Charity Number: 1153753
The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation
Annual Report and Accounts
For the year ended 30 September 2024
The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation Reference and administrative details
Trustees
Senior management
Charity number
Bankers
Registered office
Independent examiner
Dr R Willson Prof D Veale (until 6[th] June 2024) N Schnackenberg J Davidson S Bagwell A Jassi Dr B Monzani (from 6[th] June 2024)
Kitty Newman, Managing Director
1153753
National Westminster Bank Plc 250 Bishopsgate London EC2M 4AA 45b Stanford Road Friern Barnet N11 3HY Steve Brown ACMA 17 Foxcombe Road Bath BA1 3ED
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The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation Trustees’ report for the year ended 30 September 2024
The trustees are pleased to present their annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30 September 2024.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the Charity’s Constitution and the Statement of Recommended Practice ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities’ (revised 2015).
Structure, Governance and Management
Governing Document
The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) with voting members other than its Charity Trustees, constituted under an “Association” model constitution date 10[th] September 2013 and is a registered charity (1153753).
Organisational Structure
The following individuals served as trustees during the year and since the year end:
Dr R Willson Prof D Veale (until 6[th] June 2024) N Schnackenberg J Davidson S Bagwell A Jassi Dr B Monzani (from 6[th] June 2024)
All trustees served for the full period unless otherwise stated above.
No trustees had any beneficial interest in the charity and no remuneration of trustees is paid by the charity.
The Board of Trustees meets at least four times a year and is responsible for the strategic direction, policy and overall governance of the charity.
The implementation of strategy once agreed and the day to day running and management of the charity’s activities is delegated to the small executive team, led by the Head of Operations.
Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
New Trustees are recruited by the Board who consider the skills currently available and then identify the requirements of any additional or replacement trustees. On successful appointment of a trustee, the Head of Operations provides documentary and verbal induction material to introduce the trustee to the objectives and workings of the charity.
Objectives and Principal Activities and Achievements
The charities’ objectives are the relief of sickness and preservation of good health among people affected by Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) in particular but not exclusively by:
(a) providing information and support to such people and their families;
(b) advancing education for the public benefit of the condition;
(c) promoting, supporting and raising funds for research into the condition, the useful results of which will be disseminated for the public benefit.
During the past year and with input from the community the trustee board defined the charities’ Values as well as the Vision and Mission statements: ‘We are the leading charity for Body Dysmorphic Disorder. We shine a light on a condition that is misunderstood by raising awareness, providing support and fostering community, to shatter stigma and shame. We alleviate suffering and inspire hope - because we know recovery is possible.’
Over the past year the charity held a 10[th] Anniversary Conference to commemorate the ten years since our inception in 2013. This was a large event held in central London, with keynote speakers including leading
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The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation
Trustees’ report for the year ended 30 September 2024
international experts, inspirational speakers with lived experience, workshops and a research stream. This was a huge success and also increased our video resources, as all speakers were filmed.
We continued to engage with the media to raise awareness, most notably supporting a Channel 4 documentary on Muscle Dysmorphia and a LadBible Roundtable on BDD. We contributed to articles in The Times, The Daily Mail, Yahoo Life and more.
We continued to offer support via our email helpline and bi-monthly zoom support group. We held a review of the Overcoming BDD Programme, and successfully launched cycle 7. A new CRM system has been implemented for this project, with a view to expand to other areas of the charity next year. We relaunched our School’s Project with the initial recruitment of volunteers.
We took on our first full time employee, Gem Ponting, in the role of People and Projects Manager. Her role was to take over the Project Lead Role of the Overcoming BDD Programme, oversee HR aspects of the charity including onboarding of new volunteers, as well as supporting with various other aspects of administration. We also employed Lana Choufani, in the role of e-helpline co-ordinator.
Public Benefit
The charity carries out a range of activities in furtherance of its charitable objectives, as detailed under Activities and Achievements above. Having reviewed the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit, the Trustees consider that these activities provide benefit both to the charity’s direct beneficiaries and to the wider public both in the UK and abroad.
Risk Management
The Trustees review the key risks the charity faces, but no formal risk register exists at present. The Trustees are working on putting this in place over the next year.
