**Charity Registration No. 1150538**
## **THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
10 Bridge Street Christchurch Dorset BH23 1EF
**THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **CONTENTS**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Company informaton|1|
|Trustees' report|2 - 16|
|Statement of trustees' responsibilites|17|
|Independent examiner's report|18|
|Statement of fnancial actvites|19|
|Balance sheet|20|
|Notes to the fnancial statements|21 - 33|
**THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION**
## **Trustees**
Mr. A Deutsch Ms. A Collins Mr. D McEvoy Ms. A Jackson Ms. F Hunt
(Appointed 31 October 2024)
**Charity number** 1150538
**Independent examiner**
TC Group 10 Bridge Street Christchurch Dorset BH23 1EF
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## **THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
The Trustees present this report with the financial statement for the year ending 31st March 2025.
The Trustees have adopted the provision of accounting and reporting by the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts, with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) effective 01/01/2015.
The Trustees believe that the information included in this report demonstrates how the activities of The Dorset Children’s Foundation has created public benefit.
## **The Dorset Children’s Foundation Charity Reg: 1150538 in England and Wales Principal & Registered address: 695-697 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth BH7 6AF**
## **Trustees**
A Collins A Deutsch A Jackson D McEvoy F Hunt (from 24/08/2024)
There trustees delegate the day-to-day management to:
CEO and Co-Founder - Patricia Hallmey (Governor of Montecute Special School member of Dorset IAG committee, trustee for Enable My Trip and panel member of AFCB Disability and inclusion team). CFO and Co-Founder - Scott Akam
Accountants: TC Group 10 Bridge Street Christchurch BH23 1EF
Bank: Barclays PLC 100 High Street Poole BH15 1BL
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## **THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT**
Our Trustees are all volunteers, deemed fit and proper persons for this role and they receive no financial remuneration.
Type of governing document:
The Dorset Children’s Foundation is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registered with the Charity Commission on 21st January 2013 and is governed by a constitution which was amended on 19th June 2021.
## **Summary of the objectives of the charity:**
THE RELIEF OF SICKNESS AND THE PRESERVATION OF HEALTH AMONG CHILDREN WITH LONG TERM ILLNESSES AND/OR DISABILITIES BY PROVIDING OR ASSISTING IN THE PROVISION OF MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION NOT NORMALLY PROVIDED BY THE STATUTORY AUTHORITIES AND SUCH OTHER SUPPORT AS THE TRUSTEES MAY DETERMINE.
The overall management and control of The Dorset Children’s Foundation is the responsibility of The Trustees who meet regularly to discuss operations and potential beneficiaries.
The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in The Charity Commissions general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charities aims and objectives.
## **Financial report:**
The financial statements are set out in page 19
## **Our activities and Public Benefit:**
The trustees confirm that they have referred to the Charity Commissions general guidance on public benefit, when reviewing the Foundations Aims and Objectives and in planning future activities and setting the grant making policies for the year.
The trustees believe that the information provided within the report demonstrates the various ways that the activities of the DCF have created public benefit.
## **Summary of the Foundation’s achievements during the period 1st April 2024 to 31st March 2025.**
In the last year our register has grown by over 55 more families, and we now support 681 children with disabilities living in Dorset.
## **Public Benefit summary:**
At DCF we recognize that there are many costs associated with raising a disabled child. We understand that these are not always covered by statutory services, so we help families find other ways to provide the funds needed.
We support disabled children and their families by funding essential equipment, medical costs and therapies, and by providing a comprehensive programme of inclusive activities. Our Accessible for All provision offers targeted groups such as the Saturday Social Club for young people with PMLD, Adventure Buddies for younger children with complex needs, and Little Stars, our early years stay-and-play groups, now running twice weekly in Bournemouth and Poole. We also provide counselling, parent/carer support sessions, disability education workshops and ongoing advocacy for disability rights.
In June 2024, we opened The Windmill, a fully accessible Community Hub created from a vacant retail unit. This dedicated space has allowed us to broaden our services, establish new groups including an additional early years session and a PMLD Saturday Social Club, and offer a welcoming venue where families can gather, access support and take part in a wide range of activities.
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## **THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **Outreach Services**
Our outreach service continues to grow, and we continue to receive referrals from local medical and council professionals. This outreach service provides support and encouragement to families who may need more 1 to 1 support and a personal approach, rather than attending our group activities. It’s most useful for those who are dealing with a new diagnosis and trying to navigate the ‘system’. Our team can work with parents and help them access all that they are entitled to, ensuring they have everything they need and know where to get additional support. In February the team started a new weekly information ‘drop-in’ service in collaboration with a café in Wimborne.
## _Disability Education:_
We believe in talking positively about disability and continue to work with local mainstream schools and youth organizations’ (scout groups, guides etc), raising awareness of disabilities in general and helping children understand what life may be like for some of the children we support. Opening our new community hub has enabled us to invite some of these local youth groups to come to us and take part in fully interactive disability awareness workshops.
## **Equipment**
We fund disability equipment that is not provided by Statutory Services, such as off-road wheelchairs, lightweight wheelchairs, rain covers, sleep systems, epilepsy sleep monitors, trikes, hydrotherapy pools, physiotherapy aids, podiatry aids etc. under the guidance of local health care professionals, for use in and out of the home.
Examples of when we may need to provide suitable wheelchairs:
- To children with autism or other neuro-diverse conditions where the child has no concept of danger.
- • When a child is mobile but tires easily.
- When a child is mobile but has seizures and needs to rest, often reclined while recovering.
- Statutory Services will not provide wheelchairs in these cases.
## _**This year we have purchased 53 pieces of equipment ranging from wheelchairs to therapy benches.**_
## **Medical Expenses:**
Provided for procedures not covered by the NHS or if the waiting list is so long as to be detrimental to the child's wellbeing.
