OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator. This document is also available as Markdown.

← The Brain And Spine Foundation

2025-03-31-accounts

Docusign Envelope ID: 64715ACA-E648-429F-97C1-3EE5CE47E8C8

Company no. 04432677 Charity no. 1098528

The Brain and Spine Foundation Report and Unaudited Financial Statements

31 March 2025

Docusign Envelope ID: 64715ACA-E648-429F-97C1-3EE5CE47E8C8

The Brain and Spine Foundation

Reference and administrative details

For the year ended 31 March 2025 Company number 04432677 Charity number 1098528 Registered office Canopi Unit A Arc House 82 Tanner Street London SE1 3GN Trustees Trustees, who are also directors under company law, who served during the year and up to the date of this report were as follows: Mark Luce (Chair) Lauren Downie Kavita Basi Carolyn Louise Turner Jeroen Huysinga Asli Guner-Paul Ifeyinwa Kantonna (appointed 31 July 2025) Paul Fleming (resigned 17 June 2024) Elizabeth Manuel (resigned 6 August 2024) Ian Basden-Smith (deceased 29 January 2025) Peter Brickley (resigned 6 March 2025) Charity president Peter Hamlyn BSc MB BS MD FRCS FISM Charity vice presidents Alistair Watkins Chief operating officer Alex Sunley Company secretary Alex Sunley Bankers CAF Bank NatWest Bank 25 Kings Hill Avenue PO Box 158 Kings Hill 214 High Holborn West Malling London Kent WC1V 7BX ME19 4TA Independent Moore Kingston Smith LLP examiners Chartered Accountants 6th Floor 9 Appold Street London EC2A 2AP

Docusign Envelope ID: 64715ACA-E648-429F-97C1-3EE5CE47E8C8

Annual Trustees’ Report 2024-25

Chair’s Statement

This has been a year of both transifion and renewed momentum for the Brain & Spine Foundafion. We have confinued to deliver our trusted professional services, ensuring that people affected by neurological condifions can access expert support, reliable informafion, and a vital sense of community.

At the same fime, we have taken strong steps to secure our future. Our work this year has focused on strengthening our idenfity and deepening out impact, which builds upon more than 30 years of experience, insight, and engagement with people affected by neurological condifions.

As we evolve, we remain fully commifted to delivering the same trusted services and support that so many rely on. Our forward-looking approach signals our intent to harness data, innovafion, and the power of collecfive voice to drive lasfing, systemic change for the 13 million people across the UK affected by neurological condifions.

This year saw extraordinary moments that galvanised our mission, none more powerful than Michael’s Mile. Michael Watson’s walk helped raise nafional awareness, secured significant media aftenfion, and connected us with new supporters who share our determinafion.

reserves to safeguard our future. At the same fime, we’ve expanded services by launching new peer support groups, creafing new creafive resources and confinuing to respond to thousands of complex helpline enquiries.

This has all been made possible through the remarkable commitment of our team, our nurses, our volunteers, our funders, and our supporters. We are incredibly grateful to each of you.

Finally, we were deeply saddened by the passing of our long-standing Treasurer, Ian BasdenSmith, earlier this year. For 12 years, Ian expertly managed our finances and was a devout supporter of our work. He provided invaluable counsel and unwavering support to me as Chair and to the enfire Board, guiding us with clarity, integrity, and warmth. He will be greatly missed.

Thank you for your confinued support.

[tearZE0CRIBSAZ3C499 by: |. Mark Luce Chair of Trustees

1

Docusign Envelope ID: 64715ACA-E648-429F-97C1-3EE5CE47E8C8

Introducfion

In 2024–25, we remained focused on delivering high-quality, professional services for people affected by neurological condifions across the UK. From helpline calls and emofional support sessions to peer-led groups and creafive resources, we confinued to provide trusted support to thousands of individuals and families navigafing complex diagnoses and care journeys.

This year also marked the start of a significant organisafional shift. While the exact shape and fiming of this transifion are sfill evolving, our direcfion is clear, we are building on over 30 years of history to unite service delivery, research, and innovafion in pursuit of ground-breaking solufions for our community. Our core support services will remain unchanged and our community will confinue to receive the same expert help they rely on today.

Over the past year, we have strengthened partnerships, expanded our reach, and deepened our commitment to using real-world insight, gathered through plafforms like NeuroLifeNow, to influence policy and improve care. From the success of Michael’s Mile to our growing volunteer network and new regional support groups, momentum has been building across all areas of our work.

This report sets out our achievements over the past year across our three main workstreams: (1) Professional Neuro Services, (2) Neuro Changemakers, and (3) NeuroLifeNow.

everyone affected by a neurological condifion can live with dignity, purpose, and hope.

Professional Neuro Services

The charity has seen a notable increase in the complexity and urgency of enquiries, highlighfing both the deepening challenges faced by the communifies we support and the expansion of our services to meet these evolving needs.

family trying to deal with mulfiple health condifions.” Helpline caller.

This year, the Brain and Spine Helpline responded to 2,530 enquiries, with 36 individuals receiving ongoing support through our Enhanced Emofional Support Service (EESS), which delivered a total of 174 sessions.

“I am more able to cope as I now have the knowledge of anatomy and what happened to me, as well as the strategies to cope with managing the worry. I have progressed as I now have a structured, clear logical explanafion of what's happened to me. Categorize it, rafionalize it and have strategies in place.” EESS caller.

Survey Results where 95% of respondents felt safisfied or very safisfied with the support and informafion provided by our neuro nurses.

