Annual Report st April 1st 2024 - March 31 2025
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## **Table**
## **of Contents**
**03**
## **Message from the Chair of Trustees**
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## **Legal and administrative info**
Aims and Goals Trustees Risk management Employees
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## **Who we are and what we do**
Background Case study Our support
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## **Evaluation**
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## **Achievements and performance**
Group support programmes Support calls Fundraising and communications Partnerships Volunteer and community engagement Supporting professionals Bereavement Champions Programme
## **Summary**
## **Financial statements**
## **Case studies**
**19 21**
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## **Message from the Chair of Trustees**
I am immensely proud to be part of this small but remarkable charity that continues to make a genuine difference to local families during some of the most difficult times in their lives. Our achievements over the past year are a testament to the dedication, compassion, and professionalism of our staff and volunteers. They are at the heart of everything we do, and their commitment enables FiG to provide vital support and hope to those who need it most.
The 2024–2025 year has been one of the busiest and - we feel - the most impactful for Families in Grief to date. After a year of transformation, we’ve truly found our rhythm, strengthening our ability to support children, young people, and families in grief as well as deepening our community connections and reaching more families than ever before.
During this year we said goodbye to some valued and inspirational members of staff and trustees, heralding some big changes within the FiG family. **Naomi Jefferies** , our CEO during 24/25, made a number of changes that invigorated the charity and piloted a series of new initiatives for working with children and young people. Naomi left a legacy of connections across the region’s GPs and schools, strengthening our relationships with professionals and the wider community in North Devon and Torridge. **Clare Maynard** began her relationship with FiG as a volunteer before becoming an employee and, finally, an anchor and oracle for all of the staff team. Clare’s communications and fundraising work was the public voice of FiG and her energy and dedication is sorely missed.
Two of our trustees stepped down during the year. **Karen Hutton** joined FiG as an administrator in 2020 and in 2022 became a trustee with a strong focus on governance and grant applications. Karen’s steady, calm, and good-humoured approach to her role at FiG made a loved and much-appreciated member of the FiG team.
And, of course, a special mention to trustee **Nicky Geddes** , who has been with FiG since 2006. As a volunteer and trustee she has given almost 20 years of her time, energy, skill, and enthusiasm to the charity. Nicky was instrumental in developing, training, and supporting FiG volunteers, as well as supporting families through the charity’s group programmes.
To those who have left FiG: we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for what you have done. It is your work that has laid the foundations of what we celebrate in this report and will help us to continue our mission of supporting every family in our community that has been impacted by the death of someone close to them.
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This year, we’ve seen remarkable growth in both our impact and our reach. Through our group programmes, school-based sessions, art workshops, and outdoor support activities, FiG has been able to help more families and community members than ever before. We’ve expanded into new schools and partnerships, and our name is becoming increasingly recognised across North Devon and Torridge as a trusted, compassionate source of bereavement support.
Our referrals have continued to rise, reflecting not only the growing need for our services but also the trust that families and professionals place in us. This growth has been supported by the outstanding work of our staff team, who continue to demonstrate incredible skill, care, and commitment in everything they do.
Our volunteers remain the heart of FiG. Your time, compassion, and enthusiasm lift everything we do, from fundraising to family support, from events to behind-the-scenes help. Each hour you give makes a difference, and we are endlessly grateful.
As we close 2025, FiG stands stronger, more connected, and more determined than ever. We are ready to look forward with motivation and purpose: to build on our achievements, to reach even more families, and to bring wider change across our region.
To our staff, volunteers, partners, and supporters: thank you. Your belief in FiG makes everything possible. Together, we are creating a community where compassion, understanding, and hope can flourish.
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## **Legal & Administrative Info**
Families in Grief was registered with the Charity Commission in 2006 as a Charitable Trust with a Trust Deed as our governing document. It is governed by constitution.
Charity Number :1116474
## **Aims and goals**
- To help young people and their families understand and move forward with their grief
- To improve family relationships and communication
- To reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness
- To facilitate engagement with school and other community organisations
## **Trustees**
The trustees serving during the year were as follows:
Tracey Elliot (Chair of Trustees) Alison Smith (Vice Chair / Treasurer from May 2024) Toby Slater (Treasurer) (Left May 2024) Maureen Elsom (Safeguarding Trustee) Nicky Geddes (Left March 2025) Karen Hutton (Left March 2025) Mary Ritson (Joined January 2025) Nicola Rose (Joined May 2024)
Trustees are recruited through an open and transparent process designed to ensure a diverse range of skills, experiences, and perspectives on the board. Vacancies are advertised publicly and through relevant networks to reach individuals with lived experience or professional expertise aligned to to our mission. New trustees are inducted by the CEO in a process that includes all relevant safeguarding training.
## **Risk management**
Families in Grief maintains a comprehensive Risk Register covering governance, financial, and operational matters as part of our overall business plan. This is a live document, reviewed and updated at each trustee meeting, in line with guidance from the Institute of Risk Management and the Charity Commission.
Our annual governance cycle ensures all policies and procedures are regularly reviewed, with any amendments approved by Trustees on a quarterly basis. We also ensure full GDPR compliance, managing personal data securely and in accordance with data protection legislation.
The Trustees have identified and assessed the major risks to which FiG is exposed and have implemented appropriate systems and controls to mitigate them. The charity’s financial position remains stable, and the Trustees are satisfied there are no material uncertainties regarding FiG’s ability to continue as a going concern.
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## **Employees**
CEO – Naomi Jeffries (Left November 2024)
CEO – Chris Walker (Joined November 2024)
Communication and Administration Officer – Clare Maynard (Left March 2025) Fundraising and Communication – Susan Marsh (Joined March 2025) Volunteer Coordinator – Kayleigh Pullin-Rogers Finance and Administration – Jo Bradford Family Service Officer – Esther Campbell Family Service Officer – Sarah Pile Family Service Lead – Etelka Moon
The team work a mixture of hours ranging from 8 hours per a week to full time.
## **Address:**
Families in Grief (FiG) Castle Lodge North Walk Barnstaple EX31 1DF
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## **Who we are and what we do**
For almost two decades, Families in Grief has been working with children, young people, and families across North Devon and Torridge, as well as schools, community groups, professionals, and other likeminded charities throughout the region. At our core, we seek to deliver the right support in the right way at the right time, leveraging the lived experience of our families to constantly improve.
Our support takes many different forms, from one-to-one sessions and group activities to bereavement training and telephone support. Our vision is to build a community where children, young people, and families are supported to understand, express, and move through grief with compassion, connection, and hope.
## **Background**
According to research by the Child Bereavement Network, approximately 26,900 parents die in the UK each year - the equivalent of one every 20 minutes. This leaves an estimated 127 children facing bereavement every single day. By the age of 16, around 1 in 20 children will have experienced the death of a parent (Parsons, 2011) - that’s one in every class. But even though such bereavements are common, we don’t talk enough about grief.
At FiG we work to combat this stigma, creating open and honest conversations so that children and young people can feel supported and heard.
