# **Families United (Warrington) Report of the Trustees for the Year ended 31 March 2025** ## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS** **Registered Charity from 22/04/2004 Number: 1097146** **Principal address Independent Examiner The Gateway Voisey & Co LLP 85-101 Sankey Street chartered Accountants Warrington 8 Winmarleigh Street Cheshire Warrington WA1 1SR WA1 SJW** ## **Trustees** **Dr L Edwards Ms R staff Mrs L V Price Resigned August 2025 Mrs v James Resigned May 2025 mr J Uttley Death july 2024 Mr S Dolley Death June 2025** **Miss M Aspinall appointed 19/08/25 l Taylor appointed 19/08/25 A Shewan appointed 19/08/25 Ms S Johnson appointed 19/08/25 Mrs m Turner appointed 20/11/25** ## **Board of Trustees Report statement** The trustees proudly present their report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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 (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019). ## **Dr lisa edwards** Chair of trustees ## **Charity aims and objectives** **The aim of the charity during the year under review is to create positive opportunities and participation for young people with disabilities, their families, and their carers.** **The objectives and aim of the charity are reviewed annually to ensure they remain focused on the charity’s stated purpose. We regularly gain feedback from families to ensure the opportunities we offer provide health and social related benefits to our families. In reviewing our objectives and planning future activities, the trustees have had due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. Some of the charity’s future plans include thorough impact reporting against our aims and objectives. We will be in a position to complete this once the CRM and data management system is operational from summer 2026.** ## **Achievement and performance** **The trustees are pleased with the charity’s performance during the year ended 31 March 2025. The charity has continued to provide meaningful and impactful activities for children with disabilities and their families and has expanded its overall offer.** **During the year, the charity received £92,113 in grant income, enabling an expansion of activities and the delivery of more impactful services to the families we support. The charity maintained its regular core offer throughout the year, including: Monthly FUN Club sessions at the Warrington Play and Sensory Centre Puddle Project sessions Weekly sports activities** **These activities provide vital opportunities for play, relaxation, and physical activity, addressing a significant lack of accessible provision in the local area and supporting physical development and cognitive skills.** ## **Achievement and performance** **The charity also continued to deliver HAF (Holiday Activities and Food) clubs during the summer and winter holiday periods. This programme addresses the shortage of accessible holiday provision for children with disabilities and includes the provision of meals, helping to reduce pressure on families. In addition, the charity delivered a Barstondale adventure and activity day with transport provided.** **Other activities delivered during the year included: Sensory centre FUN Clubs Puddle Project sessions Male parent carer support groups Parent coffee chats Space centre sessions Farm and zoo visits Art classes Swimming sessions Gulliver’s Land of Lights visit** **A major achievement during the year was the charity’s success in securing a National Lottery Reaching Communities grant, focused on capacity building over the next five years. The year 2024–2025 represents year one of this grant. As a result, the charity is preparing to recruit a Chief Executive Officer and a Families and Events Officer to work alongside the existing Fundraiser. The charity has also strengthened relationships with new corporate supporters and a grant-making organisation operating both nationally and internationally, which is expected to provide long-term benefit. Membership continues to be criteria led (include residence within a WA postcode area and having a child with a formal diagnosis or on the pathway to diagnosis) Trustees approve membership applications and maintain a database of current members.