Down's Syndrome Oxford Accounts Year ended 31 March 2025 Registered charity 7703850 Nick Westbury Chartered C•rtified Accountants ReF)Ort of the independent examiner to the trustees of Downs Syndrome Oxford. This report on the accounts of Downs Syndrome Oxford for the year ended 31 March 2025, set out on pages 2 to 4. is in respect of an examination carried out in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. Respective responsibilities of the trustees and the independent examiner The trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. On the basis that the trustees consider that the audit requirement of section 144121 of the Chorities Act 2011 does not apply, it is my responsibility to state, on the basis of procedures specified in the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners under s1451511b) of the Act, whether particular matters have come to my attention. Basis of the independent examiner's reF)Ort My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. The examination included a review of the accounting records maintained by the treasurer and a comparison of the accounts with those records. It also included the consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and the seeking of explanotions from you as the trustees concerning such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide oll the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts. Independent examiner's statement In connection with my examination. no matter hos come to my attention.. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act 2011: ond to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records have not been met: or 2. to which, in my opinion. attention should be drawn to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. N Westbury Bsc (Hons) FCCA Bloxham Banbury Oxon 15 December 2025 Down's Syndrome Oxford Income and expenditure occounts for the yeor ended 31 March 2025 2025 2024 Total Total Income Fundraising Grants Donotions and gifts Interest iecewed 05742 200 05942 5841 5394 514 77691 9655 500 16231 338 26724 4894 514 71150 6541 Expenditure EDG/Stay & Ploy PDG 21st birthday Walkathon Maths for life Unity kniol Group 16+ Sociol Group Primory Sociol Group IO+ Social Group General 21+ Social Group Senior Medical Advisor Choir Christmas Party CIO conversion Pre-school Social Gioup Tribunol Just Giving Footljall Fundraising Troining Discretionary Fund Library Summer Party Elliots shed 13920 25 5477 2226 1561 2262 1559 1310 1308 1235 1042 13920 7125 77 2826 2561 2262 1559 1310 1308 1235 1042 896 713 708 642 10333 4280 1031 21 2709 1443 988 1129 717 1261 600 1000 585 3243 570 547 708 642 571 607 s)0 418 300 240 ioo 25 418 300 240 216 521 595 870 87 1479 15 32700 43594 2147 45741 Net income/lexpenditurel for the yeor 27556 4394 31950 -5976 Down's Syndrome Oxford Statement of Assets and Liabilities as ot 31 Morch 2025 2025 2024 Total ASs￿s Total Current ossets Lloyds TSB - Treosurers occournt Lloyds Tse - Flexib￿ sovings Lloyd5 TSB- Elliot's Shed 47￿7 5250 52797 $8909 2583 361 28395 2583 2583 Net Assets 109039 5250 114289 82339 REPRESENTED BY.. Funds brought forward Net expenditL5re for the year 81483 27556 856 82339 4394 31950 15 -5976 Totol fu￿15 109039 5250 114289 82339 Restricted fvnds Fund Choir Covid Tespon Elliot's shed project Holidoy club Moths for lrfe Walkothon soo 547 12 39 358 39 358 4841 1000 200 1000 600 400 Totol funds 850 6541 21&7 5250 Down's Syndrome Oxford Notes to the accounts for the year erKled 31 March 2025 Restricted funds In the yeor ended 31 Morch 2020, £1.I91 wos received from a donor who placed a restiictiori that the funds ore to be used towards the Choir. Furthef donations ond grants of £1,200 120231 and £1,720120241 were received arKJ the funds were fully used in the year ended 31 March 2024. In the year ended 31 Moich 2021. £9.759 wos YeceTved from a donor who ploced o restriction thot the funds are to be used towords Covid resp)nse. In the year ended 31 Morch 2018. 0 totol of £809 of donations were received from donors who had placed a restriction that the funds are to be used towards the Elliot's Shed project. In the year ended 31 March 2025. grant funding of E4.487 was received ond then spent on a pilot holiday club. In the year ended 31 March 2025, £1.000 wos received from o donor who placed a restriction that the funds are to be used in Oxfordshire ond the Trustees agreed to use the funds towords the Maths for Life project in the year. In the yeoT ended 31 March 2024 £400 wos recaved from donors towards a Wolkothon. A further £200 was donoted in the yeor erKJed 31 Morch 202% The fund was used to gJPPOrt the Walkothon in the year ended 31 Morch 2025 Designated ftjnds In the yeor ended 31 March 2017 the trustees agreed to designate £5.000 to fund the Elliot's Shed project. At the 31 March 2024 £2,224 of these funds wefe still ovailable to be spent. Future periods The pondemic ond its ofter-effects continued to increose the importance of our activities in order to support our membership. Member5. confidence to porticipote in foce-to-foce activrties is increosing. An urgent need continues to revive/expond in-person actwities in 2024-25 The financial climate is exF)ected to be challenging and we anticipote a difficutt enwronment tor fundraising and donotions. ## **DOWN SYNDROME OXFORD** A Registered Charity – No. 1103850 ## **Trustees annual report. 