**REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1148156** **Report of the Trustees and** **Financial Statements** **for the Year Ended 30 April 2024** **for** **JOINING JACK** NRB 1st Floor Waterside House Waterside Drive Wigan Lancashire WN3 5AZ **JOINING JACK** ## **Contents of the Financial Statements FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024** |||**Page**| |---|---|---| |**Reference and Administrative Details**||1| |**Report of the Trustees**|2|to 10| |**Report of the Independent Auditors**|1 1|to 13| |**Statement of Financial Activities**||14| |**Balance Sheet**||15| |**Notes to the Financial Statements**|16|to 22| |**Detailed Statement of Financial Activities**||23| **JOINING JACK** ## **Reference and Administrative Details FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024** ## **Trustees** ## **Principal address** ## **Registered charity number** ## **Auditors** Mr J Whitworth Ms A Kent Mr K Radlinski c/o ADM Leisurewear Ltd Unit 1 Appleton Street Wigan Lancashire WN3 4BZ 1148156 NRB 1st Floor Waterside House Waterside Drive Wigan Lancashire WN3 5AZ Page 1 ## **JOINING JACK** ## **Report of the Trustees FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024** The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30 April 2024. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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 (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019). ## **Objectives and activities** ## **Objectives and activities for the public benefit** Charitable objectives are; to relieve the needs of sufferers of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), speed up treatments for all children and adults living with DMD by funding research into methods of treatment and a cure for the condition ## **Objectives and activities** ## **Significant activities** On 22 April 2016 Joining Jack joined forces with Duchenne UK, another parent-led charity formerly called The Duchenne Children's Trust, set up by Emily and Nick Crossley. Joining Jack remains a separate charity and holds stand-alone fundraising events but now shares a research strategy, scientific advisory board and Director of Research with Duchenne UK. ## Research A post year end Research Project Report, dated December 2024, from Alessandra Gaeta, Director of Research for Duchenne UK & Joining Jack, (Joining Jack & DUK Research Portfolio End of Year report 2024) provides a progress update on all the projects funded by Joining Jack in the Duchenne UK portfolio. This is an overview of new funding opportunities in the pipeline. The report covers active projects and projects that have completed in 2024. Historical projects which have closed in 2023 and before are not included. For each funded project, a status, update on progress and update on funding is included. Our research strategy has now expanded to include six key elements to it, all of which are integral to accelerating and advancing research. Funding the research is the first crucial step but on its own it isn't enough. We need to look at the overall landscape of research and drug development, and our strategy has been developed to reflect this. ## **1) Fund and accelerate research for early stage clinical trials** Our approach is 100% focused on advancing research and getting treatments into clinic and to patients as quickly as possible. Working alongside co-founder of Duchenne UK Emily Crossley, our co-founder, Alex Johnson, actively seeks out projects and potential therapies which could benefit the current generation of patients. We run an international grant call. We invest globally in basic science, translational research and clinical trials. ## **2) Facilitate and accelerate research** We are committed to accelerating the pace of research, ensuring that we remove potential obstacles and roadblocks that lie in the path of drug development. It is vital that the research we fund has the potential to translate into clinical trials, and so we fund the doctors, nurses and physiotherapists necessary to conduct trials in the UK. We created and expanded the DMD Hub which has the ambition that every child born with Duchenne in the UK has the opportunity to take part in research. We also support and encourage national and international collaboration to allow researchers and clinicians to collaborate and progress research. We are proud to support the TreatNMD network and their bi-annual TACT meetings to review potential clinical trials for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. ## **3) Implementation of the Standards of Care (SoC) in the UK** The updated SoC were published in The Lancet of Neurology in 2018. They are ambitious and significantly advance on the 2010 version. While this is welcomed by families and clinicians, it presents challenges at a national level where the health care systems need to increase or change provision, and in many cases increase resources in order to deliver the fully updated SoC. We have launched a new project DMD Care UK to tackle this issue. The project will ensure everyone in the UK living with Duchenne has access to the best care. Page 2 **JOINING JACK** ## **Report of the Trustees FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024** ## **4) Work alongside industry** We work with industry, advising on clinical trial designs. We have advised on the protocols of a number of different