REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 06215916 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1120531
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND
UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2025
FOR
BIRTH TRAUMA ASSOCIATION
Hysons Chartered Accountants 14 London Street Andover Hampshire SP10 2PA
BIRTH TRAUMA ASSOCIATION
CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2025
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 1 to 4 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 5 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 6 |
| Balance Sheet | 7 to 8 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 9 to 13 |
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities | 14 to 15 |
BIRTH TRAUMA ASSOCIATION
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2025
The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30 April 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: 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) (effective 1 January 2019).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
The Charity's main aim is to support parents experiencing psychological distress as a result of having, or witnessing, a traumatic birth. This includes women whose symptoms qualify them for a PTSD diagnosis (about 4-5% of those giving birth) and those with other psychological symptoms such as anxiety or depression. About 1% of fathers and partners develop PTSD after witnessing a traumatic birth, and we also offer support to them, and to the wider group who experience some trauma symptoms after witnessing a traumatic birth.
Our other aim is to work for improvement in maternity services through training professionals, campaigning, intervening in policy and taking part in research projects.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE Charitable activities
The following are some of the activities the charity undertook in the year ending 30 April 2025.
Trusted legal partner scheme
In November 2024, we launched a panel of six trusted legal partners - firms we are confident will provide a good service to the Birth Trauma Association's service users in need of legal advice, whether it relates to making a medical negligence claim, seeking information about employment rights after a traumatic birth or making a complaint. The partners all hold regular legal clinics in which they offer 30-minute pro bono consultations to service users. Each panel member pays a monthly fee of £15k.
We undertook a rigorous recruitment process to make sure all the legal partners matched our values as a charity. The six firms are: Bolt Burdon Kemp. Hodge Jones and Allen, Hudgell's, Irwin Mitchell, Leigh Day and Russell-Cooke.
Expanding our work in Wales
Because our reach in Wales has been limited, we appointed a Wales officer, who made contact with perinatal mental health teams in Wales and significantly raised our profile. This led to greater collaboration with NHS organisations in Wales in 2025. At the end of April 2025, we held a well-attended event in the Senedd to mark a year since the birth trauma inquiry. Attendees included Senedd members, NHS maternity professionals, and service users. The mental health minister for Wales, Sarah Murphy, spoke at the event.
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BIRTH TRAUMA ASSOCIATION
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2025
Peer support
In 2024-25 we continued to expand our peer support work. By December 2024, our Facebook group had grown to 18,600 members. Our team of peer supporters was 15-strong (with slight fluctuation). Most of the team offered email support, with two offering phone support. We had two dads on the team, offering support to other fathers.
We held an event in Liverpool city centre in March 2025 that brought women with birth trauma together with relevant professionals, including midwives, health visitors, physiotherapists and lawyers.
We partnered with Scott Mair of Fatherhood Solutions to offer peer support sessions over Zoom to fathers.
In April 2025, we partnered with the tech startup Mendara to pilot WhatsApp support groups.
Research projects
We acted as PPI lead in a number of academic research projects, including: OdonAssist, a replacement for forceps; BirthGlide, a device that aims to reduce the need for instrumental birth; and Gabi, which is investigating the mental health impact on women of giving birth under general anaesthetic.
Training health professionals
We continued to provide training on birth trauma to groups of midwives, obstetricians and medical students.
Policy and campaign work
In 2024-25, we continued to be part of the birth trauma all-party parliamentary group (APPG), chaired initially by Theo Clarke MP and then, after the general election, by Rosie Duffield MP. In October 2024, we held a party at the House of Commons to celebrate our 20th birthday. This was attended by MPs, senior health professionals and policymakers. We held a successful Awareness Week in July 2024, which drew coverage in the Times and achieved substantial engagement on social media.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Financial position
Free reserves available for use by the charity entirely at the Board's discretion are deemed to be those that are readily realisable for spending, less trust funds whose uses are restricted by charity law and any corporate reserves we have designated for particular purposes.
