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2021-03-31-accounts

Charity Registration Number: 1128653

Company Registration Number: 06134522

THE DUCHENNE FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

THE DUCHENNE FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)

CONTENTS

Report of the Trustees
Report of the independent examiner
Statement of financial activities
Balance sheet
Notes to the financial statements		 Page
1-3
4
5
6
7-10

THE DUCHENNE FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

The Trustees present their report together with the financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 31st March 2021. They are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors’ report and accounts for Companies Act purposes.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the Charity's governing document, applicable law and the requirements 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).

Reference and Administrative Details

Charity Number 1128653 Company Number 06134522 Registered Office 78 York Street, London, W1 1DP

Directors and Trustees

The directors of the charitable company are its Trustees for the purpose of charity law and throughout this report are collectively referred to as Trustees.

Our currently registered Trustees are Sue Berry, Stephen Meech, Michelle Lyall, Jayne Doe, Kate Thomas and Laura Elliott. Joanna Rowlands is a management committee member. Christina Biggs and Ann Patterson are no longer Trustees or on committee but continue to offer support where needed.

A third of the Trustees, the longest serving third, are required to retire by rotation each year at the Annual General Meeting but may seek re-election. The Trustees required to retire at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting are Stephen Meech, Jayne Doe and Jo Rowlands. They will offer themselves for re-election.

Company Secretary: MC Secretaries Limited Acting or Interim Treasurer: Mrs Christina Biggs Independent examiner: Marcus Cridland BA(Hons) FCA, Scott Vevers Ltd 65 East Street, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 3LB. Bankers: Barclays Bank plc 90 Osborne Road, Southsea, Hants, PO5 3LW

Objectives, Activities, Achievements and Performance

The objectives of the charitable company are:

Raising funds is always high on our priority list. Due to Covid-19, many events and fund-raising activities had to be cancelled this year. Additional financial support has again come from grants from charities. We also receive significant support from our member families.

Page 1

THE DUCHENNE FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Services were maintained in the following areas:

Helpline: We operate a helpline to receive calls from families and professionals. Our part time
Development Officer deals with the queries herself or passes them on to an
appropriate person or organisation.
News and The charity publishes a regular newsletter containing articles, many from our family
information: members, sharing experiences and ideas. Feedback is also provided on research
progress and other matters impacting on families of disabled children and adults. We
also have a website, a Facebook page and a Twitter account – all of which we use in
addition to our newsletter to keep families up to date with news and events.
Events: The charity endeavours to provide social events where families can enjoy a relaxed
atmosphere whilst sharing their experiences and ideas. Events during this year were
cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Review of Public Benefit

In setting out our objectives and planning our activities, the Trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit.

Future Plans

We continually strive to expand our services to meet the growing demand but we do so in a planned and financially prudent way, thus ensuring all projects stand on a sound financial footing individually and thus the charity moves forward and grows but does so responsibly.

The restrictions necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the vulnerability of the boys in many of our member families caused us to cancel all our social contact activities (days out, holidays etc.), normally at the core of our work, but, in turn, this has reduced our expenditure. We continue to hold committee meetings by video. Our development officer has increased her hours in response to demand and we have been able to fund this through grants received for the purpose.

The postponement and uncertainty around of the London Marathon, normally our principal source of income, significantly reduced our income. We have made successful applications to charitable Trusts. We look forward to resuming face to face activities once the situation has eased.

Financial Review

Each service we offer is carefully budgeted for and only runs after being sanctioned by the Trustees as viable. The excess of income over expenditure in the year amounted to £10,293 (2020 £6,646 excess expenditure). Reserves at 31[st] March 2021 were £31,716.

Investment powers and policy

Under the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the charitable company has the power to make any investment which the Trustees see fit.

Reserves policy

The state of the economy and resulting downturn in donations received also means sufficient reserves must be held to ensure services could continue in a financial downturn. The Trustees carefully monitor this area to ensure sufficient reserves are in place. Our policy is to have a minimum of 3 months’ running costs as a reserve figure. At present the free reserves, which amount to £31,716 are within this target level.

Page 2

THE DUCHENNE FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP

(A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)

REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing Document

The Duchenne Family Support Group is a registered charity (charity number 1128653) and a company limited by guarantee (company number 06134522). The company was formed on 2 March 2007 and achieved registered charity status on 18 March 2009.

The charitable company is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association.

Appointment of Trustees

Trustees are appointed by the Members at the Annual General Meeting in accordance with the charitable company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association. No external bodies have the right to appoint Trustees.

