## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period**
## **From 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2025**
## **Charity name: The Ups of Downs**
## **Charity registration number: 1141359**
## **Objectives and Activities**
||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes
of the charity as set out in
its governing document|Para 1.17|1.
To relieve need and assist in the care of
children with Down syndrome by the
provision of support, advice and training to
those responsible for their care, and to
health and educational specialists with the
object of improve and advancing the health
and education of children with Down
syndrome.
2.
The promotion of social inclusion among
children with Down Syndrome and their
parents, who may be excluded from society,
or parts of society, due to their disability, by:
A
Providing a play scheme and support
and education services to enable the
children to develop and gain new skills.
B
providing recreational facilities and
opportunities for the children and parents
C
raising public awareness of the issues
affecting parents of children with Down
syndrome, the children and their
siblings, both generally and in relation to
their social exclusion;
3.
To advance the education of children with
Down syndrome and the public in the
subject of Down syndrome.
4.
To provide education, training, information
and advice to parents/carers with the object
of empowering them to advance their
children in life and assist their development.|
|Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposes for the public
benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or|Para 1.17 and
1.19|During the year, The Ups of Downs delivered a
range of activities designed to support the
development, wellbeing and social inclusion of
children and young people with Down
syndrome, while also strengthening family|
|services identified in the
accounts.||networks.
Weekly sports and social clubs were
provided for school-age children,
offering structured activities such as
sports, yoga, dance, drama and football.
These sessions promote physical
development, confidence and social
interaction, while giving parents the
opportunity to meet informally and build
supportive relationships.
Monthly speech and language therapy
sessions were delivered by an
independent therapist experienced in
working with children and young people
with Down syndrome. These sessions
support communication skills and
provide families with practical strategies
to use at home.
A weekly Youth Club for secondary-age
members operated during term time,
offering a safe and inclusive space for
socialising and developing
independence. Additional holiday
activities were arranged, including a
swimming trip to a local waterpark and
attendance at a musical festival.
Family social events, including summer
barbecues and Christmas gatherings,
were held throughout the year. These
events help children integrate with peers
in a relaxed environment and enable
parents to connect, share experiences
and strengthen community ties.
A family trip to an SEN Christmas
pantomime was organised, giving
children the opportunity to enjoy live
theatre in an accessible and supportive
setting.
These activities collectively support the charity’s
purpose of promoting inclusion, development
and community participation for children and
young people with Down syndrome and their
families.|
|---|---|---|
|Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|The Trustees have had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity Commission on public
benefit, reviewing our purpose and benefits to
our members and the public, in order to further
the charity’s purpose for the public benefit.|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making
|Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38||
|---|---|---|
|Contribution made by
volunteers||Volunteers continue to be essential to the charity’s
work, contributing across governance, operations
and fundraising.
Our trustees, all volunteers, provide strategic
leadership and drive forward the actions and
purpose of the charity.
Parent and family volunteers support
communication within age groups, welcome new
families and take on tasks arising from committee
meetings.
Volunteers also help organise activities, support
events and identify new fundraising opportunities.
Many individuals undertake personal fundraising
challenges and community events, providing vital
income and raising awareness of our work.|
|Other|||
## **Achievements and Performance**
SORP reference
||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||During the reporting period, The Ups of
Downs has continued to deliver a
comprehensive programme of support that
enhances the development, wellbeing and
social inclusion of children and young
people with Down syndrome. Our activities
have made a demonstrable difference to
beneficiaries and contributed positively to
wider society.
Growth and Consolidation of Saturday
Clubs
Our Saturday Clubs have continued to
flourish and remain a central part of our
offer. These sessions provide one of the
few regular social opportunities available to
children and young people with Down
syndrome, enabling them to build
friendships, develop confidence and
participate fully in inclusive group activities.
Parents consistently report that the clubs
are an essential part of their weekly
routine, offering both respite and the
chance to connect with other families
facing similar challenges. This peer support
network significantly reduces isolation and
improves family wellbeing
Provision of Summer Holiday Clubs
In response to family need, we continued
the holiday clubs during the school summer
break. These were highly valued by
parents, particularly those in employment
who often struggle to access appropriate
specialist provision during school closures.
The holiday clubs provided continuity of
routine, meaningful engagement and a safe
environment for children, while easing
pressure on families at a time of increased
childcare demand.