** ## **Future plans** **Priorities for the coming year include the successful recruitment and induction of the two new roles funded by the National Lottery Reaching Communities grant. The charity also plans to begin development of a new website and the implementation of a CRM system. Strengthening governance remains a key priority, with a focus on developing and supporting the board of trustees. The Charity also aims to conduct a family consultation focussing on activities and opportunities to ensure we continue to provide activities that meet the needs of those we serve.** ## **Financial Review** **Principal funding sources The majority of the charity’s income during the year was derived from grants. These funds are restricted by donors for expenditure on specific projects and are released to the Statement of Financial Activities as the related expenditure is incurred. The Statement of Financial Activities reports a deficit for the year under review.** **During the year under review the statement of Financial Activities reports a surplus in the year for the charity. Reserves policy** **The charity’s income continues to be largely grant-funded. The trustees’ reserves policy is to hold approximately one year’s running costs in unrestricted funds. The trustees are satisfied that, with tight control over expenditure, the unrestricted funds held at 31 March 2025 are sufficient to meet running costs for the coming financial year.** **The level of reserves held at the bank balance sheet date amounted to £66,880 (2024 £23,196)** **Free reserves account: £17,058 (2024 £12,275)** ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** **Governing document The charity is governed by a deed of trust and constitutes as an unincorporated charity.** **Recruitment and appointment of new trustees The opportunity to stand as a trustee or raise objections to the performance of an existing trustee is offered at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). At the AGM, existing trustees confirm whether they wish to continue in post. New trustees are proposed and seconded at this meeting, and roles are agreed at the first committee meeting following the AGM. Declaration The Trustees declare that they have approved the trustees report above.** **Signed and approved on behalf of the Board of trustees** Lisa Edwards **Lisa Edwards Chair of trustees 22/01/2026** 31 M¥<&20L5. V(w&Co iIP WAI IJW 26th January 2026 f•r tht Ye4r £￿0)1 M•r¢h 1•25 JlJll5 T( JiJi4 COME ANDEF41bOWTrIENTS FROM 61617 91632 219 219 183 36JllS 9$￿1 PthT•TfLTrE O 31,4Jl 2J,736 SS.167 57J84 Ji,4oJ 43 1889 23.1 24J17 45.712 21.161 23.196 JI 2•ZS 31315 Totsl 31.314 Tth TatyiNeasse 195 4Qfji) 21.1fj1 47.781 CRED￿0￿$ {10471 {4)$9 21.161 rfTr.734 23.th)1 UABlUllES 4).71Z 21.1 23.190 45.712 21.101 23.1 45.712 21.I 14J07 IDTAL 2J.196 The were 4vo￿l trj thE W ofTtwttts •rd iwe 23rd January 2026 w¢$4r¢don tysbetrdfby.. L Edwards f•rth*Y*4r E•dtt151 1•25 rdmbty. T￿1111 r•tlkn Yo4r 1•25 31J25 )lJ.24 31 2024. 31J25 JlJ.14 3iJ25 31.324 24 533 4X 14 Foyk 1798 l•rthtYw E•lo131 2 4270 IANS 9J* 45.411 At l Apta 20?4￿5l Mw&2•25 J201 &42 DKPRKCIATIO¥ A¢ l Awl !024 3￿7 41 At3IMwb2 617 122 At3L 163 31JlS 31JI4 f•rthrYe*V Eth1 3111*tt& 2•15 MOVL¥￿7￿• FL74Tr3 Al 1.4J4 31J15 31,405 45.712 F￿Ch (4J9SI 491 117S 119P3 11493 11279 21.161 TOTAL FL 23.1 43.614 31.405 I4J￿} {115631 IW7 19.96B 11993 Ols 113.736) (5A167) IwthvYHr E￿4 Jl.Marrh2•15 Na At 1.1 3]J￿4 2133$ 17221 17Q 117S2 4J91 4.491 F￿( A107 24J17 23.196 37.733) 17Xa} I6.￿4 117821 14766 I127 491 2S.751 1S7JMI P¥t 10 f•rthtYtu JI 2•2$ At 1.413 31J.25 ZlJ35 24.177 45.712 1175 ILW3 21.161 TOTAL Fu￿T>s 24J17 93J41 69.lUi ,177 992 {&7741 1178ZI F￿Ch 31813 19. {24ts311 1&97 1.173 IIW3 61.7TJ {43J87) liJ16 42J63 tht JY4r adtd 31 bAMrh 2￿ £6J21{1024 £114111 Chrknl 12 31.525 31J24 t336 45.430 3.792 4J22 91113 4Jl• LVEP4DinRE 34074 11452 472n s￿?? 4J41 It7 26) SS167 57J 43 P¥t ij