2024-03-31-accounts - Behcet's Patients Centres

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BEHÇET’S PATIENTS CENTRES (A charitable company limited by guarantee)

Annual Report and unaudited Financial Statements for the year from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024

Company No: 08085618

Charity No: 1148599

Behçet’s Patients Centres Annual Report 2024

BEHÇET’S PATIENTS CENTRES (A charitable company limited by guarantee)

Contents of the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2024

A.	Directors’ Report...................................................3 - 15
B.	Directors’ Responsibilities.....................................16
C.	Statement of Financial Activities 2024 …..……….17
	Statement of Financial Activities 2023…….………18
D.	Balance Sheet……………………………...………..19
E.	Notes to the Financial Statements………..…….…20 - 22
F.	Independent Examiner’s Report…………….……..23

Behçet’s Patients Centres Annual Report 2024

A. Directors’ Report

1. Reference and Administrative Information

Charitable Company Name:	Behçet’s Patients Centres
Company No:	08085618
Charity No:	1148599
Registered Office	c/o Critchleys LLP
	23-38 Hythe Bridge Street
	OXFORD
	OX1 2EP
Administrative Address:	17 Culverley Crescent
	Knowle
	SOLIHULL
	B93 9RB
Accountants:	UHY Ross Brooke
	Suite I, Windrush Court
	Abingdon Business Park
	ABINGDON
	OX14 1SY
Members:	Behçet's UK
	Alan Lane
	Jan Mather
	Amanda Moseley
	Mike Rawlins
	Judith Scott
Directors:	Jan Mather (Chair)
	Mike Rawlins (Vice Chair)
	Alan Lane (Secretary and Finance Director)
	Amanda Moseley
	Judith Scott
NHS Advisor:	Prof. Farida Fortune
Commencement	The Company was incorporated on 28 May 2012 and
	commenced operations on 1 June 2012.

Behçet’s Patients Centres Annual Report 2024

2. Structure, Governance and Management

2.1 Governing Document: Memorandum and Articles of Association

The charitable company operates with a voluntary management committee/Board of Directors who meet on a bi-annual basis, with additional meetings via telephone conference as required.

Other members of the Board can be appointed by the existing Directors. In so doing they will have regard to the need for the Board to contain a range of skills and relevant experience and will ensure that newly appointed Directors are appropriately trained as to their legal responsibilities. The liability of the Directors is limited by guarantee.

The Directors are not entitled to and did not receive any remuneration during the period.

2.2 Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting was held on 18 April 2024. During the meeting, Alan Lane, Amanda Moseley and Michael Rawlins were re-appointed as Directors following the expiry of their terms of office. In addition, Jan Mather was re-elected as Chair and Michael Rawlins was re-elected as ViceChair, both to serve until the next AGM.

2.3 Employees

The employees of the BPC have remained the same throughout this financial year.

John Mather - Operations Manager - employed February 2014 (Note that John gave notice of his intention to retire from his position as Operations Manager, John is expected to leave his employment with BPC on 30 June 2024)

The Support Coordinators are:

Rebecca Hyder – Birmingham Centre of Excellence – employed March 2015 Jackie Pooler – Liverpool Centre of Excellence – employed July 2014 Jean Christians – London Centre of Excellence – employed March 2013.

3. Objectives, Activities, Achievements & Performance

Behçet’s UK (formerly Behçet’s Syndrome Society) undertook a survey of its membership during 2008 which revealed that Behçet’s is more debilitating than previously understood. The Quality-ofLife survey revealed that the impact of Behçet’s is like that of Multiple Sclerosis, which has an approved patient pathway through the NHS. With this, and the knowledge that on average it was taking 12 years for Behçet’s patients to receive a diagnosis, Behçet’s UK began an application to the National Specialised Commissioning Group for Centres of Excellence to be established to treat patients with Behçet’s.

The bid to establish the Centres of Excellence was successful and the Centres were established in April 2012. The Behçet’s Patients Centres charitable company was established in conjunction with Behçet’s UK to manage the NHS contract whilst ensuring the vision for patients was delivered.

Behçet’s Patients Centres (BPC) complements the national clinical service that NHS England commissions from three expert providers in England for patients with Behçet’s through the three Centres of Excellence located in London, Birmingham and Liverpool.

It supports the delivery of high-quality specialised care to patients who have this rare disease. It supports the services to ensure that patients with Behçet’s have coordinated care and are provided with full information about their condition.

The current Service Specification agreed with the NHS in 2020 for the period from April 2020 to March 2024 ensures that the non-medical support work carried out by Behçet’s Patients Centres, through the Support Coordinators and Operations Manager employed by the charity, is a true reflection of that work.

