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← Reach Charity Limited

2025-02-28-accounts

REACH CHARITY LIMITED

(A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)

ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2024 – 2025

Covering the period 1 March 2024 to 28 February 2025

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ANNUAL REPORT 2024-2025

The Trustees of Reach Charity Ltd are pleased to present their annual report, together with the financial statements for the charity for the year ending 28 February 2025.

The Trustees are also Directors of the Company for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006.

Purpose and impact

Reach was established to provide support for children, and their families, with upper limb

differences , to help them feel comfortable in their own skin and to live their lives beyond limits.

The main activities carried out in support of these charitable purposes are:

In shaping our objectives and activities, the Trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit, including the guidance ‘Public Benefit: running a charity’.

The Board of Trustees are extremely grateful of the hard work and creativity of our volunteers and staff for everything they have done to ensure Reach continues to provide a positive difference to many families this year. We currently have more than 800 children and young people with upper limb differences within our community and support 860 members.

Our Vision and Values

Reach is a friendly, caring place for incredible children and their incredible families. We give support and information to inspire and build their future.

We offer fun activities to encourage Reach children to aim higher, whatever their age or ability.

Reach is… positive

Even in the darkest moments, we want Reach to be a ray of hope in our members’ lives. We see the potential in all Reach children and celebrate their ability, never focusing on disability. Reach is… supportive

We recognise that different families want different levels of support, and we tailor our approach to suit them.

We’re there to provide resources, support and practical advice; whatever our families tell us they need.

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Reach is… inspiring

Our members are amazing, and we shout about their achievements whenever we can. We share success stories and hero those ‘wow’ moments, big and small, to show families just what our incredible children are capable of doing.

Reach is… community

Connecting families is a vital part of Reach’s work and this creates priceless bonds. Whether it’s at our family weekend, branch meetings or on our Facebook forum, we help members to build relationships that last a lifetime

Ethical principles

More detail on the way we apply our ethical principles is published on the charity’s website: - - https://www.reach.org.uk/our policies procedures

Governance and Decision-making

Reach is a Company limited by guarantee and is registered as a charity with both the Charity Commission for England and Wales and the Office of the Scottish Charities Regulator. We are governed by our Memorandum and Articles of Association, which are available on our website: https://www.reach.org.uk/our-policies-procedures.

Responsibility for the overall administration of the charity lies with the Trustees. Together they make up the Trustee Board. Trustees are elected by members of the charity at the annual general meeting but may additionally be co-opted in-year to fill particular skills gaps on the board. Any co-opted trustee is subject to election by the members at the next annual general meeting. A third of all other serving Trustees retire at each annual general meeting but can stand for re-election if the rest of the Trustee Board supports their nomination.

The Trustee Board elects, from its members, three officers: a chair, a vice-chair and a treasurer. The Board meet on a quarterly basis, with sub committees meeting as required to look at specific priority areas (Fundraising, Governance, Management, Finance, Ireland and Health professionals) and discuss issues in more detail in order to advise the Board.

The Board aims to make decisions by consensus but, in the rare event that this is not possible, decides matters on a majority vote. All Trustees are bound by the principle of collective responsibility – that is to say that they have agreed to accept a decision of the board, even if this was not their personal view.

The Board delegates the majority of the day-to-day operational management of the charity to the Operations Lead. The Board delegates decisions on the award of bursaries to the independent Bursary Panel.

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The Board has a risk register for overseeing and managing risks to the charity’s operation. This is reviewed by the Board at least quarterly, and more frequently as events require.

We are registered with and regulated by the Charities Commission and Companies House. Over the years there have been several changes to both charities and company laws and regulations, and this year recognised the need to update our purposes and Articles of Association to reflect these. After a year-long consultation involving a working group made up of Trustees & Volunteer Branch Coordinators, industry legal professionals and meetings with Reach members online and in person to ensure these documents are in line with the rules and our members wishes, our members voted unanimously at our AGM 26 October 2024 to adopt a new set of Articles of Association.

In January 2022 the Board updated its strategic priorities for the period 2022-27, to bring greater clarity and focus to how Reach furthers its charitable purposes:

Trustees’ Responsibilities

The Trustees (who are also the directors of Reach Charity Limited for the purpose of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company and charity law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements each financial year. Under company law the trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period.

In preparing financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

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The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charitable company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Charities Act 2011. They 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.

We hold ongoing reviews of the Trustee Board to ensure we have the correct balance of skills and life experience to move forward, and to increase the support we can give to our members. We have succeeded in recruiting new and younger professionals as Trustees with skills in areas seen as important to the Charity, including finance, legal, fundraising, PR, & Governance.

The Board has a balance of experienced Trustees, several with experience of being a volunteer branch coordinator, and members new to trusteeship. This balance of new and old ensures we have a Board that can fully reflect the views of our membership, provide a wide range of skills and professionalism in key areas, and guarantee the future of the Charity.

40% of the Board have upper limb difference; 40% are parents of people with ULD; and 20% with expertise in the medical profession and finance. This spread is seen as vital in ensuring we remain close to, and delivering, what our members need.

Our employed staff have remained constant through the year. Both have considerable experience of working within the charity sector. Their drive and commitment coupled with the drive and commitment of our volunteers have enabled us to push forward with our goals of expanding the support we provide to our members, and our volunteer branch coordinators who support our community at a local level.

A working party made up of Trustees and our Branch Coordinators was established and in consultation with legal professionals drafted a new set of Articles of Association, adopting a Charity Law Association model to ensure we maintain our health as a charity as we move forward. In conjunction with this we have remained in contact with external professionals such as our legal advisors and accountants, editors of our member magazine Within Reach, and media production professionals, several bringing with them their own lived experience of upper limb difference.

We have maintained our contract with the social media manager engaged last year. We see this as essential in connecting with a younger audience in a manner that is exciting to them. The fantastic gains on platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram have been sustained whilst ensuring these remain secure and compliant with our safeguarding policies.

We continuously seek input from our Branch Coordinators and members to ensure we deliver to our members’ need. More on this below but we are delighted to report ongoing growth in our membership and a record number of young people / families attending events held both locally and nationally.

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Branch Network

The backbone of Reach is our 18 Branches throughout the UK and the Republic of Ireland. These are led by dedicated volunteer Branch Coordinators who organise regional events for our members and provide support to new and existing Reach families via the telephone, on closed group social media forums (Facebook & WhatsApp) & face-to-face meetings.

These are often the only experience some of our Reach children have of meeting with other children with upper limb difference. The opportunity to connect with others with similar differences, and to realise that they are not alone is invaluable. For their parents, the opportunity to learn from the experience of other parents is important in supporting their children grow up confident in their ability to live their lives beyond limits.

To remain in line with the Republic of Ireland’s charity and company rules a new Company - Reach Upper Limb Difference (Ireland) Company Limited by Guarantee Registration Number 738942 has been registered and is in the process of being registered with the Irish Charities Regulator.

Historically all Branch finances have been accounted for before within the Reach Charity Ltd annual accounts. A separate bank account was maintained in Ireland, denominated in Euros. On completion of the registration requirements the funds held in the Irish accounts were transferred to Reach Ireland Ltd.

Notwithstanding this regulatory change the Irish branch remains very much part of our Reach family.

Our Branch Coordinators and volunteers remain very active, enabling some 482 individual Reach children attended regional and national events – 5% more than 2024. They took us to farm visits, castles, science and cultural centres, ice rinks, climbing, community and sports centres, 4 pantos, and even a teddy bear picnic-in-the-park.