trials. We work with Project Hercules and their industry partners to help collect the data they need to aid reimbursement decisions of drugs. ## **5) Continued engagement with regulators and policy makers** We are engaging with policy makers and regulators on many issues, from campaigning for Early Access to Medicines to engaging with the Health Technology Appraisal system. ## **6) Collaborate with families and charities globally** We work with families to empower them to get the best access to care and treatments for their children. We work with Duchenne UK to stage free Patient Information days across the UK, and in February 2024 we staged our first international conference in London. Alex Johnson also sits on the board of the World Duchenne Organisation to ensure we collaborate with charities internationally. ## **Objectives and activities** Our Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) is a fundamental part of our project review process - and ensures our supporters' donations are being invested in the right projects to advance the DMD field. For several years now, we have been proud to work with the following experts: Prof Giovanni Baranello Dr John Bourke, Newcastle University, UK Prof Dame Kay Davies, University of Oxford, UK Prof Annemieke Aartsma-Rus, Leiden University Medical Centre, Netherlands Prof Jordi Diaz Manera Dr Tina Duong Dr Dada Pisconti, Stonybrook University, USA Dr Isabelle Richard Dr Valeria Ricotti Dr Carina Schey Prof Francesco Saverio Tedesco Dr Graeme Wilkinson These are all researchers at the top of their field and are generous enough to share their expertise and knowledge, regardless of the huge demands on their time. ## **Volunteers** The charity has an incredible ever-growing army of volunteers who enable the staging of our flagship fundraising multi-participant events. An existing database of more than 150 names alongside local running and cycling clubs and Army Cadets, are called upon to help with pre-event preparation (goodie bag packing and race/ride packs) and on the day to hand out medals, water, refreshments marshal routes and support runners/riders at the start and finish. Our volunteer database continues to grow to help us create and stage the four mass participation events. Page 3 **JOINING JACK** ## **Report of the Trustees FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024** ## **Achievement and performance Fundraising activities Run Wigan Festival** 2017 saw us launch two new flagship fundraising events the first of which was the Run Wigan Festival in March featuring a Half Marathon, a 5k and Family Mile run. The event celebrated its third year in 2019 when a fourth distance was introduced to the event in the shape of a 10 Miler. The race was a sell-out. The 4th Run Wigan Festival in 2020, was cancelled with less than a week to go, due to COVID and eventually staged virtually and a date was never officially set for the 2021 event due to the ongoing restrictions and a third national Lockdown, meaning we were unable to stage the event for two years. The Run Wigan Festival returned in 2022 and included 329 deferred entries from 2020, while all runners who had taken part in the Virtual Run Wigan Festival of 2020 were offered a 25% discount for their support throughout the ongoing cancellations and to maintain engagement with the charity's established event network. This did have an effect on fundraising and did mean that the event could have potentially run at a loss but the Trustees, along with the co-founders, and Race Director were in agreement that it was important to stage the event and honour the deferrals and discount codes to maintain the charity and the event's reputation. This would be the final event to be affected financially as a knock-on effect of COVID and Lockdowns and turned around £10,000 profit. The Run Wigan Festival moved to a new home in 2023 following in the footsteps of the Wigan 10k and relocating to Mesnes Park. This involved a few tweaks to the routes and a bigger section of the flagship HM race taking place along the canal requiring increased volunteer and steward numbers. The relocation and route tweak proved a success and provided promising signs for the event to build on as we continue to navigate out of the devastation caused to mass participation events as a result of COVID's legacy. £13,000 was raised, a slight increase on 2022. The 2024 Run Wigan Festival remained at Mesnes Park and, building on the green shoots from the 2023 event, numbers continued to rise. The event proved to be our biggest March flagship fundraiser since 2018! NUMBERS: 1,202 Half Marathon 875 5k 318 (& 160 on day) Family Mile TOTAL: 2,555 The event raised £30,000 - more than doubling the 2023 total. The date for the 2025 Run Wigan Festival has been set for Sunday, March 16, and we are delighted to report that numbers are ahead of 2024 at this point in the registration process. We are confident of beating last year's totals in both numbers and fundraising. ## **Wigan Bike Ride** After three years of taking part as a team in organised Bike Rides, the charity made the decision to stage its first ever organised bike ride on July 22nd 2017 under the Title Sponsorship of Develop UK and featuring a 50 Mile main ride on open roads and a 5 Mile family ride on closed roads. The 4th Bike Ride in 2020 was cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic and took place