PSEUDO OBSTRUCTION RESEARCH TRUST
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH 2025
TIM HORNER FCCA
Chartered Certified Accountant
55 Crown Street Brentwood Essex CM14 4BD
www.hillwooldridge.com
PSEUDO OBSTRUCTION RESEARCH TRUST
| Contents | ||
|---|---|---|
| Page | ||
| Trust information | 1 | |
| Trustees' report | 2 - 8 | |
| Independent examiner's report | 9 | |
| Receipts and payments account | 10 | |
| Statement of assets and liabilities | 11 |
PSEUDO OBSTRUCTION RESEARCH TRUST
Trust information
| Charity commission number | 1114217 |
|---|---|
| Established | 22nd February 2006 by Deed of Trust |
| Address | Steeple Lodge |
| Church Lane | |
| Doddinghurst | |
| Essex | |
| CM15 0NJ | |
| Website | www.port-charity.org.uk |
| Trustees | Sue Stewart (Chairperson) |
| Rebecca Stanier | |
| Barry Stewart | |
| Dr Nigel Meadows | |
| Lesley Carmichael | |
| Ashlee Johnson | |
| Kilian Fitzsimmons-Wilson | |
| Sonia Frost | |
| Ian Frost | |
| Abigail Andrews | |
| Bankers | Lloyds TSB |
| 47 High Street | |
| Brentwood | |
| Essex | |
| CM14 4RN | |
| Independent examiner | Tim Horner FCCA |
| 55 Crown Street | |
| Brentwood | |
| Essex | |
| CM14 4BD |
Page 1
PSEUDO OBSTRUCTION RESEARCH TRUST
Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st March 2025
History, objectives and activities
Pseudo Obstruction Research Trust (PORT) was established in February 2006 in Brentwood, Essex
The objectives of the trust are:
1)
To promote & protect the physical & mental health of UK sufferers of Chronic Intestinal Pseudo Obstruction (CIPS), Gastroparesis & Dysmotility leading to intestinal failure, through the provision of funding for medical research, support ,education & practical advice to advance the education of the General Public in all areas relating to CIPS, Gastroparesis & Dysmotility leading to intestinal failure.
- 2) The relief of sickness and the preservation of health among people residing permanently or temporarily in the United Kingdom
The main activity of the Trust in the period under review has been fund-raising to provide sufficient reserves to enable the trust to sponsor future research into the causes of Chronic Intestinal Pseudo Obstruction.
Management and governance
The trust deed stipulated the first Trustees, who continue to serve.
There must be at least three Trustees. Were there a requirement for new Trustees, these would be identified and appointed by the remaining Trustees. In selecting individuals for appointment as Trustees, the Trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the Trust.
A new Trustee will be inducted into the Trust by the existing Trustees. This would involve awareness of the Trustee's responsibilities, the governing document, administrative procedures and the history of the charity. A new Trustee would receive a copy of the latest annual report and accounts.
The Trustees annually review the risks that the charity faces. To date these have mainly related to safeguarding the charity's reserves and have been satisfied by ensuring funds are held on deposit with an established bank.
Continued/…...
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PSEUDO OBSTRUCTION RESEARCH TRUST
Report of the Trustees (continued) for the year ended 31st March 2025
Achievements, performance and financial review
During the ended 31st March 2025 the Trust's activities resulted in net funding receipts totalling £41,296 and expenditure of £471.
PORT continues its working relationship with Bowel Research UK (BRUK).
PORT has access to the Medical Research Peer Panel made up of leading Consultants Doctors and Medical Researchers of Bowel Research UK who review, and score the research applications we receive, so that we focus on the best possible research.
Following on from our PORT Trustees Report Year end 31.03.24:
Research 1/2022 Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust
‘The Effectiveness of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) based psychological intervention on reducing psychological distress in those diagnosed with Gastro-Intestinal Dysmotility’
This research was aborted due to Staff resignations, Maternity leave, other staffing issues, and patient recruitment failures. An Initial funding grant of £25,138.01 has been paid for the Initial set up costs of this research.
No further funding has taken place, Bowel Research UK are holding the remaining £24856.19 on behalf of PORT (Ring Fenced), upon our instruction this sum has been reallocated to fund the Dr. Rachael Harwood Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust. Payment for this is anticipated to be paid at the end of the study, details are below in the New Research section.