## _Therapies:_
We fund therapies for children who are referred to us from health care professionals including speech and language, occupational therapy, music therapy, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy etc.
Due to the length of waiting lists there is a much-extended wait for appointments before treatment even starts. Studies have conclusively demonstrated that the earlier therapies are implemented the better the long-term outcome for the child.
We are now able to refer children for music and art therapy and trauma informed surf therapy.
## _**17 Children have had funded therapy services this year.**_
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## **THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## _Counselling:_
We recognise that many parents and carers need mental health support, particularly as the cost of living crisis continues to place pressure on families. Our counselling service has grown in response, with families able to selfrefer via our newsletter or website. The service provides confidential, low-cost sessions tailored to individual needs, delivered by phone, Zoom or face to face.
We maintain strong links with Linwood School, who kindly provide space for in-person sessions, and our counsellor is now qualified to offer one-to-one therapy for children aged eight and above. Bereavement counselling also remains an important part of this provision.
## _**27 individuals received 6 sessions of counselling each this year.**_
## **Play and Sporting Opportunities:**
Accessible for All:
We recognise that children with disabilities often miss out on experiences that should be available to all, particularly as local provision for those with complex needs and accessible changing facilities remains limited. We help address this gap by offering fully inclusive activities for children of all abilities and providing our own portable changing equipment when required.
Where possible, our events are open to siblings as well as disabled children, enabling families to take part together and share meaningful experiences. Our programme includes music and dance sessions, pantomimes, drama, crafts, themed parties, exclusive use of skate parks, water sports and other accessible activities. We have also developed smaller, tailored groups for children with similar needs, allowing us to better meet their physical and sensory requirements. We have established great working relationships with local sports coaches and now have accessible golf skills and skateboarding with professional coaches on a regular basis.
These opportunities help reduce isolation and build friendships within our community. In addition to our own activities, we have supported a local frame-running group with track hire and equipment costs, and are proud that two of the children involved reached the national championships this year.
## _**This year approx. 865 Children accessed our play opportunities.**_
## **Give Kids the World: GKTW.org**
We are delighted to be only one of 6 UK charities to be accepted as a wish granter for GKTW which is a holiday village in Florida for life limiting children, passing their strict criteria. **This year we were thrilled to be able to send 2 families** who were all able to visit the world-famous attractions and theme parks in Florida, Walt Disney World, Epcot Centre, Sea World etc.
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## **THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **Support in the community**
## _Early Years Stay and Play Groups:_
We fund three early years stay-and-play groups for pre-school children: two Little Stars groups and Something Special, alongside a weekly early years forest school. With the exception of the newly launched Bournemouth Little Stars group, these sessions are now in their fourth year of operation. Demand continues to grow, with more than 30 families regularly accessing early support through one of these groups.
## _PMLD Support:_
With such high demand for PMLD Services, we now have two groups set up specifically for those children with more complex needs. Our Saturday Social group caters for 13yrs+ and our new Adventure Buddies group has no upper age limit but priority is given to young children that can’t access the teens group. Each group holds monthly activity sessions at The Windmill and Adventure Buddies encourages families to get together and meet at local attractions and public spaces, and go out as a group.
Both clubs have a regular attendance of approx. **25 young people and their carers.**
## _Support for those not in education:_
With the opening of our Windmill Community Hub, we launched a new Home Education Club for children with disabilities who are unable to attend school. Parents and carers can bring their children to take part in structured educational activities provided by us, or to complete their own work in a supportive environment. The group helps reduce isolation, supports social development and builds confidence for both children and their families.
## **Parent support and activities:**
## _Sewing group:_
Many of the children we support require adapted clothing, either to accommodate feeding tubes or because stiff limbs make dressing more difficult. These items are rarely available on the high street and specialist suppliers can be prohibitively expensive. Our weekly sewing group teaches parents how to adapt clothing themselves and offers this service free of charge to other families. The group also creates sensory items, wheelchair covers and other practical accessories.
As well as developing useful skills, the sewing group provides a supportive space for the 10–15 parents who attend regularly, offering advice, shared experience and a sense of community.
## _Yoga:_
Our yoga group has continued to grow this year, supported by our instructor—one of our parents—who has now completed additional training in pelvic health, funded by the charity. This specialist knowledge is especially valuable for parents and carers who regularly lift and support their children. The group meets weekly, with over 15 people attending, and provides an important opportunity for participants to focus on their own wellbeing.
## _Weekly Wellbeing:_
Since opening The Windmill, we have been able to offer a weekly wellbeing session for parents and carers. These informal gatherings provide an opportunity to connect over coffee before taking part in activities designed to support mental health. Examples include craft sessions, journalling, meditation, tai chi and drumming workshops.
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## **THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **Community Initiatives**
## _Disability In the Workplace_
We are members of The Disability Committed Employers initiative so by having people with a disability volunteering in our shops this demonstrates to the wider community the abilities of the people the charity supports, promoting our vision for inclusion for everyone.
## _Mental Health Initiative_
The mental health of our parent/carers, staff and volunteers is very important to us and we are delighted to become members of The Mental Health Charter, which means we are a mental health committed employer. We host regular wellness sessions; social activities and all staff and volunteers have access to our counselling services.
## _Ask for Clive_
We are members of the Ask for Clive initiative. Ask for Clive is charity that focuses on inclusivity for the LGBTQ community. It asks inclusive establishments to put a sticker with the charity name on their door to signal that the LGBTQ community is welcome there. The charity also provides a brief for staff and volunteers on how to deal with discrimination queer patrons may experience.
## _Safe Space Scheme_
For the last few years, we have signed up to become a Safe Space for people with learning disabilities. Our staff and volunteers are given training on what to do when supporting someone who feels vulnerable. Their logo is prominently displayed in our shops so people know they can ask for help in a safe and secure environment.