Behçet’s Patients Centres Annual Report 2024

Following a re-tendering process, BPC were successful in their tender (in the form of an Expression of Interest) to continue to provide non-medical services to patients with Behçet’s through the three Centres of Excellence. A new two years plus two years contract has now been signed by both BPC and the NHS that came into effect from 1 April 2024.

New ways of working

Each Centre has utilised technology with a mixture of face-to-face, video and telephone consultations, dependent on the availability of consultants and the requirements of patients.

For the Support Coordinators, the preference is face-to-face consultations as so much of their work is based around these conversations and they help us provide the right level of non-medical support for our patients. Chatting and listening to patients is a key function of the role of the Support Coordinators. The Operational staff have adapted well to new ways of working with our colleagues in the NHS. They have maintained contact with patients whether that be face-to-face or virtually by video or telephone to check in with them and make them aware that the services of the charity are available to help with their non-medical needs.

The Support Coordinators have continued throughout the reporting period to demonstrate their flexibility to meet the non-medical support needs of their patients.

3.1 Description of Services as agreed with NHS England

3.1.1 Provide non-medical support to patients attending a Behçet’s Centre of Excellence

To ensure that all Behçet’s patients have access to a Behçet’s Support Coordinator whilst they are a patient at a Centre of Excellence and are aware of the services provided by the Behçet’s Patients Centres, including:
Support Co-ordinators being present in clinic to meet with patients when they attend clinic as far as is practically possible,
Emotional and practical support for patients,
Advocacy services,
Liaison with employers, educational establishments, and organisations such as Department of Work and Pensions (Benefits),
Signpost to other relevant specialist agencies,
Signpost to other support services within the Trust, for example support for travel costs,
Link Behçet’s patients with other patients and Behçet’s UK support groups,
Support patients in maintaining employment, leisure activities or volunteering opportunities.
Patients will be made aware of how to access the service outside of the normal clinic hours.
All patients will be treated with dignity and respect, dealt with in a confidential manner and made aware of the service’s complaints policy.

3.1.2 Provision of information about Behçet’s and the services provided by the Behçet’s Centre of Excellence

To ensure that all Behçet’s patients are provided with the most relevant and up to date information about the support and services available that allows them to manage their condition.
Access to all information to be made available in a format relevant for each patient, printed hard copy versions or electronic versions.
Information provided will include; services of Behçet’s Support Coordinators, services available from Behçet’s UK, up to date information about Behçet’s including its management and symptoms.

Behçet’s Patients Centres Annual Report 2024

3.1.3 Management of Service Contract between the charity, Behçet’s Patients Centres, and NHS England

To ensure compliance with the NHS Terms and Conditions for the provision of services.

3.2 Achievements for Financial Year 2023-24 and performance in relation to objects and Service Agreement Outputs

3.2.1 Provision of non-medical support to patients attending a Behçet’s Centre of Excellence:

Deliverables

All patient contact related activity was recorded on a secure database.
Patient advocacy and engagement in service delivery – Feedback (both within and outside clinics) was collected from each service at least every quarter. Analysis was undertaken on gathered responses to identify strengths and areas for improvement. Patients receiving support from a Support Coordinator are sent a link to an anonymous online survey for completion (https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90434794/BPC-Feedback-2022-Updated) and encouraged to provide qualitative feedback on the service they have received.
Any contact from a patient was appropriately responded to by the charity, Behçet’s Patients Centres, within five working days.
3.2.2 Provision of information about Behçet’s and the services provided by the Behçet’s Centre of Excellence:

Deliverables:

Role of Behçet’s Support Coordinators – all patients attending clinics were given a summary of the services provided by the support coordinator and how to access the services provided.
Patient Information Pack – patients attending a clinic received a copy of the Patient Information Pack and this was recorded on the individual patient record on the database of the Behçet’s Patients Centres. A digital version of our summary information pack is also available for either downloading or for email to a patient. All new patients are encouraged to visit the website of the charity (https://behcetspatients.org.uk/new-patient-information) where up to date information about support available via the Support Coordinators is published. Behçet’s Patients Centres continued to work with Behçet’s UK to ensure the Patient Information Pack is updated on a regular basis.
Website – Maintained our own website (https://behcetspatients.org.uk/) to provide information about the charity, current news, clinic information, information for patients and information for professionals.
Newsletter – Provided regular articles from both patients and clinic staff that are published in the quarterly Behçet’s UK newsletter. Focus of recent articles is the theme “Living well with Behçet’s”; highlighting how the charity can support patients in continuing their education, employment or other opportunities.
Three Directors of the company were present at the Behcet’s UK AGM and available to answer queries about the service.

