Trustees' Annual Report For the year ended 31 March 2025
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 underspend on funds. The charity is confident in robust monitoring of its future financial and administrative business.
Achievements and performance of the charity
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Brainbox was awarded National Lottery Awards for All funding of £20,000 for the new Open Arms inclusion project which commenced in Northumberland in July 2024.
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Brainbox undertook some new in depth and complex case work with new beneficiaries from Northumberland to Teesside which continued throughout the year.
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Brainbox significantly developed its training programme, delivering to staff, trustees and volunteers. The sessions were also accessed by other community groups and local charities. We delivered sessions on topics including Safeguarding, GDPR, Digital Accessibility, Harassment and Bullying, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Staff also participated in external Suicide Prevention, LGBTQ+ and several Acquired Brain Injury training as well as attending local, regional and national conferences. This enhanced personal and professional development and the overall skills and knowledge of the charity as a whole.
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Brainbox held its third annual Gala Ball in September 2024 which attracted new sponsorship and brought in considerable funds that made a direct difference to our beneficiaries.
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Brainbox hosted the Community Foundation’s On The Table event, thus contributing to the joint Vital Signs Report, commissioned by the Community Foundation and Newcastle Building Society. The event considered all elements of community life in the North East. We were also represented at the Vital Signs 24 Regional Conference, sharing knowledge, experiences and ideas.
Trustees:
Chair: John McConville
Secretary: Lynn Jones - resigned 31/10/2024 Treasurer: Jonnie Clarke Trustee: Graham Light Trustee : Lewis Bruin
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BRAINBOX
Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 March 2025
| Receipts Grants 4 Donations Just Giving/Paypal etc Gift Aid Fundraising Sundries Total Receipts Payments Salaries Staff expenses Travel Costs Activity Costs Office Expenses Loan repayment Equipment Office equipment & refurbishment Telephone Volunteer Expenses Insurance Accounts/payroll Fundraising Costs Training Sundries Total Payments Surplus / (deficit) for the year Funds at 1 April 2024 Funds at 31 March 2025 |
Unrestricted Funds 2025 |
Restricted Total Total Funds Funds Funds 2025 2025 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 34102 2487 1769 0 21297 161 |
£ £ 56125 90227 63450 0 2487 1940 0 1769 1374 0 0 956 0 21297 12273 0 161 |
|
| 59816 | 56125 115941 79993 |
|
| 34143 0 235 2000 0 2500 0 3882 0 265 181 579 10335 400 0 |
42397 76540 80123 0 0 151 200 435 2248 876 2876 57 108 108 41 3000 5500 0 0 0 871 2492 6375 0 0 0 440 1031 1296 0 200 381 351 0 579 416 0 10335 7893 811 1211 375 0 0 2000 |
|
| 54521 | 51114 105635 94966 |
|
| 5296 3051 |
5011 10307 -14973 3139 6190 22222 |
|
| 8347 | 8150 16497 7249 |
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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 2025] 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:
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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
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- to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: David Belk
Date: 24th January 2026
Name: David Belk F.C.I.S./M.A.A.T. Address: 4 Harton Lane South Shields NE34 0EF
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