Daisy Chains IW Charity Number: 1156801 Trustees annual report and end of year accounts For the year ended 6[th ] April 2025 1 ## Daisy Chains IW – contents page Year-end 6[th] April 2025 Administration Details………………………………………………. **3** Structure and Governance………………………………. ……. **3** Objectives Activities………………………………...………………. **4,5** Achievements and Performance………………………….…………. **5/6,7,8,9** Trustee Declaration………………………………………….………. **9** Statement of Financial Activity……………………………………… **10,11,12** Balance Sheet ………………………………………………………. **13** Independent Examination Report……………………….……….…... **14** The Trustees have the pleasure of presenting their report and annual accounts for the year end 6[th] April 2025 2 ## **Administration Details** Charity registration number: 1156801 Principal address: 1 Acre Cottages Chale Green PO38 2HS ## **Trustees** Clare Plant – Chairperson Pauline Groves Elyse Rose ## **Structure Governance and Management** ## Charitable Incorporated Association Foundation Model **Trustee Appointing:** Trustees are appointed through the existing trustee members after receiving a nomination and majority vote by the board of trustees. Trustee applications will be subject to suitability checks before nominations are accepted. **Reserves Policy:** The Trustees do not have a reserves policy at present ## **Objectives and Activities** We are dedicated to supporting Island families who have a child with a long- term health condition, life-limiting illness, disability, or a premature baby 3 transferred to a mainland hospital. Our mission is to ease the emotional and financial strain these families face by providing practical, compassionate support when it’s needed most. ## **Travel Support** We fund and arrange travel to and from mainland hospitals for appointments, surgeries, and treatments — essential journeys that are not covered by any other funding. For families with children in hospital for extended stays, we also cover travel costs for family visits, helping parents take much-needed breaks and supporting the child’s emotional wellbeing. Some families travel daily for treatments such as cancer care, while others travel weekly or monthly, these trips can run into thousands of pounds over the year which can cause so much financial strain on the family. ## **Food Support** We recognise that hospital stays and medical travel can create financial hardship, so we run two food support schemes: **Hospital Food Vouchers:** Parents with a baby or child in a mainland hospital can apply for £50 vouchers (one or two per week) to use at hospital outlets such as M&S or Costa, helping them access meals and snacks without added stress. **Home Food Deliveries** : Families registered with us experiencing food poverty can apply for up to five shopping deliveries per year. In emergencies, we also provide additional support to ensure no family goes hungry. ## **Neonatal Support** For Island families transferred to mainland neonatal units, we provide NICU boxes filled with essentials for both mum and baby, easing the pressure during those first difficult days. We also aim to maintain a baby trolley at the Isle of Wight NICU, stocked with nappies, wipes, and other essentials for parents to use while on the unit in the very near future. ## **Emotional and Practical Support** Our team is available 24 hours a day for ferry bookings and emotional 4 support. We also offer home visits, helping families with signposting, applications, and access to entitlements. Our goal is to ensure no family feels alone in their journey. ## **Family Outings and Community Connection** We organise family outings that bring children and parents together for fun, relaxation, and connection. These events allow families to meet others who understand their experiences. While we currently run this quarterly due to costs, we aim to expand to monthly Saturday sessions. ## **Wishes and Treats** Throughout the year, we provide special wishes and treats whenever possible — small gestures that bring joy and comfort to families facing challenging times as well as some much larger wishes for families that have just lost a child, or their child has an end-of-life diagnosis. We are here for Island families every step of the way — offering care, compassion, and community when it matters most. ## **Achievements and Performance** ## **Annual Summary 2024–2025** The 2024–2025 year has been an extremely busy and impactful one for Daisy Chains IW. We have continued to fully fund all travel and accommodation needs for families referred to us by medical professionals or through self-referral. Through the invaluable support of the **Household Support Fund (HSF)** , we have been able to provide essential help to families most in need — including food packages, vouchers, and heated blankets. Alongside this vital support, we have continued to offer special treats and trips for the growing number of families we work with, helping to bring moments of joy during difficult times. The demand for our services has risen sharply once again. This increase is due not only to the reduction of local services on the Island but also to the ongoing rise in the cost of living — particularly food and heating. Many of our families are being pushed further into poverty, especially those with seriously ill children who must travel to mainland hospitals for treatment. Even with our travel support, the additional costs of food both at hospital and at home are driving families into financial crisis. The introduction of our **food deliveries for Island-based families** and **food vouchers for those in hospital** has become almost as essential as our travel support this year 5 . With more services being removed from the Island hospital, families are now required to travel more frequently to Southampton, Portsmouth, and Great Ormond Street. As a result, we are receiving more referrals than ever before, with a significant rise in self-referrals — likely due to families seeking help directly in the current financial climate. We have seen a substantial increase in both the number of families we support and the frequency of their travel needs. Addressing **food poverty** and the **cost-of-living crisis** has become a major focus for our charity. Families caring for a seriously ill child already face immense financial strain, and rising costs have made this even more challenging. Thanks to funding from the **Government Household Support Fund** and **Wight Aid** , we have been able to continue providing this crucial assistance something we expect will remain a growing part of our work in the years ahead. This year also saw us expand our **treats and wishes** programme, offering more special experiences alongside our traditional Christmas gifts