## **The role of our trustees:**
As deemed appropriate, new trustees will be appointed by the existing trustees. The induction process will follow the ICSA good practice guide and include meeting with existing trustees. They receive a copy of our accounts, a copy of our governing document and a copy of the Charity Commissions guidance ‘The essential trustee, what you need to know, what you need to do’ (CC3).
Ongoing good trustee training is also offered through Community Action Network. Our appointed board of trustees create a welcoming and supportive culture and apply ethical principal to all decisions made. They support inclusion, equality, and diversity.
Their approach supports good governance and delivery of the charity’s purpose. Our trustees play an integral and active role within the DCF as they all regularly run or attend our events and activities and thus have direct and frequent access to our families and can see first-hand the needs and wishes of the children we serve.
Policies are renewed on an annual basis and are standard items on our board of trustees meetings. We place emphasis on safeguarding, disability awareness training, data protection and robust financial controls.
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## **THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
Our appointed board of trustees are:
**Alex Deutsch** (senior Network Manager) Alex is a long-standing supporter of the charity who also runs our award-winning FA affiliated DCF football club.
**Amy Collins** (Volunteering Development Head, Community Action Network) Amy volunteers at many of our Accessible for All events and is a regular helper at our Saturday club.
## **Dan McEvoy**
Dan is a parent of a child with complex disabilities. He oversees our IT and technical infrastructure and ensures our compliance with relevant regulations. He also represents the DCF on the Disabled Children Partnership steering, communication, and campaign forums. Dan has also campaigned tirelessly on the effect of the cost of living on families with disabled children and has represented these families on GMTV, Panorama, Radio 4 and 5 and in The Guardian and other publications.
## **Avril Jackson**
Avril was for many years a teacher of children with additional needs and is a long-standing governor of Montacute School (Special needs provision school) for 30 years. Avril has fostered children with complex needs and set up our Saturday club. This year Avril was awarded the Paul Payne award for trusteeship awarded for ‘an individual who has shown outstanding dedication and expertise in trusteeship’.
## **Fran Hunt**
Fran is our most newly appointed trustee. She brings with her over 25 years’ experience as a registered nurse and has a real passion for supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
Because of our trustees’ very welcome hands-on approach, all have an enhanced DBS check.
## **Communication:**
## _Social Media:_
Our Facebook pages remain one of our key tools for sharing up-to-date information with our 9.1k followers. They are regularly updated with photographs of our events, activities and fundraising campaigns. We also manage two private Facebook groups for parents—Accessible for All and The DCF Family Group—which are used to share activity information, promote services and signpost families to relevant support.
## _Newsletter:_
We appreciate that not all of our families are on social media and therefore send a monthly newsletter to all our families who have requested them via email.
Quarterly E-news:
We also send quarterly E-news to a wider audience of local businesses and sponsors that have opted to receive it. We have found this to be an extremely cost-effective way of reaching a larger target audience.
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## **THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **Charity Partners:**
We are pleased to be partnered with the following companies. Each Charity Partner is expected to hold fundraising events during the year, share our news on their social media and generally support us where they can offer volunteers, attend our events and receive a presentation to staff about the DCF to help raise awareness. We are enormously grateful to our amazing community of local companies who support us.
- Grosvenor carpets
- • First Position School of Dance
- • Slater & Gordon Solicitors
- Mortgage Intelligence
- • Poole Bay Holdings • Stairway Joinery • Kiss in Light • The Shirt Framing service • Bourne Free • Holt Recruitment • Coastal Comedy: Comedy Club • RH Pardy • Think Aero
We have continued our close relationship with CMP Print who provided us with free leaflets, flyers headed paper, business cards and other promotional materials, saving us at least £2,000 per year.
## **The role and contribution of our volunteers:**
The Foundation is committed to ensuring fairness and recognises the need for diversity and inclusion within our recruitment and management of volunteers.
We currently have 62 volunteers ranging from age 14 (Completing Duke of Edinburgh award scheme) to age 87. All health and safety procedures are followed, and induction and ongoing training is given.
Many of our volunteers are also parent/carers of the children we support. We embrace volunteers of all abilities and currently have 2 volunteers who have multiple learning difficulties and are wheelchair users. Volunteers are recruited from the following sectors:
- Community Action Network
- Local mental health teams
- Local schools
- • Job Centre Plus
- Local language schools
- • Others contact us through the shops and website. • Duke of Edinburgh Scheme
We have also developed a good working relationship with Bournemouth & Poole college who bring students with SEND to our stores to volunteer and gain work experience.
All appropriate paperwork is completed when taking on any new volunteers who all have to complete CRB checks and receive a comprehensive volunteer handbook.
We have many long-standing volunteers, and we call ourselves The Dorset Children's Foundation Family
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## **THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **Risk management:**
## _Retail activities:_
All procedures are in place to ensure compliance with health and safety and safeguarding regulations and best practice concerning staff, volunteers, clients and customers.
Both staff and volunteer handbooks have been reviewed and updated. All policies are regularly and robustly reviewed by the trustees, founders, and external agencies such as Community Action Network.
Ongoing training is actively supported, and our safeguarding policy has been updated.
All managers and volunteers have successfully completed an online safeguarding course. We follow best practice in recruitment, support and training, including carrying out appropriate DBS/Enhanced DBS checks.
Volunteer handbooks have been updated and expanded.
## _Financial\Fundraising_
- We have a variety of fundraising streams. 1) Profits from our 3 charity shops 2) Online sales 3) Grants from trusts and other charities 4) Corporate donations 5) Public donations 6) Fundraising events 7) Fundraising platforms (i.e., PayPal, JustGiving and Facebook) 8) Charity partners 9) Legacies 10) Collections
We have a robust financial control policy, financial control procedure policy, a reserves policy and a risk management policy that covers all aspects of our operations.
We do not use any paid fundraising specialist companies. We only publicise our fundraising campaigns in the public domain, we never contact previous donors without their express permission, and we evaluate and monitor this process regularly.
