**CHARITY REGISTERED NUMBER : 1123563** ## **UPS AND DOWNS** ## **ANNUAL REPORT AND** ## **STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS** **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH SEPTEMBER 2023** Tove Accountancy Ltd Office 6, Town Hall 86 Watling Street East Towcester Northants NN12 6BS ## **UPS AND DOWNS** ## **LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION** **Registered Charity No.** 1123563 **Trustees** Mrs K Sammon Mrs G Hunkin Ms K.Smith Mr P.Bennett Resigned 23.09.23 Mr C Smith Appointed 01.11.23 Ms T.Smith Ms N.Jones Mr M.Cockburn Mrs A Rees Ms Lindsey Hipkiss Mrs M Stevens Mrs P Tate Trustees are appointed or reappointed annually at the Annual General Meeting held in October. The existing trustees appoint any new trustees following the provision laid out in the charity's governing instrument **Correspondence Address** PO Box 7947 Kettering Northamptonshire NN16 6RY **Governing Instrument** Associations Constitution adopted 4th March 2008 Charity Registration 10th April 2008 **Objects** To offer information and support to families affected by Down’s Syndrome in East Northamptonshire. **Statement of Financial** The attached receipts and payments account with accompanying notes **Activities** set out a true and fair view of the finances of the charity for the period. **Independent Examiner** Tove Accountancy Ltd Office 6, Town Hall 86 Watling Street East Towcester Northants NN12 6BS ## **UPS AND DOWNS REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH SEPTEMBER 2023** ## **Description of the Charity** ## **Objects** The preservation and protection of the good health of children, adults and families affected by Down Syndrome by the provision of support, advice, information and recreational opportunities to improve their quality of life. To advance the education of the public in all areas relating to Down Syndrome. |**Areas of benefit**|Northamptonshire||| |---|---|---|---| |**Address**|P.O. BOX 7947||| ||Kettering||| ||Northamptonshire||| ||NN16 6RY||| |**Structure, Governance and Management**|||| |Chairman|Mrs K Sammon||| |Vice Chair|Mrs G Hunkin||| |Secretary|Ms K.Smith||| |Treasurer|Mr P.Bennett|Resigned|23.09.23| |Treasurer|Mr C Smith|Appointed|01.11.23| |Trustee|Ms T.Smith||| |Trustee|Ms N.Jones||| |Trustee|Mr M.Cockburn||| |Trustee|Mrs A Rees||| |Trustee (NPT)|Ms Lindsey Hipkiss||| |Trustee (NPT)|Mrs M Stevens||| |Trustee (NPT)|Mrs P Tate||| Ups N Downs is affiliated to the Down Syndrome Association ## **Risk Management** The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed. They are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks associated to the charities activities. ## **Objectives and activities** In planning our activities for the year we kept in mind the Charity Commissions guidance on public benefit at our trustee meetings. The main focus of our activities remains to provide support, aid and advice for children, adults and families affected by Down Syndrome. We aim to increase awareness of Down Syndrome and to promote positive attitudes and approaches within the local community. A focus on providing activities and experiences for children and adults with Down Syndrome to aid development. ## **UPS AND DOWNS REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH SEPTEMBER 2023 (continued)** We provide regular sing and sign sessions, Speech and Language Therapy. We offer our members regular swimming lessons, as well as an established weekly group meeting where children and parents can come together to play and learn. We offer support to children's teachers and assistance in the form of early years training at seminars run by the Down Syndrome Association as well as ongoing training for teachers throughout school years. Ups N Downs offer support access to speech and language therapy as well as occupational therapy for all members. A great contribution is made by our trustees. We are grateful for the many hours that trustees and volunteers have spent in assisting setting up fundraising events, booking venues etc. Without this valuable contribution of time and energy we would not be able to achieve so much. ## **Achievements and Performance** We continued to work with Powerful Voices and Talk Autism, a SALT specialist, who would offer support to the members of the charity. Far more face to face visits in schools and home settings were able following the lift on pandemic restrictions. ## **Fundraising** We hosted our annual charity dinner in March 2023 with a change in theme. A live band and disco entertained over 250 guests generating a little over £9,000 Our annual bike ride raised an additional £12,000, ensuring we were able to accommodate all services provided to families. ## **Financial Review** Our main source of funding was again from the events Practically all of the income derived this year has again been applied to the group's related activities. Future forecasting and budgeting will allow for the charity to identify areas of weakness and opportunity moving forward, allowing us to plan more effectively. ## **Reserves Policy** We hold savings in the Charity's NatWest Account, which at the year-end totalled £ 65,913.35 These funds are held to meet the needs of the charity's activities. In future however, some of these funds will be identified as reserves to be utilised for specific projects to protect the long-term future of the charity. ## **UPS AND DOWNS** ## **REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH SEPTEMBER 2023 (continued)** ## **Plans for the Future** With member numbers now exceeding 60, the coming year will see pressure on the finances as we continue to support children, raise awareness and support families affected by Downs Syndrome. We are in the process of undertaking a full review of our work