Early Development Groups (Ages 2–4)
We continued to run our weekly Early
Development Groups, offering structured
early-years intervention at a critical stage in
children’s cognitive, social and
communication development. For our
youngest members, we also provided**Sing,**
**Sign and Phonics**, supporting early
language acquisition through
evidence-based, interactive learning.
These programmes equip parents with
practical strategies they can continue at
home, amplifying developmental progress.
Weekly Maths Clubs (KS2+)
Our Maths Clubs for Key Stage 2 and
above provided tailored educational
support that strengthens numeracy skills
and promotes positive engagement with||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||learning. These sessions help reduce
attainment gaps and support children to
reach their full academic potential.
Monthly Meet
-
Ups for Pre
-
School Children
and Families
We have continued to deliver monthly
meet-ups for pre-school children and their
families. These sessions offer a welcoming
environment for new parents to socialise,
share experiences and access early
guidance. They play an important role in
reducing anxiety at the point of diagnosis,
fostering early community connection and
encouraging long-term engagement with
the charity’s services.|
|---|---|---|---|
|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|**Additional information (optional)**
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:|
|---|---|---|
|Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41|Enabled children to take part in inclusive
social activities through regular clubs and
meet-ups.
Supported access to mainstream education
with targeted early-years and learning
programmes.
Strengthened family confidence and
reduced isolation through consistent peer
support.
Helped remove barriers to participation and
promoted acceptance within the
community.
Built early skills that support future
independence, training and employment.|
|Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|A total of £17,374.50 in donations was
raising by volunteers in this period.
4 volunteers at London Marathon raised
£9,812 April 2025.
1 volunteer ran three half marathons
raising, £2,163 October 2024.
The Hornets Netball team tournament
nominated the Ups of Downs and raised
£2,050 June 2025
Busy bees Nursery also nominated the Ups
of Downs - £458 October 2024 / March
2025
Toddle About Baby Show - £337.50 May
2025|
|Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41||
|---|---|---|
|Other||Appointment of a part-time administrator to
assist in the day to day running of the
charity, communication to members and
accounts.
Grants awarded £7605 from JLR Motorvate
and WPH Charitable Trust.|
|**Financial Review**|||
|**Financial Review**|||
|---|---|---|
|Review of the charity’s
financial position at the
end of the period|Para 1.21|At the start of the financial year, the charity
held**£36,075.65**in our bank account. By
year-end, this had increased to**£57,742.00**,
supported by successful fundraising and
grant income.
Total expenditure for the year was
**£39,988.68**
This covers delivery of core services
including Early Development Groups,
Holiday Clubs, Maths Clubs, Speech and
Language Therapy, Saturday Clubs and
Youth Clubs, as well as for our central
running costs.
These costs reflect the charity’s
commitment to providing regular,
high-quality support to children, young
people, and their families.
Budgeted costs for the upcoming year
include planned trips, family events, and
essential resources such as storage for
learning materials.|
|Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|The Ups of Downs aims to maintain
reserves at a level equivalent to
approximately six months of operating
costs. This level of reserves is considered
appropriate to ensure the continuity of our
essential services, which include weekly
development groups, clubs, and family
support activities relied upon by our
beneficiaries.
Maintaining adequate reserves is essential
because the charity does not have
guaranteed annual fundraising events or
predictable high-value income streams. We
currently have no confirmed places in the
London Marathon or other major
fundraising activities that have historically
contributed significantly to our income. As a
result, our financial position is more
vulnerable to fluctuations in voluntary|
|||donations and community fundraising.
These reserves ensure the charity can:
Continue delivering weekly clubs
and development groups relied
upon by families.
Meet ongoing financial
commitments.
Manage income uncertainty and
unexpected costs.
Plan responsibly for trips, events,
and essential resources in the year
ahead.
The trustees review the reserves annually
to ensure they remain appropriate for the
charity’s size, commitments, and risk
profile.|
|---|---|---|
|Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|The Ups of Downs aims to hold reserves
equivalent to around six months of
operating costs to ensure continuity of our
essential services. At year-end, the charity
held £57,742 in reserves. With annual
operating costs of £39,989 this represents
less than 18 months of operational costs.
Our charity does not have guaranteed
major fundraising events for the coming
year. We currently have no confirmed
London Marathon places and no other
large, predictable fundraising activities.