as a virtual event with 278 riders participating with support from all over the north-west and UK and from across the world. The charity's first mass participation flagship fundraising event since the pandemic was the 5th Bike Ride in 2021 at a change of venue due to availability just before COVID guidelines were fully relaxed so social distancing was maintained outdoors. New Hardcore and Highway routes were introduced for the 50 mile ride. The 2022 Bike Ride returned to its original home of Mesnes Park and the welcome return of the 5 Mile Family Ride - the first time this had been staged since 2019. In 2023, the 7th Wigan Bike Ride took place in soaring temperatures. Under the continued Title Sponsorship of Develop UK, the 2023 event £18,500 raised, numbers slightly down on the previous year but a small increase in fundraising. A total of £168,000 raised from the Bike Ride to date The date for the 2024 8th Wigan Bike Ride was provisionally set for Sunday, June 23, although not announced and registration was not launched. Due to a change in circumstances affecting the events team, a decision was taken early in the year not to stage the Bike Ride and concentrate on the running events. Page 4 ## **JOINING JACK** ## **Report of the Trustees FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024** ## **Wigan 10k** Due to the ongoing works in the town centre, the decision was taken to relocate our inaugural flagship fundraising event the Wigan 10k (first staged in 2013), to Mesnes Park in 2022 when we invited vendors to provide food and drink options for runners. There was also a return to live entertainment following the race - the first time since COVID. Final numbers were disappointing which we believe, having spoken to our Event Partners and other Race organisers, is an ongoing consequence of COVID, and the cost of living crisis. However, the new Start/Finish, along with food and drink vendors at Event HQ proved to be an overwhelming success. Since the disappointing numbers of 2022, the event now seems to have turned a corner and numbers have been on the up. 2023 saw us sell out at 1,900 runners in the 10k race raising £35,000 and last year's event made further huge strides, selling out at 2,900 10k runners - our highest total since 2017. NUMBERS: 2,900 10k 265 (& 150 on day) Family Mile TOTAL: 3,315 The 2024 event raised a fantastic £50,000 - another significant increase on the previous year. It is a continually encouraging picture for our events-based fundraising and we hope to continue that trend with further increases in 2024. The date for the 2025 Wigan 10k has been set for Sunday, September 7th. Given the promising numbers that took part in 2024, we have targeted 3,000 runners taking us closer to totals achieved before the pandemic. The encouraging news is that we are already ahead of where we were at this point last year. ## **Fundraising 2024 Summary** The charity relies heavily on our own flagship events and supporters taking part in mass participation events. Many if not all of these were cancelled in 2020 and in the first half of 2021 due to COVID-19 Coronavirus. This had a significant effect on the charity's income both in 2020 and 2021 and has also affected overall fundraising income in 2022 with a continued knock-on effect of deferrals and discounted entries in the Run Wigan Festival 2022, our first event of the year. With the cost of living crisis also having an effect on numbers taking part, the overall fundraising total for 2022 was around 25% of what the charity has previously raised. However, 2023 looked to be an indication of a significant turning point for events and fundraising and 2024 certainly continued that trend. The return to higher numbers taking part saw our biggest events since 2018 in March and 2017 in September. We hope to continue that in 2025 to get back to somewhere close to the record numbers. In 2024, the combined total fundraising from the two flagship running events totalled £80,000. ## **Other fundraising initiatives 2023** CAMPAIGNS, COMMUNITY WORK & RECOGNITION The charity was supported by a number of events ranging from a Valentine's Ball, organised by sisters Kate Whitworth and Georgina McAuley, in February. Team JJ and volunteers were fundraising on the night, with the event raising an incredible £88,000, to a dinner by the team from Aston Martin, which Alex attended, which donated 50% of funds raised for a fantastic donation of £65,000. We were also chosen as Charity of the Year by a number of sporting and activity clubs, and individual fundraisers. Jack and the charity team were invited to attend the Wigan All Stars ceremony at the Town Hall, having been chosen to receive a Star in the Walk of Fame back in 2022 to mark 10k year anniversary, underlining the continued community and civic support. Alex, Jack's mum and co-founder of the charity, received her OBE from the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, attending Windsor Castle with Andy, Jack and James and great coverage from ITV. Alongside our partner Charity Duchenne UK, we were part of the New Horizons team, the first two-day conference, in March. The conference brought together people from all across our community. At it we met the parents of children who have recently been diagnosed with DMD, as well as people we have forged a friendship for over a decade as a result of sharing our rare reality. Jack