Using local knowledge, they have partnered with other local charities to increase opportunities for our Reach children, leading to invitations to the LimbPower Family Day, climbing with the Grit Collection and surfing with Surfability.

Highlights of 2024-25

Annual Family Weekend (AFW) and AGM – October 2024

This is our premier event of the year where many Reach families and young people get the chance to meet their peers and take part in many fun activities. We are extremely grateful to Alistair Greener who gives his time free of cost to present and lead the weekend on stage.

2024 saw our AFW return to the Marriott Hotel in Portsmouth. Total attendance was 374, an increase of 28% on last year. Under the guidance of James Jones and his team from Virtual Studios we were able to run a virtual conference for those unable to attend in person, meaning we are able to ‘touch’ many more people than before. James has been a member of the Reach family since childhood, and his commitment and support is much appreciated.

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The arrival of a new child with an upper limb difference can be a shock to any parent, and we seek to reinforce the message that they are all valued and capable of amazing things and careers. The ability to meet with other Reach families and hear the inspired stories of our many speakers who have lived experience of ULD is of tremendous value to everyone who attends.

Reach Activity Week (RAW) August 2024

The Reach Activity Week (RAW) is one of our key events, bringing together secondary school-age children with upper limb differences and led by a group of our adult mentors - all with upper limb differences themselves.

This year we returned to Calshot Activity Centre with 40 young people coming together from all across the UK to enjoy outdoor and adventurous activities. Some come back every year and every year they are joined by young people wanting to share experience with other young people who ‘look like them’.

It is highly valued by all of them, and a rare opportunity to take part with others with limb differences, learn with and from each other, and nurture connections that can last a lifetime. All attending adult members volunteer their time to deliver RAW, all have an upper limb difference, and the value of the children seeing them acting as leaders and mentors is immeasurable. Several of the mentors came to RAW themselves as children and are keen to pay forward the lessons and skills they learnt - this is the great and unique strength of RAW. This year we increased the number of Mentors supporting delivery to 10. RAW is in its nature, inclusive, and RAW Lead, Claire Hermon, and her team continue to strive to make this wonderful week accessible to all.

We are conscious of the financial pressures many families are under. We believe that money should not be a reason for young people to miss out, therefore the event is subsidised, and families are invited to contribute what they can afford. We run an activity bursary scheme for those where financial contribution is not possible.

Regional Weekends

Following feedback from Reach families our volunteer branch coordinators have been active arranging more regional events throughout the UK and Ireland. We are in ongoing discussions with our Branches and funders to deliver more events than ever in 2025-2026.

During the year 57% of members attended local, regional and national events – more than ever before. We fully expect this number to increase further in the next year as we plan further regional events in East Anglia, South Wales, Scotland and the Northwest. We are extremely grateful to the Pebbles Foundation for donating £2,000 towards the ‘Reach on the Beach’ weekend in South Wales, and National Lottery Scotland getting behind two regional events in Scotland, Autumn 2024 and Spring 2025.

18 – 25 Pilot Retreat

Development of our 18-25 programme began with the delivery of a small weekend retreat in Devon for 12 young adults with upper limb difference in April 2024.

We recognize the very real challenges faced by this age group as they move from schools and colleges into universities and working life – not least being the mental health challenges many have faced post-Covid.

We also recognise they are the future of Reach. Helping them to develop and overcome the challenges

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they face is therefore not only good for them but also for our charity in the years to come.

Much more on this will be reported in next year’s report but for now here are a few headlines:

In April 2025 5 veteran RAW mentors came together with 12 young adults (aged 18-25) to hold a Reach Retreat weekend to share experience and discuss the challenges they face. This led to the formation of a working group to develop a new Retreat and Mentorship programme.

We are delighted that the VTCT Foundation and the National Lottery have agreed to support this initiative that among other benefits will include

Bursaries

People with upper limb differences face issues not encountered by the wider population. These often require the need for person-specific adaptations or the purchase of specialised equipment. All of these have a cost, which can be a barrier to some families. The Reach Bursary Scheme was set up to help remove or reduce barriers associated with upper limb differences.

Members are welcome to make application for assistance for specific needs. The most common of these is for adaptions for driving but have also included: bike adaptions, adapted musical instruments, paraathlete equipment and event costs, modified laptops, and attendance at RAW.

Award decisions are taken by an independent panel with professional knowledge and lived experience of limb difference.

In 2022 a review of the Bursary Scheme was undertaken with representatives of the Bursary Scheme as part of a wider ongoing programme to review all Reach charitable activities to ensure they continue to align fully with the charity’s Objects and the Charity Commission’s guidance on Public Benefits.

The review confirmed the value of the Bursary Scheme as a vital part of how we support children and young people with upper limb differences and refocused the application form to enable applicants to provide clearer information to demonstrate how the thing they were seeking support for would remove or reduce a barrier associated with their upper limb difference.

Further review in the previous financial year resulted in the introduction of activity and membership bursaries to increase access, inclusion and participation.

Providing support to parents of children with upper limb differences

Our staff team and volunteer parents and adults with upper limb difference continued to offer telephone, email and online support via our closed social media groups to existing members and prospective new

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members as well as dealing with queries from the general public and from health professionals. Being able to connect new parents with access to experience and support from other members of the limb difference community is a very important part of our work.

With the support of Trustee and orthopedic surgeon, Ruther Lester OBE, we reestablished attendance at midwifery conferences, attending and running a workshop at the London Midwives Festival in January 2024.

Building on published research carried out in 2022/23 with the Reach community we have now received support to fund a Pilot Liaison Nurse Project, the goal: to improve the early parental experience of families learning their child has an upper limb difference.

Social media

Reach continues to be active on social media. As well as our public sites we maintain closed groups on Facebook and WhatsApp for use of our Branches and members to ensure we are GDPR compliant and respectful of our members.

In addition, we use Instagram, LinkedIn and now TikTok to increase public awareness of upper limb differences, the support available, and to reach new members, healthcare professionals and potential funders.

The closed Facebook groups are very well used for communication between families, asking for advice or support, as well as celebrating the ‘wins’. The closed Branch Facebook groups and the Branch WhatsApp groups tend to be used for information locally.

Our Social Media Manager has undertaken a review of all our social media outlets to bring them up to date and increase user accessibility.

Financial position

Our annual financial accounts for the year to 28 February 2025 are attached to this report.

For many charities, including Reach, the last few years have been a challenging period. The Covid pandemic and following financial downturn have led to a reduction in donation income.

The legacy of £540,000 we received in late 2023 has proved a lifeline in carrying us through the past months as we look to develop and expand our activities. Whilst having funds in our bank account it remains our intent to invest these funds in delivering support and activities that our members really need and appreciate.

This policy is reflected in this year’s accounts. Notwithstanding this we fully appreciate that these funds will not last forever and a large part of our focus over recent months has been to diversify our income streams. This year is seen as a year of transition as we deliver on our promises to our members whilst offering expended activities. Subsequent to the Accounts strike date we are very pleased that the value of what we are doing has been recognised in receipt of grants and funding from several funding bodies that will support us going ahead.

It is expected the subsequent financial year will also show a deficit albeit at a reduced figure as we achieve the additional funds to support activities.

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Reserves policy

As a charity, Reach’s first duty is to its beneficiaries - current and future. All the charity’s money must be spent to support the charitable purposes set out in our Articles of Association.