- Research 4/2023 Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH)
‘The Utility of Motility-MRI in the assessment of Foregut Neuromuscular function in Children with Paediatric Intestinal Pseudo Obstruction (PIPO) (Prof. Osvaldo Borelli)
An Initial funding grant of £25000 has been made at the commencement of research, to fund initial set up expenses.
The start date for research was delayed to April 2023 due to recruitment issues.
Continued/…...
Page 3
PSEUDO OBSTRUCTION RESEARCH TRUST
Report of the Trustees (continued) for the year ended 31st March 2025
- Research 4/2023 Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) continued
Paediatric intestinal pseudo-obstruction (PIPO) encompasses a group of rare, severe disorders affecting the gastrointestinal nerves and muscles. The inability to tolerate feeds is one of the main problems in children with PIPO representing a considerable psychological burden for both children and their families. Tools able to predict the optimisation of oral/intestinal nutritional support are scarce. Moreover, the availability of specialist equipment used for the diagnosis and management is limited to a few centres. Recent advances in motility magnetic resonance imaging (mMRI) suggested its potential use as non-invasive technique for quantifying intestinal motility in children with PIPO. We aim to demonstrate the utility of mMRI for assessing bowel movement by using a novel software able to quantify objectively segmental and global gut motor activity in the response to a liquid challenge.
By comparing mMRI biomarkers to parameters detected by antro-duodenal manometry and small bowel scintigraphy, the current diagnostic tools used for assessing the bowel motor activity, we aim to provide new insights on the underlying mechanisms responsible for the disease severity. We also aim to provide a proof of concept for the use of mMRI as a non-invasive diagnostic tool for the diagnosis and management of children with PIPO.
GOSH Interim report
Progress to date: The aim of our project is to validate the semi-automated quantitative metrics of GI motility extracted from mMRI in children with PIPO, against ADM and small bowel scintigraphy. It is characterised by a retrospective arm, with the analysis of small bowel motility in mMRI, small bowel scintigraphy and ADM in 20 patients, and a prospective arm, which involves the analysis of the motility parameters in children with PIPO and control group (non-PIPO patients), using mMRI, ADM and small bowel scintigraphy, with the aim to validate automated MRI motility biomarkers (15-20 patients). The retrospective arm has been concluded. We are moving to the prospective arm.
GOSH have completed the first part of the project PORT has agreed an extension to allow time for the IT issues to be rectified.
The revised end date was to be November 2025, Discussions with GOSH are still ongoing they do wish to finalise their research however the IT software issues are still unresolved.
At the time of writing a Final Report is still awaited.
If GOSH are unable to complete the study and produce the Final Report, sadly PORT would have to abort this research.
Continued/…...
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PSEUDO OBSTRUCTION RESEARCH TRUST
Report of the Trustees (continued) for the year ended 31st March 2025
NEW RESEARCH Agreed In this year 2024/25
The following two applications have been ‘Peer’ reviewed by BRUK (Bowel Research UK), and deemed by the BRUK Medical Advisory panel to be an acceptable standard. Grant Funding has also been approved by the Trustees of PORT and we have given the go ahead on these two research projects.
Both research teams have been notified they have been awarded their respective Grants.
Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust - Dr Rachel Harwood
st Babies with Enterocolitis-A study of Faecal Calprotectin proposed start date 1 October 2024 ending October 2026
Grant cost £47185.50
Initial funding £24856.19, to be made from the unused Salford Royal NHS Trust aborted project above (PORT funds held at BRUK).
Lay Summary
Babies with Hirschsprung’s Disease are born without normal nerves to the end of their bowel which means they cannot poo properly, and are at high risk of infection of the bowel, called enterocolitis. 1 in 4 children with the Disease develop enterocolitis and, if not treated quickly, it can lead to death. The symptoms include a swollen tummy, temperatures and diarrhoea but it can be hard to spot, especially in the early stages, and there is no test for it. In some diseases, a substance called calprotectin is found in the poo when the bowel is inflamed. We plan to collect poo samples from children with Hirschsprung’s Disease and measure the calprotectin, to see if it can help us predict which children are at highest risk of enterocolitis. When we collect the poo we will ask parents some questions about their child’s diet and poos over the week before, and how easy it was to collect the sample. This is a pilot study, which means we don’t expect to get a definite answer to whether measuring calprotectin levels will change treatment for children. However, it will help us find out if calprotectin levels are a useful test for bowel inflammation in these children and will tell us what parents’ views are on collecting poo samples regularly. If it does look like measuring calprotectin is a useful test in Hirschsprung’s disease, we will do more studies to find out if some children may benefit from more intensive treatment.