The statistics for the last 12 months (below) show the number of patients supported and the types of contact Support Coordinators have had with patients.

As previously highlighted, the pandemic has led to a hybrid way of working, with a mixture of faceto-face and virtual appointments. Although it is likely a hybrid model of working will continue to be implemented post pandemic, it’s not thought the contact will reflect previous years of predominantly being seen within the clinic; however, we will continue to work with the NHS clinical teams and our patients.

Behçet’s Patients Centres Annual Report 2024

The following data charts highlight the fluctuating nature of the role of the Support Coordinators, numbers continue to vary each quarter based upon a variety of factors:

Availability of Support Coordinator – annual leave / sickness
Capacity of clinics at each Centre of Excellence
Cancelled Behçet’s Clinics at the Centres
Diverse support needs of individual patients
Mix of new / existing Behçet’s patients
Patient “Did not Attend” (DNA)

Behçet’s Patients Centres Annual Report 2024

The Operations Manager has also analysed the database of patients to identify “Active” patients, where active is based upon some contact with a Support Coordinator in the previous two-year period.

This review of patients recognises the fluctuating nature of Behçet’s and is a truer measure of the number of patients being supported by BPC.

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1334 Total
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3.2.3 Fostering education, collaboration and networking in the medical and allied professions:

The BPS Matters newsletter continues to promote the Support Coordinators’ perspective of work within the clinic and is shared across the medical staff at all three Centres. As well as highlighting particularly interesting cases (which are anonymised), the newsletter also shares some of the key successes achieved with patients, any trends, positive or negative, with benefits, welfare or other agency support, plus how the charity and staff continue to support the NHS and Behçet’s UK.

The content and layout have been refreshed to ensure the publication remains interesting and informative for the recipients.

The new format includes the following sections:

Benefit Support
Wellbeing Support
Non-Medical Support Trends
Staff Training and Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
Team Working
Patient Feedback

The latest version of BPS Matters can be downloaded from our website: https://behcetspatients.org.uk/bps-matters-newsletter.

Feedback from the recipients of BPS Matters is positive and that the information within the journal provides a good insight into the work and support being provided by the Support Coordinators across all three Centres of Excellence.

Behçet’s Patients Centres Annual Report 2024

3.2.4 The promotion and assistance of research into Behçet’s disease and the dissemination of the useful results:

The formation of the Centres will provide the largest sample population available in England to conduct research into Behçet’s disease. Each of the Centres is discussing potential research, how they can collaborate amongst themselves and with other medical professionals. We are also working closely with Behçet’s UK as they progress their ambition to develop a register of patients which will also assist with identifying the sample population.

3.3 Service Agreement Outputs:

3.3.1 Patient Advocacy and engagement in service delivery

Following attendance at a clinic in a Centre of Excellence, patients are sent an anonymous electronic survey to complete to provide feedback on the service they received. These are closely monitored and reviewed to highlight areas for improvement or for sharing best practice amongst the Centres. The feedback is overwhelmingly positive and includes the following sample quotes:

Received information and help if needed, and Support Coordinator is so nice caring and listens to your needs.
The Support Coordinator is always very pleasant conversations around health, received advice on employment issues.
Support Coordinator has helped me with several things, i.e. benefits, appointments etc.
I felt more in control and was able to apply their advice.
Support Coordinator has been extremely helpful in the past when I have contacted her.
Had nothing specific to discuss with Support Coordinator in this instance as was not needed but always nice to see a smiley familiar face.
Support Coordinator has always been so helpful with any question or inquiries I have ... if she is not available in clinic or if I miss her on the day of my appointment, she always contacts me via text message before or after my appointment.
It is good to know Support Coordinator is at the end of the phone for assistance and information when needed.
Support Coordinator helped to link me with other patients.
Thank you, you (Support Coordinator) are a star. I meant to contact her to say thank you when I got home; but I blocked the whole experience from my mind until this point!
Support Coordinator is always kind, professional & approachable. An asset to the clinic.
Support Coordinator has made a massive difference.
Support Coordinator has always been friendly and made contact.
Support Coordinator is lovely and always does her best to help me with all kinds of concerns, she is very understanding, and I feel at home when discussing things with her.
Support Coordinator has helped with multiple things over the last few months and experienced a few issues with benefits and housing issues and appeals.
Support Coordinator always helps and reassures me. They are a great support when I do not feel helped in other aspects.
A significant difference with support from the coordinator extremely helpful with all information.
It is good to know there is someone on hand to help with any queries I may have.
I am still to follow-up with them (personal issues have hindered this slightly), but yes, Support Coordinator is a pleasure to speak with and extremely helpful.
(The Support Coordinator) is always helpful.

