Charity Number: 1123246
THE WALKING WITH GIANTS FOUNDATION
TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
‘Today they are acorns – Tomorrow they will be oaks’ ‘Support us and help them reach their full potential’
Walking With Giants Foundation – Charity Registration 1123246
TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
Charity Information
Trustees: Chairperson Kieron Dubber Secretary John Connerty Treasurer David Cranny Mark O’Brien Charity Manager: Sue Connerty Volunteers: Lynsey Cheeseman Rebecca O’Brien Lynn Gallagher Stephanie Jackson Pat Cheeseman Clare Inskip Jessica Fairhurst Charity Number: 1123246 Charity Address: PO Box 85 Maghull Liverpool Merseyside L31 6WW Bankers: Lloyds TSB Bank Plc Liverpool Law Courts Merchants Court 2-12 Lord Street Liverpool Merseyside L2 1TS
Walking With Giants Foundation – Charity Registration 1123246
TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
Independent Examiner: Ian Wright FCA Sefton Council for Voluntary Services Burlington House Crosby Rd North Waterloo Liverpool L22 0LG
Introduction
The Walking With Giants Foundation Board of Trustees are pleased to report that during this financial period the WWGF majority of our services have remained open to support families through the difficulties they face here in the UK and around the world.
Once again, we have been able to achieve this through the dedication, commitment and innovation of our staff and volunteers.
Our small team have worked tirelessly to continue to put families first, ensuring there is always someone to talk to during this challenging time, initially during the lock-down at the start of the year.
We have also ensured that any family needing any financial support have been able to access our grants program.
All of the above is testament to our amazing staff and volunteers who have found ways to deliver services, whilst juggling many of the same issues as those they are supporting.
We will continue to consult our service users to optimise how we work with them to provide the best resources and support we can develop. We look forward to working with you to make this a success.
Kieron Dubber (Chair) Suzanne Connerty (Charity Manager)
Annual Report
The trustees present and confirm their report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025, which have been prepared with charity’s governing document, comply with the current statutory requirements and the provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP), applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2015).
Our Aims and Objectives
The Walking With Giants Foundation charitable trust is governed by trust deed.
Walking With Giants Foundation – Charity Registration 1123246
TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
The Foundations’ objectives are:
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The relief of those in need, by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage.
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The advancement of health.
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The advancement of education.
The above objectives will be achieved by facilitating:
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a) The relief of poverty, distress and sickness of individuals identified with a form of Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism and associated syndromes of Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism and along with their families and carers.
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b) To encourage and support persons affected by Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism and associated syndromes of Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism and to come together on equal terms with persons not affected by Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism and associated syndromes of Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism to achieve complete integration within the wider community.
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c) To provide, in the interests of social welfare, facilities for recreation or other such leisure time occupation for the benefit of persons and their families who have need of such facilities by reason of their condition, youth, age, sickness or infirmity, poverty or social and economic circumstances.
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d) To promote, encourage or undertake organised research into causes and matters related to Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism and associated syndromes of Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism and to disseminate such research anywhere in the world.
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e) To advance public education and understanding of Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism and associated syndromes of Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism.
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f) To advance education in individuals affected by Majewski Osteodysplastic Primordial Dwarfism Type II and associated syndromes of Primordial Dwarfism.
The Walking With Giants Foundation strives to achieve the following aims for individuals affected by Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism and any other they feel that falls within their objectives:
- a) Facilitate Opportunities to Meet
Including but not limited to the following:
- Assisting individuals and their families affected by Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism with annual membership costs for joining the numerous associations associated with Dwarfism (i.e. Restricted Growth Association, Child Growth Foundation and Little People of America).
Walking With Giants Foundation – Charity Registration 1123246
TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
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Assisting individuals and their families affected by Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism with travel and accommodation expenses to the numerous annual conventions (i.e. Restricted Growth Association, Child Growth Foundation Little People of America and Walking With Giants Foundation).
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Assisting individuals and their families affected by Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism with travel and accommodation expenses to a quarterly Walking With Giants Family Support Weekend.