The Board of Trustees have a duty to act in the interests of the Charity’s current and future beneficiaries, including ensuring that the Charity is capable of meeting all its contractual obligations and liabilities. This means, at the most extreme, ensuring there are sufficient funds held in order to cover the cost of winding up the Charity, should this prove necessary at some future date.

It also means taking steps to protect the Charity against future reductions in income – the equivalent of a ‘rainy day’ fund, that would enable the Charity to continue to operate in support of its beneficiaries in the event of its income ceasing or being significantly reduced. A small charity like Reach is very vulnerable to changes in the fundraising environment, as the Covid-19 restrictions have demonstrated. It is important to protect the charity’s services to its beneficiaries to enable them to continue, as far as possible, despite reductions in income.

This includes ongoing review of all of our planned activities, and contingent planning if our income falls below expectations.

The Board considers the particular circumstances of Reach in assessing the level of funds required to meet this aim which we consider should meet, as a minimum, the cost of three months operating costs, plus the anticipated cost of winding up the Charity in the - hopefully very unlikely - event that this should prove necessary.

This reserve is to be reviewed annually by the Trustees, and for this financial year is retained at £90.000. The authorisation of the full Board of Trustees is required to approve any expenditure that would erode reserves below that target level. We are pleased to confirm that our funds remain comfortably in excess of this figure.

Restricted Funds

The charity holds restricted funds. These funds were donated to Reach to fund specific research. The funder expressed the wish that this fund be maintained for research into the causes of congenital limb differences. The fund is insufficient to commission a research project and despite efforts over a long period, we have been unable to identify any ongoing research project that meets the fund’s aims. We continue to look for a suitable project that meets the requirements of the funder. We intend to renew our efforts to find a suitable research project that we can donate the funds to via specialised internet sites dedicated to sourcing funds for research.

Designated Funds

As we plan for the future, we face financial costs for upcoming activities which we are committed to. The anticipated cost of these are marked as designated funds, and not available for the general spending of the Charity.

Going concern assessment

Each year the Trustees are required to review the financial position of the Charity and that it remains

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financially viable.

On review of the Accounts the Trustees remain satisfied that all reasonable steps have been taken to protect the Charity’s assets and that it remains a viable Company. Reserves remain in excess of our minimum reserve and no commitment has been entered into which would change this position.

Administrative details

Company name: Reach Charity Ltd : Reach Charity Ltd
Charity registration numbers: Charity registration numbers:1134544 (England&Wales), SC049805
(Scotland)
Company registration number: 07054164
Registered office and principal office:Office No 4, The Library Rooms, 1st Floor,
59 High Street, Totnes, TQ9 5PB 59 High Street, Totnes, TQ9 5PB
Trustees and Directors: The directors of the charitable company are its trustees for the
Purposes Purposesof charity law.The trustees and officers in post at the
po point at which this report was drawn were:
Christopher Creamer (chair) Christopher Creamer (chair)
Gary Phillips (vice chair) Gary Phillips (vice chair)
Phillip Robertson (treasurer) Phillip Robertson (treasurer)
Julie Detheridge
Ruth Lester
Emily Tisshaw Emily Tisshaw
Lee Harvey Lee Harvey
Esther Pounder Esther Pounder
Steve Haynes Steve Haynes
Rebecca Nind Rebecca Nind
Ella Dickinson Ella Dickinson
Colm Creamer Colm Creamer
Key Management Personnel: Key Management Personnel:Sarah Jane Lowson Charity Operations Lead
& Company Secretary
Independent Examiner: Independent Examiner:AndrewWing,
Accountants: Accountants:Wings, Chartered Accountants, Unit 1, Pearl, Assurance House,
Elbow Lane, Tavistock, Devon, PL19 0BG
Bankers: :CAF Bank, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4JQ

In preparing this report, the Trustees have taken advantage of the small companies' exemption provided by section 415A of the Companies Act 2006.

This report was approved by the Trustees on Saturday 06 September 2025 and signed on their behalf by:

………………………….

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ACCOUNTS 2023-2024

Independent Examiner’s Report on the Accounts for the year ended 28 February 2025

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the company for the year ended 28 February 2025, which are set out on pages 14 to 25.

This report is made solely to the Trustees, as a body, in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 and regulations made under section 154 of that Act and Regulation 11 of the Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the Trustees those matters I am required to state to them in an Independent Examiner’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company’s Trustees as a body, for my work or for this report.

Responsibilities and basis of report

The charity’s trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 (‘the 2005 Act’), The Charities Accounts (Scotland) Regulations 2006 (as amended) (‘the 2006 Accounts Regulations’) and 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

Since the charity is required by company law to prepare its accounts on an accruals basis and is registered as a charity in Scotland your examiner must be a member of a body listed in Regulations 11(2) of the 2006 accounts regulations. I can confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a registered member of ICAEW, 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:

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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.

Ganiaa Wie FCA

Wings Chartered Accountants Unit 1 Pearl Assurance House Elbow Lane Tavistock PL19 0BG

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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITES

(INCORPORATING THE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2025

Note
Income:
Donations and legacies
2
Income from charitable
activities
3
Income from other trading
activities
4
Investment Income
5
Total Income
Expenditure:
Raising funds
6
Charitable activities
7
Support activities
8
Total Expenditure
Net
income/(expenditure)
and net movement in
funds for the year
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought
forward
Total funds carried
forward		 Unrestricted
Funds
£
78,198.
47,222.
51,754.
14,028.
191,202.
27,390.
225,658.
77,061.
330,109.
(138,907)
596,446
457,539		 Restricted
Funds
£
-
-
10,250
-
10,250
-
16,109
-
16,109
(5,859)
22,196
16,337		 Designated
Funds
£
Total
2025
£
5,343
83,541.
-
47,222.
963
62,967.
-
14,028.
6,306
207,758.
2,000
29,390
500
242,267
-
77,061
2,500
348,718
3,806
(140,960)
-
618,642
3,806
477,682		 Total
2024
£
669,489
24,119
31,749
2,431
727,788.
12,558
246,483
88,183
347,224
380,564
238,078
618,642

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

All income and expenditure derives from continuing activities.

The notes on pages 13 to 22 form part of these financial statements

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BALANCE SHEET

AS AT 28 FEBRUARY 2025

Note 2025 2024
£ £ £ £
Fixed Assets
Intangible assets 11 - -
Tangible assets 12 14,517 15,440
14,517 15,440
Current Assets
Stock 3,748. 2,149.
Debtors 13 27,092. 17,767.
Cash at bank and in hand 450,009. 596,874.
480,849. 616,790.
Creditors amounts falling due within
one year 14 (17,684) (13,588)
Net current assets 463,165 603,202
Net Assets 17 477,682 618,642
The funds of the charity
Unrestricted income funds 16 457,539 596,446
Designated funds 3,806 -
Restricted income funds 16 16,337 22,196
477,682 618,642

The Trustees consider that the company is entitled to exemption from the requirements to have an audit under the provisions of section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 (“the Act”) and members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of the Act.

The Trustees acknowledge their responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and for preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at 29 February 2024 and of its net resources expended for the year in accordance with the requirements of sections 394 and 395 of the Act and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the company.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to small companies within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 06 September 2025 and signed on their behalf, by:

……………………………………………..

– Chair

……………………………………………..

