CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Trustees, Annual Report for the perlod From 0110412023 Perlod start date to 3110312024 Perlod end date Charity name: The Laughter Specialists Charitable Trust Charity registratlon number: 1132987 Objectives and Activities SORP reference Para 1.17 Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document The objectives of the trust are: To relieve slckness, preserve and protect health by providing specially trained entertainers known as Laughter Specialists for sick children in hospitals, and those with special needs in schools, residential homes and slmilar Institutions. Lau8hter Speclali5ts also vlslt adults with special needs. To advance the education of the publlc In the benefits of laughter as an aid to good health. To achieve these objectlves the trust provides speclallst entertalners/performer5 to Vislt slck chlldren and those with 5peclal needs bringlng interattlve play. lau8hter and fun. Actlvltie5 of Laughter Specla115t5 for the public benefit: The Trust funds professlonal entertainerslperformers to be Laughter Specialists who use their skills to bring fun and laughter to slck children in hospita15, hosplces and to children wlth special needs In schools and other Similar Institutions. Outreach v15it5 to: Sick home bound children Iwould have been in hospital or h05plcel and those rehabilitatin8 and their families. vulnerable chlldren not receiving any other support during the pandemic Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or seNices identified in the accounts. Para 1.17 8J)d 1.19 The Laughter Specialists Use maglc. song5, music, puppets and improvlsatlon bringln8 therapeutlc Interactive play. laughter and fun. Thelr aim is to Improve the lives of the chlldren in the hospitals & parents, carers, and slbllngs. TLS are adapting thelr skllls to connect and reach these famllies wlth mental wellness at the forefront of the service, and use thelr therapeutic interactive teachin8 skills through play, laughter and fun, chSldren with complex needs They visit Addenbrookes Hospital Cambridge, Broomfield Hospltal Chelmsford, Colchester Hospital, Princess Alexandra Hospital Harlow- all visits have resumed. Special Schools include Columbus school & college Chelmsford Edith Borthwick School Essex, Marketfields School Colchester. Granta school Linton Cambs, Grove Cottage Nursery Bishops Stortford, Grove House School Brentwood. Harlow Fields school Harlow, Meldreth Manor School Herts Evidence for their work is needed- To ensure their work 15 needed and beneficial they seek and receive: 11 Ongoing feedback from relatives. staff and the children, through feedback forms, letter5 and consultation with Hospital staff. 21 General Research Into Humour in hospltal and connected topics carried out by journalists and researchers. 31 Gathering more feedback and impact measurement from our v151ts to Special Schools and Ilstening to what the schools want from us We are wldening our network, looking at new & betterways of marketlng our services. We are always analysing our revenue streams and looking at developing our fundin8 further for example through broader corporate support. We have developed stronger links with other organi5ations and value the estsblishments working with us who recognise the impact we are having. The Trustees have had regard to the guidance Statement confimiing whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit Para 1.18 Addttlonal infomiation (optional) You ma ch005e to include further statements where relevant about.. SORP refarence Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.3B Contribution made by volunteers Para 1.38 One ofthe two founders Annie Aris who is Chief Operating Officer effectively adminlsters the day to day running of the charitv. The trustees and additional volunteers/supporters of the charity help with setting up, promoting and runnlng events. The trustees are intrlnsically involved in the financial aspects of the charity both day to day as well as strategically through maintaining charlty accounts and 5crutlii Other Achievements and Performance SORP rBfer?nce Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity's work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. Para 1.20 Activitie5 and achievements of The Laughter Specialists Charitable Trust for the year April 1st 2023 to March 31st 2024 This year the income from corporate sponsorship, grants and donations has increased a5 more funding has been available after covid and our opportunity to dellver 15 back to pre covid Outreach visits to family's homes which we introduced during Covid times has been a great success and continued, wlth more and more families benefittin8 from the service. We visit the following schools.. 11 Edith Borthwick School, Bocking, Essex. Once a week or fortnlght during term time. 21 Grove Cottage Imencapl, Blshops Stortford twice per month. 31 We visit Harlow Fields school Harlow every week through various sources of funding- this has been working extremely well. with our work being recognised for its additional educational benefi'ts- this acts as a valuable model that can be rolled out to other Special schools 41 We visit Columbus School & College Chelmsford through general funding. We've built up a great rapport and understanding of the children's needs bringing them fun &13ughter. helping them to interact with each other and express themselves. 51 Meldreth School The benefit5 of these visits have led to a reduction in stress and boredom for the children and their parents at these linics. 