Future Plans
Over the coming year the Foundation will hold an online webinar series aimed at increasing resources and accessible support for our community. We will be collaborating with the International OCD Foundation on an online BDD Conference with two streams, one aimed at those with lived experience, and another for mental health clinicians. We are aiming to expand our Schools Project by providing training in schools beyond the initial South London catchment area and recruiting new volunteers for this. We will continue to raise awareness of BDD through engagement with the media and our social media. We will be bringing in a new paid membership scheme to encourage support of our charitable activities as well as trying to engage with more corporate partners. We will continue to provide support through our services: e-helpline, support groups and Overcoming BDD Programme (OBP). We are aiming to expand our volunteer team for online support groups and will be delivering two cycles of the OBP Programme. We will have a trustee recruitment campaign, with the goal to bring in more trustees to broaden our areas of expertise on the board.
Financial review
Income in the 2023/24 year which totalled £77,610 fell by £45k/37% versus the prior year, mostly due to a reduction in grant monies received and - to a lesser extent - a drop in ‘in memoriam’ donations. As an organisation that generates less than 10% of its income from charitable activities, BDDF is heavily reliant on grants – subject to their cycles and the success of grant applications - underpinned by donations from supporters. By introducing a paid for membership scheme in 2025, the Board are looking to build a reliable and steady income stream to support the organisation's ongoing needs.
Expenditure stood at £102,203 and, an increase of £24k/31% year on year. Of the increase, £16,700 can be attributed to additional staff costs following the recruitment of the above mentioned two new members of staff, and a further £13,600 to the 2023 Conference.
The charity expended funds in excess of its income to the value of £24,413 in the year, reducing funds carried forward to £146,939.
With a number of grant applications in the pipeline, as well as a new corporate partnership scheme that we hope to launch in 2025 and the above mentioned membership scheme, the charity is budgeting a financial break even position for the 2024/25 year.
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The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation
Trustees’ report for the year ended 30 September 2024
Reserves
The reserves policy states that, on average over time, unrestricted reserves should exceed three months but are not expected to materially exceed six months' of forecast expenditure unless under specific circumstances for which the Board of Trustees decides additional reserves are necessary.
Based on the 2024/25 budget this is would require reserves of between £23k to £46k.
At the balance sheet date, the charity’s reserves (which are shown as unrestricted funds in the balance sheet) stood at £135k. The Trustees note that reserves are significantly above the target figure but believe that this is acceptable for the charity in the current circumstances with heavy reliance on grants and donations and their uncertain nature. As discussed under financial review above, the charity is now in an operational steady state, and the trustees expect that some reserves will be used to support ongoing activities while new income streams are established.
Responsibilities of the Trustees in relation to the financial statements
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees 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 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 period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are responsible and prudent;
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state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, 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.
The trustees have overall responsibility for ensuring that the charity has appropriate systems of internal control across the entire organisation. The systems of internal control are designed to provide reasonable but not absolute assurance against material misstatement or loss.
This report was approved by the Board of Trustees on 20[th] March 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
Dr R Willson Trustee
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Report of the independent examiner to the members of The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation for the year ended 30 September 2024
I report on the financial statements of The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation for the year ended 30 September 2024 as set out on pages 6 to 12.
Responsibilities and basis of report
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2022 ("the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under charity law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act), and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner's statement
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
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the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or
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the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
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the accounts did 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 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.
Steve Brown ACMA 17 Foxcombe Road Bath BA1 3ED
17 April 2025
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The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation Statement of Financial Activities
for the year ended 30 September 2024
| Notes Income Voluntary income Income from generating funds Investment income Total Income 2 Expenditure Charitable activities Costs of generating funds Total expenditure 3 Net income / (expenditure) Transfers between funds Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward 6 |
2024 Unrestricted Funds £ 32,367 1,034 4,377 37,778 38,511 372 38,883 (1,105) (3,380) (4,485) 139,049 134,564 |
2024 Restricted Funds £ 33,758 6,074 - 39,832 63,140 - 63,140 (23,308) 3,380 (19,928) 32,303 12,375 |
2024 Total Funds £ 66,125 7,108 4,377 77,610 101,651 372 102,023 (24,413) - (24,413) 171,352 146,939 |
2023 Total Funds £ 115,933 6,045 836 122,814 74,983 3,012 77,995 44,819 - 44,819 126,533 171,352 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation Balance Sheet
as at 30 September 2024
| 2024 | 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | £ | £ | ||
| Current assets | ||||
| Debtors and prepayments | 4 | 350 | - | |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 147,862 | 172,486 | ||
| 148,212 | 172,486 | |||
| Creditors:amounts falling due within one year Net current assets |
5 | (1,273) 146,939 |
(1,134) 171,352 |
|
| Net assets | 146,939 | 171,352 | ||
| Funds Unrestricted funds Restricted funds |
134,564 12,375 |
139,049 32,303 |
||
| Total funds | 6 | 146,939 | 171,352 |
Approved by the Board on 20th March 2025 and signed on their behalf by
ALS da
Dr R Willson Trustee
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The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation Notes to the accounts for the year ended 30 September 2024
1 Principal accounting policies
The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the financial statements are set out below;
(a) Basis of accounting
These financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities’ effective January 2019 (the Charities SORP (FRS 102)), UK accounting standards, including 'Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' (FRS 102). The charity is a public benefit entity and has therefore applied the relevant public benefit requirements of FRS 102.