We work in schools and community settings across the region, including several located within the 15% most deprived areas in the country. Research has shown that children living in deprived areas are five times more likely to experience the death of a parent (Paul & Vaswani, 2020). In rural, coastal, and market town settings, where children and young people already face high levels of child poverty, minimal opportunities, poor youth services, and social and geographical isolation, bereavement can be 7 an even bigger hurdle to overcome. We want to make sure that no child faces grief alone.
## **Case Study**
**Daniel’s*** family reached out seeking support for their son after the death of his baby sister and the birth of a new baby. Daniel had become aggressive and angry after the new arrival, kicking and throwing things at his mum and dad. He said that he felt he didn’t belong with his family and that he felt sad when he was at home.
Daniel met with our FSO at school for one-to-one support. His family also attended some of our group sessions. During his sessions, Daniel was able to explore his emotions, learning how to label them and how to self-regulate. Our FSO worked to normalise difficult conversations, encouraging Daniel to share memories of his dead sister. As a family, they attended our Wellbeing in Nature days, where they had a safe space to discuss their grief with other families.
“Thank you so much for all of the sessions you’ve had with Daniel this summer. I really think the one-toone support has equipped him with the skills to identify and find language to talk about feelings.” - Daniel’s mum
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*names have been changed
## **Our support**
Our programme of support is tailored to meet families’ individual needs, allowing us to adapt our offering to overcome whatever barriers they might face. Our support is flexible and can fit around school, work, and other commitments. We are committed to a secular approach to bereavement support and strive to be inclusive of all cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds.
We provide a combination of:
- One-to-one support in schools, the FiG office, or another community setting
- Group programmes such as art workshops, children’s groups, or outdoor activities
- Family days and support for parents and carers
- Resources and support for professionals, schools, and community groups
- Bereavement training to create grief-informed communities
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## **Evaluation**
In June 2024 Families in Grief completed an internal impact evaluation of their current delivery while trialing new workshops and projects. The goal of this was to better understand how our work was supporting the children, young people, and families who accessed our services.
These findings offer insights and recommendations to further embed the work to support those in grief across North Devon and Torridge.
The piloting involved 3 phases:
- Developing and delivering a range of one-to-one and group initiatives
- Seeking feedback and information relating to previous, current and future service users and seeking referrer and 3rd sector colleague experiences, specifically around: what has worked, what has been difficult, and what could be done better. This has been accessed through focus groups, questionnaire/written evaluation, and one-to-one and small group conversations. This information has shaped the initiatives being trialed.
- Collecting and collating feedback and identifying key themes and patterns of which have been used to build insights and recommendations
## What we learned:
1. If parents and professionals are more informed about what the group will look like, they are in a better position to support young people to attend.
2. Many children and young people are apprehensive about attending groups. They are unsure what it will look like and feel like.
3. Some children form long term friendships from these groups.
4. Building trust between FiG and the adult family member for before- and after-session care will help children and young people to feel less anxious.
5. There needs to be a greater emphasis on initial assessment, relationship-building, and working to establish what each member of the family needs and wants before formulating a support plan. Different members of the same family may want support in different forms at different times.
6. There is still the narrative within the local community that “FiG only offers group support, and you have to wait for six months post bereavement to access it.” This has been a barrier to referral and engagement.
7. Activities (e.g. art, outdoor pursuits) that are fun and bring children and young people together provide an effective alternative to traditional bereavement support groups.
8. Schools and colleges often do not have staff available in-house to provide ongoing bereavement support. The will is there, but not the human resources. They would like FiG representatives to go into schools and offer this support.
9. Non-attendance of groups is costly and not a good use of charity money.
10. Connecting with bereaved peers/other parents can be helpful, but the way in which this happens needs careful consideration and skilled facilitation.
11. It can be hard to monitor and evaluate the impact of interventions in relation to the key goals of the charity, particularly when a service user’s engagement with FiG is short.
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12. It is hard to seek feedback from service users who disengage mid-programme, or bereaved children and families who do not engage with FiG. An ongoing challenge is establishing how those who currently do not engage would best like to be supported, if at all, and what FiG could do differently to help them.
13. Some interventions are much more costly than others. The strategic and operational challenge is to establish how best to ensure limited resources have maximum impact, in a way that ensures equity and maximum spread.
What people said:
- Having space to talk and process really helps as people don’t normally like talking about death.
- Young people and professionals felt that activities such as memory boxes and creative sessions were good ways to work with young people.
- Families may all need different conversations / support at different times.
- Parents may not seek support but they would find it helpful to have a better understanding of grief. Educational professionals and those working for other bereavement charities felt that families prefer services which come to them, with school being the main way to see young people.
- A feeling of agency and choice is important, so that people are in control of the support they access.
These learnings have informed the ways in which we deliver and develop our services throughout the year, and have played a key role in our strategic plan for 2026 and beyond.
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## **Achievements and Performance**
2024-2025 has been a period of reflection and growth for FiG. As we increased our Family Service delivery, we also saw an increase in referrals from professionals and families across the region. Throughout the year we have taken a learning-focused approach, listening to what our families need so that we may constantly evolve to provide the best support.
We have also expanded our team to include a third Family Support Officer, enabling us to deliver an even broader support offering to children and young people in the region.
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## G **roup support programmes**
In this year we delivered:
- A series of six-week outdoor activities sessions at Skern Lodge for young peope between 11 and 18
- A series of six-week support sessions for Primary Aged children, supporting families in a group setting
- A number of art workshops led by local artists, designed to encourage creative exploration of grief,
- A baby loss support group to help children and young people come to terms with their loss.
- A programme of days out and activities for bereaved children and young people, including visits to local attractions, surf trips, and outdoor pursuits.
- Summer sessions for bereaved children, young people, and teenagers at Hakeford Woods Forest School, supported by FiG staff and volunteers.
## **Support calls**
As both our reputation and our visibility within the local community have grown, referrals to FiG have increased by 12% compared to the previous year. And while the number of support calls has dropped (616 compared to 773 the previous year), this reflects a number of different factors, including: The work we have done to train professionals, giving them confidence to deliver bereavement support directly
- An increase in the number of one-to-one support sessions offered - this has gone up by over 50% compared to the previous year
- The popularity of our downloadable resources, which allow parent(s)/carer(s) and professionals to access support at the click of a button
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## **Some feedback from our young people...** Some feedback from our young people...
_**“We got to be ourselves, have fun and not be defined by our grief.”**_ “We got to be ourselves, have fun and not be defined by our grief.”
_**“I have absolutely loved this (the project). You can celebrate the person who has**_ “I have absolutely loved this (the project). You can celebrate the person who has _**died through your art and all the little personal things about them.”**_ died through your art and all the little personal things about them.”
_**“I’ve loved the group sessions, it’s helped me feel like I’m not the only one and**_ “I’ve loved the group sessions, it’s helped me feel like I’m not the only one and _**I’ve made friends too.”**_ I’ve made friends too.”