At the end of the financial year, the charity's free reserves available for current and future charitable projects amounted to £45,777 (2024 - £25,925).
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BIRTH TRAUMA ASSOCIATION
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2025
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Reserves policy
Reserves need to be adequate to reflect the variability of the Charity's funding which is affected by three key components:
-
Variation in donation receipts which are significantly affected by media publicity around traumatic birth.
-
Receipts of large single donations or fundraising activities by supporters. Our experience is that these can be unpredictable both in frequency and amount.
-
Grant funding.
Until the next review, the trustees recommend maintaining 8- 12 months core reserves; consisting of staffing, core establishment and administration costs in addition to funds allocated for ongoing projects or parts of projects that will be completed within the financial year.
Reserve funds may be spent if income falls below expectations or for unanticipated cost overruns for individual projects.
Reserves policy will be reviewed annually.
FUTURE PLANS
The charity plans to continue to expand our peer support offer. This includes offering support through WhatsApp, recruiting more peer supporters who can take phone calls and relaunching our Zoom support.
We intend to have as much input as possible into the maternity and neonatal investigation led by Baroness Amos and to continue our involvement in the birth trauma APPG. We also hope to expand our training offer to health professionals, as this has been very well-received. Finally, we will continue our involvement in research projects designed to be of benefit to women giving birth, and to raise awareness of birth trauma through our annual Awareness Week and through speaking to the media.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered Company number
06215916 (England and Wales)
Registered Charity number
1120531
Registered office
16 Pentre Close Ashton Hayes Chester CH3 8BR
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BIRTH TRAUMA ASSOCIATION
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2025
Trustees
Mr P Alway (resigned 20.8.25) Dr C Jones Ms R Rhodes-Kemp Mrs M L Treadwell (resigned 2.7.25) Ms N Dhaun (appointed 31.7.25) Ms S E Vandore-Mackay (appointed 31.7.25)
Independent Examiner
Christopher Joyce FCCA Hysons Chartered Accountants 14 London Street Andover Hampshire SP10 2PA
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
Approved by order of the board of trustees on ............................................. and signed on its behalf by:
..........................................................
Trustee
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF BIRTH TRAUMA ASSOCIATION
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Birth Trauma Association ('the Company')
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 30 April 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under Section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by Section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of Section 396 of the 2006 Act 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; or
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the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)).
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.
Christopher Joyce FCCA
Hysons Chartered Accountants 14 London Street Andover Hampshire SP10 2PA
Date: .............................................
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BIRTH TRAUMA ASSOCIATION
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2025
| 2025 Unrestricted fund Notes £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 2 84,876 Charitable activities 4 Principal activity - Investment income 3 142 Total 85,018 EXPENDITURE ON Raising funds 2,871 Charitable activities 5 Principal activity 62,295 Total 65,166 NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) 19,852 RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 25,925 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 45,777 |
2024 Total funds £ 26,753 2,250 105 29,108 648 37,202 37,850 (8,742) 34,667 25,925 |
|---|---|
The notes form part of these financial statements
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BIRTH TRAUMA ASSOCIATION
BALANCE SHEET
30 APRIL 2025
| 2025 Unrestricted fund Notes £ CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 8 62 Cash at bank 49,258 49,320 CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year 9 (3,543) NET CURRENT ASSETS 45,777 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 45,777 NET ASSETS 45,777 FUNDS 10 Unrestricted funds 45,777 TOTAL FUNDS 45,777 |
2024 Total funds £ 64 28,746 28,810 (2,885) 25,925 25,925 25,925 25,925 25,925 |
|---|---|
The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 30 April 2025.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 30 April 2025 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for
-
(a) ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and
-
(b) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.
The notes form part of these financial statements
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BIRTH TRAUMA ASSOCIATION
BALANCE SHEET - continued 30 APRIL 2025
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on ............................................. and were signed on its behalf by:
............................................. Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
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BIRTH TRAUMA ASSOCIATION
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2025
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparing the financial statements
The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: 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) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
Income
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits
The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.