Behçet’s Patients Centres Annual Report 2024

3.3.2 Dedicated Website

The website for Behçet’s Patients Centres (BPC) under the trading name of Behçet’s Patients Support is a resource actively promoted by the Support Coordinators .

The website can be found at https://behcetspatients.org.uk/. The website provides a “one-stop” for all information about the Centres of Excellence, with links to all three Centres and to Behçet’s UK to promote the “In partnership with the NHS and Behçet’s UK” mission of the charity.

The website provides specific information in the following areas:

➢ THE TEAM – who we are.
➢ SUPPORT COORDINATORS – what we do.
➢ CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE – where the services are provided.
➢ LIVING WELL – focus on living well with Behçet’s.
➢ NEW PATIENTS - dedicated section for newly diagnosed Behçet’s Patients to help them navigate their Behçet’s journey and promote the services of Behçet’s Patients Centres (BPC).
➢ FACTSHEETS – medical factsheets, provided by Behçet’s UK.
➢ REFERRALS – how to access the service.
➢ HELP WITH BENEFITS – useful information on welfare benefits.
➢ HINTS AND TIPS – sharing of good practice.
➢ TESTIMONIALS – patient feedback.
➢ CONTACT DETAILS – how to get in touch.
➢ A new section aimed at providing information and support dedicated to Children and Young People has been launched. The new section was written in collaboration with Behçet’s Patients Centres (BPC) and the Paediatric Team at Alder Hey and shows the importance of working as “Team Behçet’s” for the benefit of all patients attending a Centre of Excellence. The section also includes useful links to other resources provided by the Paediatric Team at Alder Hey, and Behçet’s UK. Their guide “How to manage Behçet’s at school and college (A guide for teachers, staff, parents, and carers) https://behcetsuk.org/behcets-school-college/ has proven to be particularly useful for young people continuing their education.

Having a dedicated website allows for the charity to promote themes, for example links to the current Behçet’s Quality of Life Survey, information on the cost-of-living crisis and the qualitative feedback survey.

3.3.3 Newsletter articles provided from both patients and clinic staff for publication in the quarterly Behçet’s UK newsletter.

Throughout 2023/24, the Centres have been represented with a significant presence in the Behçet’s UK newsletter. Each of the Centres is encouraged to provide articles for every edition with one of the Support Coordinators also providing information on lifestyle management and wellbeing. Articles this year have included:

A quarterly food and nutritional column with suggested recipes
Behçet’s Patients Support update.
Wellbeing MOT
Impact of Behçet’s in Children and Young People
Combatting Loneliness
Alder Hey and Aintree: A collaborative Approach
Social Prescribing
PJ Days

Behçet’s Patients Centres Annual Report 2024

Patient Information Pack – ensuring all patients who attend clinic for the first time receive a copy. A Patient Information Pack continues to be distributed by the Support Coordinators at the Centres.

Following feedback from patients attending a centre, patients were becoming overwhelmed by the breadth of areas the disease could potentially affect which was having a negative impact on their wellbeing at a time when they were coming to terms with a new diagnosis.

The information pack given at their first clinic visit therefore only includes factsheets on:

Overview of Behçet’s including the various symptoms associated with Behçet’s describing how they may manifest themselves,
Patient’s guide to living with Behçet’s,
Update on the current treatments available for Behçet’s,
Membership Form to join Behçet’s UK.

A digital version of our summary information pack is now also available for either downloading from our website (https://behcetspatients.org.uk/beh%C3%A7et%E2%80%99s-factsheets) or for email to a patient. We also encourage our patients to visit the website of Behçet’s UK (https://behcetsuk.org/behcets-medical-factsheets/) where the most up to date information sheets on all the symptoms of the illness can be viewed and downloaded.

The Support Coordinator will continue to facilitate the provision of information to ensure all patients have access to the most up to date and appropriate information in a format relevant to them.

3.3.4 Support Coordinator workload prioritisation should aim for 65% direct face to face contact with patients: 30% other contact / facilitation work and 5% raising awareness activities.

The Support Coordinators log their time against categories of work they undertake to ensure their workload prioritisation is aligned to the Company’s Service Agreement.

The job plan for the Support Coordinators is broken down as follows:

Direct contact work (either face to face or on telephone to patients);
Undertaking contact / facilitation work (on behalf of an individual identified patient);
Undertaking wider programmatic activities (such as awareness raising, promotion, training etc.)

The statistics for the last 12 months are below:

Data shows the flexible approach adopted by the Support Coordinators in switching between face to face and other contact as the needs of the Centres of Excellence and the patients themselves change and evolve. The key is for the Support Coordinator to remain flexible and adapt as necessary.