_**“After my mum died I didn’t tell anyone at school for six months. I just kept**_ “After my mum died I didn’t tell anyone at school for six months. I just kept _**‘facading’. If I hadn’t had an activity (art) to pour my grief into, I would be doing**_ ‘facading’. If I hadn’t had an activity (art) to pour my grief into, I would be doing _**drugs or in a gang by now.”**_ drugs or in a gang by now.”
_**“I just felt angry all the time, talking to [our FSO], I understood that this was OK**_ “I just felt angry all the time, talking to [our FSO], I understood that this was OK _**and that allowed me to feel other things as well.”**_ and that allowed me to feel other things as well.”
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## **Fundraising and communications**
We have used both digital and physical assets to continue to foster a close community around FiG, growing our network to a combined 2.9K followers across Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
During this year, we received over £68,000 in community donations, raised by a variety of local individuals, groups, and businesses with the support of our Fundraising and Communications Officer.
The highlight of the fundraising calendar was Barney to Beach, an 8-mile sponsored run from central Barnstaple along the Tarka Trail to the beach at Crow Point. This raised £13,000 which was split between FiG and WAVE Project North Devon and played a huge role in boosting FiG’s visibility in the local area. It was also a valuable exercise in engagement, providing an opportunity for families who have been supported by FiG to volunteer and ‘give back’ without having to make an ongoing commitment. Several families that we have worked with have signed up to volunteer again for the next event.
We were also lucky enough to receive support from a wide variety of community groups and events, including £1779 raised during a partnership with Affinity Devon, £3250 raised by Libbaton Golf Club, £1686 raised by South Molton Vintage Rally, £1000 raised by Torrington Rotary Club, and a number of generous donations made by individual supporters. Clare did an incredible job of fostering these connections and thanking our wonderful fundraisers, and we are stewarding these relationships into the new FiG era.
Finally, we hosted a ball in November 2024 to celebrate 18 years of FiG. With the help of FiG volunteers – and a special mention to Ann Juby- the event was a huge success and raised £7000 for FiG. We are currently brainstorming ways to build on this success and plan more FiG events over the year to come.
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## **Partnerships**
Over this past year, we have instigated and built upon a number of local
partnerships, fostering strong relationships with the following organisations:
- WAVE Project North Devon
- Skern Lodge Outdoor Pursuits
- Hakeford Woods Forest School
- Arlington Court National Trust
- Affinity Outlet North Devon
- Burton Art Gallery
Studio KIND Gallery
These partnerships have enabled us to increase awareness of FiG on a local level, resulting in more referrals and increased fundraising activity. They have also allowed us to offer a more diverse range of activities to the families that we support.
## **Volunteer and community engagement**
Thanks to the efforts of our volunteer coordinator, our volunteer recruitment has increased by 50%. We are currently engaging in lived experience research with new and established volunteers to determine the best ways to maximise engagement, improve retention rates, and provide the best experience for both volunteers and service users.
In addition to staff, we have 20 volunteers across three areas:
- Group volunteers: supporting bereaved families within our support group sessions and attending home visits on either side of the group.
- Fundraising volunteers: helping with fundraising ideas and events.
- Trustees: providing strategic governance to the charity.
Each volunteer donates their time on a sessional basis. Volunteers and staff all undergo initial training followed by regular in-house training including Safeguarding. All staff, trustees, and volunteers are in possession of enhanced DBS certificates (Disclosure and Barring service checks).
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## **Supporting professionals**
Over the past year, we have delivered bereavement training and support across
GP surgeries, CAMHS departments, teacher training programmes, children’s
homes, and schools, promoting age-appropriate communications, collaboration at transition points, and awareness of local referral routes.
Our approach aims to equip professionals with the confidence and skills needed to support bereaved children and young people. Our Information and Education Programme covers topics such as models of grief, children’s understanding of death at different ages, behavioural responses to loss, and removing barriers to support.
## **Bereavement Champions Programme**
Acting on feedback from educational professionals, FiG launched the Bereavement Champions Programme to bring grief awareness into schools. In 2024-25, 78 staff from 73 schools across North Devon and Torridge completed the training.
Before attending, only 30% said they felt confident supporting bereaved pupils. After our training, this rose to 98%. Attendees now report greater understanding of how grief affects behaviour and feel equipped to respond with empathy and confidence.
One participant shared:
“Since completing the training, our safeguarding team has supported 71 students through bereavement - from offering condolences to responding when sudden grief hits in class.”
This programme is strengthening the network of bereavement-aware professionals across local schools, ensuring children receive understanding and support where they need it the most.
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## **Summary**
Families in Grief (FiG) has continued to make a profound difference to children, young people, and families across North Devon and Torridge, offering compassionate bereavement support at times of greatest need.
The 2024–25 year marked FiG’s most impactful period to date, with significant growth in reach, visibility, and community engagement. The charity supported over 200 children and young people, delivered 293 one-to-one sessions, made over 600 support calls, and saw 12% more referrals than the previous year. Online resources were downloaded more than 15,000 times, reflecting growing recognition of FiG as a trusted local service.
FiG’s group and family programmes expanded through outdoor activity sessions, art workshops, and group support for primary-aged children and young people. The charity also strengthened partnerships with schools, community organisations, and local businesses, extending its presence across the region.
The year also brought significant staff and trustee transitions, with heartfelt thanks given to outgoing CEO Naomi Jefferies, Communications Officer Clare Maynard, and long-serving trustee Nicky Geddes, among others, whose dedication helped lay the foundations for FiG’s current success. Chris Walker joined as CEO in late 2024, bringing renewed energy to the organisation’s growth and strategy.
FiG’s Bereavement Champions Programme trained 78 staff from 73 schools, increasing professionals’ confidence to support bereaved pupils from 30% to 98% and helping to build grief-aware communities across North Devon and Torridge.
Community fundraising remained strong, with £68,000 raised through local events and partnerships. Highlights included the Barney to Beach run, FiG’s 18th birthday ball, and continued support from local groups and businesses.
Volunteer recruitment grew by 50%, with 20 active volunteers contributing to support groups, fundraising, and governance. Their compassion and dedication remain at the heart of FiG’s success.
FiG continues to operate as a Charitable Trust (Charity No. 1116474), with robust governance, risk management, and GDPR compliance ensuring stability and sustainability. The organisation’s aims remain clear: to help families understand and move forward with their grief, to reduce isolation, and to build compassionate, connected communities.
As FiG looks ahead, the charity is focused on sustaining funding beyond 2027, strengthening its foundations, and continuing to ensure that no child or family faces grief alone.
Looking forwards to 2025-26 and beyond, it is our goal to:
- Continue to provide effective, tailored support to bereaved families in North Devon and Torridge Continue to ensure the sustainability of the charity via large grant agreements and numerous smaller grants / donations and fundraising activities
Raise awareness of FiG in the local area
Build grief-aware communities through improved resources, training, and engagement work
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## **Financial Statements**
FiG’s income comes from a range of sources, including large grants from national organisations such as the National Lottery and Children in Need. As a charity, we pursue a diverse range of income streams, welcoming funds from numerous charitable foundations as well as donations from both businesses and individuals. Throughout 2024-25 our community has continued to play a key role in our success, raising funds, participating in events, and gifting generous donations. Our financial stability relies on all these sources of income, both large and small, and we are very grateful for their generosity.