2

Docusign Envelope ID: 64715ACA-E648-429F-97C1-3EE5CE47E8C8

The charity is thrilled to have developed two new online Peer Support groups for North-East and North-West.

We are also thrilled to have inifiated the development of the B&SF Neuro Creafive Acfivifies resource. The aim of the resource is to use creafive art acfivifies to increase resilience and wellbeing of those living with neurological condifions, to help them to find befter coping strategies and to aid rehabilitafion and recovery. This resource is inspired by our Neuro Creafives and Creafive Wrifing groups and is co-developed with our Peer Support volunteers who have lived experience of a neurological condifion and in collaborafion with Health Professionals and our BACP accredited Arts Counsellor.

“Most brain injury pafients have residual effects on problems with memory, energy levels and dealing with emofions. As much as we like to organise support groups for our pafients, we do not have capacity currently and so knowing that neuro creafive resources of Brain and Spine Foundafion would help pafients recover in a long-term aspect while accepfing the residual effects of brain haemorrhage.” Neuro Vascular Nurse Specialist.

This year, with our Peer Support volunteers, we delivered 146 sessions to a total of 142 unique parficipants across the groups.

Our placement was successfully completed, and a supervisor's report has been shared with Tobias School of Art and Therapy. “ I joined the online Art wellbeing group called Neuro-Creafives as a placement student whilst in my third year of Tobias School of Art and Therapy. This was my first placement working with adults and working online so it was a steep learning curve, but I couldn't have wished for a more supporfive team to teach and guide me through it. The volunteers on the team were also very encouraging and helpful and offered their knowledge and feedback of parficipants in previous sessions. I feel the placement has helped me grow in confidence and I have gained valuable experience of how to facilitate and plan for an online group.” Lisa, Placement student.

to a total of 34 parficipants. Topics included informafion on Wills, Power of aftorney, Financial Planning and Benefits.

In our weekly Neuro Social group, we welcomed four guest speakers who shared their experience of living with a neurological condifion and looking after their wellbeing, including George Peasgood, Paralympic athlete who competed in the Rio & Tokyo Paralympic Games, winning a silver & bronze medals during the Tokyo Games.

Our two condifion specific Facebook groups of Subarachnoid Haemorrhage and Chiari Malformafions provide a safe community to a total of 6,000 members.

3

Docusign Envelope ID: 64715ACA-E648-429F-97C1-3EE5CE47E8C8

This year we supported 25 neuro specialist Hospitals in the UK distribufing over 3,800 free copies of our health informafion to specialists including Clinical Nurse Specialists in Neurovascular, Neuro Oncology and Neuro Radiology Trauma which was provided to pafients and their families. Our printed booklets are distributed to health professionals and individuals at no cost, supporfing accessible informafion sharing across care seftings and within the wider community.

“The B&SF booklets are very useful, and our Physiotherapists and Occupafional therapists use them as and when needed for the relafives or pafients to understand their injury befter and what the next steps are going to be.” Specialist nurse.

Neuro Changemakers

Our team of Ambassadors and Volunteers has grown to 47 and with their support we have reached more members within local communifies and have raised awareness of neurological condifions, the needs of our community, and the programmes and services we provide. Our Peer Support Volunteers provided over 200 hours of volunteering fime to support the Peer Support and Creafive Group’s development and delivery.

year. This group offers a monthly online Zoom meefing for people living with nerve injury. It brings together a diverse group of people, from various locafions across the UK, in a safe space where they can share their stories, hear from others, and feel mutually supported.

“I look forward to this group every month. I’ve learnt so much from everyone and hopefully my story has been useful to them too.”

People can also be referred to the group through the UCL Centre for Nerve Engineering mailing list, by the charity Traumafic Brachial Plexus Injury Group, and by healthcare professionals at the Royal Nafional Orthopaedic Hospital.

“I love being part of the charity, it gives me a chance to give back but also to receive support when I need it.” Feedback from one of our Peer Support volunteers.

NeuroLifeNow

This year was a year of learning, development and reflecfion for the NeuroLifeNow (NLN) project.

By the end of 2024-25, we had received 2570 responses to our bi-monthly survey programme, which ran four fimes over the period, incorporafing a four-month pause to accommodate for the My Neuro Survey , which is a bi-annual survey run by our NLN partner organisafion, the Neurological Alliance. The slight decline in numbers from 2750 responses last year is likely accounted for by the reduced number of surveys released due to the four-month hiatus.

4

Docusign Envelope ID: 64715ACA-E648-429F-97C1-3EE5CE47E8C8

A major success for the NLN programme this year has been the complefion of our neurosurgery pafient experience survey, which was run in concert with the four major neurosurgery units in partnership with NHS Northwest London. This provided enormously valuable insight into pafient experience of care following neurosurgery, and highlighted their areas of concern, giving voice to our community to express what mafters to them when it comes to their own care. Take up of the survey was strong across wards, though we were surprised to find that offering the surveys in an alternafive language (Bengali) did not lead to improved uptake in survey complefion among mono-lingual Bengali speakers who accessed neurosurgery within the trusts. We know there are underserved minority communifies within the wider neuro community, and although this aftempt to improve access was unsuccessful, we will confinue to explore ways to make access to neuro research (as both contributor and consumer) as accessible as possible.

We will confinue the bi-monthly surveys for NLN through into Summer 2025, and we will reflect on the next steps for the NeuroLifeNow programme as we transifion to i-Neuro as part of a strategic review of our charity’s offerings. We hope to see NLN grow into the acfive research arm of our charity, and see a bright future for it in many possible guises, though we will likely pause the bi-monthly surveys after Summer 2025 as we focus on our professional service delivery and transifion to i-Neuro, and we will need to secure addifional funding to pursue our ambifious research aims, including delivery of the Neuro Census ; a flagship piece of research that will show the true cost of high variafion in neuro care across the UK.