– Treasurer

The notes on pages 16 to 25 form part of these financial statements

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NOTES OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2025

1. Accounting policies

1.1 Basis of preparation of Financial Statements

The financial statements have been prepared 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 (FRS102) (effective 1 January 2019) – (Charities SORP (FRS102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) and the Companies Act 2006.

Advantage has been taken of disclosure exemptions as set out in FRS102.1.12 from the requirement to produce a cashflow statement.

Reach Charity Limited meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.

1.2 Company Status

The company, which was incorporated in the United Kingdom, is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. The directors of the company are the Trustees named on page 14. In the event of the company being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £10 per member of the company.

1.3 Fund Accounting

General funds are unrestricted which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the company and which have not been designated for other purposes.

Designated funds comprise of unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Trustees for particular purposes.

Restricted funds are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors. The cost of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.

Investment income, gains and losses are allocated to the appropriate fund.

1.4 Income

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met or when it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

For legacies, entitlement is taken as the earlier of the date on which either: the charity is aware that probate has been granted, the estate has been finalised and notification has been made by the executor(s) to the charity that a distribution will be made, or when a distribution is received from the estate. Receipt of a legacy, in whole or in part, is only considered probable when the amount can be measured reliably and the charity has been notified of the executor’s intention to make a distribution. Where legacies have been notified to the charity, or the charity is aware of the granting of probate, and the criteria for income recognition have not been met, then the legacy is treated as a contingent asset and disclosed if material.

For pledges, entitlement is the earlier of the pledge being probable and measurable or the pledge being received.

Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.

Income from trading activities is the amount derived from ordinary activities and is stated after trade discounts.

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1.5 Irrecoverable VAT

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.

1.6 Expenditure

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:

1.7 Apportionment of costs

The apportionment of costs between “Raising funds”, “Charitable activities” and “Support activities” has been done on the basis of the specific activities within each cost heading.

The following cost headings include activities covering more than one type of cost and have therefore been apportioned as follows:

1.8 Intangible Fixed Assets and Amortisation

All assets costing more than £500 are capitalised. Intangible fixed assets are stated at cost less amortisation. Amortisation is provided at a rate calculated to write off the cost of the assets, over the expected useful life on the following basis:

Database - 5 years straight line

1.9 Tangible Fixed Assets and Depreciation

All assets more than £500 are capitalised.

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of fixed assets, less their estimated residual value, over the expected useful lives on the following basis:

Recorders - 5% reducing balance Equipment - 10% reducing balance

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1.10 Operating Leases

Rentals under operating leases are charged to the statement of financial activities on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

1.11 Stocks

Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value after making due allowance for obsolete and slowmoving items.

1.12 Debtors

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any discounts due.

1.13 Cash at Bank and in Hand

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less than the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

1.14 Creditors and Provisions

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.

1.15 Foreign Currency

Profit and loss transactions in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the exchange rate ruling at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the closing rates at the balance sheet date and the exchange differences are included in the profit and loss account.

1.16 Financial Instruments

The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value with the exception of bank loans, which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

18

2. Income from Donations and Legacies

Unrestricted
2025
£
Gifts and Donations (includes Grants and legacies)
32,538
Legacy donation November 2023
-
Gift aid tax claimed/claimable
8,118
Membership Subs
37,542
78,198
ncome from Charitable Activities
Unrestricted
2025
£
Recorder sales
30
Family Weekends
33,368
RAW Income
13,824
47,222
ncome earned from other trading activities
Unrestricted
2025
£
Fundraising events
14,654
Marathon/Running events
23,772
Challenge events
4,662
Deposits absorbed
-
Branches Income
7,120
Christmas cards
-
Advertising income
1,211
Miscellaneous income
335
51,754
nvestment income
Unrestricted
2025
£
Bank interest
14,028		 Unrestricted
2024
£
77,043
540,303
7,774
34,632
659,752
Unrestricted
2024
£
400
11,406
12,312
24,118
Unrestricted
2024
£
1,224
11,477
17,048
-
882
-
-
116
30,747
Unrestricted
2024
£
2,431

3. Income from Charitable Activities

4. Income earned from other trading activities

5. Investment income

19

6. Analysis of expenditure on raising funds

Analysis of expenditure on raising funds
Promotional Item costs
Fundraising costs
PR adverts
Challenges & events
Marathon/Running costs
Salaries & Wages
PAYE/NI
Employer pension contributions
Within Reach		 Unrestricted
2025
£
1,549
1,339
-
460
2,897
17,868
597
536
2,144
27,390		 Unrestricted
2024
£
£
2,432
1,350
2,994
1,341
4,440
-
-
-
-
12,558

7. Analysis of expenditure on direct charitable activities

Family weekends
RAW expenditure
Promotional item costs
Camping weekend
Bursary grants paid
Salaries & Wages
PAYE/NI
Employers pension contributions
Branch meetings
Volunteer expenses & training
Insurance costs
Within Reach
Exhibition costs
Charitable materials & services
Equipment hire - repairs
Donation to Ireland
Social media manager
Advertising & marketing
IT software & consumables		 Unrestricted
2025
£
98,725.
28,352.
2,324-
-.
4,100.
28,589.
956.
858.
11,400.
115.
2,246.
19,295.
-.
-
42
-
21,990
4,402
2,264
225,658.		 Unrestricted
2024
£
72,397.
27,064.
3,648-
-.
7,287.
45,792.
1,024.
972.
10,864.
-.
1,130.
23,171.
-.
-1313116,384.
592-592.
-14,038.
-11,465.
-2,994.
-5,920.
244,742.

20

8. Analysis of expenditure on support activities

Salaries & Wages
PAYE/NI
Employers pension contributions
Other employee benefits
Agency staff costs
Recruitment costs
Trustees’ travel expenses
Staff expenses & training
Trustee expenses other
Rent
Insurance costs
Telephone/fax/email
Postage
Stationery
Website & Computing
Subscriptions
Sundry office expenses
Depreciation
Volunteer training & expenses
Accountancy & independent examination
Bank charges
Foreign currency (gains)/losses
Professional & consultancy fees
Governance costs
Trustees meeting costs
Trustees training		 Unrestricted
2025
£
25,016.
836.
750.
372.
-.
-.
1,455.
4,338.
1,558.
3,533.
1,180.
2,305.
3,547.
327.
3,396.
155.
760.
922.
1,283.
4,462.
1,539.
-.
3,150.
7,440.
7,038.
1,699.
77,061.		 Unrestricted
2024
£
29,609.
682.
648.
350.
918.
2,779.
-.
7,443.
7,197.
4,206.
754.
1,612.
2,004.
634.
3,947.
269.
4,502.
988.
5,486.
3,022.
1,324.
-.
1,275.
3,060.
643.
4,831.
88,183.

9. Net Expenditure

This is stated after charging:

Depreciation of tangible fixed assets – owned by the charity
Independent examiners remuneration – current examiner
Independent examiners fees for non-compliance services –
current advisor
Independent examiners fees for non-compliance services –
previous advisor		 2025
£
2024
£
922
988
250
250
4,212
2,772
-
-

No payments were made to directors or any persons connected with them during the year (2023: £Nil). No material transaction took place between the organisation and a trustee or any person connected with them.

During the year trustees were reimbursed for travelling and other expenses totaling £1,558 (2024: £7,197).

