
Grants
4%
Entrance Fees
27%
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Total income increased by 13% in 2023/24 to £3.0m (2022/23: £2.6m). Donations and legacies was £788k (-13% vs 2022/23). This year saw a decrease in trust and foundation income of 25%(-£69k vs. 2022/23), an increase in corporate income of 84% (+£99k vs. 2022/23), income from individuals decreased by £5k (-4% vs. 2022/23), income from communities decreased by £20k (-31% vs. 2022/23) while legacy income decreased 69% (-£69k vs. 2022/23). Income for charitable activity was £1.8m (+21% vs 2022/23) 10 **----- Start of picture text -----**
1000 942
782
800
600
494
400
294
247
200
112
8
0
Donations Trusts & Legacies Grants Entrance Fees Local Authority Investment Other Trading
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## **Expenditure** Total expenditure increased by 8% to £2.8m vs. the 2022/23 period. Cost of raising funds increased by 17% vs. 2022/23, charitable expenditure in the year increased by 17% vs. 2022/23. Expenditure on support costs increased by 12% vs. 2022/23. Support costs include the cost of teams within Finance, People and Culture and Communications, together with investment in staff recruitment, learning and development decreased 16% vs 2022/23. Governance costs decreased by 9% vs. 2022/23. In accordance with charity accounting practice, Support and Governance costs are allocated to charitable expenditure based on each activity’s proportion of delivered hours. ## **Breakdown of charitable expenditure (£2.3m)** **----- Start of picture text -----**
Community Hub 89,417
1,203,801
Youth Schemes
1,224,662
Play and Pre-school Schemes
0 200,000 400,000 600,000 800,0001,000,0001,200,0001,400,000
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11 ## **Reserves** Challengers’ reserves policy is to maintain free reserves of between 3 and 5 months expenditure, plus an additional £50k-£100k for remedial property repairs and maintenance. Due to seasonal changes in activity levels this will fluctuate throughout the year. However, free reserves should be maintained between £639k and £1,082k. The main objective of the reserves policy is to deal with short term cashflow challenges to protect the long-term future of the charity. In addition, the trustees believe this level of reserve would allow a safe and sensible closure in the event that this was the only option. Reserves are reviewed monthly at the Finance and Risk subcommittee. The free reserves level at year end was £559k, representing 2.8 months 2023/24 average operating expenditure. Year-end designated funds stood at £2.64m, the residual value of this fund is required to support the long-term security of premises and other fixed assets to ensure the charity can meet its objectives. Of this amount, £2.35m has been set aside for known future depreciation cost on buildings at our Farnham and Guildford centres over the next 50 years. ## **Risk** The Board’s risk appetite guides the risk management process. The Board is not seeking to eliminate risk as there is a recognition that it is necessary to accept the risks that cannot be mitigated in full or which fall beyond Challengers’ control. However, the Senior Leadership Team actively monitor and manage such risks to provide reasonable, but not absolute assurance that the charity is protected. Challengers have a robust risk monitoring process. Risks are ranked by the likelihood of occurrence and impact to the charity. The Board consider that the principal challenges faced by Challengers, and the associated risks are the need to: - continue to provide a high quality service, and recruit and retain talented staff; - continue to operate with a sustainable funding model; and ensure voluntary income targets are met. 12 The Risk Register is reviewed on a monthly basis at the Finance and Risk meeting and in addition at the relevant sub-committee meetings. The management of day-to-day operational risks is delegated to the Senior Leadership Team to proactively manage throughout the year. The Board approves a comprehensive annual budget and plan for Challengers and the Board and its Committees monitor performance against these plans and budgets on a monthly basis. Material variances, together with any revised financial forecasts, are submitted regularly to the Finance Committee and to the Board. The Board is satisfied that these systems, combined with internal financial controls and the reserves policy, will ensure that sufficient resources are available to meet the immediate needs of Challengers in the event of adverse conditions. ## **Going concern** The Trustees take financial governance seriously and each month consider the monthly finance reports, the cashflow and the organisational KPIs to ensure challengers is meeting its charitable objectives and continue to do so in the foreseeable future. The Board of Trustees agrees that Challengers is a strong and viable going concern. The factors that lead to this conclusion are: - Demand for Challengers services - Contracts in place or in the process of being renewed. Strong financial governance and current financial position Good management control and regular governance - Effective and proactive management team Clearly demonstrable public benefit - Clear and well-informed strategic plan - Well-informed income generation plan 13 ## **Remuneration** Challengers has developed a remuneration statement to provide a clear and transparent set of guidelines which demonstrate accountability and applies to all employees. During the 2023-24 year, Challengers continued as a Real Living Wage employer and committed to pay all staff at least the real living wage on an annual basis. The organisation does not offer an annual discretionary bonus scheme, nor does it offer a long-term incentive plan (LTIP). The organisation has a series of salary bands in a structure