Trustee induction and training

New Trustee directors are introduced to the operations of the organisation and are given information on the responsibilities of being a Trustee and director as well as copies of the charitable company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association. Training is provided to Trustee directors when required.

Organisation

The board of Trustees, or the Executive Committee, of between 3 and 15 members who meet regularly, administer the charitable company. The charity also employs an administrator to assist with the day-to-day operation of the charitable company. The committee includes both Trustee-members and non-Trustee-members. The Trusteemembers are responsible for all decisions but seek guidance and opinions from non-Trustee-members and, indeed, on occasion, the charity membership as a whole.

Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the Financial Statements

Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements that give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company at the end of the financial year and of its surplus or deficit for the financial year. In doing so the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for maintaining property accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enables them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 1985. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the small company regime (section 419(2)) of the Companies Act 2006.

Signed on behalf of the board of Trustees by:

Dr S Meech – Chair …………………………………………………..

Date: 14[th] October 2021

Page 3

THE DUCHENNE FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)

Independent Examiner’s report to the Trustees of The Duchenne Family Support Group

I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31[st] March 2021, which are set out on pages 5 to 10.

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:

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.

Marcus Cridland BA(Hons) FCA Scott Vevers Ltd 65 East Street Bridport Dorset DT6 3LB.

Date:

Page 4

THE DUCHENNE FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021

Notes
Income
Income and endowments from:
Donations
Grants
Charitable activities:
Contributions from families towards events
Other trading activities
Fundraising
Total Income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
3
Charitable activities
4
Total expenditure
Net income (expenditure) for the year
Transfers between funds
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds at 1st April 2020
Total funds at 31st March 2021		 Unrestricted
funds
£
3,387
7,280
-
16,629
27,296
2,449
17,027
19,476
7,820
(422)
7,398
21,423
28,821		 Restricted
funds
£
-
9,000
-
-
9,000
-
6,527
6,527
2,473
422
2,895
-
2,895		 2021
£
3,387
16,280
-
16,629
36,296
2,449
23,554
26,003
10,293
-
10,293
21,423
31,716		 2020
£
3,479
-
10,528
24,889
38,896
2,290
43,252
45,542
(6,646)
-
(6,646)
28,069
21,423

All amounts derive from continuing activities.

All gains and losses recognised in the period are included in the statement of financial activities.

The notes on pages 7 to 10 form part of these financial statements

Page 5

Company No: 06134522

THE DUCHENNE FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)

BALANCE SHEET AT 31ST MARCH 2021

Notes
Current assets
Debtors
10
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors:Amounts falling due within one year
11
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
The funds of the charity:
Restricted income funds
12
Unrestricted income funds:
12
Total charity funds		 £
£
5,641
27,745
33,386
(1,670)
31,716
31,716
2,895
28,821
31,716
2021		 £
£
5,641
27,745
33,386
(1,670)
31,716
31,716
2,895
28,821
31,716
2021		 £
£
5,641
17,222
22,863
(1,440)
21,423
21,423
-
21,423
21,423
2020		 £
£
5,641
17,222
22,863
(1,440)
21,423
21,423
-
21,423
21,423
2020
22,863
(1,440)
31,716 21,423
2,895
28,821		 -
21,423
31,716 21,423

The company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31st March 2021.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2021 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts:

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime.

The financial statements were approved by the board of Trustees and signed on its behalf by:

Dr S Meech - Trustee

Date: 14th October 2021

The notes on pages 7 to 10 form part of these financial statements

Page 6

THE DUCHENNE FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021

1 Accounting policies

1.1 Basis of preparation

The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with 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) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006. The accounts include the results of the charity's operations which are described in the Trustees' Report, all of which are continuing.

1.2 Income

Voluntary income including donations, gifts and legacies and grants that provide core funding or are of a general nature are recognised where there is entitlement, certainty of receipt and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. Such income is only deferred when:

Investment income is recognised on a receivable basis.

1.3 Volunteers and donated services and facilities

The value of services provided by volunteers is not incorporated into these financial statements. Further details of the contribution made by volunteers can be found in the trustees’ annual report.

1.4 Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised when a liability is incurred.

Costs of raising funds are those costs incurred in attracting voluntary income, and those incurred in trading activities that raise funds.

Charitable activities include expenditure associated with the production of the newsletter and other information, provision of a helpline and volunteer network services and provision of events and holidays, together with support costs relating to these activities.

Governance costs include those incurred in the governance of the charity and its assets and are primarily associated with constitutional and statutory requirements.

Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

1.5 Funds structure

The charity has a number of restricted income funds to account for situations where a donor requires that a donation must be spent on a particular purpose or where funds have been raised for a specific purpose.