Behçet’s Patients Centres Annual Report 2024

3.3.5 Training and Development – contribute to the Behçet’s UK AGM to promote the service.

The charity was represented at the October AGM of Behçet’s UK by the Directors; Alan Lane, Judi Scott and Amanda Moseley, ensuring that any questions relating to the service could be formally answered.

3.3.6 Raising Awareness of Services Provision

The Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) framework supports improvements in the quality of services and the creation of new, improved patterns of care as appropriate.

At the latest NHS CQUIN meeting held in Liverpool on 14 March, the Chair, Jan Mather, presented a “Patient’s Perspective” on the impact that the three Centres of Excellence have had on the care and treatment for Behçet’s patients.

The Operations Manager presented a personal reflection on his ten years of working for BPC and the change to the ways of working, improvements in data recording, and better stakeholder engagement that have been implemented during his time as Operations Manager.

Jacqueline Pooler (Liverpool Support Coordinator) also presented on “Working with Behçet’s” and what help and support the Support Coordinators can provide to ensure that patients remain economically active.

All the presentations allowed for the work of BPC to be showcased to the National Commissioners and to share successes and the value added for the benefit of patients attending a Centre of Excellence with medical NHS colleagues.

3.3.7 Provide Stakeholder engagement by publishing a quarterly ‘BPS Matters’ to key

medical staff in clinics.

The ‘ BPS Matters’ newssheet has been produced quarterly and the content refreshed during 2023/24 to ensure it remains interesting and informative to the recipients. It is circulated to the key stakeholders including Lead Clinician of each Centre along with the NSCG Commissioner and the Chair of Behçet’s UK. The aim of this newssheet is to highlight to the medical team within the Centres any trends we are observing and to share best practice amongst the Centres. This publication continues to be well received with each of the Centre Leads circulating to their teams. A summary of the newssheet is published in the Behçet’s UK Quarterly newsletter as well as being made available on our website (https://behcetspatients.org.uk/bps-matters-newsletter)

Sections include:

Benefit Support
Wellbeing Support
Non-Medical Support Trends
Staff Training and Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
Team Working
Patient Feedback

3.4 Looking to 2024-25

3.4.1 Training

The service has become well established with feedback being overwhelmingly positive, however ways to improve the services to patients are always being sought.

All Support Coordinators have rolling NHS Honorary Contracts in place and with that comes the responsibility to complete all relevant mandatory training. Such training being provided by the relevant NHS Trust and online via “eLearning for healthcare” (elfh is a Health Education England - programme in partnership with the NHS and professional bodies https://www.e lfh.org.uk/).

Behçet’s Patients Centres Annual Report 2024

Courses completed include:

Understanding Health Improvement
Introduction to Compassionate Communication at Work
Introduction to Bringing Your Whole Self to Work
Basic British Sign Language
Dementia Awareness
Safeguarding Adults & Children
Emotional Support and Signposting
Equality and Diversity and Human Rights
Domestic Abuse Awareness
Health and Safety in the Workplace.
Zero Suicide Alliance Suicide Awareness Training,
NHS Leadership Academy course pathway,
Domestic Abuse and the warning signs.

Mandatory Training continues to be undertaken (in line with NHS Honorary Contract requirement).

The Company continues to look for appropriate courses to ensure our Support Coordinators remain current with any benefits changes as this is an ongoing need.

The personal development of the team is under consideration, after undertaking coaching training and resilience training in previous years.

The training will be agreed collaboratively based on need and timeliness together with the benefit it will deliver for our service users.

3.4.2 Evolving role of a Support Co-ordinator

What the Support Coordinators do on a day-to-day basis will continue to evolve over time and allows for the continuation of individual ways of working. Whist it is not envisaged that there will be a radical change to the role, the Team do recognise that they should update their knowledge, training, and developing a more outward looking approach so that BPC can stay in line with NHS innovations and initiatives.

Many aspects of Social Prescribing are already embedded in the role of the Support Coordinator, the recent shift to a “living well with Behçet’s” focus for patients highlights the positive impact working with a Support Coordinator makes on the lives of patients.

BPC will develop a ‘What Matters to You Most?’ approach for patients and offer a ‘What Matters to You Most?’ discussion followed by the creation of a support plan for each patient, based in line with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, whilst recognising each patient will have differing support requirements and will be positioned at various stages of the hierarchy of need.

That plan would involve Support Coordinators researching relevant agencies for signposting advise and opportunities and where appropriate making referrals with follow up support to check on how everything is going.

The ‘What Matters to You Most?’ approach will allow Support Coordinators to support a wider range of patients, not only for those patients who are actively managing their Behçet’s but also those that are currently living well with Behçet’s and have little contact with their Support Coordinator.

