Heartbeat UK Registered Charity Number 1124786 Year Ended 31 July 2025
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Heartbeat UK
Charity Name and Number
Heartbeat UK: registered charity number 1124786
Correspondence Address
19 Pembury Avenue, Coventry, CV6 6JT
Trustees
Mrs Glenys Bloor Miss Marie Pepper Mr Karl Marshall Mr Robert Calvert Ms Claire Hennerley
Professional Advisors
Legal Advisors:
Robinsons Solicitors, 10-11 St James Court, Friar Gate, Derby, DE1 1BT
Bank:
TSB.
Independent Examiner:
Rachel Robins, R&S Accounts Ltd, 9 Emberton Way, Amington Fields, Tamworth, Staffs, B77 3QQ
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Trustees Annual Report for the year ended 31st July 2025.
History, objectives and activities of the charity
The charity was formed on 2 July 2008. The charity aims to raise the funds to provide a minimum of one defibrillator per month to the general public. Heartbeat UK works alongside the ambulance service who help to identify places of need. This includes hotspots where Heartbeat UK helps to provide training in the use of the defibrillators. The defibrillators are then placed in what is known as the PAD system (Public Access Defibrillators). The ambulance service registers the location of these defibrillators so that when the need arises, anyone can be directed via a 999 call to the nearest accessible defibrillator site. The defibrillators that Heartbeat UK supplies are fully automated and audibly inform the user how to operate the defibrillator. The defibrillator will then take control of defibrillation by analysing the patient.
The charity aims to promote and protect the physical and mental health of sufferers of cardiac diseases and cardiac related illnesses in the United Kingdom through the provision of guidance, support, education and practical advice.
The charity aims to relieve sickness and to preserve the health of patients suffering from cardiac diseases and cardiac related illnesses by providing or assisting in the provision of facilities, equipment and services.
The charity aims to advance the education of the general public in all areas relating to cardiac diseases and cardiac related illnesses.
The charity operates throughout England and Wales but currently the majority of its activity has centred around the Midlands area.
Management and governance arrangements
The charity currently has five trustees but the constitution allows for flexibility in potentially increasing or decreasing this number depending on the activity of the charity. Were there a requirement for new trustees, these would be identified and appointed by the remaining trustees.
The chair of trustees is responsible for the induction of any new trustee which involves awareness of a trustee’s responsibilities, the constitution, administrative procedures, the history and philosophical approach of the charity. A new trustee would receive copies of the previous year’s annual report and accounts and a copy of the Charity Commission information on being a trustee: what you need to know.
The trustees annually review the risks that the charity faces. To date these have mainly related to ensuring that all volunteers act within the charity’s framework.
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Procedures and policy for the provision of new defibrillators and associated training
The trustees normally meet quarterly to consider any applications they have received for the provision of defibrillators and to review any usage of existing defibrillators. Nominations for defibrillators are elicited mainly by formal means. The charity is currently advised by the First Responder as to where the hot spots are and by the West Midlands Ambulance Service. In addition, a personal approach has also been taken with some of the major supermarkets in providing defibrillators that trained First Responders use.
The trustees usually ask invited organisations to submit a formal application saying how the equipment would be used and who is trained to use it. Assessments are made of the number of people in the general population passing through such a venue and the likelihood that the equipment would be needed.
The charity had one part time paid worker during this year who worked as a fundraising manager on a self-employed basis.
Achievements and performance of the charity
During the twelve months to 31 July 2025 Heartbeat UK has again had a good steady amount of income (very consistent with the previous year) but spending on defibrillators (AED’s) and related equipment has fallen. However, there are some funds in the bank that are imminently ready at the year end date to be spent on lifesaving cardiac equipment and the trustees are about to gear up for another year.
Of the charity’s expenditure during this year, 38% of total expenditure was directly spent on purchasing cardiac equipment that was made available to the general public visiting certain venues (down from 58% in the previous year). The remaining expenditure included the daily running costs of the charity including travel costs relating to placing of defibrillators and sending trustees to public events in support of the charity, domain cost, insurance, accounts fees and paying a part-time self-employed fund-raising manager. This year, the bank balance has increased quite considerably due to the timing of money coming in and literally being about to be spent buying cardiac equipment but a big purchase is likely to be early in the next company year from funds raised in this company year.
The trustees note that the charity has funded £10,565 in this seventeenth year for defibrillators and related equipment. This figure is considerably down on the previous year but the charity still has a good stream of community groups that it works with. There have been various community projects that have done their own fundraising and then transferred the money to Heartbeat who have been able to supply that community project with a defibrillator. The charity has continued its move away move away from cash income and is now receiving even more income by card in the year to 31 July 2025. This has helped to maintain the overall income of the charity and in some ways has helped. Card income over cash income is expected to become more and more dominant in the future.
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As in previous years, most of the charity’s trustees are over retirement age but the charity has still successfully fundraised and the charity has delivered lifesaving support for the community. Once again, this year, there has been a move towards putting the cabinets and defibrillators, where identified as urgently needed based on ambulance response times and particularly looking at locations where ambulances have difficulty in getting to a location within a timeframe. By placing these defibrillators in communities like this, it gives local people a far higher chance of being resuscitated if it is ever required.
The trustees report this to have been a steady but rewarding year. The charity still receives updates that their defibrillators have been used and have saved lives which is most encouraging. This year Heartbeat UK has also placed 10 defibrillators and 10 ready kits at urgent need locations, as well as 3 new cabinets, also replaced 8 defibrillator pads and replaced 1 battery.
The charity is pleased with its achievements in the last year and the intention is to continue the work along similar lines working alongside other charities and community groups to further its aims.