Fundraising and governance

The Brain & Spine Foundafion operates enfirely from voluntary income and the strategy is to maintain this independence. We aim to generate income from mulfiple channels, including Individual Giving, Legacies, Trusts and Foundafions, Major Donors, Corporate and Community acfivifies so that we have a balanced and sustainable funding model.

In April 2025, we had an excellent performance from our team of 44 London Marathon runners who between them have raised £147,000.

Fundraising approach

The Brain & Spine Foundafion is registered with the Fundraising Regulator and subscribes to their standards for fundraising. We have an engagement philosophy that informs our fundraising approach, looking to build long-term relafionships with supporters, volunteers, and service users. We value all contribufions, whether financial or non-financial. We received zero complaints in the last year.

Reserves Policy

the charity’s operafions and sustainability. Our target is to hold unrestricted free reserves equivalent to 50% of annual operafing costs which equates to approximately six months of expenditure.

5

Docusign Envelope ID: 64715ACA-E648-429F-97C1-3EE5CE47E8C8

As of 31st March 2025, free reserves stood at £71,188, covering approximately 1.8 months of current running costs. Addifionally, we currently hold £120,000 in the Edward Gosling Endowment Fund. In the year £30,000 plus £1,173 interest has been drawn within allowable limits from this expendable endowment.

implemented rigorous cost controls during the year. While the reserves target has not yet been met, we are confident that a strong fundraising pipeline and disciplined financial management will enable us to rebuild reserves progressively.

Our financial strategy for 2025-26 priorifises increasing free reserves to at least 50% of annual costs as soon as pracfical, while confinuing to deliver vital services and invest in the i-Neuro inifiafive.

Structure, governance and management

The Brain & Spine Foundafion is a company limited by guarantee and is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission. It is governed by its Arficles of Associafion (and updated on 22 March 2017).

The Board of Trustees is responsible for determining the overall strategic direcfion of the charity and for developing policies and plans to support the delivery of charitable objects. The Board monitors progress across all areas of acfivity including legal requirements and financial performance. Meefings take place five fime per year and the Finance and Governance subcommiftee, a sub-group of the Board, meets up to four fimes each year to consider finances and good governance. Other subcommiftees are created by the Chair to support and give oversight of strategic inifiafives as required.

A part-fime Chief Operafing Officer (COO) is appointed by the Trustees to manage the day-to-day operafions of the charity. To facilitate effecfive operafions, the authority for operafional mafters, employment and performance relafing to agreed key objecfives is delegated to the COO.

Any decisions outside of the strategic direcfion agreed by the Board or outside of the agreed budget are referred to Trustees for approval.

We have a code of conduct for trustees. The code sets out the conduct and pracfices required to ensure the highest standards of integrity and stewardship in this role.

6

Docusign Envelope ID: 64715ACA-E648-429F-97C1-3EE5CE47E8C8

Trustee recruitment and appointment, inducfion, and training

We aim to represent the community we serve at all levels of the organisafion and are acfively reviewing our policy and pracfice related to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

The Arficles of Associafion include terms of office for Trustees, so that an inifial appointment is made for a 3-year term and Trustees will be eligible for reappointment for one further term of 3 years.

Our Board of Trustees currently number 7 (of 12) and we have been steadily improving the diversity of the Board across all relevant dimensions in order that we can befter represent the communifies we serve. Details of Trustees are to be found in the appendix.

Risk management

An organisafional risk review sets out the major risks and uncertainfies facing the organisafion. This is monitored periodically by the Board’s Finance and Governance Commiftee and systems and policies have been established to mifigate exposure to those risks.

maintaining robust data security. We mifigate these risks through prudent financial management, regular safeguarding reviews, and stringent data protecfion measures."

When planning the acfivifies for the year, the Trustees have regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit in accordance with the dufies set out in Secfion 17 of the Charifies Act 2011. The benefit is to a specific group of individuals who have a neurological condifion, or who have a friend or family member with such a condifion, or who are involved in the treatment and care of these people. This report illustrates the acfivifies provided for this group.

Statement of responsibilifies of the Trustees

The Trustees (who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounfing Standards, including Financial Reporfing Standard 102: The Financial Reporfing Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounfing Pracfice).

give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the income and expenditure of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements the Trustees are required to:

7

Docusign Envelope ID: 64715ACA-E648-429F-97C1-3EE5CE47E8C8

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounfing records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any fime the financial posifion of the charity and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevenfion and detecfion of fraud and other irregularifies.

informafion included on the charitable company's website. Legislafion in the United Kingdom governing the preparafion and disseminafion of financial statements may differ from legislafion in other jurisdicfions.

Members of the charity guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 to the assets of the charity in the event of winding up. The Trustees are members of the charity, but this enfitles them only to vofing rights. The Trustees have no beneficial interest in the charity.

Independent examiners

Moore Kingston Smith LLP were appointed as independent examiners to the charitable company in May 2024 and reappointed in 2025.

Approved by the Trustees on 2025 and signed on their behalf by 2 December

Mark Luce - Chairman

8

Docusign Envelope ID: 64715ACA-E648-429F-97C1-3EE5CE47E8C8

Independent examiner's report

To the trustees of

The Brain and Spine Foundation

I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of The Brain and Spine Foundation (the charitable company) for the year ended 31 March 2025, which are set out on pages 10 to 24.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the charitable company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the charitable company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charitable company's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner’s statement

Since the charitable company’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), which is one of the listed bodies.