21

10. Staff Costs

Staff costs were as follows:

Wages and salaries
National Insurance costs
Agency staff
DBS Check Fee
Employee benefits
Pension contributions		 2025
£
71,473
2,389
-
-
372
2,144
76,378		 2024
£
74,024
1,706
2,296
-
350
1,620
79,996

No employees received annualised emoluments in excess of £60,000.

The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:

Operations 2025
No.
2
2		 2024
No.
2
2

11. Intangible fixed assets

ntangible fixed assets
Cost
As at 1 March 2024 and 28 February 2025
Amortisation
As at 1 March 2024
Charge for the year
As at 28 February 2025
Net Book Value
At 28 February 2025
At 29 February 2024		 Database
£
13,740
13,740
-
13,740
-
-		 Total
£
13,740
13,740
-
13,740
-
-

22

12. Fixed Assets

Cost
As at 1 March 2024
Additions
Disposals
As at 28 February 2025
Depreciation
At 1 March 2024
Charge for the year
Eliminated on disposals
As at 28 February 2025
Net Book Value
At 28 February 2025
At 29 February 2024		 Recorders
£
23,137.
-.
-.
23,137.
10,694.
622.
-.
11,316.
11,821
12,444		 Equip
ment
£
5,877
-
-
5,877
2,881
300
-
3,181
2,696
2,996		 Total
£
29,014.
-.
-.
29,014.
13,575.
922.
-.
14,497.
14,517.
15,440.

13. Debtors

Trade debtors
Prepayments and accrued income
Other debtors		 2025
£
-
885
26,207
27,092		 2024
£
-
931
16,836
17,767

14. Creditors amounts falling due within one year

Trade creditors
Accruals
Deferred income (note 15)
Other creditors		 2025
£
-.
1,434.
7,278.
8,972.
17,684.		 2024
£
700.
1,614.
4,058.
7,216.
13,588.

15. Deferred Income

Deferred income comprises amounts received for fundraising events that had not taken place at the year end.

Balance as at 1 March 2024 (1 March 2023)
Amount released to income earned from charitable activities
Amount deferred in the year
Balance as at 28 February 2025 (29 February 2024)		 2025
£
4,058.
(4,058)
7,278.
7,278.		 2024
£
5,297.
(5,297)
4,058.
4,058.

16. Analysis of charitable funds

Fund Income Expenditure Transfers

Fund

23

Unrestricted Funds
General funds
Total unrestricted funds
Designated Funds
East Anglia
Reach on the Beach
Patterdale
Farewill
Total designated funds
Restricted Funds
Research fund
National Lottery Grant
Other small funds, fully
spent
Scotland
Total restricted funds
Total funds		 balances
brought
forward
£
596,446
596,446
-
-
-
-
-
13,200
8,996
-
-
22,196
618,642		 £
191,202
191,202
963
2,805
538
2,000
6,306
-
-
250
10,000
10,250
207,758		 £
(330,109)
(330,109)
-
(500)
-
(2,000)
(2,500)
-
(8,996)
-
(7,113)
(16,109)
(348,718)		 £
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 balances
carried
forward
£
457,539
457,539
963
2,305
538
-
3,806
13,200
-
250
2,887
16,337
477,682

Designated Fund

The designated funds are listed by the activity for which they are designated.

Restricted Funds

The research fund represents funds donated by a member for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of research aspect of upper limb deficiency understanding.

The National Lottery grant is for the 18-25 Pilot. The smaller fund was £250 for a North West branch event.

The Scotland fund was from the National Lottery, for the Scotland Family Weekend event.

17. Analysis of net assets between funds

Intangible fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Creditors due within one
year		 Restricted
Funds 2025
£
-
-
16,337
-
16,337		 Unrestricted
Funds 2025
£
-
14,517
464,512
(17,684)
596,446		 Total Funds
2025
£
-
14,517
480,849
(17,684)
477,682		 Total Funds
2024
£
-
14,440
616,760
(13,588)
618,642

24

18. Operating Lease Commitments

At 28 February 2025 the charity had total commitments under non-cancellable operating leases as follows:

Expiry Date:
Within 1 year
Between 2 and 5 years
After more than 5 years		 2025
£
2024
£
1,106
1,402
277
1,753
-
-

19. Related Parties

There were no related party transactions in the year (2024: £Nil).

20. Controlling Party: The charitable company is controlled by the board of Trustees.

25

2024-25 (March 24 – Feb 25) Annual Report

Contents Contents Contents
Section # Page #
1 Introduction & Highlights 1
2 Chairpersons Report 2 & 3
3 Local Branches 4
4 The Regional FamilyWeekend Programme 6
5 RAW(Reach ActivityWeek)2024 7
6 The 18-25 Retreat Pilot 8
7 AFW(Annual FamilyWeekend)2024 9 & 10
8 How Do You Do It? 11
9 FundraisingMarch 2024 – February2025 12
10 Reach Finances 13
11 How are we doing? Next Steps 14 &15

1. Welcome to our

2024-25 Annual Report

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1
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This year, like every year for Reach, was all about the amazing people who volunteer their time to bring the Reach Community together. Our Branch Coordinators, Mentors, Reach Team & Event Volunteers and our Partners, all went above and beyond to create a total of 1786 opportunities for Reach families, children, and young people to connect in person, that’s 7% more than 2023.

We welcomed three new Trustees. The Board is now balanced in terms of representation, 40% people with upper limb difference (ULD), 40% parents of people with ULD and 20% people with expertise in the medical profession and finance. A working group made up of Trustees and Branch Coordinators drafted a new set of Articles of Association, adopting a Charity Law Association model to sustain our health as a charity as we move forward.

2024-25 Highlights

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2024-25 saw steady growth in membership, branch events, and the number of Reach children benefitting. Our Volunteers tried out new things, tested new ideas, talked, thought and wrote about what they want Reach to be. With theirs and your help Reach is evolving.

1

The Reach Team 2024-2025

Chair - Chris Creamer Vice Chair - Gary malities Treasurer Safeguarding Lead — Julie Detheridge - Phil Robertson Ruth Lester OBE

Amber Thacker Emily Tisshaw

2. Chairpersons Report 2024-25

Last year’s Annual Report focused on the Board’s management of the change process Reach Charity was undertaking. The revision of our Articles of Association to reflect the Charities Law, the broadening of our membership to include people over 18s with an Upper Limb Difference (ULD) and the increased communication with our branches at the local level to provide more support to our volunteer Branch Coordinators.

I don’t believe it is too much of a stretch of the imagination to say that the change process that the members ratified at AFW 2024 certainly propelled us into hyperspace. The updating of the Articles to reflect Charities Law was unanimously welcomed by the members at the October Annual Family Weekend (AFW). Thence the removal of the barrier to membership after age 18 generated an upturn in memberships over 18, with young adults enthusiastically joining wanting to be involved, bringing their lived experience and knowledge to benefit our younger members. And one of our Branch Coordinators hosted an event somewhere in the UK and Ireland almost every weekend.

Colm Creamer

Alex Brooker

Briony May Williams Jay Howard

Business Support — Ashley Blackburn

Events Development Volunteer: Sian Brooks Reach Team Volunteer: Lesley Goodfellow

RAW Mentors: Esther Lees, Tony Addison, Tom Crow, Emily Tisshaw, Fran Moylan, Chris Knox,

2

We owe each one of them a huge depth of gratitude. Thank you one and all.