3.4.3 Meeting schedules

The BPC has held four Board meetings, one face to face in Birmingham and the remaining three by video conference during financial year 2023-24. In addition, the BPC AGM was held on 18 April 2024 also via video conference.

During the financial year 2024-25, it is intended to revert to the model of two face-to-face meetings, generally in the Spring and Autumn whilst we onboard the newly appointed Operations Lead. Each meeting will continue to be minuted to reflect the discussions and agreed actions.

In addition, a joint meeting using video conferencing was held between the BPC and Behçet’s UK to ensure we remain aligned, and our services are complimentary for the benefits of patients.

Behçet’s Patients Centres Annual Report 2024

3.4.4 Company Training Day(s)

The BPC also held a face-to-face training meeting during financial year 2023-24, with the meeting being attended by all the operational staff and available Directors. The objectives of the meeting were to ensure the Directors were fully briefed on the variety of work that is undertaken by the Support Coordinators, to keep them up to date with trends and best practice and to focus on specific tools to assist in managing their workload and priorities.

This type of training will continue on an annual basis with any relevant learning and action points noted and shared via either BPS Matters or via the Behçet’s UK newsletter.

3.4.5 Risks

The Board of Directors has considered the risks to which the charity is exposed.

The most significant risk is that the four-year contract agreed from April 2024 with an initial 3.1% uplift in funding will not keep pace with inflation in salary and other costs. It is therefore anticipated that a revision to the contract will be required in due course.

The Company had a small operating surplus in 2023-24 and its reserves are more than adequate to cope with this situation for at least the medium term.

The Directors are therefore of the opinion that the charity is a going concern.

Directors will also continue to monitor cash flow closely, as well as ensuring that any recruitment procedures include Disclosure Barring Service checks, that staff are appropriately trained and that there are relevant policies including a Data Protection policy that reflects the newly introduced data privacy regulations. Directors will continue to take out appropriate insurance for the services that the Company provides.

Behçet’s Patients Centres Annual Report 2024

4. Financial Review

The Company was incorporated on 28 May 2012. Its first financial period ended on 31 May 2013, after which the accounting reference date was changed to 31 March for subsequent years. This report relates to the financial year ending 31 March 2024.

The Company’s main source of income is a grant from the National Health Service Commissioning Board by means of a contract with the Company to provide support services to Behçet’s patients in conjunction with the three Patients Centres. Some additional income has been received from the Barts Health NHS Trust in order to extend the administrative support provided by one of the Support Co-ordinators at the London clinic and some small charitable donations have again been received this year.

The Company employs three Support Coordinators and finances their recruitment and training, the provision of laptop computers and stationery, including patient information packs, and meets the Support Coordinators’ travel costs and incidental expenses. In addition, the Company employs its own part-time Operations Manager and contributes to the costs of the Behçet’s UK newsletter.

At the end of the previous financial period, the Company had total reserves of £46.8k. In the period ending 31 March 2024 it received income of £124.3k, principally from NHS England, and spent some £120.2k on charitable activities and £2.6k on governance costs, giving a surplus of £1.5k for the period, which was added to the reserves brought forward from earlier years.

4.1 Investment Policy

The Directors’ policy on finance is to utilise its CAF Bank current account for routine income and expenditure and to place funds not needed in the short term on deposit with a Scottish Widows 90day account. The BPC is responsible for delivering to the National Specialised Commissioning Groups award and therefore it is not anticipated that a large reserve will be created. Claims are made on a monthly basis to the NSCG to cover planned expenditure.

4.2 Reserves Policy

The Company's reserves at 31 March 2024 were £48.3k. Directors aim to maintain reserves at a level not exceeding the company’s normal income for a six-month period, together with any funds necessary to meet expenditure on activities that are incomplete at the end of a financial period, as a contingency in the event of the non-renewal of the contract with NHS England to provide for an orderly winding-up of the company's activities.

4.3 Basis of Preparation

The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006 and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS 102.

4.4 Public Benefit

The Directors have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit, as detailed in section 3 above.

Behçet’s Patients Centres Annual Report 2024

B. Directors’ Responsibilities

The Directors are responsible for preparing the Directors’ Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law, the Directors have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounts Standard and Applicable Law).

Under company law the Directors 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 profit or loss of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements the Directors are required to:

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.

The Directors are responsible for keeping accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. 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.