completed his GCSE examinations, attended prom and successfully applied to attend college as part of his post-16 education. In the summer he completed a work experience placement with Wigan Warriors. He also increased his extra-curricular sporting achievement promoting the Powerchair Hockey league and took part in the Dystrophy Diaries podcast. Page 5 **JOINING JACK** ## **Report of the Trustees FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024** Jack has also been at the forefront of the charity's campaign work - 2% Campaign to improve seating access for wheelchair users at sporting and live events, meeting with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, and he was also invited to London to meet with the CEO of the MHRA as part of early access to medicines campaign. This is all part of Jack's drive to take a more leading role in the charity's campaign work. As well as campaign and awareness work, the Joining Jack team have been promoting the charity's flagship events along with individual supporters and team contributions and donations. We also promote our own merchandise through Ebay for Charity Shop which provides a steady source of income. The charity has also had continued support from sponsors, event partners and supporters throughout the year including two new Associate Sponsors for the Wigan 10k in 2024, which is positive support going forward. ## IMPACT Our battle against Duchenne muscular dystrophy is heading into its 13th year. We have included an update on how the work of Joining Jack alongside our partners and the national parent charity Duchenne UK, is making significant progress in many different areas. This includes: - The approval of Vamorolone by the FDA and EMA. This is the first drug for all people with DMD, which Duchenne UK played a key role in developing. - While our Project HERCULES is helping support the health technology assessment of Vamorolone, which is currently being appraised by NICE. - We launched a new project to drive better care for nutrition and weight management in DMD. - The third version of our SMART Suit prototype has been developed and is being tested. - Our psychosocial programme has developed a referral pathway for children with DMD and patients are now being referred to it. - Our DMD Care UK programme published a new bone health guide for people with DMD and their families. - Our DMDhome digital platform has entered the validation phase. DMDhome uses video capture and computer vision analysis to measure limb function in DMD. The study will aim to validate this new approach for use in clinical trials and potentially in the approval of new medicines for DMD. - Our Central Recruitment Database has moved on from the pilot stage. Every commercial DMD trial opened in the UK since its establishment has recruited patients using it. - We are undertaking extensive research with young people with DMD to completely rethink how wheelchairs can help them live their lives. ## Helping the DMD heart There has been important progress in DMD research over the last decade, and yet there is still a lack of understanding of the DMD heart and how to treat it. This is very serious for DMD treatment and care. To address this gap, we launched a grant call in February 2024. This is an investment up to £1.5 million to fund research into understanding and treating people with DMD, including their hearts. Introducing Elevex We are partnering with the charity Spinal Muscular Atrophy UK and the University of Liverpool's Inclusionaries Lab on ensuring we have the expertise we need, and helping to accelerate the development process and get the product to market sooner. And we are doing so with a user-led product design strategy. Since taking on the project in 2022, we've conducted lots of in-depth research and built four working prototypes that we've tested with people who have either DMD or Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Now called Elevex, we will continue to refine and test the prototype with user-led input, and we're on schedule to have the final device ready for people with DMD and SMA by the end of 2025. We are excited and hopeful about launching a suit that will have a meaningful impact on their lives. Leading the way to new DMD treatments Developing new treatments for DMD is only half the battle, ensuring access to them is the other half. We were delighted when a treatment that we have supported the development of, in a ground-breaking example of venture philanthropy, was approved for use in NHS England. Page 6 ## **JOINING JACK** ## **Report of the Trustees FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024** The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approved vamorolone for use on the NHS to treat DMD in December 2024. Vamorolone, also known by the brand name Agamree, will be available to treat people with DMD aged four years and older. Vamorolone was created as an alternative to existing corticosteroids, which are routinely used in the treatment of DMD. Steroid treatment has several negative side-effects, and some DMD patients do not tolerate it well or at all. Vamorolone now gives their neuromuscular consultant a new treatment option for them. The full Impact Report 2024 will be available to view on our website and published across social channels early in 2025. ## **Funding and research decisions** We have listed in the table below a list of the