that is fair and equitable. Job roles are mapped onto this structure. Salary bands are benchmarked with industry and local standards to ensure that they are fair as well as remove subjectivity to salary decisions. Each year we continue to monitor this structure and compare with competitors and other organisations. ## **Gender pay gap** Despite great strides being made in the past two decades, a gender pay gap remains in place in the UK. Latest figures suggest there may be a slight improvement in the situation in the UK however there is still a bias towards men. The Office for National Statistics states that the gender pay gap for full time employees in 2023 was 7.7%, however when you split this by age, the gap for under 40s is close to zero. This reflects our workforce, who are predominantly below the age of 40. As a charity working in the care sector we attract a large number of females to work with us. This is not unusual in our sector and in fact we do attract a good number of males compared to some of our peers. At Challengers, we enforce a strict pay structure which means that men and women are paid at the same rate for a job role – this is across office and scheme-based roles. We strive to be a learning and equal opportunities organisation that invests in both men and women alike, keen to support them to be the very best they can be for the charity and for themselves. 14 For our operational staff hourly rates are now based on the Real Living Wage. We pay this rate as a minimum hourly rate to all staff regardless of age and have committed to abide by the Real Living Wage in the future. In addition, service staff working on services within Greater London are paid a minimum rate of the London Living Wage. **----- Start of picture text -----**
2023/24 2022/23
14.00 13.01 13.59
11.70 11.95 12.19 11.95
12.00
10.40 10.40
10.00
8.00
6.00
4.00
2.00
0.00
Mean Gender Pay 4.3% 4.0%
Gap %
(in favour of males) (in favour of males)
Median Gender
Pay Gap % 0% 0%
Mean Female Hourly Pay RateMedian Female Hourly Pay RateMean Male Hourly Pay RateMedian Male Hourly Pay Rate
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## **Leadership** As with all charities, it is the responsibility of the Trustees to ensure the efficient, legal and professional performance of Challengers. The Chief Executive Officer works with the board to develop the strategic framework, agree the strategic direction and report on the delivery. 15 TThe operational day-to-day running is delegated to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) who are: - Gen Dearman, Chief Executive Officer - Andrew Kendall, Head of Finance - Samantha Lane, Head of Fundraising - Paul Wilson, Head of Service The SLT provide regular reporting to the Trustees through sub-committee meetings and main board. ## **Trustee recruitment** Following recruitment, new Trustees will be allocated a ‘mentor’ from amongst the present Trustees and will undertake an induction programme under the control of the Chief Executive and the mentor. They will be given induction material to allow them to fully understand the charitable purpose of Challengers, its financial situation, its future plans and the current situation of the charity. The new Trustee will be encouraged to visit the centre when children are present and to attend at least one community-based project early on. All Trustees are welcome to attend any of the staff training sessions. The induction information provided to new Trustees is as follows: - The latest Strategic Review - Most recent Annual Report and accounts - Key Policies - Annual Risk Audit - Copy of Memorandum and Articles of Association. - Copies of Charity Commission leaflet CC3 “The Essential Trustee: what you need to know” and Companies House booklet “Being a Director” - This Trustees Handbook where, as appendices, there is additional important information such as a list of present Trustees, Trustee job description etc. Committee terms of reference ## **Trustee responsibilities** The Trustees (who are also directors of Disability Challengers for the purposes of company law) set and monitor strategy and policies. The Trustees delegate authority to deliver strategy to the Chief Executive Officer and Senior Leadership Team with regular board meetings where reports are received on all the core activities of the charitable company. 16 The Trustees have established standing sub-groups each with its terms of reference for Finance, Audit & Risk; Safeguarding & Operations; and Fundraising & Communications. They are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ annual reports and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (the United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Company law 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 charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure of the charitable company 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 UK Accounting Standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements 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 adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. In so far as Trustees are aware: - There is no relevant audit information of which the charitable company’s auditor is unaware - The Trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information 17 The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. The Trustees’ annual report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime. Auditors Sayer Vincent LLP were re-appointed during the year to act as Challengers’ auditors. **The Trustees’ report was approved by the Trustees on 4 December 2024 and is signed on their behalf by:** ## **Mr Russell Harvey, Chair of the Board** ## **Trustees Admin Report** The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 8th October 2001 and registered as a charity on 19th December 2002.The company