UROSTOMY ASSOCIATION Statement of financial activities for the year ended 31 March 2024 Registered company no: 6918246 (limited by guarantee) Registered charity 1131072 (England and Wales) and SC047740 (Scotland) ## **Welcome to our Trustees’ and directors’ report for the year ended 31 March 2024** The charity trustees (who are also the directors) present their report together with the financial statements and the independent examiner's report for the year ended 31 March 2024. About our charity ............................................................................................................................. 3 Achievements and performance ..................................................................................................... 3 Transforming our website .............................................................................................................. 3 Redesigning our much-loved Journal ............................................................................................ 4 Amazing one-to-one support ....................................................................................................... 4 Reaching further with social media ............................................................................................. 5 Relaunching our e-newsletter...................................................................................................... 5 Looking ahead ................................................................................................................................ 6 Objectives and activities ................................................................................................................... 7 Objectives .................................................................................................................................... 7 Activities ........................................................................................................................................ 7 Membership ................................................................................................................................. 7 Investing in our future .................................................................................................................. 7 Income generation ........................................................................................................................ 8 Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements ................................................ 8 Reference and administrative information ......................................................................................... 9 Organisational structure .............................................................................................................. 9 Risk management ......................................................................................................................... 9 Structure, governance and management ........................................................................................ 10 Governing document ................................................................................................................... 10 Appointment of Trustees ............................................................................................................. 10 Financial review ........................................................................................................................... 10 Summary ................................................................................................................................... 10 Investments ................................................................................................................................ 10 Reserves policy ........................................................................................................................ 10 Basis of accounting .................................................................................................................. 10 Independent examiner’s report to the trustees ................................................................................ 11 Statement of financial activities ....................................................................................................... 12 Balance sheet ................................................................................................................................. 13 Cash flow ........................................................................................................................................ 14 Notes to the financial statements .................................................................................................... 15 Page 2 of 19 ## **About our charity** Life with a urinary diversion can feel daunting. So it’s vital that people have somewhere to turn for reassurance and advice, from diagnosis to living life to the full again. At the Urostomy Association, we can provide that support. We offer information and support through our helpline, one-to-one volunteer buddies, regular magazine, group get-togethers, e-newsletters, social media and resources. We also have information, support and advice for families and carers too. We link up those seeking help with others who have stood in their shoes and who can provide insightful reassurance, along with practical and emotional support. We are a valuable resource for healthcare professionals who signpost patients to our services. In addition to providing practical and emotional help, we aim to shape the development of policy and practice by ensuring our supporters‘ voices are heard at a local and national level. ## **Achievements and performance** Much of this year was spent investing in our charity to help us grow into the ever-vibrant organisation our supporters deserve. To make that happen, we continued engaging with stakeholders to develop a new strategic plan which reaffirms our vision, mission and values, and spells out our objectives for the coming