grants we have awarded to date. We have colour-coded the grants to show how we are supporting the whole therapeutic development pipeline. Joining Jack is committed to ensuring that as much as possible of our funds goes to developing research into a treatment or a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. We are particularly focused on transitional research, research that takes potential therapeutics out of laboratories and into clinical trials. Working closely with our partner charity Duchenne UK, our trusted team of scientific advisors, patient advisory board and trustees, we have made major decisions on how to spend the funds raised. The grants that we have been awarded have led to breakthroughs that are changing the therapeutic landscape for the Duchenne community. DMD Care UK = Red Basic Research = Yellow Preclinical Research = Green Clinical Trial Support = Blue Clinical Trials = Orange Page 7 JOINING JACK Report ¢rfthÈ TrustÈÈs FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024 Projert Name Aesearchllnrtitution or Companv Project Total Grant Status Award tWDt¥e Phase 2 DMD research Fdl¢XT/Cliri￿Trd £35.C £175,JJ6 MD N￿ropSyChi￿r&I £32.680 £iia,c eiorn¥tr•rTri•l DC¥•uK £1fj5.COI WkntTn •rnc•15 R•wrposini Tr5t05rirDn••*¢WNb?n £2JO.COJ.C Thurw p**ways ol¢*lwlrKG•f•i￿r PveclinKal sith ofthp L. £Y2,1￿.50 f2 Neurofflu5rul¥ cl￿ Resewth Cott AIL*r Chikkn'5 tYO,515 Al(Iv Chikkn'5 trKt5pN, t127.121. Thrrthil￿ C11r￿￿5 £73,B3Z. Ph¥510therar¥5t Page 8 **JOINING JACK** ## **Report of the Trustees FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024** ## **Financial review** ## **Financial position** Results for the year are shown in the Statement of Financial Activities on page 14. ## SEE WORD VERSION ## **Investment policy and objectives** The charity's investment policy is to retain all available funds on deposit to give sufficient liquidity to meet ongoing day-to-day needs. ## **Reserves policy** The Trustees have determined that a minimum unrestricted reserve of approximately £10,000 is required to ensure the ongoing operations of the charity. The charity does not require a significant restricted reserve because it does not currently have material fixed costs. The charity recognises it may be appropriate to allow the reserve to fluctuate as a result of short-term cash inflows and outflows and to ensure the funding of projects to which it is contractually committed. ## **Future plans** ## **Our future plans** In the coming year we plan to: - Through DMD Care UK continue to implement the new Standards of Care and also launch a Transition grant call. - Provide education to families on research and care. - Provide psychological support to families and patients living with Duchenne through the pathway we develop. - Continue to develop the Duchenne Hub. - Create research opportunities for Adults with Duchenne by developing new outcome measures. - Work to overcome the immunological issues preventing delivery of gene therapy. - Advance research into the methods of delivery of gene therapy for Duchenne patients. - Bring the Dream Chair to market. - Develop new outcome measures for clinical trials. - Help optimise clinical trial designs - Fund the next development phase of the SMART Suit arm assist product ## **Structure, governance and management** ## **Constitution** The charity is governed by its Declaration of Trust dated 28 February 2012, as amended by Deed dated 16 July 2012. Page 9 **JOINING JACK** ## **Report of the Trustees FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024** ## **Structure, governance and management** ## **Recruitment and appointment of new trustees** The trustees who have served during the year are set out on page 1. The trustees are appointed by the committee. ## **Organisational structure** The trustees meet on a regular basis to discuss the work and development of the organisation. The Scientific Advisory Board reviews applications for funding received from the pharmaceuticals sector and reports its findings back to the Board of Trustees. ## **Induction and training of new trustees** New trustees are given guidance provided by the committee which covers such items as roles and responsibilities, legal obligations under charity law, organisational structures and decision making processes, business planning and understanding financial information. The induction process also involves new trustees meeting key employees and other trustees. Trustees are encouraged to attend appropriate training events which will facilitate their understanding of their role and meet their individual training needs. ## **Statement of trustees' responsibilities** Responsibilities of the Board of Trustees: The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial period which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and the surplus or deficit of the charity for that period. In preparing these statements, the trustees are required to: - Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently; - Make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; - Follow applicable accounting standards, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; - Prepare financial statements on an ongoing basis unless inappropriate to assume that the charity will continue in business. The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Trustees who served during the period: - Jonathan Whitworth (appointed