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Financial review and reserves
The trustees have set a policy that all donations received should be spent on cardiac equipment or cardiac support and administration costs and normally has relatively low reserves other than enough to cover daily running costs of the charity. Although the trustees have increased the previous year’s surplus of £2,706 in the July 2024 accounts to a bigger surplus of £14,387 in the July 2025 year end, this is predominantly bank funds that will imminently be used for a further large purchase of cardiac equipment.
Future plans
The trustees are committed to continue providing defibrillators, training and support in the coming year.
The charity continues to seek to gain further recognition within the communities that they operate in.
Statement of trustees' responsibilities
Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which show a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and its financial activities for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operational existence.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. 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.
Independent Examiner
The trustees intend to ask the existing accountants to undertake the independent examination of the charity in the following year.
Signed on behalf of the trustees
Lord Robert Calvert. 26th August 2025.
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Independent examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Heartbeat UK.
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 July 2025, which are set out on pages 8 to 12.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts (under section 145 of the Act);
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to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity
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Commission (under section145(5)(b) of the Act); and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of the independent examiner’s report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
Independent examiner’s statement
In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirement:
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to keep proper accounting in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act have not been met; or
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(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Rachel Robins BSc (hons) MAAT R&S Accounts Ltd
9 Emberton Way Amington Fields Tamworth Staffs B77 3QQ
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Heartbeat UK Statement of financial activities for the year ended 31 July 2025
| Notes Incoming resources Incoming resources from generated funds Voluntary income: donations 5 Total incoming resources Resources expended Charitable activities Purchase of cardiac equipment Sub Total Costs of generating funds Travel and subsistence Self-employed fundraiser 3 Telephone, internet, office running costs Insurance Accountancy fees Bank charges Depreciation of …office equipment Total administration costs Total resources expended Net movement in funds Surplus / (Deficit) from previous year Surplus to carry forward |
Unrestricted Total Funds fund 2025 2025 £'s £'s 39,720 39,720 39,720 39,720 10,565 10,565 10,565 10,565 7,413 7,413 7,655 7,655 1,027 1,027 523 523 300 300 475 475 81 81 17,474 17,474 28,039 28,039 11,681 11,681 2,706 2,706 14,387 14,387 |
Total Funds 2024 £'s 39,768 |
|---|---|---|
| 39,768 | ||
| 24,795 | ||
| 24,795 6,901 9,526 494 466 300 190 108 17,985 |
||
| 42,780 | ||
| (3,012) 5,718 |
||
| 2,706 |
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| Heartbeat UK balance sheet as at 31 July 2024 2025 Notes £'s £'s Fixed assets Tangible assets 6 244 Current assets Cash at bank 14,648 Debtors - Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 7 505 Net current assets 14,143 Net liabilities 14,387 Represented by Unrestricted funds 14,387 Total funds 14,387 |
2024 £'s 325 2,886 - 505 2,381 |
|---|---|
| 2,706 | |
| 2,706 | |
| 2,706 |
The financial statements on pages 8 to 12 were approved by the trustees on 26th August 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
Lord Robert Calvert Date: 26th August 2025
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Notes to the accounts
1. Accounting policies
In preparing the accounts the following accounting policies have been complied with:
a) The accounts have been prepared on the historic cost convention. The accounts are in accordance with applicable accounting standards and the Charities SORP (Statement of Recommended Practice: FRS 102).
b) Expenditure is included in the accounts on an acc ruals basis. VAT is irrecoverable
and so is charged to the SOFA as accrued.
c) All assets costing more than £100 are capitalised. Depreciation on office equipment is charged on a reducing balance basis of 25% per year.
2. Taxation
This is a registered charity and accordingly is exempt from taxation on its income.
3. Analysis of worker costs
| 3. Analysis of worker costs |
||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Wages | 7,655 | 9,526 |
The average number of full time equivalent employees for the year was less than one. He worked as a professional freelance fundraiser and co-ordinator for the charity.
4. Related party transactions
None of the trustees were paid any remuneration by the charity during the year. Some expenses are reimbursed to trustees: these include telephone calls on personal phones for charity business, postage and mileage done in their private car to collect volunteers and visit sites on charity business and subsistence.
5. Voluntary donations
| 5. Voluntary donations | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Voluntary donations | 39,720 | 39,768 |
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6. Tangible fixed assets
| Cost At 1 August 2024 Addition At 31 July 2025 Depreciation At 1 August 2024 Charge for Year At 31 July 2025 Net Book Value At 31 July 2025 At 31 July 2024 |
Office Equipment £ 5,735 - |
|---|---|
| 5,735 | |
| 5,410 81 |
|
| 5,491 | |
| 244 | |
| 325 |
7. Analysis of creditors
| Owed to trustees Accounts fees |
2025 2024 £ £ 205 205 300 300 505 505 |
|---|---|
8. Prior year comparison
Charity donations have fallen from £39,768 in the previous year to £39,720 in this seventeenth year.
The paid work by the fundraising manager has fallen slightly this year but is in line with the funds raised.
The charity has increased the surplus of £2,706 to a greater surplus of £14,387 in the year to 31[st] July 2025. This is mainly because the charity has received in money near the year end to be spent on defibrillators near the start of the next year.
Total expenditure has fallen from £42,780 in the 31 July 2024 year end to £28,039 in this 31 July 2025 year end. This is mainly because the charity has spent less on cardiac equipment and slightly less on wages. Although travel and subsistence costs as well as telephone and internet costs as well as bank charges are higher in the latest year, a lot of the other costs have remained fairly stable..
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There has been a wealth of experience built up over the years by the trustees in this field and the charity has been ticking over well and income is higher than pre-pandemic years.
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