## Sunshine and Smiles - Leeds Down Syndrome Network
Charity number 1154661
## Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the year ended 30 November 2023
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Sunshine and Smiles - Leeds Down Syndrome Network
Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 30 November 2023
|**Contents**|**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trustees' report|2 to 5|
|Examiner's report|6|
|Receipts and payments account|7|
|Statement of assets and liabilities|8|
|Notes to the accounts|9 to 12|
## **Prepared by West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO**
1
## Sunshine and Smiles - Leeds Down Syndrome Network
## Trustees' report for the year ended 30 November 2023
## **Reference and administrative details of the charity, its trustees and advisors**
The trustees during the financial year and up to and including the date the report was approved were: **Name Position Dates** Marc Davies Chair
Marc Davies Jonathan Astin Emma Henson Jane Sinson Emily Vuijk
Appointed 10 May 2023 Appointed 10 May 2023
**Charity number** 1154661
Registered in England and Wales
## **Registered and principal address**
3 Drummond Road Far Headingley Leeds LS16 5LB
## **Bankers**
The Co-operative Bank Skipton Building Society PO Box 101 The Bailey 1 Balloon Street Skipton Manchester M60 4EP BD23 1DN Shawbrook bank NS&I Lutea House Sunderland Warley Hill Business Park SR43 2SB The Drive, Great Warley, Brentford, Essex. CM13 3BE
Virgin Money 20 Merrion Way Leeds LS2 8NZ
## **Independent examiner**
Rhys North ACA **West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO** Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW
## **Structure, governance and management**
The charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) is governed by a constitution adopted on 20 November 2013 and amended 23 November 2016.
## **Method of recruitment and appointment of trustees**
The trustees of the charity are appointed by the members at the AGM.
2
## Sunshine and Smiles - Leeds Down Syndrome Network Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 30 November 2023
## **Objectives and activities**
## **The charity's objects**
1. The relief of children and young people with Down Syndrome and their families in particular by providing advocacy, advice and support.
2. The promotion of social inclusion among children with Down Syndrome and their families who are socially excluded from society, or parts of society, as a result of having Down Syndrome by:
- a) providing education and information to support children and enable their parents / carers to maximise educational opportunities for their children;
- b) raising public awareness of the issues affecting people with Down Syndrome, both generally and in relation to their social exclusion;
- c) providing workshops, advocacy and general support;
- d) providing recreational facilities and opportunities for children with Down Syndrome and promoting their wider participation in such activities in society
3. The provision of facilities for recreation and other leisure time occupation in the interest of social welfare with the object of improving the conditions of life of people with Down Syndrome, their families and carers.
These objects shall be primarily undertaken in the Metropolitan District of Leeds and the surrounding area.
## **The charity's main activities**
Sunshine and Smiles is a support network for children and young people who have Down Syndrome, and their families, in Leeds and the surrounding areas.
We aim to improve the lives and opportunities for children and young people with Down Syndrome.
We offer speech and language therapy, regular groups and activities, individual support and advocacy for families, as well as raising awareness and challenging preconceptions in the wider community.
We are able to achieve this by establishing links with hospitals, health and education professionals and connecting with other related charities.
## **Public benefit statement**
In setting our objectives and planning our activities our trustees have given serious consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and we feel that our services and the objects of our organisation are beneficial in the following respects:
reducing social isolation by providing a network of support and friendship for children and young people who have Down Syndrome, and their families
strengthening families by offering advice and support at times of stress and difficulty
improving outcomes for children and young people with Down Syndrome by offering therapeutic support such as speech and language therapy, physiotherapy and early development support
promoting community and social cohesion by facilitating activities and services that bring children and young people with Down Syndrome, and their families, together
improving other services and raise awareness of issues relating to Down Syndrome by advocating on behalf of children and young people with Down Syndrome and their families
promoting inclusion and accessibility by endeavouring to provide all of our activities and services free of charge to children and young people with Down Syndrome and their families
increasing sensitivity and awareness to ‘difference’, to augment the spectrum of what is perceived as ‘normal’ and broaden horizons of all
maximising the potential of people with Down Syndrome to ensure they can best participate in, and contribute, including economically, to the wider society
maximising the potential and development of people with Down Syndrome so as to encourage their inclusion into the wider society, to minimise their dependence on their families of origin and wider society
In these ways the charity promotes equality and social inclusion for people with disabilities.