years. With that in mind, some of our key developments for urostomates this year include the following. ## **Transforming our website** Perhaps accelerated during the COVID years, more and more patients are now searching online for information and support, so we have spent much of this year strengthening our digital presence. Patients about to undergo a urinary diversion often first find our charity through our website, and in January we began overhauling it to make it even more user friendly and to ensure that the voices of urostomates themselves are heard more clearly; they are the experts at living with a urinary diversion, after all. Urostomates are now contributing blogs on everything from travel to mental health, and they’ve also shared their own top tips on managing night drainage, reducing leaks and Page 3 of 19 much more. Stoma staff too are contributing more content, giving advice, for example, on mucus and night drainage. We began updating our information leaflets available on the site and developing more downloadable resources. We also want people to be inspired by our website when they are looking to support our charity. So we’ve expanded our fundraising pages to include information on gifts in wills, fundraising and the many ways to donate and lend a hand. ## **Redesigning our much-loved Journal** The Journal is our cornerstone publication. Published three times a year, it is a full-colour A4 glossy format and is packed with advice on living with a urinary diversion, inspirational life stories, hints and tips, and articles from healthcare experts. This Spring, we acted on feedback from readers and gave it a refresh to include more photographs of young people as well as those more mature, and to make better use of white space on the pages, making it easier to read. Feedback has been encouraging, and includes: - “The new look Journal is off to a flying start”. - “If this is the standard for the Journal going forward, then you are in good shape” - “The new look Journal is great. It invites you to read, is easy to read, and the text size is great. I don’t need to fetch my glasses. It’s lovely to read the inspirational stories, in particular to see younger contributors coming through”. A typical edition contains helpful, engaging articles submitted by both members and medical professionals, alongside adverts and news from the manufacturers and distributors of stoma care products and services. This year we began making a concerted effort to encourage as many members as possible to read the Journal online so we can be kinder to the planet as well as make cost savings for our small charity. ## **Amazing one-to-one support** Through our network of branches run by Association volunteers, we continue to provide local support for people seeking reassurance, encouragement and practical tips to help them stay well and enjoy life. Working in conjunction with local stoma care professionals, the branches are a social hub for members and their partners, as well as providing practical help and emotional reassurance, both pre- and post-op. Wherever possible, our branches have a presence at local stoma open days and manufacturers' 'roadshows', answering questions and providing literature. Page 4 of 19 Unfortunately, like many charities, the number of local branches dwindled during lockdown, but we are pleased to see an emergence of more informal groups this year, independently providing local connections without the formality of the branch structure. Volunteers also provide invaluable support to those who contact our helpline and private Facebook group. They report being reassured after engaging with others who have had a urinary diversion and understand where they’re coming from. The trustees would like to place on record their thanks for the hard work volunteers put in and the vital difference they make. ## **Reaching further with social media** Our private Facebook group, which is closed to the wider public to maintain members' privacy, continues to grow and is an active community of people providing timely encouragement and support for each other. We have also breathed new life into our public Facebook page, where we communicate our latest news and highlight forthcoming events and campaigns. It is also here that we share inspirational stories to create better understanding of what it means to live with a urinary diversion and show that, with the right support, it is possible to be as active as you choose to be. This year we launched profiles on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn to diversify how we engage with patients, supporters, stoma staff, suppliers, policy makers and more. ## **Relaunching our e-newsletter** We relaunched our e-newsletter in January and increased its frequently to monthly. It now contains ‘bite-sized’ news, signposting readers through to new content on the website, and supplements the information and features in the Journal. This year we also launched an e-newsletter specifically for stoma staff, highlighting news which we hope they find useful as they support patients before and after their surgery. Page 5 of 19 ## **Looking ahead** For more than 50 years, our charity has been a trusted source of encouragement and support for urostomates and their families and carers, and we are proud to be their ‘go to’ charity whenever they need information, reassurance and practical tips. This year we distilled extensive stakeholder feedback to produce our new strategic plan for 2024-27. Over 800 people shared their hopes and aspirations for how they want to see the Urostomy Association look in the years to come. They want us, for example, to: - Become a greater influencer - Engage better with key referrers - Provide more inclusive services - Make greater use of technology - Diversify our information - Update our image - Grow ways in which people can get together As part of the exercise, we revisited our vision and values and these are available to read in full on the ‘About us’ page of our website. To deliver on our vision and live our values, our