Clowns in the Sky Report and Financial Statements Year ended: 01.04.2025 Registered Charity Number 1105195
Contents Page
Legal and administrative information Report of the trustee Report of the accountant Consolidated statement of financial activities Consolidated and charity balance sheets
Legal and administrative information
Trustees
Wendy Saunders –Chair of Trustees (Appointed 10[th] August 2007)
Trustees
W Saunders (appointed 16 April 2004) Richard Chambers (appointed 7[th] October 2006) Lynn Weston (appointed 7[th] October 2006) Karen Sayers-Irving (appointed 10/05/2021)
Administrator
L Weston
Registered Office
82 Middle Park Avenue, Eltham, London SE9 5HT
Accountant – Independent Examiner
Martin Mason, CTA 22 Inverine Road, London SE7 7NL
Bankers
CAF Bank Ltd, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent ME19 4JQ
Report of the trustees for the year ended 1[st] April 2025
The trustees present their report along with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 01/04/2025. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out on page 7 and comply with the charity’s trust deed and applicable law.
Constitution and objects
Clowns in the Sky is constituted under a trust deed dated 16 April 2004 and is a registered charity No. 1105195.
Our aim is to bring a smile to the face of a child and their family, by providing distraction from their treatment.
Clowns in the Sky offers discretionary support grants to enhance the quality of life for those who have been affected by childhood brain tumours.
Organisation
The trustees who have served during the year and since the year end are set out on page 1
Trustees are appointed by the board of trustees and serve for up to five years after which period they may put themselves forward for re-appointment. The trustees meet annually but will when appropriate meet quarterly and monthly.
Review of the activities and future developments
The Charity has carried out fundraising throughout the year to raise funds for our charitable aims via fundraising activities, sourcing corporate donations, and funding from charitable organisations, community groups along with direct donations.
The trustees are pleased with the success of the fundraising which has allowed us to meet our charitable objectives. During the year our focus has been on continuing with our response to the increased needs from the Hospitals in the post pandemic environment.
We have successfully funded additional refills on our Activity and Sensory Trolleys throughout the UK whilst maintaining our aims and continuing to ensure the sustainability of the Charity. We have enhanced the services provided under our Childrens Entertainer sessions, providing Childrens Author visits to the Hospitals.
The trustees communicate throughout the year for decisions and discussions via email to approve Family Grants and new trolley locations.
1. Activity and Sensory trolleys .
We now have 103 trolleys nationwide in hospital wards. We aim to refill these trolleys three times a year, we do accept requests from all our hospitals for additional refills when required. These trolleys continue to bring the playroom to the child when the child may be unable to visit the playroom. £450 pays for a trolley in a hospital to be refilled for a year.
2. Children's Entertainers .
We provide children’s entertainers in partnership with another registered charity who specialise in providing entertainers to visit the children's bedside in hospitals and know there is a huge demand. £50 pays for an entertainer's session.
2a. Childrens Author visits .
Following a pilot scheme begun in the post pandemic hospital environment, and under the umbrella of our Childrens entertainer visits, we launched, the Childrens Author visits. These visits build on the relationships we have developed with the Play Therapists in the Hospital environment. Each visit consists of a Children’s Author joining us in one of the Hospitals we support. The Author will read from one of their books in a group setting within the main playroom and engage in a group discussion about the characters in the story, truly bringing their book to life. In addition, if requested by the hospital, the Author will visit the beside of a child who may be too poorly to visit the playroom. Clowns in the Sky, purchase copies of the Authors books and these are gifted to each child, often signed by the Author during the visit. The sense of inclusion for the children is evident, and we have expanded these during 2025. This scheme continues to grow each year, we have been pleased to see the engagement with teenage children; an area that has proven hard to connect with in previous years.
3. Grants to parents in financial need .
In 2024/2025 we made 8 grants to families, of £500.00 each and a two second grants of £350.00 to a family. Families apply to Clowns in the Sky through an application process via the website or direct email, phone, and postal contact methods. All applications are independently verified by the Hospital Clinical Teams.
4. Research .
The understanding of brain cancer in children has improved significantly in recent years and modern treatment means that 7 out of 10 children can now survive for at least 5 years. We continue to support research with an annual donation of £4,300.00 made during this financial year.
Trustees responsibilities in relation to the financial statements
Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and review of the state of affairs of the charity at the year end and of its incoming resources and resources expanded during that year. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently.
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Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.
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State whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.
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Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 1993. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. We have fulfilled these obligations.
Voluntary help
The trustees are very grateful to many volunteers who helped by carrying out fundraising on our behalf and giving administrative and practical support.
Approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:
Lynn Weston
Co-Founder & Trustee 15/12/2025
CLOWNS IN THE SKY (Registered Charity Number 1105 195)
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
for the year ended 1* April 2025 & STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
as at 1 April 2025
2nd Decewhey 2025
Clowns in the Sky Statement of Financial Activities For the Year Ended 1 April 2025
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||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|2025|2024|
|Income|Note|£|£|3|£|
|Fundraising from Trust Companies|- unrestricted|39,935.00|41,832.62|
|Fundraising from Trust Companies|- restricted|6,650.00|3,500.00|
|Charity ball|11,449.98|9,923.20|
|Other events|“i|1|
|Donations|received|-|unrestricted funds|6,011.03|4,748.09|
|Donations received|- restricted|funds|23,391.68|37,837.77|
|Sponsorship|raised|2,823.50|5,755.47|
|Interest received|271.48|360.07|
|90,532.67|103,957.22|
|Expenditure|
|Family|grants|& associated|administration|3,904.00|1,592.00|
|Research|grants|4,300.00|4,000.00|
|Hospital|trolleys|2,037.68|3,235.40|
|Hospital|entertainers|&|authors’|visits|9,456.92|8,201.18|
|Expenditure|of restricted|funds|4b|53,657.25|50,316.75|
|Charity|ball|7,047.45|6,745.60|
|Other fund|raising|events|1,551.00|1,344.08|
|Professional fees|- fundraising|8,678.10|14,375.02|
|Promotional|merchandise|1,535.80|4,765.80|
|Website|costs|512.00|360.00|
|Administration|6,268.78|4,992.80|
|Office|equipment|depreciation|386.91|185.99|
|99,335.89|100,114.62|
|Excess|of Expenditure Expenditure|/|Income|for Year Year|£(8,803.22)|£3,842.60|
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Excess of Expenditure Expenditure / Income for Year Year
Clowns in the Sky Statement of Assets and Liabilities As at 1 April 2025
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2025 2024
Note £ 2 £ £
Fixed Assets
Office equipment 754.00 479.00
Current Assets
Stocks 2 300.00 500.00
Prepaid expenses 5,200.00 4,700.00
Cash at bank - general funds 137,488.29 121,962.63
Cash at bank - restricted reserves 3 45,212.62 68,828.19
188,200.91 195,990.82
188,954.91 196,469.82
Liabilities
Sundry creditors 1:222:12 5,933.81
7,222.12 5,933.81
Net Assets £181,732.79 £190,536.01
Reserves
Unrestricted funds 4a 136,520.17 121,707.82
Restricted funds 4b 45,212.62 68,828.19
£181 ,732.79 £190,536.01
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Clowns in the Sky
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Notes to the Accounts
For the Year Ended 1 April 2025
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1 Details of certain items of expenditure 2025 2024
Fee £ £
for the examination and preparation of the accounts 1,200.00 1,000.00
2 Stocks
Trolleys not yet delivered to hospitals and their contents, along with supplies of promotional
merchandise are included at cost.
3 Cash at bank - Restricted reserves 2025 2024
£ £
This figure represents donations and grants received where restrictions
exist on either the nature or geographic location of its expenditure
amounting to: 45,121.62 68,828.19
4 Reserves 2025 2024
£ £
4a Unrestricted funds
Balance at 02/04/2024 121,707.82 108,886.24
Excess income for the year 14,812.35 12,821.58
Balance at 01/04/2025 136,520.17 121,707.82
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4b Restricted funds
Where a donor specifies that the donation must be used for a particular objective or in a specific geographical location they are credited to the statement of financial activities in the year received and treated as restricted funds.
The relevant amounts are set out in the tables below.
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Brought
forward Receipts Payments 2025 2024
£ £ £ £ £
Trust companies 5,432.00 6,650.00 (6,332.00) 5,750.00 5,432.00
Other funds 63,396.19 23,391.68 (47,325.25) 39,462.62 63,396.19
68,828.19 30,041.68 (53,657.25) 45,212.62 68,828.19
Restricted fund expenditure
Family grants 1,500.00 2,000.00
Hospital trolleys 31,403.35 29,014.51
Hospital entertainers & authors’ visits 5,845.00 5,986.96
Grant monitoring costs 14,908.90 13,315.28
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Clowns in the Sky
Statement of Principal Accounting Policies
Basis of Preparation
These accounts have been prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention in accordance with the Charities SORP (Statement of Recommended Practice) and with Accounting Standards as set out in FRS102.
All income and expenditure shown relates to the principal activity of the Charity.
Incoming Resources
Recognition of Income:
This is included in the Statement of Financial Activities when:
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e The charity is entitled to the resources
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e The trustees are virtually certain they will receive the resources; and e The monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Income from restricted private donations is recognised in the period received.
Grants and donations received in advance in respect of specific projects or relating toa specific geographic location where the associated expenditure has not yet been incurred as at the report period end date is shown as recognised income at the balance sheet date but treated as restricted funds pending future expenditure and details shown at note 4 of these accounts.
The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts but is described in the trustees’ annual report.
Expenditure and Liabilities
Expenditure and liabilities are accounted for in the period in which there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources.
Jax
The Charity is not registered for VAT. Any VAT incurred is shown as part of the expense to which it relates. The Charity is exempt from taxation in respect of income received to the extent that it is applied to its charitable purposes.
Fixed Assets
Office equipment is stated at cost and depreciated over its anticipated useful life on a 25% reducing balance basis.
Independent Examiner's Report
To the Trustees of Clowns in the Sky, Charity number 1105195
| report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Clowns in the Sky ("the Trust”) for the year ended 1 April 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act’).
| report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination | have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
| have completed my examination. | 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:
- accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with the accounting records; or 3. the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than that any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
| 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.
Martin A Mason Chartered Tax Adviser 22 Inverine Road London SE7 7NL
02 December 2025
Independent Examiner's Report
To the Trustees of Clowns in the Sky, Charity number 1105195
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Clowns in the Sky (“the Trust”) for the year ended 1 April 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
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:
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accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than that any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
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.
Martin A Mason Chartered Tax Adviser 22 Inverine Road London SE7 7NL
02 December 2025