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:

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.

Adam Fullerton Member of the ICAEW

For and on behalf of: Moore Kingston Smith

Chartered Accountants 6th Floor 9 Appold Street London EC2A 2AP Date: 2 December 2025

9

Docusign Envelope ID: 64715ACA-E648-429F-97C1-3EE5CE47E8C8

The Brain and Spine Foundation

Statement of Financial Activities (incorporating an income and expenditure account)

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Note
Income from:
Donations and legacies
3
Charitable activities
4
Other trading activities
5
Investments
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Total expenditure
6
Net income/(expenditure)
Transfers between funds
Net movement in funds
7
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 Restricted Unrestricted
£
£
43,365
369,350
111,000
72,500
-
144,285
-
1,487
154,365
587,622
-
78,823
154,365
487,606
154,365
566,429
-
21,193
-
30,000
-
51,193
-
19,995
-
71,188		 Endowment
£
150,000
-
-
-
150,000
-
-
-
150,000
(30,000)
120,000
-
120,000		 2025
Total
£
562,715
183,500
144,285
1,487
891,987
78,823
641,971
720,794
171,193
-
171,193
19,995
191,188		 2024
Total
£
617,186
225,081
125,272
412
967,951
123,282
926,148
1,049,430
(81,479)
-
(81,479)
101,474
19,995

All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disclosed in note 15 to the accounts.

10

Docusign Envelope ID: 64715ACA-E648-429F-97C1-3EE5CE47E8C8

The Brain and Spine Foundation

Balance sheet

As at 31 March 2025

Note
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
10
Current assets
Debtors
11
Cash at bank and in hand		 £
13,956
211,946		 2025
£
-		 2024
£
-
67,636
67,445
Liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due within 1 year
12		 225,902
34,714		 135,081
115,086
Net current assets 191,188 19,995
Net assets
13		 191,188 19,995
Funds
14
Endowment funds
Restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
General funds		 120,000
-
71,188		 -
-
19,995
Total charity funds 191,188 19,995

The directors are satisfied that the charitable company is entitled to exemption from the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 (the Act) relating to the audit of the financial statements for the year by virtue of section 477(2), and that no member or members have requested an audit pursuant to section 476 of the Act.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for:

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime.

Approved by the trustees on and signed on their behalf by2 December 2025

Mark Luce - Chairman

11

Docusign Envelope ID: 64715ACA-E648-429F-97C1-3EE5CE47E8C8

The Brain and Spine Foundation

Statement of cash flows

For the year ended 31 March 2025

==> picture [448 x 327] intentionally omitted <==

----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2024
£ £
Cash provided by/(used in) operating activities:
Net movement in funds 171,193 (81,479)
Adjustments for:
Dividends, interest and rents from investments (1,487) (412)
-
Receipt of endowment income (150,000)
Decrease in debtors 53,680 4,086
(Decrease)/increase in creditors (80,372) 91,805
Net cash provided by operating activities (6,986) 14,000
Cash flows from investing activities:
Dividends, interest and rents from investments 1,487 412
Net cash provided by investing activities 1,487 412
Cash flows from financing activities:
-
Receipt of endowment income 150,000
Increase in cash and cash equivalents in the year 144,501 14,412
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 67,445 53,033
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 211,946 67,445
----- End of picture text -----

The charity has not provided an analysis of changes in net debt as it does not have any long term financing arrangements.

12

Docusign Envelope ID: 64715ACA-E648-429F-97C1-3EE5CE47E8C8

The Brain and Spine Foundation

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

1. Accounting policies

a) Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities in preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

The Brain and Spine Foundation meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note.

b) Going concern basis of accounting

The accounts have been prepared on the assumption that the charity is able to continue as a going concern, which the trustees consider appropriate. The charity ended the year 2024-25 with £71,188 (2023-2024 £19,995) of free reserves. Whilst this represents a significant increase from the previous year, the charity has a strong funding pipeline and has continued to secure major grants including multi-year arrangements. Additionally rigorous cost controls are in place to ensure that new financial commitments cannot be entered into unless appropriate funds are in place. For these reasons the trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.

c) Income

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the items of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Income from the government and other grants, whether 'capital' grants or 'revenue' grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred.

For legacies, entitlement is taken as the earlier of the date on which either: the charity is aware that probate has been granted, the estate has been finalised and notification has been made by the executor to the Trust that a distribution will be made, or when a distribution is received from the estate. Receipt of a legacy, in whole or in part, is only considered probable when the amount can be measured reliably and the charity has been notified of the executor's intention to make a distribution. Where legacies have been notified to the charity, or the charity is aware of the granting of probate, and the criteria for income recognition have not been met, then the legacy is treated as a contingent asset and disclosed if material.

Income from fundraising events and other trading income is recognised when the event or conference takes place and is deferred where the income relates to future periods.

13

Docusign Envelope ID: 64715ACA-E648-429F-97C1-3EE5CE47E8C8

The Brain and Spine Foundation

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

1. Accounting policies (continued) d) Donated services and facilities

On receipt, donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the charity which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt.