May 16th 2014) - Andrea Kent (appointed May 16th 2014) - Kristian Radlinski (appointed May 16th 2014) Approved by order of the board of trustees on 24/02/2025 and signed on its behalf by: Ms A Kent - Trustee Page 10 ## **Report of the Independent Auditors to the Trustees of Joining Jack** ## **Opinion** We have audited the financial statements of Joining Jack (the 'charity') for the year ended 30 April 2024 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). ## In our opinion the financial statements: - give a true and fair view of the state of the charity's affairs as at 30 April 2024 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, for the year then ended; - have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and - have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011. ## **Basis for opinion** We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. ## **Conclusions relating to going concern** In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue. Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report. ## **Other information** The trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report, other than the financial statements and our Report of the Independent Auditors thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard. ## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception** We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: - the information given in the Report of the Trustees is inconsistent in any material respect with the financial statements; or - sufficient accounting records have not been kept; or - the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or - we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit. ## **Responsibilities of trustees** As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities, the trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements which give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. Page 11 **Report of the Independent Auditors to the Trustees of Joining Jack** ## **Our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements** We have been appointed as auditors under Section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder. Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue a Report of the Independent Auditors that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below: Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below. We identified areas of laws and regulations that could reasonable be expected to have a material effect on the financial statements from our general commercial and sector experience, through discussion with the trustees and other management (as required by auditing standards), and from inspection of the charity's regulatory and legal correspondence and discussed with the trustees and other management the policies and procedures regarding compliance with laws and regulations. We communicated identified laws and regulations throughout our team and remained alert to any indications of non-compliance throughout the audit. The potential effect of these laws and regulations on the financial statements varies considerably. Firstly, the charity is subject to laws and regulations that directly affect the financial statements including financial reporting legislation (including related parties legislation), pensions legislation and taxation legislation, and we assessed the extent of compliance with these laws and regulations as part of our procedures on the related financial statement items. Secondly, the charity is subject to other laws and regulations where the consequences of non-compliance could have a material effect on amounts or disclosures in the financial statements, for instance through the imposition of fines or litigation. We identified the following areas as those most likely to have such an effect: GDPR compliance, health and safety and product liability, anti-bribery and corruption, employment law, tax, environmental legislation, recognising the nature of the charities activities. Auditing standards limit the required audit procedures to identify non-compliance with these laws and regulations to enquiry of the trustees and other management and inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any. These limited procedures did not identify actual or suspected non-compliance. Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation. A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Report of the Independent Auditors. Page 12 ## **Report of the Independent Auditors to the Trustees of Joining Jack** ## **Use of our report** This report is made solely to the charity's trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity's trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditors' report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity's trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. NRB 1st Floor Waterside House Waterside Drive Wigan Lancashire WN3 5AZ Date: 25/02/2025 Page 13 ## **JOINING JACK** ## **Statement of Financial Activities FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024** |Notes
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
2
Other trading activities
3
Investment income
4
**Total**
**EXPENDITURE ON**
Raising funds
5
**Charitable activities**
6
Funding research
Other
**Total**
**NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)**
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**|30.4.24