3
## Sunshine and Smiles - Leeds Down Syndrome Network Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 30 November 2023
## **Achievements and performance**
Over the past year we have run regular group activities as follows:
Weekly Mondays from 10.30am to 12pm for a 0–3 year olds group. Fortnightly Saturdays – 2 x dance classes for children aged 2–18 years. Fortnightly Saturdays – 2 x music classes for children aged 2–18 years.
Fortnightly Thursdays – evening group for young people aged 9 years and over.
Monthly Mondays, Saturdays or Sundays – 15 x speech and language sessions plus Makaton Baby Sign groups.
Fortnightly Wednesdays – cricket sessions for young people aged 12-25
Fortnightly Saturdays – Family Swim Sessions with taught lessons for 16 children - when possible. Fortnightly Sundays – Football Sessions for children aged 4–16 years Weekly online yoga sessions for young people aged 16+
The groups offer children opportunities to make new friends and socialise and at the family sessions siblings also get the chance to socialise and make friends. Parents and carers also have the opportunity to meet each other and share experiences and make supportive friendships.
There are a variety of activities for the children: musical instruments, paints, soft play, water play, tactile play, early developmental activities and support, singing and Makaton signing, movement and imagination play plus our speech and language therapy sessions. Parents are able to gain support and advice from other parents. We provide healthy snacks and drinks for the children and their parent(s).
We held our 10th birthday party in November 2023 – this was a wonderful celebration with over 300 people in attendance.
We have a private Facebook group and a public page where people can share experiences and ask advice from other parents and carers. We also have links with the Child Development Centres and are often asked to meet with, or be available to, new parents who have a baby with Down Syndrome or parents who have had a diagnosis in pregnancy.
We have worked alongside the neo-natal and pre-natal teams at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust to start to develop a support pathway and we have developed an information pack for new families who are expecting or who have a baby with Down Syndrome.
Over 140 children and young people with Down Syndrome, 50 siblings and their wider families, have accessed group sessions and activities and over 40 children and young people have had the opportunity to access monthly Speech and Language sessions.
We have arranged parent information sessions and social opportunities for families to come together.
We have delivered raising awareness workshops to student midwives, medical students, childminders, nurseries, schools and health professionals.
We are part of a number of networks that enable us to raise the profile of people with Down Syndrome and also advocate for better services and support; Short Breaks Partnership, Down Syndrome Network North, Down Syndrome Parent Support Groups UK, Leeds Early Years Special Educational Needs and Disability Steering group, Young Live Leeds and Voluntary Action Leeds.
We have offered individual support to families including home visits, hospital visits, support with completing forms and referrals or signposting for other support.
We have set up a weekly session from 9.30am – 2.30pm where families can book individual support sessions with one of our staff team.
We have also developed age specific WhatsApp groups to promote peer support and sharing of advice and information.
We send out a weekly newsletter.
4
## Sunshine and Smiles - Leeds Down Syndrome Network Trustees' report (continued) for the year ended 30 November 2023
## **Achievements and performance (continued)**
Our consultation process was completed and we have been working on the outcomes from this concerning: financial resilience, improved service pathway and improved organisational structure.
We have been running our 21 Co. shop and café since January 2019 and we have been open again after Covid since August 2021. We offer work and training to adults who have Down Syndrome. We have 10 adults working with us currently.
Members of the group, friends and family continue to support us by doing their own incredible fundraising challenges, by making generous donations and by making us wonderful things to sell at our fundraising events.
We have continued to fundraise to ensure that the organisation is sustainable in the long term.
