## **Trustees' Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 2023** 

## **Structure** 

The charity registered as a charity on 8th April 2011 Trustees for the financial year are listed on the previous page. Trustees are recruited by invitation, from local voluntary agency advertisements and from within our membership and are a mix of professional, volunteers and beneficiaries. We are keen to increase the number of beneficiary and volunteer Trustees. 

None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the charity and has no business interests linked to the charity. All trustees are members of the charity. 

## **Governance and Management** 

The trustees all hold individual roles, including chair, treasurer and secretary and attend relevant training courses. 

Trustee discussions include the service's future plans and direction and overseeing all aspects of the running of the charity. 

The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed and are satisfied that the systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the assessed risks. 

All trustees and staff have DBS disclosures and the charity has full liability cover. 

## **Financial Review and Reserves Policy** 

The organisation regularly reviews its financial position and systems. The financial year showed an overspend on funds. The charity is confident in robust monitoring of its future financial and administrative business. 

## **Achievements and performance of the charity** 

1. We held a successful fundraising Gala Ball. Increasing our income to almost £20,000.00 and building a 

solid reputation for this event in the north east brain injury social community 

2. We welcomed Lewis Bruin as a new Trustee. We are particularly pleased with this appointment as he 

is young man with lived experience and will be able to represent relevant views and wishes of the majority of our beneficiaries. 

3. On our first attempt at a major fundraising application to BBC Children in Need we were successful and 

received a 3 year grant totalling £45000.00. We have received the first instalment of £15000.00. 4. This year we embarked upon a comprehensive training programme with a professional trainer. Designing and delivering a suite of training sessions including GDPR, safeguarding and volunteer induction. 

Our portfolio of training topics continues to expand with refresher courses and a forthcoming session on bullying and harassment. 

   5. W e have undertaken a complex piece of family work during this period supporting the family of our youngest ever beneficiary, Baby J, born at 26 weeks. This has been both a harrowing and rewarding experience for our staff and volunteers. The work has gone on for over a year and we continue to support Baby J who experienced 2 bleeds on the brain at birth and who has multiple other complex health conditions, her parents and 4 siblings 

## **Trustees:** 

Chair: John McConville 

Secretary: Lynn Jones Treasurer: Jonnie Clarke Trustee: Graham Light Trustee : Lewis Bruin 

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## **BRAINBOX** 

## **Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 March 2024** 

|**Receipts**<br>Grants<br>**4**<br>Donations<br>Just Giving/Paypal etc<br>Gift Aid<br>Fundraising<br>Members Fees<br>**Total Receipts**<br>**Payments**<br>Salaries<br>Staff expenses<br>Travel Costs<br>Activity Costs<br>Office Expenses<br>Equipment<br>Telephone<br>Volunteer Expenses<br>Insurance<br>Accounts/payroll<br>Fundraising Costs<br>Training<br>Sundries<br>**Total Payments**<br>Surplus / (deficit) for the year<br>Funds at 1 April 2023<br>**Funds at 31 March 2024**|**Unrestricted**<br>**Funds**<br>**2024**|**Restricted**<br>**Total**<br>**Total**<br>**Funds**<br>**Funds**<br>**Funds**<br>**2024**<br>**2024**<br>**2023**|
|---|---|---|
||11950<br>1940<br>1374<br>956<br>12273<br>0|**£**<br>**£**<br>51500<br>63450<br>77995<br>0<br>1940<br>400<br>0<br>1374<br>257<br>0<br>956<br>1644<br>0<br>12273<br>9725<br>0<br>0<br>50|
||**28493**|**51500**<br>**79993**<br>**90071**|
||24854<br>0<br>1000<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>7893<br>0<br>2000|55269<br>80123<br>73157<br>151<br>151<br>2949<br>1248<br>2248<br>1995<br>57<br>57<br>3669<br>41<br>41<br>1167<br>871<br>871<br>428<br>440<br>440<br>188<br>0<br>0<br>13<br>351<br>351<br>363<br>416<br>416<br>510<br>0<br>7893<br>3583<br>375<br>375<br>108<br>0<br>2000<br>3000|
||**35747**|**59220**<br>**94967**<br>**91130**|
||-7254<br>10305|-7720<br>-14975<br>-1059<br>10859<br>21164<br>22222|
||**3051**|**3139**<br>**6189**<br>**21163**|



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## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT** 

Report to the BRAINBOX trustees of On accounts for the Charity no 1141250 year ended[31st MARCH 2024] Set out on pages 4 to 6. Respective responsibilities of trustees and The trustees of the organisation are responsible for the preparation of accounts; they consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of examiner the Charities Act 2011 and that an Independent Examination is needed. It is my responsibility to · examine the accounts (under section 145 of the 2011 Act), · follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Act), and 

- state whether particular matters have come to my attention. 

Basis of My examination was carried out in accordance with General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners.  An examination includes a review of the accounting independent records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records.  It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in examiner’s the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters.  The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be statement required in an audit, and consequently I do not express an audit opinion on the accounts. 

Independent In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention examiner's statement 1.  which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the trustees have not met the requirements to ensure that: 

- proper accounting records are kept (in accordance with section 41 of the Act); 

- accounts are prepared which agree with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Act; or 

2.  to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 

Signed: 

Date: 5th November 2024 

## _David Belk_ 

Name: David Belk F.C.I.S./M.A.A.T. Address: 4 Harton Lane South Shields NE34 0EF 

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