Unrestricted
fund
£
238,372
250,165
15,732
504,269
201,066
530,581
(2,749)
728,898
(224,629)
1,877,858
1,653,229|30.4.23
Total
funds
£
92,281
81,375
227
173,883
137,338
486,124
41,694
665,156
(491,273)
2,369,131
1,877,858| |---|---|---| The notes form part of these financial statements Page 14 ## **JOINING JACK** ## **Balance Sheet 30 APRIL 2024** |Notes
**FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible assets
12
Social investments
13
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Stocks
14
Debtors
15
Cash at bank
**CREDITORS**
Amounts falling due within one year
16
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES**
**NET ASSETS**
**FUNDS**
17
Unrestricted funds
**TOTAL FUNDS**|30.4.24
Unrestricted
fund
£
131
53,396
53,527
322
85
1,607,845
1,608,252
(8,550)
1,599,702
1,653,229
1,653,229
1,653,229
1,653,229|30.4.23
Total
funds
£
163
42,205
42,368
322
485
1,844,688
1,845,495
(10,005)
1,835,490
1,877,858
1,877,858
1,877,858
1,877,858| |---|---|---| The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 24/02/2025 and were signed on its behalf by: **----- Start of picture text -----**
Mr J Whitworth - Trustee
**----- End of picture text -----**
The notes form part of these financial statements Page 15 **JOINING JACK** ## **Notes to the Financial Statements FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024** ## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES** ## **Basis of preparing the financial statements** The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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 (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of certain assets. ## **Financial reporting standard 102 - reduced disclosure exemptions** The charity has taken advantage of the following disclosure exemption in preparing these financial statements, as permitted by FRS 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland': - the requirements of Section 7 Statement of Cash Flows. ## **Income** All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably. ## **Expenditure** Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end date are noted as a commitment but not accrued as expenditure. ## **Tangible fixed assets** Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life. - Fixtures and fittings - 20% on reducing balance ## **Social investments** Social investments comprise programme related investments which are measured at cost less impairment. ## **Stocks** Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value, after making due allowance for obsolete and slow moving items. ## **Taxation** The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities. ## **Fund accounting** Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees. Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes. ## **Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits** The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charity's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate. ## **Going concern** After reviewing the charities forecast and projections, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. The charity therefore continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. continued... Page 16 **JOINING JACK** ## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024** ## **2. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES** |Donations
**3.**
**OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES**
Fundraising events
Merchandise sales
**4.**
**INVESTMENT INCOME**
Deposit account interest
**5.**
**RAISING FUNDS**
**Raising donations and legacies**
Staff costs
Rent
Fundraising costs
Travel costs
Postage, stationery and sundry
Computer costs
Depreciation
**Other trading activities**
Purchases
Aggregate amounts|30.4.24
£
238,372
30.4.24
£
248,362
1,803
250,165
30.4.24
£
15,732
30.4.24
£
61,418
2,400
18,385
1,618
3,313
7,918
33
95,085
30.4.24
£
105,981
201,066|30.4.23
£
92,281| |---|---|---| |||30.4.23
£
80,645
730| |||81,375| |||30.4.23
£
227
30.4.23
£
61,757
2,400
2,516
2,164
1,838
3,460
41
74,176
30.4.23
£
63,162| |||137,338| continued... Page 17 ## **JOINING JACK** ## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024** ## **6. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS** |Funding research
**7.**
**GRANTS PAYABLE**
Funding research
The total grants paid to institutions during the year was as follows:
Duchenne UK Grant Call
**8.**
**SUPPORT COSTS**
Other resources expended
**9.**
**AUDITORS' REMUNERATION**
Fees payable to the charity's auditors for the audit of the charity's financial statements|Grant
funding of
activities
(see note
7)
£
530,581
30.4.24
30.4.23
£
£
530,581
486,124
30.4.24
30.4.23
£
£
530,581
486,124
Governance
costs
£
7,518
30.4.24
30.4.23
£
£
5,730
5,399| |---|---| ## **10. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS** There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 30 April 2024 nor for the year ended 30 April 2023. ## **Trustees' expenses** There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 30 April 2024 nor for the year ended 30 April 2023. continued... Page 18 **JOINING JACK** ## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024** |**11.**
**Staff Costs**
Wages and salaries
Other pension costs
The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:
Costs of generating voluntary income
Research and campaigning
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.