This report was approved by the Board on 18 April 2024 and signed on its behalf by

Jan Mather Chair of the Board of Directors

Behçet’s Patients Centres Annual Report 2024

C. Statement of Financial Activities

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

(Incorporating the income and expenditure account)

Note INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS Income from charitable activities 3 Bank interest receivable Total Income and endowments EXPENDITURE ON: Charitable activities 4 Governance costs 5 Total Expenditure NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) Transfers between funds 6 Net Movement in Funds RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward from previous year Total funds carried forward	Unrestricted Fund Restricted Funds 231 123 650 442 0 673 123 650 0 120 213 0 2 597 0 122 810 673 840 840 -840 1 513 0 46 759 0 48 272 0	Total 2023-24 123 881 442 124 323 120 213 2 597 122 810	*Total* *2022-23* 117 274 101
			*117 375*
			118 607 2 843
			*121 450*

		1 513	*-4 075*
		0	0
		1 513	*-4 075*
		46 759 48 272	*50 834*
			*46 759*

Behçet’s Patients Centres Annual Report 2024

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

(Incorporating the income and expenditure account)

Note INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS Income from charitable activities 3 Bank interest receivable Total Income and endowments EXPENDITURE ON: Charitable activities 4 Governance costs 5 Total Expenditure NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) Transfers between funds 6 Net Movement in Funds RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward from previous year Total funds carried forward	Unrestricted Fund Restricted Funds 2 117 272 101 0 103 117 272 0 118 607 0 2 843 0 121 450 103 -4 178 -4 178 4 178 -4 075 0 50 834 0 46 759 0	Total 2022-23 117 274 101 117 375 118 607 2 843 121 450	*Total* *2021-22* 113 028 15
			*113 043*
			105 849 2 765
			*108 614*

		-4 075	*4 429*
		0	0
		-4 075	*4 429*
		50 834 46 759	*46 405*
			*50 834*

Behçet’s Patients Centres Annual Report 2024

D. BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2024

Notes Current assets Debtors 9 Prepayments 10 Cash at bank and in hand 11 Total current assets Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 12 Total assets less current liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due after one year Net assets Funds of the charity Unrestricted fund Restricted fund Total funds	Unrestricted Fund Restricted Funds 269 10 639 0 1 461 48 003 -7 974 48 272 4 126 0 4 126 48 272 0 0 0 48 272 0 48 272 0 0 0 48 272 0	Total 2023-24 10 908 1 461 40 029 52 398 4 126 48 272 0 48 272 48 272 0 48 272	*Total* *2022-23* 9 777 1 342 42 296
			*53 415*
			6 656
			*46 759*
			0
			*46 759*
			*46 759* 0
			*46 759*

All of the company’s activities were derived from continuing operations during the above two financial periods.

Note: Restricted Fund

This fund records monies received from NHS Commissioning via the London Strategic Health Authority and from Barts NHS Trust during this accounting period and the charitable purposes for which they have been employed.

For the financial period ended 31 March 2024, the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477(1) of the Companies Act 2006, and no notice has been deposited under section 476(1) requesting an audit.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for:

(a) ensuring that the company keeps accounting records which comply with section 386 of the Act; and
(b) preparing accounts which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of the year and of its profit or loss for the financial year in accordance with the requirements of section 394 and which otherwise comply with the Companies Act 2006, so far as applicable to the company.

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to small companies’ regime.

Approved by the Board of Directors on 9 May 2024 and authorised for issue on 9 May 2024.

Jan Mather

Chair of the Board of Directors

Behçet’s Patients Centres Annual Report 2024

E. NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

PERIOD ENDED 31 MARCH 2024

1. CHARITY DETAILS

The charity is a charitable company limited by guarantee.

Its registered office is: 23-38 Hythe Bridge Street OXFORD OX1 2EP

The charity is a public benefit entity.

2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The principal accounting policies of the company are as follows:

(a) Basis of accounting

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 FRS 102 and the Companies Act 2006. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).

(b) Income

Grants from National Health Service England and receipts from Barts Health NHS Trust are included in the income and expenditure account as they become available.

(c) Explanation of the categories of expenditure

Charitable activities

This comprises all direct costs and management overheads which have been incurred by the charity in meeting its charitable objects.

Governance costs

Governance expenses represents the costs incurred in connection with the administration of the charity in compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.

(d) Taxation

The company is a registered charity and is not liable to United Kingdom taxes on its income.

(e) Presentation currency

The financial statements are presented in Sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity.

(f) Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.

(g) Trade creditors

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if the charitable company does not have an unconditional right, at the end of the reporting period, to defer settlement of the creditor for at least twelve months after the reporting date. If there is an unconditional right to defer settlement for at least twelve months after the reporting date, they are presented as non-current liabilities.

Trade creditors are recognized at the transaction price.