The majority of the charity’s expenditure is accounted for by the salaries of our small team of staff. Our second largest expenditure is overhead costs - although these remain relatively low. The Board of Trustees meets regularly to review our finances and ensure that the charity is operating both efficiently and within an appropriate environment of financial controls. This includes close monitoring of expenditure to ensure that best value is achieved.
A summary of FiG’s financial activity over the year and its current position can be found in the Financial Statement- Treasurer's Year End Report. In summary, the charity’s total income for the year was £258,541 and its total expenditure was £179,912.
The net movement in total funds for the year was a surplus of £34,501.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in ‘Notes to the Accounts’ and comply with Families in Grief’s governing document, the Charities Act of 2011, and the relevant version of the statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
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## **Reserves**
The Trustees annually review the charity’s need for reserve funds in line with the guidance issued by the Charity Commission. It is highlighted that the greatest risk to the effectiveness of the charity is loss of grant income. It has been decided that a minimum of 6 months’ running costs should be held in reserves to provide assurances for the continuance of charitable operations in the event of a large reduction in funding, redundancy costs, or unexpected legal costs.
The current level of reserves more than matches six months’ operating costs for FY 2024-25, but with the budget for FY 2025-26 currently set at £250,000, this will need to be increased during the next 12 months to £125,000 to ensure that we remain compliant with our own Reserve Policy.
## **Unrestricted Funds/Bridge Funding**
The charity has been growing at a considerable rate during the past year, and we have had an eye to our funding position in the next three years. With a number of significantly sized grants due to end within the next 12-18 months and with the staff team increasing to 7 employees as of 31 March 25, we have been keen to maintain a “bridge fund” over and above the reserve to allow for additional salary spend, running costs and scope to expand our service. Our unrestricted funding is also a significant factor in applying for and receiving larger, restricted grants, on which we rely for the majority of our salary and delivery costs. Larger Grant funders are keen to see that we have a broad base of income streams and can at least partially match the income we would derive from restricted grants. Unrestricted funding would typically be used to fund back office salaries and operational costs.
As at 31st March 2025 the unrestricted funds of the charity stood at £191,367 which exceeds 6 months’ of operating costs at 31.3.25. The charity has been growing at a considerable rate during the past year, and we have had an eye to our funding position in the next three years. With a number of significantly sized grants due to end within the next 12-18 months and with the staff team increasing to 7 employees as of 31 March 25, we have been keen to maintain a “bridge fund” over and above the reserve to allow for additional salary spend, running costs and scope to expand our service. Our unrestricted funding is also a significant factor in applying for and receiving larger, restricted grants, on which we rely for the majority of our salary and delivery costs. Larger Grant funders are keen to see that we have a broad base of income streams and can at least partially match the income we would derive from restricted grants. Unrestricted funding would typically be used to fund back-office salaries and operational costs.
## **Independent Examiner**
Cat Williams 47 Boutport Street Barnstaple Devon EX31 1SQ
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## **Case Studies**
**David*** , 17, was referred to FiG after the death of his father a few months previously. David had also suffered the sudden death of his mother at the age of Families in Grief eight. David hadn’t received any professional support when his mother died, and the death of his father triggered his unresolved emotions surrounding this initial bereavement, intensifying his grief.
David was contending not only with the death of his father but also with a huge change in his living situation. His aunt had now become his legal guardian and this meant having to move house along with his younger siblings, who he felt a huge sense of responsibility towards.
David was halfway through his first year of study at college when his dad died. His attendance had started to drop prior to his dad dying, due to David needing to take time to care for him. After his dad’s death, David’s attendance dipped dramatically.
The FSO spoke with David’s aunt, who was really struggling to manage her own grief while simultaneously becoming the guardian of her brother’s three children. She was finding it difficult to know how to support David and his siblings in their grief while also managing the practical side of school and college attendance. The FSO discussed this with her and was able to provide guidance over the telephone and send resources for her to look over.
The FSO contacted David directly to arrange an informal meeting. David said that he wasn’t able to meet for a session in college, as he felt too low and unable to leave the house much. They arranged to meet for a walk in the park near where he lived. David expressed that he felt numb and was finding it difficult to ‘feel anything’ at present. He wasn’t sleeping or eating properly and said he had lost all motivation for life. David met with the FSO for a few further sessions, out in his local community. During these sessions the FSO provided David with the space to be able to talk about dad and the circumstances around his illness up until his death. The FSO helped David to explore his feelings around this and David made connections between the grief he was feeling at the loss of his father and the triggering of unresolved feelings of grief he had as an eight-year-old when his mother died.
David said that just being able to talk through the circumstances of both his mother and father’s death had given him the opportunity to process feelings that he hadn’t acknowledged he was suppressing. David said that, for many years, he felt unable to talk about his mum with anyone else. The FSO gave David the opportunity to share his memories and recollect his relationship with her as a child and this also helped him to understand the grief that both his siblings and his father must have been feeling at this time, as well as how his siblings were feeling now at the death of their father - (siblings were being supported by another FSO).
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*names have been changed
During these sessions, the FSO discussed the stages of grief with David and suggested things that he could do to look after his wellbeing. With David’s consent, the FSO also made contact with the wellbeing team at the college, informing them of David’s struggles and seeking guidance and support to enable him to reengage with his studies. The college made contact with David and put appropriate support in place so that he could gently reintegrate back into his course.
During session 5 with David, he appeared brighter and far more hopeful. He was keen to talk about his future and had said that he was looking forward to returning to college and continuing his course. He said that he had been reaching out and replying to those friends he had been avoiding and was feeling more positive about getting out socially again. He spoke about remembrance and different ways he felt he’d like to mark the lives of his parents, in a comforting way.
For the 6th session David felt comfortable to meet the FSO at the college drop-in. He had made it back into college and had even brought a friend along to the session to meet the FSO. Support sessions and check-in calls and texts continued for David for several more months, with sessions becoming further spaced apart as David was able to manage his grief far better as time went on. Just knowing that he had support from FiG there when he needed this was a huge reassurance to him.
**Michael’s*** nan had cancer and was receiving palliative care. He and his sibling witnessed her collapsed on the floor, whilst they were on holiday. Michael couldn't talk about his nan. Occasionally, he would say to his mum that he was sad and would cry, but he often ran away when conversations were being had. He avoided/shut down when the topic was raised and really struggled with his nan being cremated. He didn’t want to be in the car when her ashes were being collected. Then his nan’s belongings were brought into the house, which heightened his emotional distress.
Michael didn’t know that his nan’s ashes were in the house and would not talk about them. He didn’t want to be there when they scattered the ashes.
Our FSO met Michael and his sibling in their school to provide one-to-one support. She was able to create an environment in which he began to open up about his grief, exploring his emotions and memories of his nan. Michael now knows that his nan’s ashes are at home and has shared that he doesn’t want his family to throw his nan into the sea. Through these conversations, Michael and our FSO explored ways that he could share these feelings with his parents.