We have also seen increases in participation in Reach events, thanks to the amazing commitment of our young adult members. Sarah-Jane's idea of “Reach on the Beach” was enthusiastically embraced and delivered by the South Wales Branch and some of our members added “surfing” to their repertoire. The very first 18-25's Retreat, started as a pilot project by Emily Tisshaw and her team, funding was secured for the pilot, and it was successfully delivered to young adults with ULD by young adults with ULD and generated rewarding feedback from all the participants. The concept of the 18-25s Retreat grew out of the fond memories the young adults have of Reach Activity Week (RAW), delivered annually by Clare Hermon for the last 13 years. We would dearly love for this to be an annual event.

Dr Ruth Lester, our orthopaedic surgeon Trustee, and an invaluable liaison with the medical profession, launched our Paediatric Liaison Nurse project, subject to funding and identification of a suitable Nurse. Watch this space.

Reach is continually looking forward with a view to making the “reach experience” available to more members where they live. This requires more emphasis on delivering Regional events for members closer to home. Branches may even coordinate their efforts to deliver

Regional Family Weekends in their area. The resulting “Reach Experience” for more child and adult members enrols more of them “in my tribe”. They become part of a unique group of unique people who assist each other in coping with difference. What a fulfilling goal!

Our enthusiastic and committed volunteers increased at all levels from Trustees with ULD on the Board balancing out the Trustees who are parents of a child with ULD; from Mentors and Ambassadors offering their time and skills to assist the charity to function and grow in many ways, to the volunteers who offer their services locally and nationally to cope with the administration of the charity and the delivery of so many activities.

3

3. Local Branches 2024-25:

During this year 28 volunteer Branch Coordinators and 3 volunteers enabled 482 individual Reach children and their families to spend time together (5% more than 23-24)

We welcomed new Branch Coordinators; Lindsay & Chris in the Northwest, Shaheen in North London and Lee, Grace & Rachel joined Mei in Wessex.

This year our Branch Coordinators took us to farms, castles, activity, science & cultural centres, ice rinks, climbing & community centres and swimming pools, we saw 4 pantos and had a picnic with teddy bears! With the local knowledge of our volunteer Branch Coordinators we’ve connected with other charities and organisations passionate about increasing opportunities for our children, with an invite to the LimbPower Family Fun Day, Climbing with the Grit Collective ~~a~~ & Surfing with Surfability. ~~a~~

THANK YOU Reach Branch Coordinators This is the difference you made 2024-25:

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----- Start of picture text -----
’Onesty.HannahIt and Lesley were SO friend]: ;
. enue was Was love| t IV and informa '
gut branch ager wiranch Reach family for longer thon '0 people who have bes wih lots of
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“The Children had the BEST time at the climbing event in Bristol last weekend. Thank you so, so much to everyone involved in the organising, what a fantastic way to give the sport a go. H loved having others with a limb difference showing her the ropes. Fantastic Event!”

4

4. The Regional Family Weekend Programme

Reach on the Beach South Wales

May Bank Holiday 2024

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“I usually hide my hand, here I don’t have
to, and it feels more than amazing.”
Pilot Participant
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“The weekend gave us as parents an opportunity to connect and share experiences, hopes and fears in relation to our reach child. For our child being with other children of all ages with limb differences really builds her confidence and pride in being part of such a special community. It felt like a really special family holiday shared with strangers who became friends.”

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Pilot Parent
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Branch Coordinator Melissa Beesley & volunteer Sian Mitchell, both teachers, both Reach parents, organised a 3-day family adventure for Reach families, some local, some from neighbouring regions and some from further away. 13 families, 50 people.

Together they delivered a fun packed weekend, jam packed with local food, people and pastimes, a chance to spend extended time with other Reach families with a comfy stay in a Youth Hostel… All for less than £100 per person!

We would like to say thank you to the Pebbles Foundation for donating £2000 toward Reach on the Beach, to the National Lottery Scotland for getting behind our Branch Coordinators, Mags, Iain and Liz to deliver a family weekend in Abernethy and a very big thank you to Jane & Cheryl who delivered their last Family Weekend in Patterdale in July 2024 with Chris and Lindsay there to learn the ropes…

In 2024-25 approximately 57% of Reach families attended Reach Branch Events, RAW, & the Annual Family Weekend (AFW) which is fantastic! But what if we could make it easier for families to come together nearer to where they live, free at the point of delivery? Maybe we could enable more…the seeds were sewn to grow the Regional Family Weekend programme and first timers, Navdeep & Jay, Branch Coordinators in East Anglia came on board to begin planning with our Branches in Scotland, South Wales and the Northwest for four Regional Family Weekends 2025-26….

5

A % » ie x fa ed Oe nnd rs sa i" et SS b ag -

  1. The Reach 18-25 Retreat Pilot funded by the National Lottery’s Awards for All programme April 2025

On a rather damp Sunday in February 2024 Trustee Emily Tisshaw stood in a field overlooking the sea in Devon talking to a farmer about having first dibs on his glamping tents yes, tents, but tents with real beds, toilets, showers and of course, fairy lights - a glamping essential! With the venue fixed we got to work preparing for the first ever Reach Retreat for young adults age 18-25. The intent was to create a next level RAW (see P7) , giving young adults time to connect, be themselves, be in a space where they felt supported by their peers and people older than them that got it….

In April 2024, 5 Veteran RAW Mentors came together to facilitate a long weekend for 12 young adults age 18-25. After a very rainy spring, the clouds broke, and the sun shone for the first ever ~~—~~ Reach Retreat. How was it received?

There were some negatives, some felt it might be just a little bit too much like RAW with not enough space to just be…

After the Retreat, Mentor, Tony Addison, gave his time to bring together an 18-25 working group who used their learning from the pilot and life to develop a new Retreat & Mentorship programme. It’s been an incredible year long journey, with Reach adults with skills to support coming back to help build this new project for Reach – see more on P11.

6

The RAW Effect 2024

Feedback from 17 families collated

100% increase in confidence

94.1% young people tried something new

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i
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6. RAW 2024

82% increase in independence skills

88.2% want to come back next year!

RAW 24 in your words

“This was F’s first RAW and I cannot express enough how much she benefited from being with other people with an upper limb difference. She is the only person at school with a limb difference and constantly hides her hand when not indoors. She has a week just being her, feeling comfortable and with people who totally understand how she feels.”

“Key annual social event throughout teen years”

“Thank you so much, G had a fantastic

time, and the bursary made it possible for her to be there.”

“Such a special thing to have as L grows up and for him to know he is part of a community

and can have this each year to make him feel stronger and more confident in how he approaches the world.”

“Can we please pass on a huge ‘thank you’ to all the mentors who make this amazing week happen? Giving up/volunteering a whole week to spend with our young people is just so kind and the impact is felt all through the year.”

Saw 10 Reach Mentors, led by Claire Hermon, venture south to Calshot Activities Centre. A state-of-the-art provision surrounded by water, complete with velodrome and dry ski slope – the options available to the 40 young people age 10-17 attending were vast!

We wish to say thank you to Hampshire Councils Young Persons Support Fund that made this wonderful offer accessible to our community.

The programme of activities included sailing, cycling, skiing and thanks to the GB para pathway snowboard coaches, snow AND skateboarding…

Young people’s ‘best bits’ included:

“Skateboarding, have one at home but not enough space to truly give it a proper go, cycling and the Ringo’s.”

“Learning new things like windsurfing.”

“Disco felt like a good way to finish my last year of RAW, and we were given a good level of independence.”