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BIRTH TRAUMA ASSOCIATION
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2025
2. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES
| Donations Grants Membership subscription Trusted legal partners Grants received, included in the above, are as follows: The Light Fund Other grants 3. INVESTMENT INCOME Deposit account interest 4. INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES Activity Research Principal activity 5. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS Direct Costs £ Principal activity 58,090 |
2025 £ 19,038 - 823 65,015 84,876 2025 £ - - - 2025 £ 142 2025 £ - Support costs £ 4,205 |
2024 £ 14,315 9,525 2,913 - |
2024 £ 14,315 9,525 2,913 - |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26,753 | |||
| 2024 £ 4,800 4,725 9,525 2024 £ 105 2024 £ 2,250 Totals £ 62,295 |
2024 £ 4,800 4,725 |
||
| 9,525 | |||
| 2024 £ 105 |
|||
| 2024 £ 2,250 |
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BIRTH TRAUMA ASSOCIATION
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2025
6. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 30 April 2025 nor for the year ended 30 April 2024.
Trustees' expenses
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 30 April 2025 nor for the year ended 30 April 2024.
7. STAFF COSTS
The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:
| 2025 Volunteer manager 1 No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000. 8. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 2025 £ Prepayments 62 9. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 2025 £ Trade creditors 2,463 Other creditors - Accrued expenses 1,080 3,543 10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS Net movement At 1.5.24 in funds £ £ Unrestricted funds General fund 25,925 19,852 TOTAL FUNDS 25,925 19,852 |
2024 1 2024 £ 64 |
|
|---|---|---|
| 2024 £ 1,000 805 1,080 |
||
| 2,885 | ||
| 45,777 |
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BIRTH TRAUMA ASSOCIATION
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2025
10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Incoming | Resources | Movement |
|---|---|---|
| resources | expended | in funds |
| £ | £ | £ |
| Unrestricted funds | ||
| General fund 85,018 |
(65,166) | 19,852 |
| TOTAL FUNDS 85,018 |
(65,166) | 19,852 |
| Comparatives for movement in funds | ||
| Net | ||
| movement | At | |
| At 1.5.23 | in funds | 30.4.24 |
| £ | £ | £ |
| Unrestricted funds | ||
| General fund 34,667 |
(8,742) | 25,925 |
| TOTAL FUNDS 34,667 |
(8,742) | 25,925 |
| Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as | follows: | |
| Incoming | Resources | Movement |
| resources | expended | in funds |
| £ | £ | £ |
| Unrestricted funds | ||
| General fund 29,108 |
(37,850) | (8,742) |
| TOTAL FUNDS 29,108 |
(37,850) | (8,742) |
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BIRTH TRAUMA ASSOCIATION
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2025
11. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 30 April 2025.
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BIRTH TRAUMA ASSOCIATION
DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2025
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS Donations and legacies Donations Grants Membership subscription Trusted legal partners Investment income Deposit account interest Charitable activities Research Total incoming resources EXPENDITURE Raising donations and legacies Fundraising fees Expenses Charitable activities Wages Pensions Insurance Telephone Advertising and media Sundries Charity officer Volunteer support Website Postage and stationery Travel expenses Professional fees Support costs |
2025 £ 19,038 - 823 65,015 84,876 142 - 85,018 216 2,655 2,871 20,877 978 250 2,425 10,001 153 19,800 1,433 672 269 632 600 58,090 |
2024 £ 14,315 9,525 2,913 - |
|---|---|---|
| 26,753 105 2,250 |
||
| 29,108 216 432 |
||
| 648 13,308 430 149 2,091 4,520 257 10,900 1,133 2,540 194 - 600 |
||
| 36,122 |
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
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BIRTH TRAUMA ASSOCIATION
DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2025
| Support costs Governance costs Accountancy and legal fees Total resources expended Net income/(expenditure) |
2025 £ 4,205 65,166 19,852 |
2024 £ 1,080 37,850 (8,742) |
|---|---|---|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
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