## **Financial review**
The net payments for the year were £2,207, including net payments of £25,409 on unrestricted funds and net receipts of £23,202 on restricted funds.
## **Reserves policy**
The charity's free reserves, at the year end were £158,856.
Sunshine & Smiles – Leeds Down Syndrome Network needs reserves to:
Meet contractual liabilities should the organisation have to close. This includes redundancy pay, amounts due to creditors and commitments under leases;
To meet unexpected costs like the breakdown of essential office machinery, staff cover re illness, maternity leave, parental leave, and legal costs defending the charities interest;
To replace equipment as it wears out;
Ensure that the charity can continue to provide stable and quality services to those who need them. Within this context to minimise recruitment, staff training, staff induction and marketing costs by avoiding the need for redundancies caused by financial crisis; and
From time to time funding has certain restrictions which mean that by law it must be held in a restricted reserves until it is spent in line with the funding agreement.
Sunshine & Smiles aims to have reserves equivalent to 9 months of running costs. Based on expenditure for the year ending 30 November 2023 the target level of reserves is £159,000.
Approved by the board of trustees on 9/08/2024
Marc Davies (Trustee)
5
## Sunshine and Smiles - Leeds Down Syndrome Network
## Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Sunshine and Smiles - Leeds Down Syndrome Network
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the CIO for the year ended 30 November 2023, which are set out on pages 7 to 12.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity trustees of the CIO you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the CIO's accounts as 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 Act.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination 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 Charities Act; 2 the accounts do not accord with those records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Rhys North ACA
27/08/2024
## **West Yorkshire Community Accountancy Service CIO**
Stringer House 34 Lupton Street Leeds LS10 2QW
6
## Sunshine and Smiles - Leeds Down Syndrome Network
## Receipts and payments account for the year ended 30 November 2023
|Notes
2023
Unrestricted
funds
£
**Receipts**
Grants and donations
(2)
74,818
Fundraising activities
13,875
Café and shop sales
83,451
Other income
1,527
Bank interest
757
**Total receipts**
174,428
**Payments**
Salaries, NI, pensions and payroll charges
105,394
Freelance staff
5,793
Group resources
393
Trips and activities
10,848
Group refreshments
370
Administration
2,077
Telephone and internet
2,141
Rent
2,632
Group equipment
228
Publicity
518
Transport
3,970
Fundraising resources
3,454
Travel expenses
185
Training costs
272
Speech and language sessions
11,596
Insurance
1,184
Subscriptions and licences
2,704
Independent examination
960
Café 21:
Café 21 consumables
18,632
Café 21 premises
6,722
Café 21 equipment
2,960
Other expenses
931
Counselling therapies
-
Makers fees
13,764
HR / Health and Safety
1,643
Professional fees
466
**Total payments**
199,837
**Net receipts / (payments)**
(25,409)
**Fund balances brought forward**
184,265
**Fund balances carried forward**
(3)
158,856|2023
Restricted
funds
£
31,153
4,046
-
-
-
35,199
826
-
240
9,367
3
-
-
375
510
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
63
-
613
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
11,997
23,202
45,610
68,812|2023
Total
funds
£
105,971
17,921
83,451
1,527
757
209,627
106,220
5,793
633
20,215
373
2,077
2,141
3,007
738
518
3,970
3,454
185
272
11,596
1,184
2,767
960
19,245
6,722
2,960
931
-
13,764
1,643
466
211,834
(2,207)
229,875
227,668|2022
Total
funds
£
99,730
19,749
55,049
100
618
175,246
75,506
22,873
1,542
20,835
38
862
628
1,418
496
608
3,918
3,394
17
551
16,782
1,137
2,157
780
7,538
8,052
2,078
117
325
12,074
2,015
6,600
192,341
(17,095)