For Google AdWords, the charity measures the value of the gift at the market value provided by Google. Where the market value is given in foreign currency, this is translated in line with the charity's foreign exchange policy (note 1 (o)).

e) Interest receivable

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity: this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank.

f) Funds accounting

Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of the charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose. Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the charity's work or for specific projects being undertaken by the charity. Expendable endowment funds are given, for the long-term benefit of the charity. However, the trustees may, at their discretion determine to spend all or part of the capital.

g) Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.

h) Allocation of support and governance costs

Premises costs, office costs, depreciation and consultancy fees have been allocated to raising funds, charitable activities and support costs on an allocation of staff time spent on each activity.

2025 2024
Raising funds 11.3% 11.2%
Charitable activities 83.8% 84.6%
Support costs 4.9% 4.2%

14

Docusign Envelope ID: 64715ACA-E648-429F-97C1-3EE5CE47E8C8

The Brain and Spine Foundation

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

1. Accounting policies (continued)

h) Allocation of support and governance costs (continued)

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Governance costs are the costs associated with the governance arrangements of the charity, including the costs of complying with constitutional and statutory requirements and any costs associated with the strategic management of the charity’s activities. These costs have been allocated between cost of raising funds and expenditure on charitable activities on the following basis, which is an estimate of resources spent on each activity:

2025 2024
Raising funds 10.0% 10.0%
Charitable activities 90.0% 90.0%

i) Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write down the cost of each asset to its estimated residual value over its expected useful life. The depreciation rates in use are as follows:

Computer equipment 4 years straight line basis
Database and website 4 years straight line basis

Items of equipment are capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £1,000.

j) Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.

k) Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

l) Creditors

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

m) Financial instruments

The charitable company only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently recognised at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

n) Pension costs

The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme for its employees. There are no further liabilities other than that already recognised in the SOFA.

15

Docusign Envelope ID: 64715ACA-E648-429F-97C1-3EE5CE47E8C8

The Brain and Spine Foundation

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

1. Accounting policies (continued) o) Foreign currency transactions

Transactions in foreign currencies are translated at the period average rate. Balances denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the rate of exchange prevailing at the year end.

p) Accounting estimates and key judgements

In the application of the charity's accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and underlying assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

There are no key sources of estimation uncertainty that have a significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements.

2. Prior period comparative: Statement of Financial Activities

Income from:
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Other trading activities
Investments
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Total expenditure
Net expenditure and net movement in
funds		 Restricted
£
73,773
114,180
-
-
187,953
-
187,953
187,953
-		 £
543,413
110,901
125,272
412
779,998
123,282
738,195
861,477
(81,479)
General		 2024
Total
£
617,186
225,081
125,272
412
967,951
123,282
926,148
1,049,430
(81,479)

16

Docusign Envelope ID: 64715ACA-E648-429F-97C1-3EE5CE47E8C8

The Brain and Spine Foundation

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

3. Income from donations and legacies

Restricted
Endowment
£
£
£
Donations and appeal income
-
296,806
150,000
Legacies
-
72,544
-
Gifts in kind - Google AdWords
43,365
-
-
Total donations and legacies
43,365
369,350
150,000
Prior period comparative
Restricted
£
£
Donations and appeal income
-
498,808
Legacies
-
44,605
Gifts in kind - Google AdWords
73,773
-
Total donations and legacies
73,773
543,413
4.
Income from charitable activities
£
£
Grants > £5,000:
111,000
-
Garfield Weston
-
33,000
The Childwick Trust Grant
-
15,000
Grants = £5,000:
The February Foundation
-
5,000
Grants < £5,000:
The Souter Charitable Trust
-
3,000
The Stanley Grundy Foundation
-
2,500
The Peter Storrs
-
2,500
The Hospital Saturday Fund Grant
-
2,000
The Peter Courtauld Charitable Trust
-
2,000
Joseph and Lena Randall Charitable Trust
-
1,500
HEAD PMC Health Charity SUP
-
1,000
J H Levy Charitable Trust
-
1,000
The Bartle Family Charitable Trust
-
1,000
The Rainford Trust
-
1,000
The Armstrong Family Trust
-
700
Broughton Family
-
600
The J H Levy Charitable Trust
-
500
Carol Ann Evershed
-
200
Total charitable activities
111,000
72,500
The National Lottery Community Fund:
Reaching Communities/Partnerships
Unrestricted
Unrestricted
Unrestricted
Restricted		 2025
Total
£
446,806
72,544
43,365
562,715
2024
Total
£
498,808
44,605
73,773
617,186
2025
Total
£
111,000
33,000
15,000
5,000
3,000
2,500
2,500
2,000
2,000
1,500
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
700
600
500
200
-
183,500

17

Docusign Envelope ID: 64715ACA-E648-429F-97C1-3EE5CE47E8C8

The Brain and Spine Foundation

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

4.
Income from charitable activities (continued)
Prior period comparative
Grants > £5,000:
Garfield Weston
Edward Gostling
Eveson Trust
Grants = £5,000:
The February Foundation
The Lawson Trust
The Persula
29th May1961
Sandra Charitable Trust
Grants < £5,000:
NHS England Trust
Souter CT
The D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust
The Peter Storrs
William Allen Young
PF Charitable Trust
Joseph and Lena Randal
The Bartle Family Charitable Trust
J H Levy Charitable Trust
Christadelphian Samaritan Fund
Broughton Family
The Ian Askew Charitable Trust
The Armstrong Family Trust
Carol Ann Evershed
Total charitable activities
5.
Income from other trading activities
Fundraising events
The National Lottery Community Fund:
Reaching Communities/Partnerships		 Restricted
£
£
110,000
-
-
33,000
-
25,000
-
10,001
-
5,000
-
5,000
-
5,000
-
5,000
-
5,000
4,180
-
-
3,000
-
3,000
-
2,500
-
2,500
-
2,000
-
1,500
-
1,000
-
500
-
500
-
500
-
500
-
200
-
200
114,180
110,901
2025
Total
£
144,285
Unrestricted		 2024
Total
£
110,000
33,000
25,000
10,001
-
-
5,000
5,000
5,000
5,000
5,000
4,180
3,000
3,000
2,500
2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
500
500
500
200
200
225,081
2024
Total
£
125,272

All income from other trading activities in the current and prior year is unrestricted.