2024 - 2025** ## **General and Financial update** - DSO’s income was £77,691 in part due to the walkathon compared to £26,724 for the year 2023/2024. Overall spending was £45,741 compared to £32,700 for the year 2023/2024. - Assets on hand: DSO ended 2023/2024 with £82,339 and this period with £1142,289. ## **Memberships, programmes and services** - The maths for life programme has been running for 4 years now, supporting 21 students. The gallery trust has now taken Maths for Life as their core maths curriculum across all of their schools in the county. - Rowena Pearce has supported 24 families with DLA applications, re-applications, renewals and queries linked to DLA, PIP and blue badges. - Since 2021, Barney Angliss has supported 16 families, including 5 this year all remotely. He provides expert advice on legislation, local authority processes and legal / parent representation. - DSO has continued to have an ongoing relationship with the Down Syndrome and Complex Needs team, the OCC children’s services and SEN department and the Oxfordshire Parent Carers Forum. - ICB-bob is being re-evaluated as there are plans to integrate east Berkshire into the programme. A key workstream within the Oxfordshire county council SEND transformation programme is; Right provision, right time, looking into adulthood. ## **Trustees and Officers** - At the AGM in June, Jos Smith was re-elected as Chair, Rachel Campling as Treasurer and Aiya Jibali as Secretary. - The following trustees stood up for re-election and were formally re-elected unanimously, to continue to serve in our board: �� o Amanda Foulds�� - �� o Andrew Dubock�� - �� o Emma Smith� o Jos Smith�� - o Katharine Horrocks�� - Marion Simon� DSO board of trustees is still seeking an external trustee, and one internal trustee. ## **CIO Update** - Transitioning to a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO), means there will be no financial liability for DSO trustees. Also it supports future income generation, keeps our current accountant in place and offers a flexible deadline. In addition, it gives us the opportunity to change the name to Down Syndrome Oxfordshire to better represent the area served. - With guidance from our solicitor, Tessa Hennessy, an application has been submitted to register Down Syndrome Oxfordshire as a new charity. There will be three initial trustees once the new charity launches who will be, Katharine Horrocks, Jos Smith and Marion Simon, and new trustees can be co-opted at a later date if required. - Once the application is approved, a new bank account can be open with the CIO’s new name and charity number. - The trustees meet at least 3 times a year to set and review budgets, assess priorities and approve any special spending requests. DSO remain open to welcoming new trustees and are actively continuing the search. ## **DSO groups/clubs** - Stay and Play: Currently there are 36 families with pre-school aged children on the database, with 20 of these families attending stay and play over the past year. - Rowena Roberton, an NHS down syndrome nurse visits each month to provide support. Student doctors are also regularly welcome to join which gives them valuable experience. - Currently there are four groups in our EDG sessions, supporting a total of 14 families. These groups run every Wednesday morning at West Oxford Community Association. - Rachel Cunliffe has been the new Speech and language therapist since September 2024. She delivers 5 sessions each half term. - Helen Simpson supports 4 children per day once a week during term time for our primary developmental group. The programme takes a holistic approach and involves close collaboration with the SENSS team. - Each session is carefully planned out with input from teachers and TA’s about the individual needs of each child, and reports from speech and language therapists and down syndrome and complex needs team. - This year, 21 children have been reached whose parents expressed interest in having their child visited at least once, with some children receiving additional visits due to higher needs. Support has been extended by visiting a child in mainstream secondary school. - The pre-school club enjoyed a variety of events including, fairytale farm, Yarnton magic garden, Blenheim palace and Beale park. - The Primary group continues to grow and they enjoyed several social events including, snakes and ladders, Carterton soft play and Beale park. - The 10+ group enjoyed a mums night out which all the mothers appreciated. They had several outings including, camp Mohawk, snakes and ladders, torchlight night at Millets farm, Beale park and the Halloween disco. - The 16+ group enjoyed activities including, the annual Halloween disco, Christmas bowling at Hollywood bowl and meal at Frankie and Benny’s. - The 21+ group has grown to 28 members on the Whatsapp group. They had their first adult Christmas meal which was very well attended. - The Choir now has 44 attendees which is the highest yet. They raised £1,187 at Bonn square with another £500 support from Beaverbrooks. - Tri- stars football have 16 registered players ranging in age between 9-59. they held an annual awards evening and have now partnered up with Oxford United in the Community. ## **Other activities** - A holiday club pilot was conducted in partnership with Oxford university, Oxford Brookes university and the Gallery Trust which was a huge success. - Matt Robinson, a DSO member, is working on a database update project.