All other funds are unrestricted income funds.

2 Income

Income
Unrestricted Restricted Total
2021 2020 2021 2020 2021 2020
£ £ £ £ £ £
Grants and donations 10,667 2,269 9,000 1,210 19,667 3,479
Event contributions - - - 10,528 - 10,528

Page 7

THE DUCHENNE FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021

Fundraising
16,629
27,296
3
Cost of raising funds
Fundraising costs
Support costs (see note 5)
4
Analysis of charitable expenditure		 24,889 -
9,000		 - 16,629 24,889
27,158 11,738 36,296 38,896
2021
£
2,336
113		 2020
£
2,142
148
2,449 2,290
Restricted
Family event costs
Pears costs
Remembrance event costs and bereavement support
Unrestricted
Travel
Conferences etc
Printing including newsletter production
Website
Support and governance costs (see note 5)		 Total
2021
£
161
6,105
261		 Total
2020
£
22,035
-
3,029
6,527 25,064
52
152
5,411
149
11,263		 378
1,332
7,956
149
8,373
17,027 18,188
23,554 43,252

5 Support costs

Administrator’s salary
Committee meeting costs
Telephone and internet
Postage and stationery and office costs
Insurance
Office rent
Legal and professional fees
Independent examiner’s fees
2020
Administrator’s salary
Committee meeting costs
Telephone and internet
Postage and stationery and office costs
Insurance
Office rent		 Generating
Funds
£
-
-
-
-
113
-
-		 Direct
Charitable
£
7,480
-
184
374
293
-
882
-
9,357
£
4,801
89
292
570
293
80		 Governance
£
831
-
21
41
45
-
98
870		 Total
2021
£
8,311
-
205
415
451
-
980
870		 Total
2020
£
5,334
138
325
633
451
80
942
618
113 1,906 11,376 8,521
£
-
35
-
-
113
-		 £
533
14
33
63
45
-		 £
5,334
138
325
633
451
80

Page 8

THE DUCHENNE FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021

Legal and professional fees
Independent examiner’s fees		 - 848
-
6,973		 94
618		 942
618
148 1,400 8,521

6 Trustees’ remuneration and expenses

Trustees received no emoluments in the year.

During the year no trustees were reimbursed out of pocket expenses for travelling which totalled £0 (2020 : two trustees totalling £95).

7 Analysis of staff costs

Analysis of staff costs
Salaries and wages
Social security costs		 Total
2021
£
8,311
-		 Total
2020
£
5,334
-
8,311 5,334

8 Staff numbers

The average number of full-time employees (including casual and part-time staff) during the year was as follows:

Charitable activities
Governance
Average number of staff (headcount)		 Total
2021
0.44
0.02		 Total
2020
0.24
0.02
0.46 0.26
1 1

9 Taxation

The company is a registered charity and no provision is considered necessary for taxation.

10 Debtors

Debtors
Prepaid fundraising costs
Prepaid event costs		 2021
£
1,980
3,661		 2020
£
1,980
3,661
5,641 5,641

11 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Event contributions received in advance
Social security and other taxes
Other creditors and accruals		 2021
£
800
-
870		 2020
£
800
22
618
1,670 1,440

Page 9

THE DUCHENNE FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP (A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2021

12 Analysis of charitable funds

Restricted funds
Pears fund
Remembrance events fund
Events fund
Unrestricted funds
General fund		 Brought
Forward
£
-
-
-		 Incoming
resources
£
9,000
-
-
9,000
27,296
36,296		 Resources
expended
£
(6,105)
(261)
(161)		 Transfers
£
-
261
161		 Carried
Forward
£
2,895
-
-
- (6,527) 422 2,895
21,423 (19,476) (422) 28,821
21,423 (26,003) - 31,716

Description of restricted funds

Events fund: - Funding raised by individuals for the provision of holidays and events

Remembrance event fund – Donations received with instructions to use towards the costs of providing a remembrance event as part of bereavement support.

13 Analysis of net assets between funds

Cash at bank and in hand
Other net current assets/liabilities
2020
Cash at bank and in hand
Other net current assets/liabilities		 General
fund
£
24,850
3,971
28,821
£
17,680
4,201
21,881		 Restricted
funds
£
2,895
-		 Total
2021
£
27,745
3,971		 Total
2020
£
17,222
4,201
2,895 31,716 21,423
£
(458)
-		 £
17,222
4,201		 £
26,808
1,261
(458) 21,423 28,069

14 Legal status of charity

The charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. The liability of each member in the event of winding up is limited to £1.

15 Related party transactions

Donations totalling £0 were made to the charity by no trustees during the year.

Page 10