18

Docusign Envelope ID: 64715ACA-E648-429F-97C1-3EE5CE47E8C8

The Brain and Spine Foundation

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

6. Total expenditure

Direct costs
Staff costs (note 9)
Allocated costs:
Premises costs
Office costs
Consultants
Sub-total
Total expenditure
Allocation of support and
governance costs		 Raising funds
£
25,389
21,741
3,411
5,936
18,903
75,380
3,443
78,823		 Charitable
activities
£
54,980
343,059
18,935
51,145
142,869
610,988
30,983
641,971		 Support and
governance
costs
£
6,862
16,876
1,161
3,567
5,960
34,426
(34,426)
-		 2025 Total
£
87,231
381,676
23,507
60,648
167,732
720,794
-
720,794

Governance costs in the year were £6,240 (2024: £6,000).

Prior period comparative
Direct costs
Staff costs (note 9)
Allocated costs:
Premises costs
Office costs
Consultants
Sub-total
Total expenditure
Allocation of support and
governance costs		 Raising funds
£
28,332
57,311
4,113
11,231
17,144
118,131
5,151
123,282		 Charitable
activities
£
95,968
467,655
22,835
49,199
244,135
879,792
46,356
926,148		 Support and
governance
costs
£
13,027
22,834
1,400
7,286
6,960
51,507
(51,507)
-		 2024 Total
£
137,327
547,800
28,348
67,716
268,239
1,049,430
-
1,049,430

19

Docusign Envelope ID: 64715ACA-E648-429F-97C1-3EE5CE47E8C8

The Brain and Spine Foundation

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

7. Net movement in funds

This is stated after charging:

Trustees' remuneration
Trustees' reimbursed expenses
Trustees' indemnity insurance
Independent examiners' remuneration (including VAT)		 2025
£
Nil
611
110
6,240		 2024
£
Nil
400
110
2,100

Trustee reimbursed expenses relate to travel and subsistence costs for 2 trustees (2024: 1).

8. Staff costs and numbers Staff costs were as follows:

Staff costs were as follows:
Salaries and wages
Redundancy payments
Social security costs
Pension costs
Employees earning more than £60,000 during the year
£60,000 - £70,000
£70,000 - £80,000		 2025
£
322,330
15,886
28,390
15,070
381,676
2025
No.
-
-		 2024
£
479,695
-
45,293
22,812
547,800
2024
No.
1
1

The key management personnel of the charitable company comprise the trustees, chief executive and senior management team. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel were £255,636 including redundancy payments of £15,886 (2024: £356,995).

Staff numbers were as follows:
Average head count
Full time equivalent		 2025
No.
9
7		 2024
No.
12
10

9. Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes.

20

Docusign Envelope ID: 64715ACA-E648-429F-97C1-3EE5CE47E8C8

The Brain and Spine Foundation

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

10. Tangible fixed assets

Cost
At 1 April 2024
Disposal/write offs
At 31 March 2025
Depreciation
At 1 April 2024
Charge for the year
Disposal/write offs
At 31 March 2025
Net book value
At 31 March 2025
At 31 March 2024
11. Debtors
Prepayments
Accrued income
12. Creditors: amounts due within 1 year
Trade creditors
Accruals
Other taxation and social security		 Computer
equipment
£
37,601
(37,601)
-
37,601
-
(37,601)
-
-
-		 Database
and
website
£
52,800
(52,800)
-
52,800
-
(52,800)
-
-
-
2025
£
13,956
-
13,956
2025
£
16,732
11,071
6,911
34,714		 Total
£
90,401
(90,401)
-
90,401
-
(90,401)
-
-
-
2024
£
16,195
51,441
67,636
2024
£
67,700
15,841
31,545
115,086

21

Docusign Envelope ID: 64715ACA-E648-429F-97C1-3EE5CE47E8C8

The Brain and Spine Foundation

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

13. Analysis of net assets between funds

Tangible fixed assets
Net current assets
Net assets at 31 March 2025
Prior period comparative
Tangible fixed assets
Net current assets
Net assets at 30 March 2024		 Endowment
funds
£
-
120,000
120,000
Endowment
funds
£
-
-
-		 £
£
-
-
-
71,188
-
71,188
£
£
-
-
-
19,995
-
19,995
Restricted
funds
Restricted
funds
Unrestricted
funds
Unrestricted
funds		 Total
2025
£
-
191,188
191,188
Total
2024
£
-
19,995
19,995

22

Docusign Envelope ID: 64715ACA-E648-429F-97C1-3EE5CE47E8C8

The Brain and Spine Foundation

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

14. Movements in funds

Restricted funds
Google AdWords
The National Lottery
Community Fund
NHS England Trust
Total restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
General funds
Total unrestricted funds
Endowment funds
The Edward Gostling Fund
Total endowment funds
Total funds		 At 1 April
2024
£
-
-
-
-
19,995
19,995
-
-
19,995		 Income
£
43,365
111,000
-
154,365
587,622
587,622
150,000
150,000
741,987		 £
(43,365)
(111,000)
-
(154,365)
(566,429)
(566,429)
-
-
(720,794)
Expenditure		 Transfers
between
funds
£
-
-
-
-
30,000
30,000
(30,000)
(30,000)
-		 £
-
-
-
-
71,188
71,188
120,000
120,000
191,188
At 31
March
2025

Purposes of restricted funds

Google AdWords - Represents the value of advertising donated by Google to support access to information.