With Michael’s consent, our FSO spoke with his mum to lay the groundwork for this conversation.
“He came straight out of school and wanted to talk about nan’s ashes. Wow. What progress from a child who would run off crying at the very mention of nan’s name. Thank you so much, I can’t tell you the difference this has made.” - Michael’s mum
22
*names have been changed
## **Unaudited Financial Statements**
Families in Grief For the year ended 31 March 2025
## **Independent Examiner report**
## **Families in Grief**
## **For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Families in Grief**
I report to the trustees on my examination of Families in Grief for the year ended 31 March 2025.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustees of Families in Grief 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 Families In Grief's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 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 in any material respect;
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of Families in Grief as required by section 130 of the Act: or; 2. the accounts do not accord with those records
3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than 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.
.........................................
## Catherine Williams FCA DChA
Independent Examiner
Westcotts (SW) LLP
47 Boutport Street
Barnstaple
EX31 1SQ
Families in Grief
Unaudited Financial Statements
## **Statement of Financial Activity**
## **Families in Grief**
## **For the year ended 31 March 2025**
||**NOTES**|**UNRESTRICTED**
**FUNDS**|**RESTRICTED**
**FUNDS**|**2025**|**2024**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Income**||||||
|Grants||1,222|184,920|186,142|106,920|
|Interest Income||2,869|-|2,869|2,202|
|Other income|2|1,167|-|1,167|343|
|Donations||28,293|-|28,293|31,769|
|Fundraising||40,070|-|40,070|8,250|
|**Total Income**||**73,621**|**184,920**|**258,541**|**149,484**|
|**Expenditure**||||||
|Bank charges||-|76|76|66|
|Charitable activities||2,588|18,959|21,548|10,505|
|Depreciation Expense||1,767|-|1,767|1,596|
|Wages and salaries|3|20,803|109,447|130,250|104,118|
|Office costs||97|6,324|6,421|5,087|
|IT Software and Consumable||130|1,693|1,823|3,863|
|Advertising and marketing||2,905|2,230|5,134|1,776|
|Fundraising costs||2,459|79|2,538|831|
|Rent Rates and Utilities||7,500|228|7,728|2,517|
|Other costs||871|1,757|2,627|-|
|**Total Expenditure**||**39,120**|**140,793**|**179,912**|**130,359**|
|**Net income/(expenditure)**||**34,501**|**44,127**|**78,628**|**19,125**|
|**Net movement in funds**||**34,501**|**44,127**|**78,628**|**19,125**|
||**NOTES**|**UNRESTRICTED**
**FUNDS**|**RESTRICTED**
**FUNDS**|**2025**|**2024**|
|**Reconciliation of funds**||||||
|Total funds brought forward||156,866|14,652|171,518|152,393|
|Surplus/(deficit) for period||34,501|44,127|78,628|19,125|
|Total funds carried forward||191,367|58,779|250,146|171,518|
Families in Grief
Unaudited Financial Statements
## **Balance Sheet**
## **Families in Grief**
## **As at 31 March 2025**
|**Balance Sheet**
**Families in Grief**
**As at 31 March 2025**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**NOTES**|**UNRESTRICTED**
**FUNDS**|**RESTRICTED**
**FUNDS**|**2025**|**2024**|
|**Fixed Assets**||||||
|Tangible Assets|4|3,255|186|3,441|4,332|
|**Total Fixed Assets**||**3,255**|**186**|**3,441**|**4,332**|
|**Current Assets**||||||
|Debtors|5|1,053|-|1,053|-|
|Cash at bank and in hand|6|196,749|58,547|255,297|167,186|
|**Total Current Assets**||**197,802**|**58,547**|**256,350**|**167,186**|
|**Creditors: amounts falling due withinone year**||||||
|Accounts Payable|7|9,691|-|9,691|-|
|Student Loan Deductions Payable||-|(46)|(46)|-|
|**Total Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**||**9,691**|**(46)**|**9,645**|**-**|
|**Net Current Assets (Liabilities)**||**188,112**|**58,593**|**246,705**|**167,186**|
|**Total Assets less Current Liabilities**||**191,367**|**58,779**|**250,146**|**171,518**|
|**Net Assets**||**191,367**|**58,779**|**250,146**|**171,518**|
|**Capital and Reserves**||||||
|Current Year Earnings||34,501|44,127|78,628|19,125|
|Retained Earnings (B/Fwd)||156,866|14,652|171,518|152,393|
|**Total Capital and Reserves**||**191,367**|**58,779**|**250,146**|**171,518**|
Families in Grief
Unaudited Financial Statements
## **Notes to the Financial Statements**
## **Families in Grief For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **1. Accounting policies**
## **Statement of compliance**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the second edition of the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
## **Basis of preparation**
Families in Grief meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The accounts have been prepared in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity.
## **Going concern**
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
## **Income and endowments**
Voluntary income including donations, gifts, legacies and grants that provide core funding or are of a general nature is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability.
## _Donations and legacies_
Donations and legacies are recognised on a receivable basis when receipt is probable and the amount can be reliably measured.
## _Grants receivable_
Grants are recognised when the charity has an entitlement to the funds and any conditions linked to the grants have been met. Where performance conditions are attached to the grant and are yet to be met, the income is recognised as a liability and included on the balance sheet as deferred income to be released.
## **Expenditure**
All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of resources, with central staff costs allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use. Other support costs are allocated based on the spread of staff costs.
## **Tangible fixed assets**
Individual fixed assets are initially recorded at cost, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.
## **Depreciation and amortisation**
Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as to write off the cost or valuation, less any estimated residual value, over their expected useful economic life as follows:
**Asset class Depreciation method and rate** Fixtures and fittings 5 years straight line
## **Fund structure**
Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for a particular future project or commitment. Restricted income funds are those donated for use in a particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose.