Any family, individual or company who fundraise on our behalf are assessed and sent an information leaflet ‘Fundraising Safely’ given a letter of authority with the permission of the Foundation with details and contacts and their relationship with the Foundation for clarification. We provide key information from the Institute of Fundraising. Our Foundation monitors fundraising activities through the records of the fundraising platforms monthly reports.
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## **THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
Details of each event or fundraising campaign are required from the Foundation before commencing and are required to adhere to ours and the Fundraising Standards code of practice.
Social media fundraisers are regularly monitored. Facebook funds come directly to the charities bank.
Collection pots are numbered, sealed, and signed in and out, with confirmation of where they will be placed or used. When returned are counted with two members of staff present.
## _Fundraising platforms._
All funds from fundraising platforms such as JustGiving are paid directly to our bank.
The trustees are responsible for ensuring proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the Foundation at any time to enable the trustees to plan and to prepare financial statements for each financial year. A budgeting review is carried out monthly. The trustees are also responsible for safeguarding assets and funds of the Foundation by taking robust steps for the prevention of fraud and other irregularities.
## **Sources of Income**
We do not receive any Government or local council funding. Monies are generated through a variety of funding streams.
## _Grants_
This financial year we were grateful to receive grants from the following:
Asda Foundation £400 Toy Trust £5,000 Cherries Community Fund £2,500 Valentine Trust £10,000 Boscombe Traders Grant £2,000 Dagney Raymond Trust £6,226.41 Mazars Charitable Trust £15,096.00 BCP Thriving Communities Fund £5,000 GFEYRE Charitable Trust £1,000
Total £44,372.41
## _Sponsorship_
We have received both corporate and private sponsorship for our Christmas parties, Avon Tyrell residential weekend, immersive theatre performances and a percentage for the cost of our Wet Wheels events. We also received sponsorship from Gordon and Slator Solicitors to fund our early years provision, including core costs.
## _Donations_
We receive donations from both the public and corporate sector with the latter holding fundraising events on our behalf.
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## **THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## _Goods In Kind_
This year, we gave out goods in kind to the value of £59,000. This included mobility and other disability aids and various medical and PPE supplies.
## _Wills and Legacies_
We have produced a leaflet encouraging people to support us by leaving us something in their will. This has been done in conjunction with The Good Will Partnership, and we are currently arranging meetings with local solicitors to highlight our work and to encourage bequests.
## _Main Fundraising Events_
We are thankful to the wonderful support of our local community. These were the highlights of our year.
## Dorset and Hampshire Businesses Charitable Luncheon
We were grateful to receive half the proceeds from the annual Christmas auction, which amounted to £22,445
First Position School of Dance
For the 4th year they donated a total of £10,000, the entire proceeds of their annual showcase.
## **Reserves policy:**
Support to beneficiaries is only given when the funds have been raised and so the Foundation doesn't have any ongoing commitments in this regard.
The trustees acknowledge that this was an incredibly difficult year for the charity.
The trustees have identified the need for three months costs to be held in reserve to fulfil its contractual obligations to landlords and staff redundancy if we had to close. Calculated to be £59,214 as at the year end with length of service accounted for.
The trustees also determined that three months of costs should be held in reserve to cover parent/carers in counselling or funded activities booked, costs for stay and play groups and costs associated with all the support and parent groups. Calculated to be £13,833.
At the end of the year the foundation had negative unrestricted reserves of £12,458, a shortfall from the reserves policy by £85,505.
The lack of grants, the pressure on our services, the refurbishment of our community hub The Windmill and the loss of our most valuable stock due to a car accident at our storage facility in Pokesdown.
Robust plans were in place to mitigate this and an insurance payout of loss of stock was received post year end totaling £15,255. A payout had been agreed early March 2025 however negotiations were in place regarding the exact figure and so the debtor has not been included within these financial statements. At the end of the year the foundation had free reserves of £(12,458) which is fully covered by the insurance refund received post year end.
The restricted funds which have balances carried forward as at the year end, primarily the music fund, continues to be ongoing and will be spent in accordance with the restrictions in place. Restricted reserves totaled £42,039.
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## **THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
The charity has taken conscious steps to increase the unrestricted funds to the required level which include the following:
-A change in direction for grant applications to cover specific services and external service providers, core costs, mental health, advocacy plus existing requests for specialist equipment.
-Reduction in costs of out storage facility saving rent, utility charges, repairs/upkeep, rates and insurance.
-Reduction in staff hours and reduced staffing levels
-Increase in volunteers to run activities and events
-Founders to provide their services on a completely voluntary basis if required
-Increased eBay sales
-Activities within Accessible for All and Little Stars to be charged at a nominal rate
-Continued charity partnership with Poole Bay Holdings who donate saleable stock for both shops, direct sales and eBay.
-Increased charity partnership and corporate sponsorship
-Increased fund raising activities
-Charge for The Windmill (our fully accessible community space) for external user, parties and events
-Continued partnership with Slater Gordon Solicitors who donate £27,000 pa
-Increase use of The Windmill by specialist provision who pay a hire fee
-Change to the way unsold items are sold, the price has reduced from 60p to 10p for tonnage, following the success of other charities we will follow their model, selling on eBay for £20-£60 per bag.
- New relationship with our local Tesco who donate their unsold seasonal stock to us
-We have produced a legacy leaflet and mounted a social media campaign to encourage people to leave money in wills
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## **THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **Sustainability**
Sustainability is about meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. UN Sustainability Development Goals.
We are partnered with BPC Councils Carbon Reduction Program to measure and reduce our carbon footprint and to work towards net zero.
We also support the Circular Economic System whereby resources are used, reused and recycled minimising CO2 emissions.
We do not have the expense and overheads of a head office but are now able to use our new community hub as our main office and meeting point.
Charity shops saved 339,000 tons of textiles from landfill in 2024/25.