“Meeting old friends and new.”

3 young people attended RAW 24 with a Reach Bursary.

7

givi Sun 26 July - Sun 02 Carlton Lodge, Thirsk pj

7. AFW 2024

Headline fgures:

This year saw the event return to the Portsmouth Marriott. With Reach families, Reach Adults, the Reach Team (Trustees, Branch Coordinators & Event Volunteers) and all the Reach Ambassadors bar the wonderful Frank Letch who was still guiding us from home - telling us to listen to the young people LY ee | and make sure their voices were Fe Pe heard, all coming together to celebrate and connect.

This year our wonderful volunteer, Lesley Goodfellow was in charge of young people’s activities, she, all our volunteer Mentors and Ambassadors supporting on the day nailed it:

Best bits -" I liked the VR experience along with the trip to Fort Purbrook. All of it was amazing. DJ was amazing". Young person

The event was beset with a few problems the biggest of which being an incomplete hotel renovation which resulted in us not having an exhibition space, a longer wait

for breakfast and having to be bullish with builders wanting to keep working over the weekend! Parents checking children into the creche had a really long wait on the Saturday morning and the creche were unable to support children with additional needs.

Everyone was amazing, exhibitors having to set up in the bar, yoga workshops being delivered in hotel rooms, and hotel caretakers staying for the whole weekend just to make sure we were alright!

Even with problems this is the difference AFW 2024 made:

“It’s the stuff you can’t pay for. A musician spending 30 mins talking with my Reach child about how to improve…. Watching my child with a

group of old friends dancing like it’s the best night ever… my child walking away knowing that anything is possible because they have spent a weekend surrounded by incredible people. And this rubs off on my non-Reach child too.” Reach Parent

"It was my first time at the event. When we went on the trip I didn't want to leave mummy. At the start it was difficult, but by the end it was good. Seeing so many people with baby hands was my best bit." Reach Child

So lovely for the children to have an amazing array of activities, led by brilliant adults with ULD. Lovely for the children and young people to have the

opportunity to meet with ‘celebrities’ with ULD. I mean… DJing with Matt Howes and then Alex Brooker sits in the back! Mollie from Traitors chatting and dancing with the teens. Claire

Cashmore signing books for kids. Sharing a dance floor with all the amazing guests… the list goes on.

These interactions are amazing and just priceless. Where else can you get this?! Reach Parent

“Thank you Reach…for creating these magical spaces for us all to celebrate who we are! See you in 2025.” Reach Adult

9

i=iy ' The Annual Family Weekend is just that, it’s an event for Reach families with children of all ages. Every year new . hed ty nS families join the event, every year Reach children, now adult join the event. We want to make sure that everyone feels }! welcome and catered for. It’s a balancing act we celebrate having to undertake!

AFW 2024 Learning:

We tried, in response to feedback from 23, to run a Family Supper Club for families wanting to stay together in the evening instead of grownups coming to the Gala Dinner and children attending creche but we didn’t really think it through and although we had a circus skills workshop going on, it felt a bit ‘us and them’. On reflection, it could be, we don’t have capacity to run two events simultaneously, and this is where our growing Regional Family Weekend programme comes into play.

We are this year exploring other hotel chains, pricing themselves competitively, with national account managers to enable bespoke support.

We have reconnected with Freedom Childcare who were for many years our AFW creche partner and pride themselves on being fully inclusive, they will be with us from the Friday evening this year so kids can be checked in early!!

This year in response to feedback requesting “icebreakers for newbies!” South Wales Branch Volunteers will be with us on the Friday night to welcome new Reach members and connect them with their branch coordinator/others from their region.

Thank you to the incredible people who make AFW happen every year, our MC, Mr Alastair Greener and Producer, James Jones, who together keep us on track for the whole of Saturday, our inspirational Guest Speakers who share their stories, their journeys, our exhibitors, who come and animate the space with their ideas and passion, and the people helping behind the scenes; RAW Mentors, Reach Team Volunteers, Event Photographers, Workshop Providers, Branch Coordinators, Trustees and of course - Queen of the Gala Dinner, Mrs Sian Brooks – on home turf in 2025!

AFW 25: Swansea

AFW 26: Manchester AFW 27: Edinburgh And then for our 50-year anniversary… AFW 28: Farnborough

10

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fHow Do You Do IT...’
Reach |i. #LLLDAM
1 &. —, er ie
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8. How Do You Do It?

As happens in the best and most creative Board meetings, when thinking about what our campaign for Limb Loss & Limb Diference Awareness Month (#LLLDAM) should look like in 2024 ideas like only using one hand for a day were being proposed, a quiet voice, belonging to a Trustee with an ULD, expressed a different point of view: “That doesn’t work for me nor represent me, instead it patronises me. Couldn’t we instead celebrate the amazing things people with ULD can do?... “ and so the HOW-DOYOU-DO-IT campaign was born. With expert help from our social media manager, Megan Bacon-Evans, a new video was posted for every day of the month!

Thank you to all the wonderful content creators that built the HOW-DO-YOU-DOIT Resource Library, there for everyone to enjoy on our new website (launched June 2024) for years to come.

Coming together in this way to share a campaign, sparked the interest of other charities that belong to the #LLLDAM community, and we began to talk about how we could collaborate on campaigns to reach more people and raise awareness together…

At the same time, encouraged by the interest the HOW DO YOU DO IT campaign was generating in young

members of our community - we began to think about how we can make Reach more representative. How to provide a platform for young people with ULD to connect and be together, to have their voices heard, on their terms within Reach and across a wider platform….

And so a group of people came together, all Reach members, all with lived experience, and all, happily for us, with expertise in media, governance, and supporting people, to develop a new programme to enable Reach Charity to welcome young adults with ULD to its community.

In the autumn of 2024 we submitted an expression of interest to the VTCT Foundation and the National Lottery to support this project, both invited us to develop a full proposal. With a lot of help from a lot of people, all giving their time for free, we did just that and with their support submitted full applications December 2024 & January 2025.

The project name? Reaching Out, the people involved? The Reaching Out Working Group: Trustees: Colm Creamer, Steve Haynes, Rebecca Nind, Ella Dickenson, AFW Producer, James Jones, Reach Dad and Podcast Producer, Nick Wilmhurst, Within Reach Editor, Max Swinhoe, Social Media Manager, Megan Bacon-Evans,18-25 Founders Emily Tisshaw and Tony Addison, Reach member and Counsellor, Chantell SmithMinns, young people involved with the pilot retreat, the whole of the Reach community, voting to widen our object, Reach Volunteers furiously proof reading and working to make the proposal look pretty, and our #LLLDAM partners.

Reaching Out was awarded funding March 2025…..

HOW-DO-YOU-DO-IT? Together!

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9. Fundraising March 2024- Feb 25

Reach is supported by its community ; what you do makes the difference – from donating lose change you’ve been collecting over the years like Ken did, to swimming 22 miles in 7 weeks and 2 days like Lynne did, the way you help, is personal, caring, fun, exhausting, inspiring & incredible!

Here are a few of the things you have been up to 2024-25: Vanessa ran a Christmas Grotto , and her husband helped too – can you guess how? The Mums & Roses Choir sang their hearts out , a founder of Reach went to give a talk at their old school, branch coordinator, Tracey Smith made a presentation at a Free Masons Dinner (instead of coming to AFW 24!), members whose work have employee match funding schemes have fundraised for us in all sorts of way and the companies they work for have doubled their eforts !