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Provide family retreats exclusive to individuals and their families affected by Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism.
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b) Provide for Adaptive and Medical needs
Including but not limited to the following:
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Assistance for family medical and dental expense outside of the coverage of NHS provisions and services.
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Assistance with expenses for adaptive equipment needed for the home, vehicle, or school outside of NHS provisions, statutory services and State Benefits.
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Assistance with travel, accommodation and medical expenses for medical care outside of the UK (if necessary).
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c) Facilitate Education and Awareness
Including but not limited to the following:
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Provide support and education to families of individuals with Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism.
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Provide education programs and relevant literature to schools, the general public and mankind.
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Provide education to Hospitals and Medical Institutes.
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d) Research and Physician Support
Research
The Foundation will strive to facilitate research to:
- Promote, encourage or undertake organised research into matters related to Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism and associated syndromes of Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism and to disseminate such research anywhere in the world.
Walking With Giants Foundation – Charity Registration 1123246
TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
Physician Support
The Foundation will strive to facilitate a Medical Advisory Board to:
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Review any individual deemed to be affected by Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism.
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Liaise with the Local National Health Trusts so that an individual diagnosed with Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism obtains the right support and treatment.
Trustees
For the purposes of these accounts, the Board of Trustee under the Trust Deed are deemed to be trustees. The trustees named on page 1 served throughout the year.
Appointment of trustees is governed by the trust deed. The trustees are authorised to appoint new trustees to fill casual vacancies or further enhance the charities aims and objectives.
Investment Powers
The trust deed authorises the trustees to make and hold investments using the general funds of the charity, but no such investments are presently held.
Development, activities and achievements
The WWGF founded in January 2008 is a national charity that’s supports individuals and their families affected by sub types of Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism (rare forms of restricted growth) and we try hard to develop a wider public awareness of the foundation within the general population of the UK, Europe and other parts of the world.
In this reporting year we have:
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Celebrated 17 years of supporting individuals and families affected by Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism here in the UK and around the world
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Provide a network of family support and friendship to 140 families within the UK and around the world via our FB private Group page.
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Registered 6 new families onto the WWGF family register and connected them to doctors and specialists on our Medical Advisory Board.
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Provided 8254 hours of direct family support via our Charity Manager and Family Support Program.
Walking With Giants Foundation – Charity Registration 1123246
TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
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Helped 8 families with direct advice and support on submitting Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment claims, Appeals and other areas of support for their children.
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Via our Medical Review Board, UK Research teams and doctors and experts around the world, extended research and understanding of Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism.
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Continuously encourage and empowered more parents from the UK and around the world to participate in UK and American medical research programs to identify the causes and new types of Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism.
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Helped UK and American research experts on our medical review team via family participation identify more genes that cause some of the types of Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism. This has resulted in more research papers being released.
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Continuously provided support and liaise with parents of a child affected by Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism who set up a similar charitable organisation in Germany to support German families affected by Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism.
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Supported 6 families in crisis and hardship through our General Grants Program to the sum of £3,177.31.
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Held our Annual WWGF Convention allowing families from around the UK and afar to come together to celebrate life and support.
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Held 7 formal charity events to raise funds and awareness.
Financial Review
We are pleased to report successful year after the previous couple of years. Once again this is due to the amazing fundraising efforts of the Charity Manager (Suzanne Connerty) and the prudence and due diligence of the Walking With Giants Board of Trustees.
Most monies received were received through our own fund-raising events, local support from members of the public in Merseyside and several WWGF family members and their friends around the UK.
Furthermore, we have received donations from around the world via donations from members of the public and two sister organisations in Germany and the Netherlands that helps promote and supports individuals and families effected by Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism.
In addition to the above we have raised/received funds via Facebook and Just Giving via public donations.
During the accounting period no trustee drew any monies for their services apart from travel and subsistence expenses on official business.
Walking With Giants Foundation – Charity Registration 1123246
TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
The Walking With Giants principal funding source is the receipt of unrestricted donations.