The financial statements are prepared in Sterling which is the functional currency of the charity.
(b) Fund accounting
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(i) Unrestricted funds comprise those funds which the trustees are free to use for any purpose in furtherance of the charitable objects, which include designated funds where the trustees, at their discretion, have created a fund for a specific purpose
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(ii) Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by the donor or trust deed.
(c) Income
All income is included in the statement of financial activities when the charity is entitled to it and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income.
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(i) Grants and donations are included in full in the Statement of Financial Activities when receivable. Grants, where entitlement is not conditional on the delivery of a specific performance by the charity, are recognised when the charity becomes unconditionally entitled to the grant.
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(ii) Incoming resources from grants, where related to performance and specific deliverables, are accounted for as the charity earns the right to consideration by its performance.
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(iii) Donated services and facilities are included at the value to the charity where this can be quantified.
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(iv) The value of services provided by volunteers has not been included in these accounts.
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(v) Investment income is included when receivable on an accruals basis.
(d) Expenditure
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Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred, and includes any VAT which cannot be fully (i) Fundraising costs comprise the costs associated with attracting voluntary income and the costs of trading for fundraising purposes.
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(ii) Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them
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(iii) Support costs relate to those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Support costs include back office costs, finance, personnel and governance costs. These costs have been allocated to fund raising and specific areas of charitable activity on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
(e) Tangible fixed assets and depreciation
Tangible fixed assets costing over £500 (including any incidental expenses of acquisition) are capitalized. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost on a straight line basis over their expected useful economic life. The rate of depreciation is 33.33% per annum for all assets.
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The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation Notes to the accounts for the year ended 30 September 2024
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2 Income
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
funds funds 2024 2023
£ £ £ £
Voluntary income
Grants - 33,758 33,758 58,499
Donations 21,546 - 21,546 18,206
In memoriam 10,821 - 10,821 39,228
Total voluntary income 32,367 33,758 66,125 115,933
Income from charitable activities
Conference tickets/stall fees - 5,346 5,346 4,131
Fees for Groups/Services/Programmes - 728 728 -
Book Sales 1,034 - 1,034 1,914
Total income from charitable activities 1,034 6,074 7,108 6,045
Investment income
Interest 4,377 - 4,377 836
Total investment income 4,377 - 4,377 836
Total income 37,778 39,832 77,610 122,814
3 Expenditure
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
funds funds 2024 2023
£ £ £ £
Charitable activities
Salaried staff 19,057 46,019 65,076 40,257
Recruitment & training 3,053 - 3,053 -
Freelance & temporary staff 70 2,153 2,223 10,375
Website, media & IT 2,431 1,786 4,217 6,600
Conference - 17,689 17,689 4,057
Survey & data collection - - - 1,260
Other direct costs 5,633 (5,550) 83 3,066
Support costs 8,266 1,044 9,310 9,367
Total charitable activities 38,511 63,140 101,651 74,983
Costs of generating funds
Fundraising consultant - - - 3,000
Fundraising expenses 372 - 372 12
Total costs of generating funds 372 - 372 3,012
Total expenditure 38,883 63,140 102,023 77,995
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The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation Notes to the accounts for the year ended 30 September 2024
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Governance General Total Total
Support costs function support 2024 2023
£ £ £ £
Bookkeeping - 3,428 3,428 2,049
Independent Examination Fees 1,000 1,980 2,980 1,000
IT & Office - 2,351 2,351 2,258
Insurance - 441 441 758
Bank Fees - 110 110 39
Freelance & temporary staff - - - 3,263
1,000 8,310 9,310 9,367
4 Debtors: amounts falling due within one year
2024 2023
£ £
Prepayments & accrued income 350 -
Total 350 -
5 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
2024 2023
£ £
Accruals & other creditors 1,273 1,134
Total 1,273 1,134
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6 Movements in funds
| Restricted Funds Stronger Together Schools Project |
Balance at 30-Sep-23 £ 10,048 6,827 |
Incoming £ 33,758 - |
Outgoing £ (40,208) - |
Transfers in / (out) £ 1,950 - |
30-Sep-24 £ 5,548 6,827 Balance at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conference 2023 | 4,741 | 5,346 | (11,469) | 1,382 | - |
| The Fore Grant Monki x BDDF Overcoming BDD Psilocybin Trial |
4,916 2,332 3,169 270 |
- - 728 - |
(4,916) (2,380) (3,897) (270) |
- 48 - - |
- - - - |
| 32,303 | 39,832 | (63,140) | 3,380 | 12,375 | |
| Unrestricted funds General funds |
139,049 139,049 |
37,778 37,778 |
(38,883) (38,883) |
(3,380) (3,380) |
134,564 134,564 |
| Total funds | 171,352 | 77,610 | (102,023) | - | 146,939 |
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The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation Notes to the accounts for the year ended 30 September 2024
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Stronger Together This 3 year National Lottery grant contributes to the cost of our support services
including e-helpline, Overcoming BDD Programme, Zoom support group and
webinar/video content. The final grant instalment was received in August 2024
and we expect the remaining funds will be fully spent down by the end of
February 2025.