246,970
229,875|
|---|---|---|---|
7
## Sunshine and Smiles - Leeds Down Syndrome Network Statement of assets and liabilities
|as at 30 November 2023
2023
Unrestricted
£
**Cash funds**
Cash at bank
158,636
Cash in hand
220
**Total cash funds**
158,856
**Debtors and prepayments**
Accrued income - bank interest
Other debtors - gift aid
**Assets retained for the charity's own use**
4 laptops
2 Printer / scanner / photocopier machines
Office furniture
Toys and resources
Coffee machine
Display units and counter furniture
Display fridge
Fridge / freezer
Freezer
Tables and chairs
2 iPads
Android tablet|2023
Restricted
£
68,812
-
68,812|2023
Total
£
227,448
220
227,668
2023
£
1,868
348
2,216|2022
Total
£
229,755
120
229,875|
|---|---|---|---|
|**Liabilities**
Creditors - rent, freelance fees, activities and travel
Accruals - independent examination fee and staff tips|2023
£
3,248
2,203
5,451|
|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the board of trustees on 9/08/2024
Marc Davies (Trustee)
8
## Sunshine and Smiles - Leeds Down Syndrome Network
## Notes to the accounts
for the year ended 30 November 2023
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **Basis of accounting**
The trustees have taken advantage of section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 and have prepared the accounts on a receipts and payments basis.
There has been no change to the accounting policies since last year.
No changes have been made to the accounts for previous years.
## **Taxation**
As a charity the organisation benefits from rates relief and is generally exempt from income tax and capital gains tax but not from VAT. Irrecoverable VAT is included in the cost of those items to which it relates.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity.
Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure imposed by the donor or through the terms of an appeal.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the accounts.
9
## Sunshine and Smiles - Leeds Down Syndrome Network Notes to the accounts continued
## for the year ended 30 November 2023
|**2 Grants and donations**
Barclays Community Fund
Barnard Kenneth Hufton Trust
Bupa Foundation
Charles Brotherton Trust
Christadelphian Samaritan Fund
David Lister Charitable Trust
Douglas Arter Foundation
EG Foundation
Engage Interactive
FB Coales No 4 (Family) Trust
Fitton Trust
Forum Central
Jewson Limited
Leeds City Council
Leeds Community Foundation
Marsh Charitable Trust
NISA Make a Difference Locally (MADL)
One17 Design Charitable Trust
Park Lane Foundation
The Alchemy Foundation
The Bellasis Trust
The Blevins Franks Charitable Fund
The Cotton Industry War Memorial Trust
The Gosling Foundation
The Hudson Charitable Trust
The Irving Memorial Trust
The Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation
The Matthew Hill Sustainability Fund
The Metals Consultant
The Mollie Croysdale Charitable Trust
The Pat Newman Memorial Trust
The Potel Charitable Trust
The R S Brownless Charitable Trust
The Sydney Black Charitable Trust Limited
The Theodore Maxxy Charitable Trust
The Vickers Staff Charitable Fund
The Wharfedale Foundation
Virgin Media O2
Webb Family Charitable Trust
Blakemore Foundation
J. Murphy & Sons Limited
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Stubbs Family Charitable Trust
The Angela Gallagher Memorial Fund
The David Family Foundation
The Linden Charitable Trust
The Manson Family Charitable Trust
The Pierrepont Trust
Other donations|2023
Unrestricted
funds
£
-
1,000
-
200
500
1,000
500
-
3,007
1,000
250
-
-
-
15,000
500
750
240
-
1,000
-
-
2,500
-
300
2,000
2,500
-
750
500
500
540
200
500
2,000
2,500
-
1,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
34,081
74,818|2023
Restricted
funds
£
500
-
1,654
-
-
-
-
1,000
-
-
-
1,000
500
7,669
5,000
-
-
-
500
-
540
1,540
-
5,000
-
-
-
1,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2,500
-
2,500
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
250
31,153|2023
Total
funds
£
500
1,000
1,654
200
500
1,000
500
1,000
3,007