was established under a memorandum of association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its articles of association. All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity. Any expenses reclaimed from the charity are set out in note 9 to the accounts. ## **Executive committee** Chair of the Board – Russell Harvey - Treasurer – Bernard McAlister - Board Secretary – Megan Dooley - Communications Trustee – Alison Stenlake - Fundraising Trustee – Lee Bennett (appointed January 2024) Safeguarding Trustee – Danae Salwan (appointed January 2024) Governance Trustee – Kim Sanders - Trustee Deborah Smith - Parent Trustee – Natasha Morris - Trustee – Jake Hatt 18 ## **Leadership Team** CEO – Gen Dearman - Head of Finance – Andrew Kendall - Head of Fundraising – Samantha Lane (from April 2023) - Head of Service – Paul Wilson ## **Advisors** Auditors - Sayer Vincent LLP Invicta House, 108-114 Golden Lane London, EC1Y 0TL Honorary Legal Advisers - rhw solicitors LLP Ranger House, Walnut Tree Close Guildford, GU1 4UL Bankers - Barclays Bank PLC, North Street, Guildford, GU1 4AG **----- Start of picture text -----**
www.disability-challengers.org
Stoke Park, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 1TU
Registered Charity Number: 1095134
Companies House: 04300724
**----- End of picture text -----**
19 Independent auditor’s report To the members of Disability Challengers ## Opinion We have audited the financial statements of Disability Challengers (the ‘charitable company’) for the year ended 31 March 2024 which comprise the statement of financial activities, balance sheet, statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 _The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland_ (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). ## In our opinion, the financial statements: - Give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company’s affairs as at 31 March 2024 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure for the year then ended - Have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice - Have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ## **Basis for opinion** We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. 20 Independent auditor’s report To the members of Disability Challengers ## **Conclusions relating to going concern** In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on Disability Challengers’ ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue. Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report. ## **Other information** The other information comprises the information included in the Trustees’ annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard. 21 Independent auditor’s report To the members of Disability Challengers ## **Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006** In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit: - The information given in the Trustees’ annual report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and - The Trustees’ Annual Report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements. ## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception** In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees’ Annual Report. We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: - Adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or The financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or - Certain disclosures of Trustees’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or - We have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or - The directors were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies’ exemptions in preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report. 22 Independent auditor’s report To the members of Disability Challengers ## **Responsibilities of Trustees** As explained more fully in the statement of trustees’ responsibilities set out in the trustees’ annual report, the Trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. ## **Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements** Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements. Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud are set out below. 23 Independent auditor’s report To the members of Disability Challengers ## **Capability of the audit in detecting irregularities** In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, our procedures included the following: - We enquired of management which included obtaining and reviewing supporting documentation, concerning the charity’s policies and procedures relating to: - Identifying, evaluating, and complying with laws and regulations and whether they were aware of any instances of non-compliance; - Detecting and responding to the risks of fraud and whether they have knowledge of any actual, suspected, or alleged fraud; - The internal controls established to mitigate risks related to fraud or noncompliance with laws and regulations. - We inspected the minutes of meetings of those charged with governance. We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework that the charity operates in, focusing on those laws and regulations that had a material effect on the financial statements or that had a fundamental effect on the operations of the charity from our professional and sector experience. We communicated applicable laws and regulations throughout the audit team and remained alert to any indications of non-compliance throughout the audit. - We reviewed any reports made to regulators. - We reviewed the financial statement disclosures and tested these to supporting documentation to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations. - We performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud. In addressing the risk of fraud through management override of controls, we tested the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments, assessed whether the judgements made in making accounting estimates are indicative of a potential bias and tested significant transactions that are unusual or those outside the normal course of business. 