Continued/…...
Page 5
PSEUDO OBSTRUCTION RESEARCH TRUST
Report of the Trustees (continued) for the year ended 31st March 2025
Blizzard Institute London - Prof Gareth Sanger
Mechanisms and Treatment of Nausea Proposed start date 16th November 2025
Grant cost £55698.77
Lay Summary
Nausea is highly aversive and unlike vomiting, poorly treated. This includes gastroparesis, where nausea is a dominant symptom. Researchers have identified areas of damage within the stomach of patients with gastroparesis. This includes some loss of ‘pacemaker cells’ within the stomach wall. These are cells which generate a small electrical current that passes around the stomach at regular intervals, coordinating its ability to function and empty normally after eating. Dysfunctional pacemaker cells create small disruptions in movements of the stomach. When these are recognised by a major nerve that connects the stomach to the brain, the changes can be communicated for interpretation as nausea (“queasy stomach”). Our laboratory uses human stomach (obtained following surgery for obesity) to investigate how substances causing nausea disrupt pacemaker and other functions of the stomach, and how this can be corrected by electrical stimulation of the stomach. In patients, electrical stimulation involves surgically attaching electrodes onto the stomach, connected to a stimulator outside the body. Different methods of stimulation are used, each with promising results. However, it unclear how they work and what they do to different parts of the stomach (potentially providing ‘good’ and ‘less good’ outcomes). Using human stomach, we will characterise the effects of substances causing nausea, discover how best to electrically stimulate for optimal clinical benefit and then show how electrical stimulation can alleviate nausea. The outcomes will help understand mechanisms of nausea and guide the development of stimulators and/or new drugs to help these poorly-treated patients.
New Diagnostic Equipment for Great Ormond Street Hospital
Following consultations with Prof. Osvaldo Borelli at GOSH, it has become clear that there is a need for new less invasive state of the art diagnostic equipment for PIPO (Paediatric Intestinal Pseudo Obstruction). The Alimetry system is an external belt which allows a non-invasive assessment of the gastric myoelectrical activity is similar to an ECG machine of the heart. The machine will provide useful information of the gastric involvement in children with PIPO and to help pave a way to the patients enteral feeding.
PORT have been negotiating with Alimetry, the Manufacturers of the equipment, and have obtained an enhanced deal for GOSH.
PORT will be funding the important state of the art Paediatric Diagnostic Equipment for GOSH early 2026 at a cost of £31,228.50 inclusive of VAT (2025 price, and is subject to potential change). PORT awaits NHS/GOSH approval to enable PORT to fund Alimetry purchase
Continued/…...
Page 6
PSEUDO OBSTRUCTION RESEARCH TRUST
Report of the Trustees (continued) for the year ended 31st March 2025
PORT Website Update
Our website was originally constructed in 2007 and the system had become of an age where it was in need of replacement / restructuring. We are pleased to confirm the transfer to a new website provider has taken place, and the new up to date website is fully operational, from January 2025, the website continues to be a valuable assistant to understanding CIPO.
PORT Charity PIPO booklet update
The information booklet produced by the Pseudo Obstruction Research Trust (PORT), with the help of the Gastroenterology team at GOSH, for children, remains current, and is still in use at GOSH.
The booklet has provided an ‘Easy to read’ source of information for children, and their families from PORT and GOSH.
The feedback has been very positive, and we are proud to have produced such an informative booklet.
The booklet has been added to our new website page so that it may be accessed remotely online.
Two other Books in relation to CIPO and Living with CIPO have been published by volunteer, and a trustee.