**12.**
**TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**
**COST**
At 1 May 2023 and 30 April 2024
**DEPRECIATION**
At 1 May 2023
Charge for year
At 30 April 2024
**NET BOOK VALUE**
At 30 April 2024
At 30 April 2023|30.4.24
£
61,418
924
62,342
30.4.24
2
1
3|30.4.23
£
61,757
1,216|30.4.23
£
61,757
1,216| |---|---|---|---| |||62,973|| |||30.4.23
2
1
3
Fixtures
and
fittings
£
1,461
1,298
32
1,330
131
163|| ||||1,298
32| ||||1,330| ||||131| ||||163| continued... Page 19 **JOINING JACK** ## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024** ## **13. SOCIAL INVESTMENTS** Joining Jack is a shareholder in Duchenne Research (UK) Investment Ltd [DRIL], a company incorporated in the UK as a company limited by shares on 9 December 2014. Alex Johnson, one of the founders of Joining Jack, is a director of DRIL. The purpose of DRIL is to invest in SOLID Biosciences. SOLID Biosciences undertakes gene therapy-based research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and drug development and treatments in connection therewith. SOLID Biosciences is listed on Nasdaq. In October 2022, SOLID Biosciences implemented a 1-for-15 reverse split of its common stock, resulting in the number of shares held by DRIL reducing from 520,477 to 34,698. As a result, the share price of SOLID Biosciences has increased in year ended 30th April 2024. Therefore, the market value of the investment in DRIL as at the balance sheet date shows a revaluation of £11,191 (2023: - £32,532 Impairment). Further commentary regarding the charity's investment in DRIL is included in the financial review section of the Trustee's Report. ## **14. STOCKS** |||30.4.24|30.4.23| |---|---|---|---| |||£|£| ||Stocks|322|322| |**15.**|**DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**||| |||30.4.24|30.4.23| |||£|£| ||Gift Aid debtor|85|85| ||Prepayments|-|400| |||85|485| |**16.**|**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**||| |||30.4.24|30.4.23| |||£|£| ||Trade creditors|-|1| ||Taxation and social security|(650)|112| ||Other creditors|9,200|9,892| |||8,550|10,005| continued... Page 20 ## **JOINING JACK** ## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024** ## **17. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS** |**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**
**Comparatives for movement in funds**
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**||At 1.5.23
£
1,877,858
1,877,858
Incoming
resources
£
504,269
504,269
At 1.5.22
£
2,369,131
2,369,131||Net
movement
in funds
£
(224,629)
(224,629)
Resources
expended
£
(728,898)
(728,898)
Net
movement
in funds
£
(491,273)
(491,273)|At
30.4.24
£
1,653,229
1,653,229
Movement
in funds
£
(224,629)
(224,629)
At
30.4.23
£
1,877,858
1,877,858| |---|---|---|---|---|---| ||||||| ||||||| ||||||| continued... Page 21 **JOINING JACK** ## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024** ## **17. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued** Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: |Incoming
Resources
resources
expended
£
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
173,883
(665,156)
**TOTAL FUNDS**
173,883
(665,156)
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:
Net
movement
At 1.5.22
in funds
£
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
2,369,131
(715,902)
**TOTAL FUNDS**
2,369,131
(715,902)
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above ar
Incoming
Resources
resources
expended
£
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
678,152
(1,394,054)
**TOTAL FUNDS**
678,152
(1,394,054)|Movement
in funds
£
(491,273)
(491,273)
At
30.4.24
£
1,653,229
1,653,229
e as follows:
Movement
in funds
£
(715,902)
(715,902)| |---|---| ## **18. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES** There were no related party transactions for the year ended 30 April 2024. Page 22 ## **JOINING JACK** ## **Detailed Statement of Financial Activities FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 APRIL 2024** |**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30**|**APRIL 2024**|| |---|---|---| ||30.4.24|30.4.23| ||£|£| |**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS**||| |**Donations and legacies**||| |Donations|238,372|92,281| |**Other trading activities**||| |Fundraising events|248,362|80,645| |Merchandise sales|1,803|730| ||250,165|81,375| |**Investment income**||| |Deposit account interest|15,732|227| |**Total incoming resources**|504,269|173,883| |**EXPENDITURE**||| |**Raising donations and legacies**||| |Wages|61,418|61,757| |Rent|2,400|2,400| |Fundraising costs|18,385|2,516| |Travel costs|1,618|2,164| |Postage, stationery and sundry|3,313|1,838| |Computer costs|7,918|3,460| |Depreciation of fixtures and fittings|33|41| ||95,085|74,176| |**Other trading activities**||| |Cost of events|105,981|63,162| |**Charitable activities**||| |Grants to institutions|530,581|486,124| |**Other**||| |Pensions|924|1,216| |Impairment losses for intangible fixed assets|-|32,532| |Impairment losses for tangible fixed assets|(11,191)|-| ||(10,267)|33,748| |**Support costs**||| |**Governance costs**||| |Auditors' remuneration|5,730|5,399| |Accountancy and legal fees|1,788|2,547| ||7,518|7,946| |Total resources expended|728,898|665,156| |**Net expenditure**|(224,629)|(491,273)| This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements Page 23 This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements Page 23