The National Lottery Community Fund: Reaching Communities/Partnerships - Three year grant of £330,000 allocated equally between Professional Neuro Services and NeuroLifeNow .

NHS England Trust - Used to deliver the service evaluation of 5 Neurosurgery units across North London.

Purposes of endowment funds

The Edward Gostling Fund - expendable endowment funds held to use to invest and generate income to be used to further the Foundation's charitable purposes. In the year £30,000 was released to the general fund for use of charitable purposes.

23

Docusign Envelope ID: 64715ACA-E648-429F-97C1-3EE5CE47E8C8

The Brain and Spine Foundation

Notes to the financial statements

For the year ended 31 March 2025

14. Movements in funds (continued)
Prior period comparative
At 1 April
2023
£
Restricted funds
Google AdWords
-
The National Lottery
Community Fund
-
NHS England Trust
-
Total restricted funds
-
Unrestricted funds
General funds
101,474
Total unrestricted funds
101,474
Total funds
101,474		 Income
£
73,773
110,000
4,180
187,953
779,998
779,998
967,951		 £
(73,773)
(110,000)
(4,180)
(187,953)
(861,477)
(861,477)
(1,049,430)
Expenditure		 £
-
-
-
-
-
-
Transfers
between
funds		 At 31
March
2024
£
-
-
-
-
19,995
19,995
19,995

15. Related party transactions

During the year trustees donated £nil to The Brain and Spine Foundation (2024: £nil).

Marc Smith, previous Chief Executive of the charity, was also a trustee of the Neurological Alliance. During the year ended 31 March 2025, the charity paid £14,110 (2024: £10,000) to the Neurological Alliance for support with the Neuro Life Now project. At year end, there was a balance owing of £nil (2024: £7,360) to the Neurological Alliance.

24

Docusign Envelope ID: 64715ACA-E648-429F-97C1-3EE5CE47E8C8

The Brain and Spine Foundation

Trustee biographies

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Our Founder and President, Peter Hamlyn MB BS BSC MD FRCS FISM

In a medical career that has spanned 40 years, Peter has led change at the elite level of both neurosurgery and sports medicine. He has headed neurosurgical teams in some of London’s elite teaching hospitals such as St Bartholomew’s Hospital and The Royal London Hospital, academic units in leading universities such as Queen Mary University London and University College London. He has worked at the elite level in multiple sports medicine, including motor sports, equine sport, combat and collision sports as well as the performing arts – everything from the NFL to the Royal Ballet. He has chaired Ministerial Working Groups and was pivotal to the creation of Sport and Exercise Medicine as a recognised specialty.

He has worked as medical advisor to the Society of British Neurological Surgeons (first Safe Neurosurgery working group), General Medical Council, Trigeminal Neuralgia Association of Great Britain, British Olympic Association, British Boxing Board of Control, The Jockey Club of Great Britain, UK Sport, Royal Ballet, GB rowing team, England Rugby, plus numerous premier league football and rugby clubs.

Peter was a member of the 2012 Olympic Bid Advisory Panel and has worked as a correspondent for the sports section of The Daily Telegraph newspaper. In 1996, he was awarded Fellowship of the Institute of Sport Medicine for work in the field of head injury in sport. He is founder and president of the Brain and Spine Foundation, has been the Chair of the Football Association’s Expert Medical Panel since 2016 and has been a Trustee of the Grand Prix Trust since 2005. Most recently, Peter has been appointed Medical Director and Trustee of Podium Analytics.

Vice President, Alistair Watkins

Alistair has spent the last 25 years working in the world of international sport at the highest level. He started his career working as the FIA’s Formula One Press Officer 1995 – 1999, an era a great change in sport with safety becoming a primary objective. A change of direction into the commercial side of the sports world followed a year of study and an MBA from the Management School of Imperial College in London. Two year of working for leading consultancy Oliver & Ohlbaum on Premier League media rights valuations led to Alistair joining Kirch Media, who acquired Formula One, and subsequent work on the sports long term business plan.

Alistair re-joined the sport of Formula One in 2002 as Marketing Director of Lucky Strike BAR Honda’s Formula One team, which saw Alistair leading the team’s global marketing operations for five years. He was then head hunted to be Marketing Director of Swiss America’s Cup sailing team, Alinghi. Created by Swiss biotech billionaire, Ernesto Bertarelli, Alinghi was the first European team to win the America’s Cup and defend it successfully in Valencia in 2007.

Alistair founded Influence Associates in 2008 with two other directors, which saw the marketing and PR agency offer corporate clients PR, investor relations, marketing and sponsorship services. Since then he has created Influence Sports & Media for sports clients.

Alistair stepped down as Trustee of Brain & Spine Foundation after six years and was elected as Vice President in 2022. He will be working on projects with our Founder and President, Peter Hamlyn.

25

Docusign Envelope ID: 64715ACA-E648-429F-97C1-3EE5CE47E8C8

The Brain and Spine Foundation

Trustee biographies

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Chair of Trustees, Mark Luce

Mark joined the Board of Trustees in July 2017, stepping up to his current role as Chair in July 2018. Mark spent the last 20 years working for global beer giant SABMiller and now runs his own marketing consultancy. Continuing his passion for change, his ambition is to transform the care provided to those living with neurological conditions and in doing so, to make a meaningful difference to many more people. He is a wine maker, avid traveler, and motorsport fan.