Dr. Nigel Meadows (Retired Paediatric Consultant) has published ‘Tummy Ache should I be Bovvered??’ this publication is also available on-line via Amazon Books, and
Nicola Stewart volunteer (assisted by Dr Mohammed Mutalib consultant gastroenterologist Evelina children’s Hospital) has a paperback published of her book ‘Gut Feeling’.
Facebook Page update
Our private Facebook members page continues, it is a friendly, informative group where families can converse freely, build up relationships with one another which leads to the families feeling less isolated.
This is of paramount importance to help with mental wellbeing, for sufferers. The numbers that have access to this restricted access page continue to steadily grow.
Linked-In
The PORT Charity Linked-In page is now open.
Continued/…...
Page 7
PSEUDO OBSTRUCTION RESEARCH TRUST
Report of the Trustees (continued) for the year ended 31st March 2025
Fund Raising
PORT would like to thank all the efforts of the various fundraisers, and fund-raising events that took place during this accounting period.
Rodeo Restaurant Donations & Fund-raiser collections, Brighton Marathon runners, Coffee mornings, Maharaja Indian Curry night, Zumbathon’s by Everyone active Chilterns Lifestyle Amersham, Thurrock and Drums Bowls club fundraisers.
Barney O’Driscoll has written a song ‘Starving for a Cure’ available on Spotify, and all Royalties are donated to PORT.
PORT has also received a Legacy from a supporter’s estate of £10,000.
- Looking forward Fundraising after year end March 25
Ongoing Rodeo Restaurant donations and Collections for 2025
Maharaja Indian Curry Night 2025
Barney O Driscoll’s song ‘Starving for a CURE’ continued Royalty income for PORT.
PORT have arranged PORT / GOSH PIPO Family fun day at GOSH London 18[th] October 25.
Thurrock and Drums Bowls club have offered continued support 2025.
The Fred Whitton Challenge 112 miles Cycle ride of the Lake District 2025
PORT has booked 5 places the Brighton Marathon 2025
PORT has booked 2 places for the London Marathon 2026
PORT has booked 5 places for the Rob Burrows Leeds Marathon 2026
Maharaja Restaurant will be having another Indian Curry Night again in 2026
Approval
This report was approved by the Trustees on 16th January 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
S Stewart
R Stanier
……………………………………………….. ……………………………………………….. S Stewart R Stanier Trustee Trustee
Page 8
PSEUDO OBSTRUCTION RESEARCH TRUST
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Pseudo Obstruction Research Trust
I report on the accounts of the Trust for the Year ended 31st March 2025, which are set out on pages 10 and 11.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the Act)) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
-
examine the accounts (under section 43 of the Act),
-
to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 43(7)(b) of the Act), and
-
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair' view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner's statement
In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements:
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to keep accounting records in accordance with section 41 of the Act; and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Act
have not been met; or
- (2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Tim Horner
16th January 2026
TIM HORNER FCCA Chartered Certified Accountant
55 Crown Street Brentwood Essex CM14 4BD
Page 7
PSEUDO OBSTRUCTION RESEARCH TRUST
Receipts and payments account for the year ended 31st March 2025
| Receipts General donations and fundraising proceeds Internet donations Website commissions Bank interest received Total receipts Payments Contributions towards medical research Expenses Public liability insurance Computer and website costs Sundry expenses Total payments Net receipts / (expenses) Cash funds brought forward Cash funds carried forward |
Year Year ended ended 31/03/25 31/03/24 Unrestricted Unrestricted Funds Funds £ £ 17,029 13,694 18,379 18,808 - 78 5,888 5,510 41,296 38,090 - - - - 151 151 202 90 118 178 471 419 40,825 37,671 290,649 252,978 331,474 290,649 |
|---|---|
Page 10
PSEUDO OBSTRUCTION RESEARCH TRUST
Statement of assets and liabilities as at 31st March 2025
| Assets Bank account balances Prepaid expenses Liabilities Accrued expenses Net assets Reserves Unrestricted funds |
£ £ 330,514 960 331,474 - 331,474 331,474 331,474 2025 |
£ £ 290,649 290,649 - 290,649 290,649 290,649 2024 |
|---|---|---|
These accounts were approved by the Trustees on 16th January 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
S Stewart ……………………………………………….. S Stewart Trustee
R Stanier
……………………………………………….. R Stanier Trustee
Page 11