Our charity shops support the public benefit of keeping used goods in circulation and expanding the life cycle of products. We resell donated items that would otherwise end up in land fill. We also provide low-cost alternatives to buying new which makes sustainable consumption more accessible to people with a limited income.
We reduce, reuse, recycle and reconnect wherever possible by; Using an ethical, licensed waste company who recycle textiles and household items. Appropriate clothing from this is sent to the developing world.
Excess books and toys are donated to local schools and Children’s Centre’s. Regular appropriate donations are made to homeless charities.
Our office furniture is pre used as are 70% of our shop fittings.
The Boscombe and Southbourne shops have had energy saving LED lighting fitted by our founder. 75% of our office supplies are taken from shop donations as are 90% of our branded clothing for events. We received a grant for £2,000 that enabled us to insulate our new community hub.
## **Previous Action Points:**
As part of our continual evaluation process the trustees identified key action points for 2024/2025, below are those action points with an update on our progress.
• To find a suitable venue that will act as a permanent base for our families to get together for group activities. **Achieved with the opening of The Windmill.**
• To continue to raise funds for medical expenses, mobility equipment and therapies to improve the quality of life of the children and families we support. **Achieved, we purchased more equipment this year and**
## **increased our counselling services to include children.**
• Continue to grow and develop our parent liaison and befriending services. **This service has increased with demand, and we started weekly community drop-ins.**
• Continue to work with siblings by providing activities that build resilience and encourage creativity. We will work with other local service providers who offer training in this area. **We have been able to include siblings in the majority of our accessible for all events and have also referred some for therapy services.**
• To continue funding and expanding the range of inclusive events and activities for families with disabled children as part of our Accessible for All program. **We introduced Skateboarding and Musical Joy, and our new center enabled us to increase our activity program significantly. Adventure Buddies as well as a second Little Stars group.**
• To continue to expand our counselling services by offering a complete family support service, including bereavement counselling to parents/carers and children. **We continue to offer counselling and have expanded this to include counselling for children aged 8+**
• To increase our program of activities for parent/carers that improve overall physical and mental health. This will include regular wellness walks and sea swimming. **We increased our wellness program with weekly parent wellness sessions in The Windmill, we also continued to organise wellness walks as we believe in the benefit of being out in nature.**
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## **THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
• To actively source local businesses and great corporate sponsorship packages to cover the cost of fundraising events, therapies, and equipment for Dorset’s disabled children.
## **Future Action Points:**
o Expand outreach support to cope with the growing demand, hold more group workshops. o Build relationships with local education providers to offer both work experience opportunities and use of our community hub during term times. Priority to be given to specialist provisions who struggle to find appropriate, safe spaces for the children and young people they support.
o Expand the services provided at the community hub during weekends and school holidays. o Engage with the home education community to offer more support to those children with SEND who are currently unable to attend school.
o Work with charity partners Marsham Court Hotel to organise a ‘leavers prom’ for local disabled children leaving education, giving them the same ‘rite of passage’ opportunity as their non SEND peers.
o To continue to fund and facilitate accessible activities and events. o To continue to raise funds for medical expenses, mobility equipment and therapies to improve the quality of life of the children and families we support. o To continue to offer a complete family support service, with counselling for parents/carers and children.
## **The Dorset Children Foundation are members of:**
The Institute of Fundraising The National Council for Voluntary Organisations The Small Charities Coalition Community Action Network Charity Retail Organisation Disability Committed Employers Mental Health Charter Members
We are fully GDPR compliant, our IOC membership is annually reviewed. No. ZA382325
Personal files are updated with payroll information, and all payroll is to be authorised and approved by Co-founder Scott Akam
The website is updated on a regular basis and contains charity information, appeals, event calendar, application process, grant making policy and how the community can help, contacts, news and previous activities and about us in general. www.thedcf.org
The Trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. 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 2015). There were no complaints against the charity this, or previous years.
- 15 -
## **THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
We have the following policies and procedures in place.
Child Eligibility and Support Criteria Safeguarding Children Policy Compliments and Complaints Procedure Confidentiality Policy Home Visit Policy Menopause Policy Equality and Diversity Policy First Aid Policy Reserves Policy DCF Data Protection Policy Grievance Procedure Privacy Policy Financial Controls Policy Social Media Policy Conflict of Interest Policy
## **Registered Charity number**
1150538
## **Principal Address**
695-697 Christchurch Road Bournemouth Dorset BH7 6AF
**Independent examiner:** Lucy Filer at TC Group
.............................. Mr. A Deutsch **Trustee**
30-1-2026 Date: .............................................
- 16 -
## **THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that year.
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material 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 operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping sufficient accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. 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.
- 17 -
## **THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT**
## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of The Dorset Children's Foundation (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2025.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act. In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
Since the charity's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, which is one of the listed bodies.
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 that in any material respect:
- 1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
- 2 the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
- 3 the financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.
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 financial statements to be reached.