Trustee, Kavita Basi

Kavita has over 25 years of experience in the fashion industry. In 2015 she suffered a subarachnoid brain haemorrhage and was told she had a 50% chance of survival and could be left with lifechanging disabilities.

After four brain operations and extensive rehabilitation, Kavita made it her mission to make a positive difference in the fashion industry, be a role model to the next generation and help others that have suffered a similar illness. She has been a Brain & Spine Foundation Ambassador since 2015, is an author of two books about surviving brain haemorrhage and has shared her story through her podcast and social media. Her two ethical brands promote vegan and gender-neutral fashion. She donates 5% of profits from her brand Ration.L to the Brain & Spine Foundation.

Trustee, Asli Guner-Paul

Asli is currently working as Associate General Counsel at Lightsource BP, a global solar company, heading up projects in the EMEA region. She holds a Bachelor of Law (with first class honours equivalent) from Galatasaray University and an LLM degree (with merit) in corporate and commercial law from the London School of Economics and Political Science. She speaks Turkish, French and German. Asli joined the Board of Trustees in May 2020 after a close family member was diagnosed with a neurological illness. She is passionate about contributing to the invaluable work of the Brain & Spine Foundation. Asli enjoys spending time with her family, travelling, pilates and collecting vintage crockery.

Trustee, Jeroen Huysinga

Jeroen has spent 35 years working as a portfolio manager covering equity markets globally. He was a Managing Director at JPMorgan Asset Management for 20 years.

In 2020, Jeroen chose to retire from his work in the City and embark on a Master’s degree in Charity Accounting and Financial Management at the Cass business school. His ambition is to combine commercial experience and rigorous learning to make a difference and to build a second career in the charities sector. Jeroen joined the Board of Trustees in April 2020 and is passionate about the potential to create positive change.

26

Docusign Envelope ID: 64715ACA-E648-429F-97C1-3EE5CE47E8C8

The Brain and Spine Foundation

Trustee biographies

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Trustee, Lauren Downie

After suffering a subarachnoid haemorrhage in 2004, Lauren was discharged from hospital and given a leaflet from the Brain and Spine Foundation. A few months after, she realised her recovery was taking longer than expected and as she had no follow up appointments booked with the hospital, Lauren called the Brain & Spine Foundation’s Helpline.

The advice she received was extremely helpful, explaining what Lauren might expect in terms of recovery time. She went to meet the team and was invited to support the Brain and Spine at the London marathon. She was asked to run a 5k to raise funds, and that was her introduction to running. After a follow up procedure in 2006, Lauren was persuaded to run the marathon to raise funds for the foundation again. This is when she met all the team and was inspired by the charity. Along the way, Lauren has contributed to a book written by Alison Wertheimer, called “A Dented Image, Journeys of Recovery from Subarachnoid Haemorrhage’’, and attended conferences run by the charity. She was appointed an ambassador several years ago as she raised awareness of the charity by getting running friends to join her on fundraising runs.

More recently Lauren has been working as a peer support volunteer for the Neuro Social group where survivors of neurological illnesses meet once weekly online. Support for people with neurological conditions is lacking throughout the UK and Lauren feels very grateful to the Brain and Spine Foundation for the support the charity has given her in the past. She is so happy to help in any small way towards improving services for others.

Trustee, Carolyn Turner

In 2008 Carolyn was diagnosed with a spinal cord tumour. She lived with it for 5 years before having complex spinal surgery in 2013. In 2014, she reached out to the Brain and Spine Foundation for support and began fundraising in 2015. This is when she became an Ambassador for the charity.

Carolyn comes from a nursing background, having worked as a staff nurse at the Leicester Royal Infirmary NHST for 15 years, initially in the Central Operating department. She then transferred to Ophthalmology, gaining experience in theatres, on the wards and clinics before joining the hospital agency and working in the recovery suite of the Women’s Hospital.

Following her surgery, she worked as support staff at a pre-school and now dedicates her time to the Brain & Spine Foundation. She is the Volunteer Facilitator for the charity’s peer support groups: Neuro Social, Neuro Creative, Neuro Social Midlands and Neuro Creative Writing.

Carolyn chairs the Brain & Spine Foundation sub-committee focused on our Professional Services offering. She was appointed to the Board of Trustees in 2023.

27

Docusign Envelope ID: 64715ACA-E648-429F-97C1-3EE5CE47E8C8

The Brain and Spine Foundation

Trustee biographies

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Trustee, Ifeyinwa Kantonna

Ifeyinwa Kantonna is a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years of experience, recognized by both the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). She also holds an MSc from Henley Business School, UK, and is an associate member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN).

Her career began with a volunteer role at Citizens Advice Kensington and Chelsea, sparking a lifelong commitment to the nonprofit sector. Since then, she has led finance strategy, compliance, and governance for national and international nonprofits, ensuring accountability to boards, funders, regulators, and beneficiaries.

Her core strengths include Compliance & risk management, Board advisory & reporting, Treasury & financial strategy, Systems implementation, Governance & stakeholder engagement.

Driven by purpose, Ifeyinwa Kantonna partners with NGOs, charities, unions, and churches to help them achieve meaningful impact through sound financial leadership and transparent operations.

In her spare time, Ife loves spending time with family, travelling and learning about new foods and culture. She also enjoys driving and spending time outdoors, exploring national parks.

28