Schools Project The initial focus of our schools project was to create an informative video on
BDD (which can be seen on our homepage). After a successful pilot a larger roll
out was about to launch at the start of 2020, training volunteers to go into
schools in South London to deliver BDD training. It was paused due to the
pandemic and has been re-launched in 2024. From February 2025 volunteers
will be going into schools, and we may also expand this via online training
sessions. As a result we expect to spend more of this fund in 2025.
Conference fund All restrictive funds for the 2024 Conference have been fully spent. They
covered staging the actual conference as well as preparing written and video
materials of the events for ongoing awareness raising.
The Fore Grant This was funding for a part time member of staff. Funds were fully spent in 2024
and it is expected that this post will continue to be funded by other income
streams applied for.
Monki x BDDF This fund stemmed from a collaboration with fashion brand Monki to raise
awareness of BDD via the development of a Youth website. Funds have now
been fully spent.
Overcoming BDD Programme (was Structed This project delivers peer-led Cognitive Behaviour Therapy principles for BDD
Support Group) to a group of service users over a 20-week period. The project was originally
funded by an Awards for All grant which has now been fully spent. After a
successful pilot the project is ongoing.
Psilocybin Trial Funds were raised to support a possible psilocybin trial for BDD. It has been
agreed not run the trial as costs would be significan and with the agreement of
the funder, funds have subsequently been released to unrestricted funds.
01-Oct-22 Incoming Outgoing in / (out) 30-Sep-23
£ £ £ £ £
Restricted Funds
Structed Support Group (968) 5,016 (879) - 3,169
Monki x BDDF 7,215 - (4,883) - 2,332
Stronger Together 16,498 33,558 (40,008) - 10,048
The Fore Grant 7,112 7,425 (9,621) - 4,916
Conference 2023 - 7,328 (2,587) - 4,741
Lottery Grant - 2019 conference 1,790 - (1,790) - -
2021 conference 5,479 - (5,479) - -
Lottery Grant - covid relief 513 - (513) - -
Email Helpline - - - - -
Psilocybin Trial 245 25 - - 270
Schools Project 6,827 - - - 6,827
44,711 53,352 (65,760) - 32,303
Unrestricted funds
General funds 81,822 69,462 (12,235) - 139,049
81,822 69,462 (12,235) - 139,049
Total funds 126,533 122,814 (77,995) - 171,352
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The Body Dysmorphic Disorder Foundation Notes to the accounts for the year ended 30 September 2024
7 Staff costs and numbers
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2024 2023
£ £
Gross wages and salaries 63,871 39,561
Pension 1,205 696
65,076 40,257
The FTE (full time equivalent) of staff employed during the period was 2 2
Staff costs have been analysed as: 2024 2023
£ £
Direct charitable expenditure 65,076 40,257
65,076 40,257
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8 Trustees' remuneration and expenses
The charity did not pay to its trustees any remuneration during the year (2023, £0). No expenses were reimbursed to trustees during the year (2023, £248).
9 Analysis of net assets between funds
| Analysis of net assets between funds | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| General Funds |
Restricted funds |
Total funds |
|
| Current assets Current liabilities |
£ 135,837 (1,273) |
£ 12,375 - |
£ 148,212 (1,273) |
| Net assets at 30 September 2024 | 134,564 | 12,375 | 146,939 |
10 Pensions
The charity operates an auto-enrolment stakeholder pension scheme with NEST. All employees are eligible, and the charity pays contributions on a qualifying earnings basis. Pension costs stated in note 7 and charged in the statement of Financial Activities represent the total contributions payable by the charity in the year.
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