Lucy Filer **TC Group**
10 Bridge Street Christchurch Dorset BH23 1EF 30-1-2026 Dated: .........................
- 18 -
## **THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2025**
**2025**
**Notes**
**£**
**£**
**Income from:**
Donatons and legacies
**2**
111,829
72,125
Other trading actvites
**3**
241,587
-
Investments
**4**
1,044
-
**Total income**
354,460
72,125
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
**5**
147,649
-
Charitable actvites
**6**
217,303
101,571
**Total expenditure**
364,952
101,571
**Net expenditure**
(10,492)
(29,446)
Transfers between
funds
(12,919)
12,919
**Net movement in**
**funds**
**7**
(23,411)
(16,527)
**Reconciliaton of funds:**
Fund balances at 1 April 2024
10,953
58,566
**Fund balances at 31 March**
**2025**
(12,458)
42,039|**Total**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2025**
**2024**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
183,954
110,744
78,396
241,587
236,774
-
1,044
1,412
-
426,585
348,930
78,396
147,649
156,206
-
318,874
245,338
87,368
466,523
401,544
87,368
(39,938)
(52,614)
(8,972)
-
(3,812)
3,812
(39,938)
(56,426)
(5,160)
69,519
67,379
63,726
29,581
10,953
58,566|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
189,140
236,774
1,412
427,326
156,206
332,706
488,912
(61,586)
-
(61,586)
131,105
69,519|
|---|---|---|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
- 19 -
## **THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **BALANCE SHEET**
## _**AS AT 31 MARCH 2025**_
|||**2025**||**2024**||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Notes**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Fixed assets**||||||
|Tangible assets|**11**||24,036||42,611|
|**Current assets**||||||
|Debtors|**12**|30,734||52,483||
|Cash at bank and in hand||10,797||11,945||
|||41,531||64,428||
|**Creditors: amounts falling due within one**|**14**|||||
|**year**||(16,950)||(19,880)||
|**Net current assets**|||24,581||44,548|
|**Total assets less current liabilities**|||48,617||87,159|
|**Creditors: amounts falling due after more**||||||
|**than one year**|**15**||(19,036)||(17,640)|
|**Net assets**|||29,581||69,519|
|**The funds of the charity**||||||
|Restricted income funds|**16**||42,039||58,566|
|Unrestricted funds|**17**||(12,458)||10,953|
||||29,581||69,519|
30-1-2026 The financial statements were approved by the trustees on .........................
.............................. Mr. A Deutsch **Trustee**
- 20 -
**THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **Charity information**
The Dorset Children's Foundation is a charitable organisation incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 695-697 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH7 6AF.
## **1.1 Accounting convention**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Charities Act 2011, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "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). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest pound.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
## **1.2 Going concern**
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
## **1.3 Charitable funds**
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Designated funds comprise funds which have been set aside at the discretion of the trustees for specific purposes. The purposes and uses of the designated funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
## **1.4 Incoming resources**
Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
- 21 -
**THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
**(Continued)**
## **1.5 Resources expended**
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals bassis. All expenses, including support costs and governance costs, are allocated or apportioned to the applicable expenditure headings in the statement of financial liabilities.
## **1.6 Tangible fixed assets**
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
Plant and equipment 25% straight line Specialised children's equipment 25% straight line Computers 33.33% straight line Motor vehicles 25% reducing balance
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
## **1.7 Cash and cash equivalents**
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
## **1.8 Financial instruments**
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
## **1.9 Employee benefits**
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
## **1.10 Donated goods**
Stock of donated goods is not provided for as at the year end. This is in line with previous years and impracticable to estimate upon receipt of the donated goods.
- 22 -
## **THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
**1 Accounting policies (Continued)**
## **1.11 Significant judgements and estimates**
The charity's management do not apply any significant judgements, apart from those involving estimates, in applying the accounting policies.
The only estimates made in applying accounting policies are in assessing the useful life of fixed assets. These do not result in a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities.
## **2 Donations and grants**
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2025**
**2025**
**£**
**£**
Donatons and gifs
111,829
72,125
**For the year ended 31 March 2024**
110,744
78,396|**Total**
**2025**
**£**
183,954|Total
2024
£
189,140|
|---|---|---|
|||189,140|
- **3 Income from other trading activities**
||**Unrestricted**|**Unrestricted**|
|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|
||**2025**|**2024**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Shop income|241,587|236,774|
|**Income from investments**|||
||**Unrestricted**|**Unrestricted**|
||**funds**|**funds**|
||**2025**|**2024**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Interest receivable|1,044|1,412|
- **4 Income from investments**
- 23 -
## **THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **5 Raising funds, trading costs and support costs**
|**6**
**7**|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
Fundraising and publicity
Depreciaton
1,951
Motor vehicle depreciaton
3,228
Other fundraising costs
6,210
Fundraising and publicity
11,389
Stafand support costs
Staf costs
136,260
Raising funds, trading and support costs
147,649
**Charitable actvites**
**2025**
**£**
Charitable actvites
266,768
Support costs
37,315
318,874|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**2025**
**£**
Fundraising and publicity
Depreciaton
1,951
Motor vehicle depreciaton
3,228
Other fundraising costs
6,210
Fundraising and publicity
11,389
Stafand support costs
Staf costs
136,260
Raising funds, trading and support costs
147,649
**Charitable actvites**
**2025**
**£**
Charitable actvites
266,768
Support costs
37,315
318,874|Total
2024
£
2,518
4,304
5,707|
|---|---|---|---|
||||12,529|
||||143,677|
||||156,206|
||||2024
£
289,350
28,361|
||||332,706|
|||||
|||||
||**Net movement in funds**
The net movement in funds is stated afer charging/(creditng):
Depreciaton of owned tangible fxed assets|**2025**
**£**
19,974|**2024**
**£**
21,547|
**8 Trustees**
None of the trustee's received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year.
- 24 -
## **THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **9 Employees**
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
|**Employment costs**
Wages and salaries|**2025**
**Number**
15
**2025**
**£**
244,564|**2024**
**Number**
16|
|---|---|---|
|||**2024**
**£**
234,422|
No employees received emoluments in excess of £41,000.
Total key management personnel remuneration totalled £80,137 (2024 - £83,000) during the year.