Future Developments
We are proud to state that the Walking With Giants Foundation goes from strength to strength and we hope to continue this success in the next 12 months.
The next 12 months will be concentrated on:
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Reaching out to more international families and financially assist them to attend our next convention.
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Enhancing our Annual Convention to allow us to provide support socially and medically to individuals and families affected Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism,
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Further promote our grant making programme the individuals and families we support.
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Re-develop and enhance our existing website to promote the work we do, the services we provide and understanding and education of Microcephalic Primordial Dwarfism; along with improving online donations.
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Build further relations with the Potential Foundation (America), Walking With Giants (Germany) and Walking With Giants (Netherlands).
Reserve Policies
As the charity has exceeded its level of anticipated income, the trustees consider that the charity has enough reserves to see the Foundation through to the next 6 months. This will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.
Risk Management
The trustees have conducted a review of the major risks to which the charity is exposed to and consider that systems are in place to migrate those risks.
All relevant systems are up to date, reviewed annually and sufficient for the governance of the Foundation. However, as we expand, we will review the existing systems and amend them if needed or create additional systems to eliminate any risks.
Trustees' Responsibilities Statement
The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England &Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of the incoming
Walking With Giants Foundation – Charity Registration 1123246
TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
resources and application of resources of the Charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
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Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 2015(FRS102);
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make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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and prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue in operation.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Charity's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Approval
This report was approved by the trustees on the 26[th] January 2026 and signed by:
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Kieron Dubber – Chairperson John Connerty - Secretary
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David Cranny – Treasurer Mark O’Brien
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Walking With Giants Foundation
Charity No. 1123246
Trustees' Report and Unaudited Accounts
31 March 2025
Walking With Giants Foundation Contents
| Pages | |
|---|---|
| Trustees' Annual Report | 2 to 2 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 3 to 3 |
| Receipts and Payments Accounts | 4 to 4 |
| Statement of Assets and Liabilities | 5 to 5 |
| Notes to the Accounts | 6 to 6 |
| Detailed Receipts and Payments Accounts | 7 to 8 |
Page 1
Walking With Giants Foundation Trustees Annual Report
The trustees present their report with the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025.
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Charity No. 1123246
Principal Office
PO Box 85 Maghull Liverpool Merseyside L31 6WW
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity:
Name of person (or Dates acted if not for body) entitled to Trustee name Office (if any) whole year appoint trustee (if any) J. Connerty Secretary D. Cranny Treasurer K. Dubber Chair of Trustees
Accountants
Sefton Council for Voluntary Service Burlington House Crosby Road North Waterloo Liverpool L22 0LG
Bankers
Lloyds TSB Bank PLC Liverpool Law Courts Merchants Courtts 2-12 Lord Street Liverpool L2 1TS
DECLARATION
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees' report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity's trustees
D. Cranny Trustee 26 January 2026
Page 2
Walking With Giants Foundation Independent Examiners Report
Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of Walking With Giants Foundation
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Walking With Giants Foundation for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the charity'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 which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
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.