24 Independent auditor’s report To the members of Disability Challengers Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation. A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report. ## **Use of our report** This report is made solely to the charitable company's members as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. Joanna Pittman (Senior statutory auditor) 10 December 2024 for and on behalf of Sayer Vincent LLP, Statutory Auditor 110 Golden Lane, LONDON, EC1Y 0TG 25 Dlsabbllty Challewo Stst•rn•nt of IlnwKthI •dMII•s (incofporatirA an income and *xpenthturn accouno Como•w r￿. 4300724 •nd•d 31 Ma￿h 2024 2024 Totsl Unresirkttd Deslonaièd Ilesirkted 2023 Total Unrtstrtciod Ooslqnaied Resirkied N*xe Income Irgm Donitlons and Itqicles Charii4ble aCli¥ili¢s Pre-school and Plav Youih Sn deposlt Is Included Wthtn rrfeI￿blt and ihe amouni caTh be mea5ufed fellably by the ¢harbty,' Ihls Is normally upon notincatlon ol the Inleresr pald or payable by ihe bank. l LSnd iiciounling Resiriaed fund5 are to be used for specific purposes a5 lald dv•n by the donor. Expendlture ¥*thkh meets these crlterla Is charged to the fur*d. Unrestrlctod funds are donailons and oihei Incomlng lesou￿t$ iecwTrtd or generaied for ihe chariiable purposes. Deslqnaied funds are unrostrlctod funds eam)arked by iho irustees for particular purposes. Exp¢ndilure Is rt¢ognls¢d on General unrestricted DeS￿nated Restricted Total funds Tanglble flxed assets Nei current assets Non-current liabililes 2.555.711 80.871 706.582 53.127 3.262,293 713.872 (20.49n 579.875 (20.497) Net assets at 31 Mafth 2024 559.378 2.636.582 759.709 3.955,670 18b Anatys15 of nrt ￿sets bet￿n fufKls (fv year) General unrestricted DeS￿nated Restricted Total funds Tanglble fixed assets Net current asseis Non-current liabililies 2.570,814 57.885 624.044 102.510 3.194.857 754.409 594.013 14et assets at h April 2023 550.134 2.628.699 726.554 3.905,387 37 Dlsablllty awllengers Notes to the flnandal statements Company no. 4300724 For the ar ended 31 Marth 2024 At l Aprll 2023 Income & Expenditure 9atns &10sses At 31 March 2024 Transfer5 Restrlcted funds: CJpil,Il Equipment fund Farnham Refurbishmeni Projert 298.884 325.348 101.589 7.800 16.658 10.381 383,815 322.767 Pre-school and Plav Schemes Youth Schemes C.nmmunity Huh Total resrricied funds 48.034 54.289 93.242 132.037 7n.?Al 123,468 155,760 5.5?5 17.808 30.565 726.554 404,948 371.792 759.710 Oesignated funds: Property and Development fund Property Mainltnance fund Flxed Asset fund 2.376.609 50.000 202.090 74.950 50.264 23,750 35,042 2.351,922 73.750 210.910 26.222 14hldl iili*u funds 2.628,699 550,134 101.173 2.356.254 109,056 1109.0561 2.636,582 559.379 Genernl funds 2.474.5S4 Total unrutrki•d funds 3.178.832 2.474.554 2.457.426 3.195,961 Total fvnds 3.905.387 2.879.$02 2.829.219 3.955,671 The narralive lo explaln the purpose of each fund Is glven at ihe foot of the nole bel￿￿. 38 Dlsabllfty Challenqefs Notes to the flnanclal statements Company no. 4300724 For the ended 31 March 2024 I YD hl(wemenr5 in wnos iPr￿T Al l April 2022 Income & Expenditure gains & losses At 31 March 2023 Transfers Restrlcted funds: Equipment fund Farnham Refurbishment Project 9.324 334.020 294.769 5.209 8.672 298,884 325,348 Srhprnp npeTJYr7 Pre-school and Play Schemes Youth Schemes 24.263 40.926 161.182 142.014 137.412 128.652 48.034 54.289 T(tsl restrlcted funds 408.534 597,966 279,946 726,554 Unrestrkted funds: Designated funds.. Propeny and Development fund Property Maintenance fund Fixed Asset fund 2.433.291 56.682 2,376.609 50.000 202.090 50.000 202.090 Total deslgnated funds 2.433.291 56,682 252.090 2.628.699 Gernraj funds 1.027.645 2.047.043 2.272.464 (252.090) 550.134 Total unrestrfcted furKIs 3.460.935 2.047.043 2.329.147 3.178.833 Total fund5 3.869.469 2.645.008 2.609.092 3.905,387 Transfer5 bet￿n funds 2024.. Transfer of £23.750 from unrestricted General funds io Designaied funds io increase the Property Maintenance fund in Designaied funds. Transfer of £85.306 from unresrricred General Funds io Designated funds relating to the iransfer of tanglble fixed assets from General Funds to Designated funds. 2023.. Transfer of £50.000 from unresiriaed General funds to Oesignaied funds to establish the Property Malntenance fund In Designaied funds. Transfer of £252.090 from unrestricied General Funds to Designated funds relating io the iransfer of tangible fixed assets from General Funds to Designated funds. Purposes of restrkted furMIs Equipment fund - Represenls donalions for specific item of equipment. DeprKiation being provided over the useful life of the item. Farnham Building Refurbishmeni Project - During 2018 our play and youih buildin95 at our Farnham site under *tnt significant refurbishment. The project was compleled in January 2019. Thls fund will cover future depreciation charges associated with refurbishment. Pur*oips of dpliqnared 'unds Property and Development fund - Is the result of Mi capital campaigns one to buy the land and buildings at Challengers Farnham centre and the other (o build Challengers new centre at Guildford vknich was completed in 2013. This fund will cover future depreciation and mainienance charges for both propenies. Property Maintenance fund - This designated fund has been established to cover the cost of building maintenace and repalrs of our Famham and Guildford sites. 39 Dlsablllty Challengers Notes to the flnandal statements Company no. 4300724 For the ar ended 31 March 2024 20 Leg<11 starus of the charity The charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. The liabllity of each member In the event of winding up is limited io £ I 40