1,000
250
1,000
500
7,669
20,000
500
750
240
500
1,000
540
1,540
2,500
5,000
300
2,000
2,500
1,000
750
500
500
540
200
500
2,000
2,500
2,500
1,000
2,500
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
34,331
105,971|2022
Total
funds
£
-
-
500
200
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
10,566
35,636
-
3,387
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
100
1,500
1,742
1,000
1,000
500
1,000
250
10,000
32,349
99,730|
|---|---|---|---|---|
10
## Sunshine and Smiles - Leeds Down Syndrome Network
## Notes to the accounts continued
## for the year ended 30 November 2023
|**3 Restricted funds**
EG Foundation
Headingley Neighbourhood Watch
Anne Maguire Fund
Blevins Frank
Pop Up Coffee Machine
BUPA Charity Fund
Crowdfunder - Sports Sessions
Crowdfunder - Staffing
Football Sessions
Volition - Household Support Fund
Employment Development Staffing
Individual Support Staffing
Matthew Hill Sustainability Fund
Leeds City Council
Sibling Participation Groups
Swimming Sessions
The Bellasis Trust
The Sunshine Hub
Webb Family Charitable Trust
Wharfedale Foundation|Balance b/f
£
-
-
4,499
-
250
-
4,061
5,004
1,969
-
-
-
-
5,967
996
7,201
-
15,663
-
-
45,610|Incoming
£
1,000
500
5,000
1,540
-
1,654
4,296
-
1,000
1,000
-
-
1,000
7,669
-
5,000
540
-
2,500
2,500
35,199|Outgoing
£
613
-
1,712
244
-
-
2,888
-
1,492
-
-
-
-
2,180
-
2,367
-
-
375
126
11,997|Transfers
£
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|Balance c/f
£
387
500
7,787
1,296
250
1,654
5,469
5,004
1,477
1,000
-
-
1,000
11,456
996
9,834
540
15,663
2,125
2,374
68,812|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
## **Fund name Purpose of restriction**
EG Foundation Headingley Neighbourhood Watch Anne Maguire Fund Blevins Frank Pop Up Coffee Machine BUPA Charity Fund
Crowdfunder - Sports Sessions Crowdfunder - Staffing Football Sessions
Volition - Household Support Fund Employment Development Staffing
Individual Support Staffing
Matthew Hill Sustainability Fund Leeds City Council Sibling Participation Groups Swimming Sessions
The Bellasis Trust The Sunshine Hub
Webb Family Charitable Trust Wharfedale Foundation
To provide stock for Company 21.
To provide karaoke equipment and stock for Company 21. To enable the delivery of accessible and inclusive music sessions. To support makaton sessions and supporting resources.
To enable the purchase of a pop up coffee machine. To provide Company 21 with equipment including signage, display cabinet and freezer.
To enable the provision of sports session activities. To contribute towards the salary costs of the charity's employees.
Funding from Barclays Community Fund and Jewsons Limited to enable the development and delivery of football sessions.
To provide household support for families.
To increase staffing hours to develop an employment pathway for people with Down Syndrome working at Company 21.
To increase staffing hours so as to enable additional support for families as needed.
To help improve lighting in Company 21. To provide recreational groups and activities.
To support the project delivery costs of sibling participation groups. Grant funding, including this year from The Gosling Foundation, to support the costs of running swimming sessions.
To support the provision of toys and books.
Funding provided for refurbishment and renovation works to the charity's premises including Stainbeck Community Hall.
To help towards rent costs.
To help towards employment development at Company 21.
11
## Sunshine and Smiles - Leeds Down Syndrome Network
## Notes to the accounts continued
for the year ended 30 November 2023
## **4 Related party transactions**
## **Trustee expenses**
No trustee received any expenses during this year or the previous year.
## **Trustee remuneration and benefits**
No trustee received any remuneration or benefit during this or the previous year.
## **Remuneration and benefits received by key management personnel**
The total employee benefits received by key management personnel were £27,766 (previous year: £30,339).
12