## **10 Taxation**
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
## **11 Tangible fixed assets**
|**Cost**
At 1 April 2024
Additons
At 31 March 2025
**Depreciaton and impairment**
At 1 April 2024
Depreciaton charged in the year
At 31 March 2025
**Carrying amount**
At 31 March 2025
At 31 March 2024|**Plant and**
**equipment**
**£**
9,680
1,400
11,080
9,385
234
9,619
1,461
295|**Specialised**
**children's**
**equipment**
**£**
59,064
-
59,064
32,634
14,766
47,400
11,664
26,430|**Computers Mo**
**£**
10,787
-
10,787
7,814
1,746
9,560
1,227
2,974|**tor vehicles**
**£**
31,345
-
31,345
18,433
3,228
21,661
9,684
12,912|**Total**
**£**
110,876
1,400|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||112,276|
||||||68,266
19,974|
||||||88,240|
||||||24,036|
||||||42,611|
- 25 -
## **THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
|**12**
**Debtors**
**Amounts falling due within one year:**
Other debtors
**Amounts falling due afer more than one year:**
Prepayments and accrued income
**Total debtors**
**13**
**Loans and overdrafs**
Bank loans
Payable within one year
Payable afer one year
**14**
**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
**Notes**
Bank loans
**13**
Other taxaton and social security
Trade creditors
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income|**2025**
**£**
26,578
**2025**
**£**
4,156
30,734
**2025**
**£**
23,628
4,592
19,036
**2025**
**£**
4,592
5,263
1,200
3,048
2,847
16,950|**2024**
**£**
50,701|
|---|---|---|
|||**2024**
**£**
1,782|
|||52,483|
|||**2024**
**£**
27,802|
|||10,162
17,640|
|||**2024**
**£**
10,162
5,640
-
1,231
2,847|
|||19,880|
- 26 -
## **THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **15 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year**
|||**2025**|**2024**|
|---|---|---|---|
||**Notes**|**£**|**£**|
|Bank loans|**13**|19,036|17,640|
## **16 Restricted funds**
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
|**1**
Accessible for All
Specifc children donatons
DCF FC Football
Music Therapy
Windmill project
Volunteer Groups
Christchurch Children
Squidge & Pop
Wheelchair table
Saturday Club
Community Hub
Toy Trust
Arts & Crafs
Boscombe Fiddle Orchestra
Xmas Partes
Bear Suit
Litle Stars
Support worker sponorship|**Balance at**
**April 2024**
**£**
-
21,556
-
22,350
-
-
762
-
-
-
-
1,765
1,213
4,000
1,744
4,467
709
-
-
58,566|Movement in funds
**Incoming**
**resources**
**Resources**
**expended**
**£**
**£**
470
(470)
6,780
(13,322)
3,750
-
-
(4,650)
25,205
(39,168)
5,000
(5,642)
-
(815)
165
(165)
360
(360)
1,000
(2,050)
2,268
-
-
(1,186)
-
(1,895)
4,250
(9,203)
300
(339)
-
-
16,953
(17,662)
5,625
(4,644)
72,125
(101,571)|**Transfers**
**Balance at**
**31 March 2025**
**£**
**£**
-
-
43
15,056
-
3,750
-
17,700
13,963
-
642
-
53
-
-
-
-
-
1,050
-
-
2,268
-
579
682
-
953
-
-
1,705
(4,467)
-
-
-
-
981
-
12,919
42,039|**Transfers**
**Balance at**
**31 March 2025**
**£**
**£**
-
-
43
15,056
-
3,750
-
17,700
13,963
-
642
-
53
-
-
-
-
-
1,050
-
-
2,268
-
579
682
-
953
-
-
1,705
(4,467)
-
-
-
-
981
-
12,919
42,039|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||42,039|
- 27 -
## **THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **16 Restricted funds**
**(Continued)**
## **Accessible for All**
Accessible for All, is the charity's initiative to make sports and fin activities fully accessible for families they support.
Activities' provided include, exclusive sessions at an indoor skate park, Music sessions, craft sessions, all ability discos, accessible boat ride, to name but a few.
## **Specifc Children Donatons**
Each restricted fund related to amounts raised through appeals and fundraising to provide assistance equipment and care for the individual child on the fund. Names have not been used as requested by the parents of the children and for the purpose of financial reporting the specific child funds have been grouped however are maintained separately by the charity.
## **DCF FC Football**
As part of the Accessible for All initiative, DCF have launched their first ever FA registered football team for children with disabilities.
## **Music Therapy**
Music Therapy is part of our program of activities for disabled children. It can be adapted to cater to children with a wide range of developmental challenges, including severe ones. Music therapist are training to work with diverse needs, and they can modify the therapy to suit a child's abilities and comfort level.
## **Windmill Project**
Based in The Sovereign Centre, Boscombe, The Windmill is the heart of our foundation—a welcoming and fully inclusive hub for disabled children, young people and their families. It offers a safe, calming space with a Changing Places facility, state of the art cinema and fully equipped kitchen. The main area can be transformed into a sensory environment with adjustable lighting, projectors and a wealth of play and craft resource’s.
The Windmill hosts a wide variety of activities, from stay-and-play sessions like Little Stars and sensory cinema experiences to music therapy, art therapy, PMLD clubs Adventure Buddies and Saturday Social. Young people can join life skills and cookery sessions, youth and friendship groups, while families enjoy story time, craft days, sing-alongs and tailor made entertainment.
During the year an air-conditioning unit was purchased for the Windmill costing £1,400 which has been capitalised. as such this amount has been reallocated from unrestricted to restricted funds.
## **Volunteer Groups**
This provides training and courses in safeguarding, communication and mental health awareness to facilitate volunteers running various clubs and group meetings such as Adventure buddies, sewing, yoga for parents/carers, life skills, and friendship group.
- 28 -
**THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **16 Restricted funds**
## **(Continued)**
## **Christchurch Children**
This was funding specifically received in relation to children living in Christchurch.
## **Squidge & Pop**
Squidge & Pop run interactive, fun and engaging shows allowing the children to expand their imagination and enjoy the serenity of alternative therapeutic bubble play and relaxation. Adaptive to all learners, they use a variety of sensory input and communication methods to allow individual expression and for everyone to reach their best potential. Sessions have the focus to encourage positive social and communication skills, self-regulation, fine and gross motor development and to enhance positive state of emotional and physical wellbeing.
## **Wheelchair Table**
This fund was received for the purchase of a wheelchair table.