61 Market Fields School Colchester Weekly or fortni8htly visits during term time, through speclfic funding for that area Training programmes.. A new tralnee LS be8an in mid 2023 and another in early 2024, both covering the Manchester area. A rigorous new theory training pro8ramme has been developed which wlll sit alongside a thorou8h practical training programme. The charity ha5 successfully secured funds to move into the Manchester/Blackpool area and the North London region. Development of our seNice with older people with focus on dementia is also progressing, more funding is required to secure this service. Gathering and analysin8 the feedback for our visits to enable us to measure the impact more accurately of our work. Additional infonnatlon (optlonal You may. Choose to include further statements where relevant abouL' Achievements against objectives set Para 1.41 Perfomance of fundraising activities against objectives set Investment performance against objectives Para 1.41 Para 1.41 Other Financial Review Review of the charity's financial position at the end of the period Para 1.21 There is an restricted funds balance of £17,330 and an unrestricted funds balance of £12.871 at the end of the financial year. We still had some training money left to continue our training programme. Overall successful funding was lower this year, there appear5 to be a lot more competition for grant5 and funds overall. We are lookin8 at alternative ways to raise funds in this very competitive market. The trustees aim is to have fund5 in reserve to cover six months indirect fixed costs. These Costs include administration fees. fundraising fees, Insurance, office supplies. computer Costs, accountancy costs etc. statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held Para 1.22 Direct funds for our charitable activitle5 Ifunding Laughter Specialist vlsitsl are mostly restricted funds for projects and received in dvance, though now some restricted fund5 are paid partially u front and then the remainln8 funds paid when the project is complete. At present the trustees don't conslder it necessary to have a reserye fund to cover these costs a5 the number of visits and timSn8 of the visits Is very flexible, though this may be reconsidered if our funding becomes spllt between beginning and end of project. In terms of a reserve fund, It Is more important in the trustees opinion to have a reserve fund to cover the other costs of runnin8 the charlty wlthout which we cannot support the Laughter Speclalist vlslts. The trustees conslder that the charity should have sufficient reseryes In unrestrScted fund5 to cover fundraisln& admin and other flxed 5UPPOrt costs of between £10,000 to £15,000 not exceeding £15,000, Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 Reasons for holding zero reserves Details of fund materlally in deficit Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern Para 1.22 P8Ta 1.24 Para 1.23 Addltlonal Inforniation (optional) You ma choose to include further statements where relevant abouL' The charitys principal sources of funds (including Para 1.47 any fundraising) Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted Par¥ 1.48 A description of the principal risks facing the charty Para 1.40 Other Structure, Governance and Management Description of charity's trusts: Type of governing document Para 1.2S Trust Deed How is the charity constituted? le. g u iiincorporaled a$80ciatioY CIOI Para 1.25 Trust Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. elèction to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees Para 1.25 Appolnted by existlng trustees Additional Infomiation (optional) You ma choose to include further statements where relevant about: Policies and procedures adopted for the induction Para 1.51 and training of trustees The charity's organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works Para 1.51 Relationship with any related arties Other Para 1.51 Reference and Administrative details Chari name Other name the char uses Re istered charit number Charity's principal address The Lau hter S ecialists Charitable Trust 1132987 Falcons Park Road Little Easton, Great Dunmow Essex CM6 2JH Names of the charfty trustees who manage the charity Trustee name Office {if any) Date5 aetsd If not for whole ear Treasurer Name of person lor body) entltled toa olnt trustee If an Edward Rudd Clare Thompson Karen Sheairs Acting Chair Jun20 - Finance officer Madeleine Gardner Corporate trustees - names of the directors at the date the report was approved Dirgctor name Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity Trustee namg Dates acted If not for whole ear Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others Description of the assets held in this capacity Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity's objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity's own assets Addltlonal Infomiatlon (optlonal) Namas and addresses of advisers (Optlonal infomiation) Type of Name Address advlser Name of chief executive or names of senior staff m8mbeYs (Optional infomiation) Annie Aris (founder and Laughter Specialists acting as Chief Operational Officers), Exemptions from disclosure Reason for non-disclosure of ke ersonnel details Other o tional information Declaratlons The trustees declara that they have approved the tnistaes. report above. Slgned on behalf of tha chartty's trusteeg Slgnaturo(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chalr, etc) Ed Rudd Madeleine Gardner Treasurer Trustee Date i?/oi 2015 Roc•1 ts and ents account• CC16• T• Soclioii A Receipts dncl pa Al •J zzza 14• 41 Si!Ciioii B aiaiLblllPlIt nl a58els aiirt Iiabililio5 .It tlio on(J ol tIiL' Ixiri