Much of our income is voluntary and can
fluctuate significantly year to year.
Although this is above our minimum target,
we have strong position to continue our
charity services without the need for
extensive fundraising efforts or grant
applications next year.|
|Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22||
|Details of fund materially
in deficit|Para 1.24||
|Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a
going concern|Para 1.23||
## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
|
The charity’s principal sources of
funds (including any fundraising)|
Para 1.47|
The charities principal sources of funding
are donations from members and their
families, from our charges towards the cost
of activities and grant applications.
Expenditure is mostly directly on the
children and young people who access our
services through the provision of clubs and
speech and language therapy.|
|---|---|---|
|||We have no investments.|
|Investment policy and objectives
including any social investment
policy adopted|Para 1.46||
|---|---|---|
|A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|The principal risk to the charity would be a
decline in income. However, we regularly
review our financial status and only
commission services if financially able.|
|Other||A family member of a Trustee organised and
arranged the holiday clubs.|
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
|Description of charity’s
trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|Constitution|
|How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g. unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|Association|
|Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|Selected by members|
## **Additional information (optional)**
## You may 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 Para 1.51 network with which the charity works Relationship with any related Para 1.51 parties Other
## **Reference and Administrative details**
|Charity name|The Ups of Downs|
|---|---|
|Other name the charity uses||
|Registered charity number|1141359|
|Charity’s principal address|73 Bury Road
Leamington Spa
Warwickshire
CV31 3JD|
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## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity**
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17
18
19
20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**
**year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (ifany)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Nicola Enoch||||
||KellyPorcas||||
||Melanie Simkiss||||
||Ursula Adams||||
||Scott Leonard||||
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## – Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
## **Director name**
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
**Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year**
## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others**
Description of the assets N/A 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
## **Additional information (optional)**
## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**
**Type of Name Address adviser**
## **Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)**
## **Exemptions from disclosure**
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
## **Other optional information**
## **Declarations**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
**Signature(s)**
**Full name(s)** Melanie Simkiss
**Position (eg Secretary,** Trustee **Chair, etc)**
**Date**
24 June 2026
## **The Ups of Downs Financial Activities**
## **1 September, 2024-31 August, 2025**
||**Total**|
|---|---|
|Income
Donations/Income
EDG
Grants and Trusts
Holiday Club income
Interest earned
Maths Club Income
Sales
Saturday Club
Speech and Language
Youth Club
**Total for Income**
Cost of Sales
Cost of sales
EDG Costs
Holiday Club Costs
Maths Club Expenses
SALT Costs
Saturday Club Costs
Youth Club Costs
**Total for Cost of Sales**|18,609.56
890.00
8,105.00
1,270.00
107.98
3,468.00
197.00
6,345.00
555.00
1,550.00|
||**£41,097.54**
106.30
2,928.49
3,201.67
7,535.67
1,654.00
13,066.62
4,623.38|
||**£33,116.13**|
|**Total**
Expenditures
Bank charges
Computer Costs
Fundraising Expense
New Baby Bags
Office/General Administrative Expenses
Other Professional Services
Phone Costs
Website
**Total for Expenditures**
**Net Operating Income**
**Net Income/(Expenditure)**|**£7,981.41**
60.00
276.30
360.00
269.94
2,174.56
137.00
34.80
3,559.95|
||**£6,872.55**|
||**£1,108.86**|
||**£1,108.86**|
Cash Basis Tuesday. 30 June 2026 09".49 AM GKITZ
## **Independent examiner's report on the accounts**
**Section A Independent Examiner’s Report**
**Report to the trustees/** Charity Name THE UPS OF DOWNS **members of On accounts for the year** 31 AUGUST 2025 **ended Set out on pages**
**Charity no** 1141359 **(if any)** (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended **31 August 2025** .
**Responsibilities and** As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation **basis of report** of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
- accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
- the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
**Signed: Date:** 16 June 2026 **Name:** Michelle Buckley **Relevant professional** ACA, ICAEW **qualification(s) or body (if any): Address:** 97 LILLINGTON ROAD LEAMINGTON SPA CV32 6LJ
**Section B Disclosure**
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
1
**October 2018**
**IER**
**Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose** .
2
**October 2018**
**IER**