## **Saturday Club**
The DCF run a unique and fantastic Saturday Club for the most profoundly disabled. This club is exclusively open to our PMLD (profound and multiple learning difficulty) wheelchair users. It is held at a specialist school that has all the appropriate changing facilities and is fully accessible. It is not the only the children that benefit as parents/carers have a lunch together and share advice and support. The children and young people enjoy a wealth of activities included wheelchair dancing, craft making, cooking sessions, yoga, clay making, bubble workshops, immersive theatre and more.
## **Community Hub**
Part of the Windmill, the Community hub is a multi-purpose space for both disabled children and parent/ carers, complete with a fully accessible changing facility and state of the art cinema.
## **Toy Trust**
This is funding received alongside Little Stars to fund the toys used as part of our Little Stars play group.
## **Arts & Crafs**
Funds for arts & crafts sessions for families.
## **Boscombe Fiddle Orchestra**
Boscome Youth Fiddle Orchestra is based in Boscombe and provides free violin tuittion for local students aged 5 to 19. It is funded by Bournemouth Rotary, Thornton Trust an Soundstorm. Until the end of December, the orchestra operated under the umbrella of Coda Music Trust based in Walkford, but has now transferred to the Dorset Children's Foundation (DCF). The DCF, founded 11 years ago, supports children and young people with learning difficulties, and believe that bringing the two organisactions together will work well. The change of ownership has resulted in a change of name from 'Code Fiddle Orchestra' to Boscombe Youth Fiddle Orchestra (BYFO).
- 29 -
## **THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **16 Restricted funds**
## **(Continued)**
## **Xmas Partes**
This funding was received in relation to hosting Christmas parties for the children and young people who attend DCF, families and siblings were also invited.
## **Bear Suit**
Bear suit is for our new mascot, we have been getting our money's worth out of the old one and will be purchasing a new one shortly. Following a conversation with the original donor, they confirmed that it was best to transfer this fund into general unrestricted funds.
## **Litle Stars**
This is a stay and play group for preschool children with additional needs. These sessions will help little ones explore, socialise and communicate, create and enjoy a lot of messy play. This group is ideal for those at the beginning of their journey and will really support parents whose children have just recently been diagnosed. Siblings are very welcome too.
## **Support Worker Sponsorship**
The charity receives funds from a legal practice to cover the salary costs of three support workers.
## **17 Unrestricted funds**
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
||**At 1 April 2024**|**Incoming**|**Resources**|**Transfers**|**At 31 March**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**resources**|**expended**||**2025**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|General funds|10,953|354,460|(364,952)|(12,919)|(12,458)|
|**Previous year:**|**At 1 April 2023**|**Incoming**|**Resources**|**Transfers**|**At 31 March**|
|||**resources**|**expended**||**2024**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|General funds|67,379|348,930|(401,544)|(3,812)|10,953|
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## **THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **18 Analysis of net assets between funds**
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**|
|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**||
||**2025**|**2025**|**2025**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**At 31 March 2025:**||||
|Tangible assets|24,036|-|24,036|
|Current assets/(liabilites)|(17,458)|42,039|24,581|
|Long term liabilites|(19,036)|-|(19,036)|
||(12,458)|42,039|29,581|
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**|
||**funds**|**funds**||
||**2024**|**2024**|**2024**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**At 31 March 2024:**||||
|Tangible assets|42,611|-|42,611|
|Current assets/(liabilites)|(14,018)|58,566|44,548|
|Long term liabilites|(17,640)|-|(17,640)|
||10,953|58,566|69,519|
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## **THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**|**Total**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|**2025**|**2024**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Incoming resources**|||||
|Donatons and legacies|111,829|72,125|183,954|189,140|
|Shop income|241,587|-|241,587|236,774|
|Investment|1,044|-|1,044|-|
|**Total income**|354,460|72,125|426,585|427,326|
|**Resources expended**|||||
|**Raising funds**|||||
|Fundraising costs|6,210|-|6,210|5,707|
|Staf wages|136,260|-|136,260|143,677|
|Plant and machinery depreciaton|15,000|-|205|15,083|
|Computer equipment depreciaton|1,746|-|1,746|2,160|
|Motor vehicles depreciaton|3,228|-|3,228|4,304|
||162,444|-|147,649|170,931|
|**Charitable actvites**|||||
|Rates and water|2,544|-|2,544|2,821|
|Staf wages|63,136|45,168|108,304|90,745|
|Light and heat|3,183|-|3,183|11,040|
|Telephone|2,842|-|2,842|3,165|
|Postage and statonery|77|-|77|621|
|Advertsing and marketng|300|-|300|344|
|Sundries|4,093|-|4,093|1,322|
|Subscriptons|706|-|706|148|
|Travel|483|-|483|1,869|
|Motor expenses|3,892|-|3,892|5,038|
|Entertainment|332|-|332|1,981|
|IT sofware and consumables|2,450|-|2,450|3,576|
|Rent|49,689|6,000|55,693|49,693|
|Direct expenses for children|41,499|40,370|81,869|116,987|
||175,226|91,538|266,768|289,350|
- 32 -
## **THE DORSET CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION**
## **DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
(Continued)
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total**|**Total**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|**2025**|**2024**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Support costs**|||||
|Insurance|5,669|1,290|6,959|7,376|
|Bank charges|4,286|-|4,286|3,413|
|Loan interest|504|-|504|738|
|Repairs and renewals|360|8,743|9,103|1,974|
|Accountancy and legal fees|3,023|-|3,023|1,690|
|Consultancy|13,440|-|13,440|13,440|
||27,282|10,033|37,315|28,631|
||||||
|**Total resources expended**|364,952|101,571|451,732|488,912|
|Gross transfers between funds|12,919|(12,919)|-|-|
|**Surplus/(defcit) for the year**|(23,411)|(16,527)|(25,147)|(61,586)|
- 33 -