Ian Wright, FCA Sefton Council for Voluntary Service Burlington House Crosby Road North Waterloo Liverpool L22 0LG 26 January 2026
Page 3
Walking With Giants Foundation Receipts and Payments Account
for the year ended 31 March 2025
| Receipts from: Donations, legacies and similar income Grants Fundraising Total gross income Total receipts Payments on: |
Unrestricted funds |
Total funds | Total funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | ||
| 27,276 | 27,276 | 21,803 | ||
| - | - | 880 | ||
| 36,457 | 36,457 | 38,446 | ||
| 63,733 | 63,733 | 61,129 | ||
| 63,733 | 63,733 | 61,129 | ||
| Charitable payments | 9,399 | 9,399 | 25,482 | |
| Fundraising costs Charity costs Total gross expenditure Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) Transfers between funds Cash funds last year Cash funds this year end |
17,148 | 17,148 | 16,202 | |
| 28,775 | 28,775 | 27,317 | ||
| 55,322 | 55,322 | 69,001 | ||
| 55,322 | 55,322 | 69,001 | ||
| 8,411 | 8,411 | (7,872) | ||
| - | - | - | ||
| 33,126 | 33,126 | 40,998 | ||
| 41,537 | 41,537 | 33,126 | ||
Page 4
Walking With Giants Foundation Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31 March 2025
Charity No. 1123246
| Charity No. 1123246 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | |||
| funds | Total funds | Total funds | |
| 2025 | 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Cash funds | |||
| Current accounts | 41,280 | 41,280 | 33,126 |
| Total cash funds | 41,280 | 41,280 | 33,126 |
Signed by the trustees on 26 January 2026 And signed on their behalf by:
D. Cranny Trustee 26 January 2026
Page 5
Walking With Giants Foundation Notes to the Accounts
for the year ended 31 March 2025
- 1 Accounting policies
Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared on the 'Receipts and Payments' basis.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds These are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objects of the charity.
Designated funds These are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes. Revaluation funds These are unrestricted funds which include a revaluation reserve representing the restatement of investment assets at their market values.
Restricted funds These are available for use subject to restrictions imposed by the donor or through terms of an appeal.
- 2 Income from grants
| 2 Income from grants |
||
|---|---|---|
| Community Foundation | Total | Total |
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| - | 880 | |
| - | 880 | |
| 3 Restricted and Endowment Funds |
Restricted funds:
Community Foundation Convention
Page 6
Walking With Giants Foundation Detailed Receipts and Payments Account
for the year ended 31 March 2025
| Receipts from: Donations, legacies and similar income Just Giving Individual Donations One Stop Stores Collection Tubs Van Hire Refund Grants Community Foundation Fundraising General Events Total gross income Total receipts Payments on: Charitable payments Grants made Fundraising costs Fundraising 1 Employee costs Salaries/wages Motor and travel costs Vehicles - Repairs and maintenance Travel and subsistence Premises costs Rent General administrative costs Bank charges |
Unrestricted funds 2025 £ 20,475 6,707 - 94 - 27,276 - - 36,457 36,457 63,733 63,733 6,167 |
Total funds 2025 £ 20,475 6,707 - 94 - 27,276 - - 36,457 36,457 63,733 63,733 6,167 |
Total funds 2024 £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14,749 | |||
| 6,338 | |||
| 280 | |||
| 36 | |||
| 400 | |||
| 21,803 | |||
| 880 | |||
| 880 | |||
| 38,446 | |||
| 38,446 | |||
| 61,129 | |||
| 61,129 | |||
| 23,847 | |||
| 3,232 | 3,232 | 1,635 | |
| 9,399 17,148 17,148 21,367 21,367 626 184 810 2,950 2,950 421 |
9,399 17,148 17,148 21,367 21,367 626 184 810 2,950 2,950 421 |
25,482 | |
| 16,202 | |||
| 16,202 | |||
| 21,383 | |||
| 21,383 | |||
| - 189 |
|||
| 189 | |||
| 2,357 | |||
| 2,357 | |||
| 222 |
Page 7
Walking With Giants Foundation Detailed Receipts and Payments Account
| General insurances Information and publications Postage and couriers Software, IT support and related costs Stationery and printing Sundry expenses Legal and professional costs Accountancy and bookkeeping Other legal and professional costs Total gross expenditure Total payments Net receipts (payments) Transfers between funds Cash fund last year end Cash fund this year end |
470 402 353 1,419 423 - 3,488 125 35 160 55,322 55,322 8,411 |
470 402 353 1,419 423 - 3,488 125 35 160 55,322 55,322 8,411 |
470 641 330 1,415 148 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3,228 | |||
| 125 35 |
|||
| 160 | |||
| 69,001 | |||
| 69,001 | |||
| (7,872) | |||
| - | - | ||
| 33,126 | 33,126 | 40,998 | |
| 41,537 | 41,537 | ||
| 33,126 |
Page 8