Families in Grief
Unaudited Financial Statements
Notes to the Financial Statements
||**2025**|**2024**|
|---|---|---|
|**2. Other income**|||
|Other Revenue|567|343|
|Sales|600|-|
|**Total Other income**|**1,167**|**343**|
||**2025**|**2024**|
|**3. Wages and salaries**|||
|Wages and salaries|123,310|99,600|
|Employers National Insurance|4,751|2,904|
|Employer contribution to pension costs|2,189|1,614|
|**Total Wages and salaries**|**130,250**|**104,118**|
The monthly average number of persons (including senior management / leadership team) employed by the charity during the year was as 2025: 6 (2024: 3)
No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000 during the year
|**2025**
**2024**|**2025**
**2024**|**2025**
**2024**|**2025**
**2024**|
|---|---|---|---|
|**4. Tangible assets**||||
||**Office equipment**|||
|||**Cost**||
||||Opening balance
10,537
9,191
**Additions**|
||||Office equipment additions
876
1,346|
||||**Total Additions**
**876**
**1,346**|
|||**Total cost**
**11,413**
**10,537**
**Depreciation**||
|||Opening balance
(6,205)
(4,609)||
|||Charged in year
(1,767)
(1,596)||
|||**Total depreciation**
**(7,972)**
**(6,205)**||
|||**Net book value**
**3,441**
**4,332**||
||**Total tangible assets**
**3,441**
**4,332**
**2025**
**2024**|||
|||||
|**5. Debtors**||||
||**Debtors: amounts falling due within oneyear**|||
||Trade debtors
1,053
-|||
||Other debtors
4
4|||
||**Total debtors: amounts falling due within one year**
**1,057**
**4**|||
||**Total debtors**
**1,057**
**4**|||
Families in Grief
Unaudited Financial Statements
Notes to the Financial Statements
||**2025**|**2024**|
|---|---|---|
|**6. Cash at bankand in hand**|||
|Current Account|143,669|58,166|
|Gold Account|111,623|109,015|
|**Total cash at bank and in hand**|**255,292**|**167,182**|
||**2025**|**2024**|
|**7. Creditors: amounts falling due withinone year**|||
|Trade creditors|9,691|-|
|Taxation and social security|(46)|-|
|**Total creditors: amounts falling due within one year**|**9,645**|**-**|
## **8. Trustees remuneration and expenses**
No trustees, nor any persons connected with them, have received any remuneration from the charity during the year. No trustees have received any reimbursed expenses or any other benefits from the charity during the year.
## **9. Related party transactions**
There were no related party transactions in the year.
Families in Grief
Unaudited Financial Statements
## **Statement of Financial Activity (Comparative)**
## **Families in Grief**
## **For the year ended 31 March 2024**
|**Families in Grief**
**For the year ended 31 March 2024**||||
|---|---|---|---|
||**UNRESTRICTED**
**FUNDS**|**RESTRICTED**
**FUNDS**|**2024**|
|**Income**||||
|Grants|-|106,920|106,920|
|Interest Income|2,202|-|2,202|
|Other income|343|-|343|
|Donations|31,769|-|31,769|
|Fundraising|8,250|-|8,250|
|**Total Income**|**42,564**|**106,920**|**149,484**|
|**Expenditure**||||
|Bank charges|36|30|66|
|Charitable activities|3,488|7,017|10,505|
|Depreciation Expense|1,596|-|1,596|
|Wages and salaries|6,622|97,496|104,118|
|Office costs|810|4,277|5,087|
|IT Software and Consumable|969|2,894|3,863|
|Advertising and marketing|1,136|640|1,776|
|Fundraising costs|496|335|831|
|Rent Rates and Utilities|-|2,517|2,517|
|**Total Expenditure**|**15,153**|**115,206**|**130,359**|
|**Net income/(expenditure)**|**27,411**|**(8,286)**|**19,125**|
|**Net movement in funds**|**27,411**|**(8,286)**|**19,125**|
||**UNRESTRICTED**
**FUNDS**|**RESTRICTED**
**FUNDS**|**2024**|
|**Reconciliation of funds**||||
|Total funds brought forward|129,455|22,938|152,393|
|Surplus/(deficit) for period|27,411|(8,286)|19,125|
|Total funds carried forward|156,866|14,652|171,518|
Families in Grief
Unaudited Financial Statements
## **Funds analysis**
## **Families in Grief For the year ended 31 March 2025**
|||||**As at 31**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**As at 1**|||**March**|
||**April 2024**|**Income**|**Expenditure**|**2025**|
|**Unrestricted funds**|156,866|73,621|(39,120)|191,367|
|**Restricted funds**|||||
|ASDA Grassroots|400|-|(400)|-|
|BBC Children in Need|-|31,500|(31,308)|192|
|Bridge Funding/Carry Forward|-|||0|
|DCC Councillor Grant|250|3,000|(3,138)|112|
|DCPA (Police)|1,880|-|(1,702)|178|
|Great Torrington Town Council|-|350|-|350|
|Griffith Grant|206|-|-|206|
|Masonic Charitable Trust||5,000|(4,313)|687|
|Morrisons|1,493|-|(1,493)|0|
|National Lottery Community Fund|-|90,350|(84,050)|6,300|
|NDDC Locality Grant|357|-|(352)|5|
|NLCF: Awards for All|2,066|19,720|(3,111)|18,675|
|Northbrook Community Grant|6,000|-|(3,631)|2,369|
|Tesco Golden Grant|-|5,000|(929)|4,071|
|The Albert Hunt Trust|2,000|-|-|2,000|
|Trusthouse|-|30,000|(6,367)|23,633|
|Total restricted funds|14,652|184,920|(140,793)|58,779|
||||||
|**Total funds**|**171,518**|**258,541**|**(179,912)**|**250,147**|
||**As at 1**|||**As at 31**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**April 2023**|**Income**|**Expenditure**|**March 2024**|
|**Unrestricted funds**|129,455|42,564|(15,153)|156,866|
|**Restricted funds**|||||
|Lottery|7,404|84,100|(91,504)|-|
|Awards for All|9,021|-|(6,955)|2,066|
|Norman Family Trust|1,453|-|(1,453)|-|
|Northam Town Council|750|-|(750)|-|
|Barnstaple Town Council|500|400|(900)|-|
|Albert Hunt Trust|2,000|2,000|(2,000)|2,000|
|Morrisons|1,810|-|(317)|1,493|
|Masonic Charitable Trust|-|5,000|(5,000)|-|
|Northbrook|-|6,000|-|6,000|
|DCC Councillor Grant|-|640|(390)|250|
|Griffith|-|500|(294)|206|
|Screwfix|-|5,000|(5,000)|-|
|NDDC Locality grant|-|500|(143)|357|
|DCPA police grant|-|2,380|(500)|1,880|
|Asdagrassroots|-|400|-|400|
|Total restricted funds|22,938|106,920|(115,206)|14,652|
||||||
|**Total funds**|**152,393**|**149,484**|**(130,359)**|**171,518**|
## **Funds analysis**
## **Families in Grief For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **Purpose of restricted funds**
ASDA Grassroots – Local community grant to help fund resources.
BBC Children In Need – Three-year grant to fund family support work including salaries, volunteer costs and new projects.
DCC Councillor Grant – Local council grant to help fund service provision, including groups and resources. DCPA (Police) – Grant to fund creation, production and printing of a FiG children’s book about grief. Great Torrington Town Council
Griffith Grant – Grant to fund resources for direct family support
Masonic Charitable Trust – This is an unrestricted grant – used to fund operating costs including rent and salaries.
Morrisons – Grant received to fund training for staff.
National Lottery Community Fund – Three-year grant to cover service delivery including operating costs (including salaries), new initiatives and evaluation of our service delivery.
NDDC: Local Council grant to fund resources for service delivery
NLCF Awards for All – Two-year grant funding to run art workshops, outdoor activity sessions and groups. Northbrook Community Grant – Funding to run children’s groups.
Tesco Golden Grant – Grant to provide resources and activities for children within the scope of our service. The Albert Hunt Trust – Grant to fund exploration of grief for bereaved children through group activities. Trusthouse – Three-year grant to provide partial salary funding for Family Support Officers.