You’ve donated in lieu of Christmas cards, and presents, like Barnaby’s Great Grandad did.

You’ve celebrated Ramadan by fundraising for Reach.

You’ve organised fundraising events in your area like the Hall’s in East Anglia with their Cars & Cofees Get Together , and the Amputee Golfer, George Blackshaw, who went and did again at his 2[nd] Charity Golf Day in Cheshire raising funds for Reach and Alderhay!

You have walked, hiked, run, climbed, swum & cycled 1000’s of miles between you, in cities, towns, cross country, coast to coast, up very steep hills and across mountain ranges– Thank you! Time for a sit down and a cup of tea!

Once you’ve got your breath back and/or you fancy a challenge 2025-26 click here: https://www.reach.org.uk/run-for-reach

You and yours have baked, knitted, raffled, and drunk a lot of coffee!! Thank you for organising all the local community fundraisers in schools, social clubs, community centres, villages halls and at offices across the UK - these events help raise awareness at the same time as raising funds for Reach - so you are helping in two ways – Thank you! .

Some of you are regular givers - your donations underpin everything we do – Thank you!

Trusts & Foundations awards (24-25): Elizabeth & Prince Zaiger Charitable Trust The Frazer Trust CMS Foundation The Pebbles Foundation Awards for All Scotland

Other types of donors, businesses, community orgs and partners ( brought to us by you ): Siemens Probus First Wealth Rayware Ltd BOLDkids Jackson Quinn Solicitors The Almata Masons Lodge The Northolt Greenford and Harrow Postal Workers

You have donated in loving memory of family members who have passed away this year. Thank you for remembering Reach at this time . This year we have partnered with Farewill, if you want to write your will for free - click here

Finally thank you to everyone who ticked the Gift Aid box! it’s easy to do and for every pound you donated the government gave us 25p!

Together you raised £100282, that represents 28% of our expenditure for 2024-25 and nearly half of our total income this year . Thank you.

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  1. Reach Finances 24-25

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Income
37,542 45,999
14,028
47,222
62,967
Donations & legacies
Income from charitable activities
Income from trading activities
Interest income
Membership subs
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Total Income

2024-2025 £207,758

2023-2024 £727,788 (or £187,485 before exceptional legacy receipt in November 2023)

Excluding the exceptional legacy in 2023, income for 2024-25 represents a 11% increase from 2023-24

Expenditure

Total Expenditure 2024-2025 £348,718 2023-2024 £347,224

Net Funds Movement

2024-2025 -£ 140,960 2023-2024 £380,564 (- £159,739 excluding the exceptional legacy) Excluding the exceptional item, this is a 12% improvement on last year.

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Fundraising costs Charitable activities Administration and support activities RAW & Family Weekends Social Media

The deficits are in line with the Trustee Board’s policy in utilising the exceptional legacy in 2023 to invest the funds in developing our delivery of additional regional events, support for new parents and young adults. As agreed, all new project work is subject to funding, supported by applications to several grant bodies to assist with the costs of delivery.

We are though, aware that this cannot continue indefinitely and the Reach team are fully committed to firstly reducing the deficits and moving to a positive financial position.

In common with most charities we have seen a reduction in donations to Reach. Our Trustees, volunteers and staff are working to develop and diversify our income sources to replace this income.

Our membership has continued to grow as we expand activities offered to our Reach families, leading to a 9% increase in membership income for the year.

A large increase in interest income from the funds held, largely being the legacy received. Interest rates however are volatile and expected to decrease over the coming year.

We have achieved a large increase in charitable activity income on the back of increased membership and a wider range of Family Weekends and activities offered.

The legacy has provided much needed breathing space as we develop the above. We are in discussion with a number of funding bodies who are keen to support our activities. A number of these are proving positive and will be reflected in the 2025-2026 Accounts.

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The difference reaching out on Social Media is making:

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11. How are we doing?

Message received from an adult with limb difference wanting to sign up to Reach March 2024

2023-24 our priority was to sustain and grow branch delivery and support our online community.

2024-25: Branches involved in the Regional Family Weekend Programme have done an excellent job fundraising locally for these events this year and are already planning 2026 with a little bit of money already in the pot! As promised Reach contributed to each event with reserves funding.

Funding from Reaching Communities England is enabling the brilliant work our Social Media Manager, Megan, is doing to reach young people 18-25 and to work with the #LLLDAM community to raise awareness.

They are also supporting Max, our Within Reach Editor to scope the opportunity of bringing our magazine online and thereby reducing print & distribution costs in the future.

Our next step is to develop vocational training pathways across the charity for young adults, in which they will be supported to create content for social media, our magazine, a new podcast and our website and help us build and deliver charity events. Helping them, helps us!

Reach parent, August 2024

“Finding Reach on Instagram was like a breath of fresh air. Seeing babies, kids and adults with limb differences…brought so much comfort. We joined up and it’s been the best thing we have done.”

Within Reach Magazine 2024-25 distributed across the Reach membership Summer – Winter - Spring

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The difference reaching out on social media is making (continued)

“I thought it was important that I reach out and express how much of a positive impact this page/charity has had on my life that I will be forever grateful for. More than you could ever imagine. Oct 2023 our beautiful daughter was born. At birth we discovered she was born with a hypo-plastic left hand. An amniotic band got wrapped around 3 fingers and stopped the growth of them. Instead of 3 bones in each finger she just has 1. As her Mum I struggled extremely hard with the shock and adjustment. I’ve had lots of therapy and am still undergoing this now. Our plastic surgeon

recommended that I look into Reach. As I said, it’s been actually life changing for me. I truly believe that watching and reading this page gave me the inner strength to start the journey to be that strong mother she deserves. Today I posted the first ever picture of her hand on social media. It was such a big move for me, but she deserves the recognition! So thank you from the bottom of my heart for making this charity!

Message received from a Reach parent, June 2024

Growth on Social Media 2024-25

SOCIAL MEDIA STATS

376,954 = 367% 188.941 = 226%

We have a working group (AKA volunteers) seeking a Corporate partner for Reach, but we need to be honest, this is a nut not yet cracked! Being a small charity, capacity can be a problem. We are now being helped by Reach members who know this world better than us, and hopefully, with their support, we can learn – WATCH THIS SPACE!

The Development of a Reach Challenge Event has stayed very much in our thoughts. This year, like last year a significant amount of our income has come from our members taking on / delivering Challenge & Fundraising events, in total 22% of all income generated 2024-25.

Working in partnership with our Ambassador & Para-athlete Claire Cashmore MBE, we want to tap into your energy and develop a wholly inclusive destination Triathlon event, great for our community, corporate teams and Triathlon enthusiasts. The British Triathlon Pathway Team and the fundraising platform Run for Charity are onboard, and we’ve even got as far as securing a state-of-the art Triathlon venue, an event delivery partner (at quite a high cost) and a date for 2026 BUT…

Coming back to the premise of us being small we think it wise to slow down and maybe grow this event a little more organically potentially in partnership with you, our community and a corporate partner…and are right now working out how best to make that happen….

We have this year entered The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2025, to get involved take on a challenge during the first week in December and help us raise £10K for family focused project work in just one week… as ever WATCH THIS SPACE!

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Reach Charity Ltd Company Limited by Guarantee: 07054164 Registered Charity in England & Wales: 1134544 Registered Charity in Scotland: SC049805

Registered Address: 59 High Street, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 5PB