Behçet’s Patients Centres Annual Report 2024

3. ANALYSIS OF CHARITABLE INCOME NHS England Barts Health NHS Trust Other donations 4. ANALYSIS OF CHARITABLE EXPENDITURE Staff recruitment, training and HR costs Salaries and wages (4 employees in 2024, 4 in 2023) Employer’s NI Employment rebate Employer’s pension costs General travel expenses Subsistence costs Insurance Telephone/fax/email Printing/photocopying Newsletter Postage Stationery and materials ICT hardware ICT software Equipment purchases Conference expenses 5. ANALYSIS OF GOVERNANCE COSTS Independent examination of accounts Financial administration Bank charges Professional fees Data Protection registration Board meeting expenses		2024 £ 108 100 15 550 231 123 881 2024 £ 1 462 103 293 9 233 -5 000 3 099 1 104 65 977 1 278 95 2 484 38 96 50 1 766 173 0 120 213 2024 £ 750 1 045 60 543 35 164 2 597	*2023* £ 102 480 14 792 2 117 274 *2023* £ 382 103 779 9 752 -5 000 2 649 1 227 127 926 1 147 329 2 048 58 37 0 786 0 360 ____	*2023* £ 102 480 14 792 2 117 274 *2023* £ 382 103 779 9 752 -5 000 2 649 1 227 127 926 1 147 329 2 048 58 37 0 786 0 360 ____
			118 607 *2023* £ 720 1 447 72 507 35 ____62_ 2 843
				2 843

6. TRANSFER OF FUNDS

Any unspent monies received from NHSE have been transferred to unrestricted funds as the directors may use these funds to promote the charitable object without restriction. The operating surplus in 2023-24 was added to these reserves.

7. DIRECTORS’ EMOLUMENTS

The directors are not entitled to and did not receive any remuneration during the year. Travel and accommodation expenses incurred by the directors on behalf of the charity may be reimbursed. Expenses were claimed by two directors totalling £165 in 2023-24 (£62 in 2022-23). There were no expenses paid to third parties on behalf of trustees.

8. EMPLOYEE EXPENSES

The total average monthly number of employees during the year was 4 (2023: 4). The company has a pension scheme for its employees. Contributions totalling £3099 were made during the year (£2649 in 2023). There were no redundancy or termination payments. No staff were paid £60 000 or more during the year (2023: none).

60 000 or more during the year (2023: none).
The numbers of employees whose remuneration for the year fell	2024	*2023*
within the following bands were:
£10 000 to £20 000	1	1
£20 001 to £30 000	2	2
£30 001 to £40 000	0	0
£40 001 to £50 000	1	1

The total paid to key management personnel, including pension contributions, was £ 17.0k (2023: £18.2k).

Behçet’s Patients Centres Annual Report 2024

9.	ANALYSIS OF DEBTORS	2024	*2023*
		£	£
	Donations due from PayPal	164	3
	Interest due on Scottish Widows a/c	105	0
	NHS England	9 343	8 540
	Barts Health NHS Trust	1 296	1 234
		10 908	9 777
10.	ANALYSIS OF PREPAYMENTS	2024	*2023*
		£	£
	Proportion of insurance premium paid in advance	1 034	942
	Proportion of company secretarial fees paid in advance	427	400
		1 461	1 342
11.	ANALYSIS OF CASH	2024	*2023*
		£	£
	CAF Bank current account	13 605	11 184
	Scottish Widows 90-day account	25 849	30 537
	Floats held by support Coordinators to meet expenses	575	575
		40 029	42 296
12.	ANALYSIS OF CREDITORS (due within one year)	2024	*2023*
		£	£
	HMRC – PAYE and National Insurance payments	2 512	4 543
	Pension scheme payments	603	952
	Staff expenses claims	128	3_13_
	Provision for cost of independent examination of accounts	750	720
	Behçet’s UK re-charges	133	128
		___	___
		4 126	6 656

13. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

There were no related party transactions in either period and there were no donated services.

Behçet’s Patients Centres Annual Report 2024

F. INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

TO THE TRUSTEES OF

BEHÇET'S PATIENTS CENTRES

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Behçet's Patients Centres (the Company) for the year ended 31 March 2024, which are set out on pages 17 to 22.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity's trustees of the company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of 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 report

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:

1) accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
2) the accounts do not accord with those accounting records; or
3) the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair* view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
4) the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102).

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.

Name of examiner: Caroline Webster

Name of firm: UHY Ross Brooke

Relevant professional body: Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

Address: Suite I, Windrush Court, Abingdon Business Park, ABINGDON, OX14 1SY

Signed:

Date: 10 May 2024

Behçet’s Patients Centres Annual Report 2024