Role: Chair of the Board of Trustees.................................................................. Signature .................................................................................. VEU
Name: Tracey Elliot....................................................................................................
Date 27/11/25...................................................................
## **Unaudited Financial Statements**
Families in Grief For the year ended 31 March 2025
## **Independent Examiner report**
## **Families in Grief**
## **For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Families in Grief**
I report to the trustees on my examination of Families in Grief for the year ended 31 March 2025.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustees of Families in Grief 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 Families In Grief's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 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 in any material respect;
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of Families in Grief as required by section 130 of the Act: or; 2. the accounts do not accord with those records
3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than 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.
.........................................
## Catherine Williams FCA DChA
Independent Examiner
Westcotts (SW) LLP
47 Boutport Street
Barnstaple
EX31 1SQ
Families in Grief
Unaudited Financial Statements
## **Statement of Financial Activity**
## **Families in Grief**
## **For the year ended 31 March 2025**
||**NOTES**|**UNRESTRICTED**
**FUNDS**|**RESTRICTED**
**FUNDS**|**2025**|**2024**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Income**||||||
|Grants||1,222|184,920|186,142|106,920|
|Interest Income||2,869|-|2,869|2,202|
|Other income|2|1,167|-|1,167|343|
|Donations||28,293|-|28,293|31,769|
|Fundraising||40,070|-|40,070|8,250|
|**Total Income**||**73,621**|**184,920**|**258,541**|**149,484**|
|**Expenditure**||||||
|Bank charges||-|76|76|66|
|Charitable activities||2,588|18,959|21,548|10,505|
|Depreciation Expense||1,767|-|1,767|1,596|
|Wages and salaries|3|20,803|109,447|130,250|104,118|
|Office costs||97|6,324|6,421|5,087|
|IT Software and Consumable||130|1,693|1,823|3,863|
|Advertising and marketing||2,905|2,230|5,134|1,776|
|Fundraising costs||2,459|79|2,538|831|
|Rent Rates and Utilities||7,500|228|7,728|2,517|
|Other costs||871|1,757|2,627|-|
|**Total Expenditure**||**39,120**|**140,793**|**179,912**|**130,359**|
|**Net income/(expenditure)**||**34,501**|**44,127**|**78,628**|**19,125**|
|**Net movement in funds**||**34,501**|**44,127**|**78,628**|**19,125**|
||**NOTES**|**UNRESTRICTED**
**FUNDS**|**RESTRICTED**
**FUNDS**|**2025**|**2024**|
|**Reconciliation of funds**||||||
|Total funds brought forward||156,866|14,652|171,518|152,393|
|Surplus/(deficit) for period||34,501|44,127|78,628|19,125|
|Total funds carried forward||191,367|58,779|250,146|171,518|
Families in Grief
Unaudited Financial Statements
## **Balance Sheet**
## **Families in Grief**
## **As at 31 March 2025**
|**Balance Sheet**
**Families in Grief**
**As at 31 March 2025**||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**NOTES**|**UNRESTRICTED**
**FUNDS**|**RESTRICTED**
**FUNDS**|**2025**|**2024**|
|**Fixed Assets**||||||
|Tangible Assets|4|3,255|186|3,441|4,332|
|**Total Fixed Assets**||**3,255**|**186**|**3,441**|**4,332**|
|**Current Assets**||||||
|Debtors|5|1,053|-|1,053|-|
|Cash at bank and in hand|6|196,749|58,547|255,297|167,186|
|**Total Current Assets**||**197,802**|**58,547**|**256,350**|**167,186**|
|**Creditors: amounts falling due withinone year**||||||
|Accounts Payable|7|9,691|-|9,691|-|
|Student Loan Deductions Payable||-|(46)|(46)|-|
|**Total Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**||**9,691**|**(46)**|**9,645**|**-**|
|**Net Current Assets (Liabilities)**||**188,112**|**58,593**|**246,705**|**167,186**|
|**Total Assets less Current Liabilities**||**191,367**|**58,779**|**250,146**|**171,518**|
|**Net Assets**||**191,367**|**58,779**|**250,146**|**171,518**|
|**Capital and Reserves**||||||
|Current Year Earnings||34,501|44,127|78,628|19,125|
|Retained Earnings (B/Fwd)||156,866|14,652|171,518|152,393|
|**Total Capital and Reserves**||**191,367**|**58,779**|**250,146**|**171,518**|
Families in Grief
Unaudited Financial Statements
## **Notes to the Financial Statements**
## **Families in Grief For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **1. Accounting policies**
## **Statement of compliance**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the second edition of the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
## **Basis of preparation**
Families in Grief meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The accounts have been prepared in sterling which is the functional currency of the charity.
## **Going concern**
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern.
## **Income and endowments**
Voluntary income including donations, gifts, legacies and grants that provide core funding or are of a general nature is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability.
## _Donations and legacies_
Donations and legacies are recognised on a receivable basis when receipt is probable and the amount can be reliably measured.
## _Grants receivable_
Grants are recognised when the charity has an entitlement to the funds and any conditions linked to the grants have been met. Where performance conditions are attached to the grant and are yet to be met, the income is recognised as a liability and included on the balance sheet as deferred income to be released.
## **Expenditure**
All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of resources, with central staff costs allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use. Other support costs are allocated based on the spread of staff costs.
## **Tangible fixed assets**
Individual fixed assets are initially recorded at cost, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.
## **Depreciation and amortisation**
Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as to write off the cost or valuation, less any estimated residual value, over their expected useful economic life as follows:
**Asset class Depreciation method and rate** Fixtures and fittings 5 years straight line
## **Fund structure**
Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustees discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for a particular future project or commitment. Restricted income funds are those donated for use in a particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose.
Families in Grief
Unaudited Financial Statements
Notes to the Financial Statements
||**2025**|**2024**|
|---|---|---|
|**2. Other income**|||
|Other Revenue|567|343|
|Sales|600|-|
|**Total Other income**|**1,167**|**343**|
||**2025**|**2024**|
|**3. Wages and salaries**|||
|Wages and salaries|123,310|99,600|
|Employers National Insurance|4,751|2,904|
|Employer contribution to pension costs|2,189|1,614|
|**Total Wages and salaries**|**130,250**|**104,118**|
The monthly average number of persons (including senior management / leadership team) employed by the charity during the year was as 2025: 6 (2024: 3)
No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000 during the year
|**2025**
**2024**|**2025**
**2024**|**2025**
**2024**|**2025**
**2024**|
|---|---|---|---|
|**4. Tangible assets**||||
||**Office equipment**|||
|||**Cost**||
||||Opening balance
10,537
9,191
**Additions**|
||||Office equipment additions
876
1,346|
||||**Total Additions**
**876**
**1,346**|
|||**Total cost**
**11,413**
**10,537**
**Depreciation**||
|||Opening balance
(6,205)
(4,609)||
|||Charged in year
(1,767)
(1,596)||
|||**Total depreciation**
**(7,972)**
**(6,205)**||
|||**Net book value**
**3,441**
**4,332**||
||**Total tangible assets**
**3,441**
**4,332**
**2025**
**2024**|||
|||||
|**5. Debtors**||||
||**Debtors: amounts falling due within oneyear**|||
||Trade debtors
1,053
-|||
||Other debtors
4
4|||
||**Total debtors: amounts falling due within one year**
**1,057**
**4**|||
||**Total debtors**
**1,057**
**4**|||
Families in Grief
Unaudited Financial Statements
Notes to the Financial Statements
||**2025**|**2024**|
|---|---|---|
|**6. Cash at bankand in hand**|||
|Current Account|143,669|58,166|
|Gold Account|111,623|109,015|
|**Total cash at bank and in hand**|**255,292**|**167,182**|
||**2025**|**2024**|
|**7. Creditors: amounts falling due withinone year**|||
|Trade creditors|9,691|-|
|Taxation and social security|(46)|-|
|**Total creditors: amounts falling due within one year**|**9,645**|**-**|
## **8. Trustees remuneration and expenses**
No trustees, nor any persons connected with them, have received any remuneration from the charity during the year. No trustees have received any reimbursed expenses or any other benefits from the charity during the year.