with Speech and Language and Occupational Therapy specialists as they carry out assessments on children within the group and ascertain the value for money that these services provide. This service may be temporarily suspended for a short while during this process We will continue to plan and run a number of training sessions for teachers to attend to assist them in supporting our children in schools and continue provision of subsidised swimming lessons. Our consultant marketing specialist has given the charity much clearer visibility in the local community and at the same time, strengthened communication with members. This will continue with a full review of all internal and external communications early in 2024. As we enter a new chapter for the charity, the trustees need to decide on an appropriate future strategy. An external consultant was appointed to advise on the suitability of employing paid staff. Fundraising and an extension of the existing and support services for members must be maintained, especially in light of the fact that a number of our members will begin to turn 18 in the coming year. A fresh look at income sources will be a high priority for the coming year as member numbers contniue to grow. Trustees unanimously agreed therefore that without the intervention of a new strategy which included paid staff our ability to continue on the path we have for the past 15 years will soon be unsustainable. 2024 will therefore see the development of a new 3-year plan and recruitment of at least one paid member of staff, with plans underway to make an appointment early in the new year. Signed on behalf of the Trustees: SIGNED **==> picture [146 x 43] intentionally omitted <==** Trustee Date: 7th July 2024 Mrs K Sammon ## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF UPS AND DOWNS** I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Ups and Downs (the Trust) for the year ended 30th September 2023. ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act'). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 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 that in any material respect: 1) accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act; or 2) the accounts do not accord with those records; or 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. Donna Rowan Gold 07/07/2024 …………………………………………. Donna Rowan Gold Dated For and on behalf of: Tove Accountancy Ltd Office 6, Town Hall, 86 Watling Street East, Towcester, Northants, NN12 6BS ## **UPS AND DOWNS RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH SEPTEMBER 2023** |**Receipts**
Donations
Grants
Events
Bank interest
Other
**Total**
**Payments (note 2)**
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Managing and administering the Charity
Other
**Total**
Net receipts
Transfers between funds
Cash funds last year end
**Cash funds this year end**|**2023**
**2023**
**2023**
**2022**
**Unrestricte**
**d funds**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**Total funds Total funds**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
34,420
0
34,420
19,476
0
0
0
0
4,232
0
4,232
18,994
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
**38,652**
**0**
**38,652**
**38,470**
22,527
0
22,527
31,808
41,954
0
41,954
23,850
4,040
0
4,040
2,342
50
0
50
499
**68,570**
**0**
**68,570**
**58,500**
(29,918 )
0
(29,918 )
(20,030 )
0
0
0
0
96,010
0
96,010
116,040
**66,092**
**0**
**66,092**
**96,010**| |---|---| ## **UPS AND DOWNS STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 30TH SEPTEMBER 2023** |**Cash funds**
Prepayments
Debtors
Bank
Paypal
Cash
**Total**
**Represented by:**
Unrestricted funds
Restricted Funds
**Total funds**
**Assets retained for the Charity's use**
Equipment
Other
Total
**Liabilities**
Accountant's fees
Loan
Other
Total
Christian Smith
Signature
Name|**2023**
**£**
0
0
65,913
0
179
**66,092**
66,092
0
**66,092**
0
0
0
444
0
0
444
07/07/2024
Date of approval|**2022**
**£**
0
0
95,814
15
179
**96,008**
96,008
0
**96,008**
0
0
0
444
0
0
444| |---|---|---| Signed on behalf of all the trustees ## **UPS AND DOWNS NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH SEPTEMBER 2023** ## **1. Basis of accounting** These accounts have been prepared under the "Receipts and Payments" basis in accordance with Charity Commission guidelines and legal requirements. These accounts have been prepared under the going concern concept. ## **2. Payments** |**2. Payments**|||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---| |||**2023**|**2023**|**2022**|| |||**Unrestricted **|**Restricted**|**Total**|| |||**Funds**|**Funds**|**Funds**|| |||**£**|**£**|**£**|| |**Raising funds**|||||| |Printing of brochure and fliers||186|0|1,264|| |Event Costs||18,107|0|26,893|| |Vegetable boxes||0|0|0|| |Advertising and Promotion||4,234|0|1,950|| |Refunds||0|0|1,701|| |Charges||0|0|0|| |||**22,527**|**0**|**31,808**|| |**Charitable activities**|||||| |Venue Hire||113|0|1,133|| |Costs||41,144|0|20,598|| |Materials||0|0|509|| |Travel expenses||0|0|660|| |Training and Seminars||695|0|950|| |||**41,952**|**0**|**23,850**|| |**Managing and administering the Charity**|||||| |Office Telephone, postage and stationery||1,976|0|940|| |Legal and Professional fees||500|0|0|| |Accountancy fees||444|0|444|| |Bank Charges||916|0|815|| |Subscriptions||204|0|144|| |||**4,040**|**0**|**2,343**|| |**Other**|||||| |Equipment||0|0|499|| |Sundry expenses||50|0|0|| |||**50**|**0**|**499**|| ||||||| |**Total payments**||**68,568**|**0**|**58,500**|| |**3. Fixed assets**||**Computer**|**Musical**|**Fixtures &**|**Total**| |Cost as at|01/10/22|**Equipment **
0|**Equipment**
0|**Fittings**
800|**Assets**
800| |Additions||0|0|0|0| |Disposals||0|0|0|0| |**Cost as at**|**30/09/23**|**0**|**0**|**800**|**800**| ||||||| |Current Value||0|0|0|0|