mission now is to: - Provide a breadth of high-quality information and advice, and peer-led support to individuals affected by a urinary diversion, and their families - Actively engage policy makers and practitioners to keep our supporters’ needs top of their agenda - Support a thriving Urostomy Association community - Assist professionals in supporting urostomates and their families We want to be the best we can be for everyone requiring our support, so our strategic plan will help make the Association more accessible, engaging and agile so that we continue providing a good service, reaching out to people who don't yet know about us but would benefit from what we do. We hope you can see from the content of this report that we have taken the time to invest in our plans which are already coming to fruition. Page 6 of 19 ## **Objectives and activities** ## **Objectives** The aims and objectives of the charity are: - The relief of sickness and the preservation of health among people who have undergone or are to undergo a urinary diversion. - To promote and protect the physical and mental health of sufferers of urinary diversion through the provision of financial assistance, support, education, and practical advice. - To promote and co-ordinate research in connection with urinary diversion, the development of equipment and appliances relative thereto, and to disseminate the results of such research by the provision of lectures and the publication of materials. ## **Activities** The main activities during the year included: - Continuing our strategic review to further strengthen the Association and increase engagement. - Introducing a new strategic development plan - Devising a new fundraising strategy - Providing one-to-one support through our helpline and volunteer buddying service - Strategically transforming our website - Publishing three editions of our ever-popular magazine, The Journal - Developing our social media influence by strengthening our Facebook page and launching profiles on X (formally Twitter) and LinkedIn - Taking part in regional meetings to support the Association’s local services. - Participating in consultations and engagement opportunities to ensure urostomates’ interests are represented at a national level - Liaising with stoma nurses and other healthcare professionals - Redeveloping our resources ## **Membership** The Urostomy Association has historically been a membership organisation to which urostomates and their families paid a subscription. But the fee was flagged up by stoma staff as a barrier for many. Also, the way patients sought information and support changed dramatically following COVID. Whereas previously they had been predominantly referred to local networks for help, we all became more confident in sourcing the help we needed online. Since we reduced the membership fee to zero, the number of people joining our charity has grown considerably, and we are proud to be reaching more and more of those who need our support and the tailored information we provide. We are grateful for the continued support of our original members; they are the backbone of our organisation and invaluable in providing support and representation in their communities. ## **Investing in our future** We worked with a specialist this year to drive the stakeholder engagement necessary for our strategic review, and temporarily increased the hours of our communications support to articulate that work. We also temporarily employed a freelancer to help us map a new fundraising strategy, so we can begin to transition from an organisation largely reliant on Page 7 of 19 membership fees to one supported by more diverse income streams. Our new Transformation Director took up post in early 2024, and we bid a warm farewell to the Chief Executive and Office Manager who had previously supported our charity with such care. ## **Income generation** The Association is registered with the Fundraising Regulator. This year, as we planned to reduce membership fees, we developed our strategy to work toward increasing donations, sponsorship and fundraising. We are continuing to develop our fundraising through closer working with our corporate partners, as well as via individual giving, grant applications and legacies. In the coming years this will help make us a more resilient organisation, sustaining our services for the long term. The Association continues to be indebted to numerous individuals who give donations to help our work and fundraise on our behalf, through activities from craft sales to sponsored walks. ## **Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements** The charity trustees (who are also the directors) are responsible for preparing this annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Company law requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the situation of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including income and expenditure, of the charity for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to: - Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently. - Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP. - Make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent. - State whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements. - Prepare financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business. The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that 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 Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provision relating to small companies within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006. By order of the board. Chair of Trustees. Date 28 October 2024 Page 8 of 19 ## **Reference and administrative information** Charity name: Urostomy Association ## Charity numbers: 1131072 (England and Wales); SCO47740 (Scotland) Company number: 6918246 Registered Address: Suite 70, Capital Business Centre, 22 Carlton Road, South Croydon, CR2 OBS Website Address: www.urostomyassociation.org.uk ## Trustees/Directors: - Derek Rosario (National President) - Sharon Fillingham – Resigned 11.10.23 - Brian Fretwell (Chairman) - Hazel Pixley (Chief Executive Officer) - Resigned 16.11.23 - Julie Varley - William Burden - Helen Holmes - Elizabeth Ogilvie - Guy Eccles Bankers: Royal Bank of Scotland ## Independent Examiner: Stephen Hole FCCA, Palmer McCarthy, Suite 70, Capital Business Centre, 22 Carlton Road, South Croydon, CR2 OBS. Investment Manager: Rathbone Investment Management Limited, George House, 50 GeorgeSquare, Glasgow, G2 1EH. ## **Organisational structure** The strategic management of the charity is undertaken by a National Executive Committee (NEC) which is made up of each of the Trustee/Directors. The NEC normally meets four times a year, although during the transformation period the trustee increased frequency to every six weeks. ## **Risk management** The Trustees, who maintain a formal risk assessment register, regularly review the risks to which the Association is exposed. They do not consider that there are any substantial risks beyond the liabilities disclosed in the Financial Statements. Page 9 of 19 ## **Structure, governance and management** ## **Governing document** The Urostomy Association was established in 1971, and is now a charitable company limited by guarantee. We are governed by our Memorandum and Articles of Association. Our charity is a membership organisation. All previous subscribing members of the Association are also members of the company. Each member of the company is required to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 should the company be wound up while they are a member. ## **Appointment of Trustees** Appointment of trustees to the Board is by election at the National Annual General Meeting. Trustees are elected for a three-year period but can stand for re-election if they wish. Exceptions to this are the National President (who is appointed by the National Executive Committee), and a specialist nurse who is co-opted as the Association's Nursing Advisor. Where vacancies occur, the Board (at its discretion) may co-opt members for the period up to the following National Annual General Meeting, at which they may stand for election. Locally, some areas have branches, and members of those branches elect a committee to serve as officers of the branch. ## **Financial review** ## **Summary** For the year ended 31 March 2024, we reported a deficit of £167,519. This was largely as the result of investing in our strategic development, as described below. Total funds held by the Association at the year-end were £413,627, which includes restricted funds at £3,310. ## **Investments** The Association continued with the investments held with Rathbones Investment Management Limited and the year-end value was £352,750. The fund is managed by a specialist charity team, and they provide the trustees with regular investment updates and quarterly performance reports. The investments, which are for the longer term, are reported at market value. Our investment policy is to provide income to support the cost of running the Association with a medium level of risk that will target returns at CPI + 3% over the longer term. ## **Reserves policy** We rely upon subscriptions and donations as major sources of income. To give some stability we consider that our charity should hold sufficient unrestricted reserves to allow us to operate without significantly reducing our service level for a minimum of one year. ## **Basis of accounting** These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006, and in accordance with the Charities SORP 2015 (FRS 102). Page 10 of 19 ## **Independent examiner’s report to the trustees** I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the company for the year ended 31 March 2024 which are set out on pages 9 to 16. ## **Responsibilities and basis of report** As the charity 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 company’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** Since the company’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I a member of Chartered Certified Accountants, which is one of the listed bodies. 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 that in any material respect: - accounting records were not kept in respect of the company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or - the accounts do not accord with those records; or - 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 - 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. 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. Stephen Hole, FCCA Palmer McCarthy, Chartered Certified Accountants Suite 70, Capital Business Centre, 22 Carlton Road, South Croydon, CR2 0BS 29 October 2024 Page 11 of 19 ## **Statement of financial activities** Page 12 of 19 ## **Balance sheet** **----- Start of picture text -----**
28 October 2024
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Page 13 of 19 Cash flow R•¥•¢•r•d C¢)mp•ny Nun*•r: 6918246 UROSTOMY ASSOCIATION (Llmlted by Guaranteo) Cash Flow Analysls for the Y•ar Endod 31 March 2024 3141¥-24 314A¥-23 0[￿n9 Balar¢• at 1$1 las pw d•lalod scheAtul•l )5.093 347.871 In(x••t• l {Owa••MI kn Oth•d Ir£<¥n• 11.3331 114.1741 16791 It)(x••t• l {Cwa••MI kn CwJk¢ (14.4151 4.325 I176.￿) 1126.4391 clo￿n9 Bal￿¢• •t 31*1 M¥¢h 16.923 201093 42.￿5 46.022 TOTAL CASH 69.828 2S1,116 Not•: An•ty•l• oe M)7 2ts)OL* 1025 15.070 9253 )l.W 15.070 9.JJ Jl.W St￿¢¢•1• 12} 13.734 .Jii 38.iy &71• 43.872 Z2.&55 Z2.SJ1 2.￿1 5.737 8.121 8.121 3.475 146 34.1 3.475 5.iaa J4.1 10.7fy] ti47 S￿1 Cts*i* 121 28.lJ11 i7.r•J7 129 2212 278 2212 2.11S 2.812 2.740 2.740 2.910 9262 I.0￿7 io.sy Page 16of19 2A7J z4n 3.•Jl 7•ts 11.1 17 &JiJ Page 17of19 UROSTOMY ASSOCIATION (Umlt•d by Guarnntxl Not•* to th• Fln•ncl•l Sw•m•nts for tr* y••r •r•d•d 31 M•r¢h 2024 B&L8fth fc<*vd aB•t01.01.23 3*.457 12.0251 15.318 3S2.r pl•firdty TOTAL 3l.OJ23 Ji.0324 10.1 10.024 11.rx17 2.316 2.316 lQ62S 8213 10,•n 1&6rJ Petty C• &310 28.97$ 17.448 107 17.448 107 132 251.1•6 &J10 14.714 PAYEth4 1332 8.123 6.138 Page 18of19 10316 t41 JJio la7T Page 19of19