## **9. Related party transactions**
There were no related party transactions in the year.
Families in Grief
Unaudited Financial Statements
## **Statement of Financial Activity (Comparative)**
## **Families in Grief**
## **For the year ended 31 March 2024**
|**Families in Grief**
**For the year ended 31 March 2024**||||
|---|---|---|---|
||**UNRESTRICTED**
**FUNDS**|**RESTRICTED**
**FUNDS**|**2024**|
|**Income**||||
|Grants|-|106,920|106,920|
|Interest Income|2,202|-|2,202|
|Other income|343|-|343|
|Donations|31,769|-|31,769|
|Fundraising|8,250|-|8,250|
|**Total Income**|**42,564**|**106,920**|**149,484**|
|**Expenditure**||||
|Bank charges|36|30|66|
|Charitable activities|3,488|7,017|10,505|
|Depreciation Expense|1,596|-|1,596|
|Wages and salaries|6,622|97,496|104,118|
|Office costs|810|4,277|5,087|
|IT Software and Consumable|969|2,894|3,863|
|Advertising and marketing|1,136|640|1,776|
|Fundraising costs|496|335|831|
|Rent Rates and Utilities|-|2,517|2,517|
|**Total Expenditure**|**15,153**|**115,206**|**130,359**|
|**Net income/(expenditure)**|**27,411**|**(8,286)**|**19,125**|
|**Net movement in funds**|**27,411**|**(8,286)**|**19,125**|
||**UNRESTRICTED**
**FUNDS**|**RESTRICTED**
**FUNDS**|**2024**|
|**Reconciliation of funds**||||
|Total funds brought forward|129,455|22,938|152,393|
|Surplus/(deficit) for period|27,411|(8,286)|19,125|
|Total funds carried forward|156,866|14,652|171,518|
Families in Grief
Unaudited Financial Statements
## **Funds analysis**
## **Families in Grief For the year ended 31 March 2025**
|||||**As at 31**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**As at 1**|||**March**|
||**April 2024**|**Income**|**Expenditure**|**2025**|
|**Unrestricted funds**|156,866|73,621|(39,120)|191,367|
|**Restricted funds**|||||
|ASDA Grassroots|400|-|(400)|-|
|BBC Children in Need|-|31,500|(31,308)|192|
|Bridge Funding/Carry Forward|-|||0|
|DCC Councillor Grant|250|3,000|(3,138)|112|
|DCPA (Police)|1,880|-|(1,702)|178|
|Great Torrington Town Council|-|350|-|350|
|Griffith Grant|206|-|-|206|
|Masonic Charitable Trust||5,000|(4,313)|687|
|Morrisons|1,493|-|(1,493)|0|
|National Lottery Community Fund|-|90,350|(84,050)|6,300|
|NDDC Locality Grant|357|-|(352)|5|
|NLCF: Awards for All|2,066|19,720|(3,111)|18,675|
|Northbrook Community Grant|6,000|-|(3,631)|2,369|
|Tesco Golden Grant|-|5,000|(929)|4,071|
|The Albert Hunt Trust|2,000|-|-|2,000|
|Trusthouse|-|30,000|(6,367)|23,633|
|Total restricted funds|14,652|184,920|(140,793)|58,779|
||||||
|**Total funds**|**171,518**|**258,541**|**(179,912)**|**250,147**|
||**As at 1**|||**As at 31**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**April 2023**|**Income**|**Expenditure**|**March 2024**|
|**Unrestricted funds**|129,455|42,564|(15,153)|156,866|
|**Restricted funds**|||||
|Lottery|7,404|84,100|(91,504)|-|
|Awards for All|9,021|-|(6,955)|2,066|
|Norman Family Trust|1,453|-|(1,453)|-|
|Northam Town Council|750|-|(750)|-|
|Barnstaple Town Council|500|400|(900)|-|
|Albert Hunt Trust|2,000|2,000|(2,000)|2,000|
|Morrisons|1,810|-|(317)|1,493|
|Masonic Charitable Trust|-|5,000|(5,000)|-|
|Northbrook|-|6,000|-|6,000|
|DCC Councillor Grant|-|640|(390)|250|
|Griffith|-|500|(294)|206|
|Screwfix|-|5,000|(5,000)|-|
|NDDC Locality grant|-|500|(143)|357|
|DCPA police grant|-|2,380|(500)|1,880|
|Asdagrassroots|-|400|-|400|
|Total restricted funds|22,938|106,920|(115,206)|14,652|
||||||
|**Total funds**|**152,393**|**149,484**|**(130,359)**|**171,518**|
## **Funds analysis**
## **Families in Grief For the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **Purpose of restricted funds**
ASDA Grassroots – Local community grant to help fund resources.
BBC Children In Need – Three-year grant to fund family support work including salaries, volunteer costs and new projects.
DCC Councillor Grant – Local council grant to help fund service provision, including groups and resources. DCPA (Police) – Grant to fund creation, production and printing of a FiG children’s book about grief. Great Torrington Town Council
Griffith Grant – Grant to fund resources for direct family support
Masonic Charitable Trust – This is an unrestricted grant – used to fund operating costs including rent and salaries.
Morrisons – Grant received to fund training for staff.
National Lottery Community Fund – Three-year grant to cover service delivery including operating costs (including salaries), new initiatives and evaluation of our service delivery.
NDDC: Local Council grant to fund resources for service delivery
NLCF Awards for All – Two-year grant funding to run art workshops, outdoor activity sessions and groups. Northbrook Community Grant – Funding to run children’s groups.
Tesco Golden Grant – Grant to provide resources and activities for children within the scope of our service. The Albert Hunt Trust – Grant to fund exploration of grief for bereaved children through group activities. Trusthouse – Three-year grant to provide partial salary funding for Family Support Officers.
Role: Chair of the Board of Trustees.................................................................. Signature .................................................................................. VEU
Name: Tracey Elliot....................................................................................................
Date 27/11/25...................................................................