and family outings. As always, our support remains dedicated exclusively to families registered on our system — those with a child who has a long-term, lifelimiting, or complex health condition or disability — ensuring we continue to focus our help where it is most needed. ## **Fundraising Events 2024–2025** Our events this year have continued to be well supported and have generated vital funding for Daisy Chains IW. We are proud to have raised significant funds through our staple events — the **Easter Egg Hunt** , **Festival of Heroes** , **Isle of Wight Festival** , and our new **Superhero Sponsored Walk** . These events are essential not only for raising funds but also for increasing awareness of the charity and the work we do to support Island families. Each event has brought the community together, creating opportunities for families, supporters, and volunteers to connect and celebrate while contributing to a meaningful cause. This year also saw the introduction of our **Gala Ball** , a new addition to our fundraising calendar. The event was a wonderful success, and we hope it will grow each year into one of our flagship annual fundraisers. These events remain a cornerstone of our charity’s sustainability, helping to ensure we can continue providing essential support, travel assistance, and care for families across the Island. 6 **Families Supported:** The Number of families we have supported this year has increased as it does year on year for travel, food and equipment support, with **36** new families being referred to us this year. We continued to support **33** families that were already with us from previous years. Over 2024-25 we have supported **69** Island families in total. As in previous years, the length of time we support each family varies greatly — from a few weeks to several years — depending on their individual circumstances and needs. Premature babies are typically referred to us for the duration of their stay in a mainland NICU, with the longest period of support lasting up to one year. These families often require intensive support over a shorter timeframe. Once their baby is discharged and returns home, the referral is usually closed unless ongoing medical issues are identified, in which case the family remains on our system for continued support. Children with long-term or life-limiting diagnoses generally stay with us until their 18th birthday, or sadly, until they are no longer with us. The level of support these families need can fluctuate — there are times when they require significant help and other times when their needs are less intensive. Each year, all families complete an update form so we can review their situation and determine whether continued support is needed. If a family no longer requires assistance, their case is closed, ensuring our resources are directed to those most in need. . This meant that by the end of this financial year we managed to close 7 referrals due to the child being premature and going home, finishing treatment, recovering, or sadly passing away. 62 families continue to receive support from us into 2025/26. ## **Brief roundup of support given in 2024-2025** Number of children supported from previous years **33** Newly referred children **36** Total supported this year **69** Referrals closed during the year **7** Families who will continue to receive support into 2024-25 **62** Total number of families support since we began **327** 7 ## **Conclusion** This year has been another positive and productive one. We are proud of the support we have provided to families within the limits of our funding. While we recognise there is always more we could do, securing funding has become increasingly challenging in the current climate. Despite this, we have entered the new financial year with strong momentum, successful events, and a commitment to developing new ideas to sustain and grow our work. In the coming year, we also hope to welcome additional volunteers to help us expand our reach and increase our impact within the community. Looking ahead, we plan to introduce a fully stocked baby trolley in the Isle of Wight NICU, ensuring that every family has access to essential items during those first crucial days. We will also be upgrading our mainland NICU boxes to more practical and user-friendly bags, which are easier to store on the wards and more useful for parents. These updated bags will include coffee vouchers, giving parents a small but meaningful comfort during what can be an overwhelming time. Our relationships with Southampton and Portsmouth NICUs continue to strengthen, and we are proud to be recognised as the “go-to” charity for Island babies admitted to either unit. This partnership ensures that no family is overlooked or left to face their challenges alone. We continue to receive many referrals from Isle of Wight Community Nurses and Health Visitors, both Mainland PICU” S as well as a growing number of self-referrals from families who find us directly. We always strive to help wherever possible, and in the rare cases where a family does not meet our criteria, we ensure they are signposted to the right organisations for alternative support. Our team remains available 24 hours a day to assist with travel, emotional wellbeing, and practical needs. Our partnerships with Red Funnel, Wightlink, and Hovertravel remain vital to our mission. Their continued collaboration ensures that families can travel across the Solent with minimal disruption, allowing them to focus on what truly matters — being there for their child. ## **Income** Our income has increased slightly this year compared to last year, primarily due to funding received through the Household Support Fund (HSF) grants rather than an improvement in donations or general fundraising. These grants have been instrumental in allowing us to continue supporting families and ensuring their essential needs are met. As in previous years, our spending closely matches our income. We are not a charity that holds reserves — the demand for help is constant, and funds are quickly directed to where they are most needed. We anticipate 8 this pattern of quick turnover and balanced spending to continue into the next financial year. The Trustees declare they approve the above trustees report Signed on behalf of the charity trustees Clare Plant Chairperson 29/01/2026 ## **Daisy Chains IW** **Statement of Financial Activities Year-end April 2025** **Income. 2024/2025 Donations** **Direct Public Donations £8707.79** Public donations over £501 Sugar and Spice Fashion Show £1696 Osbourne Lodge £716 Kenzie’s Bracelets £603.12 The Caravan Club £1019.41 Stars in their Eye £810 Hursts Staff £1882 **Business Donations. £3,919.81** Business donations over £501 Hays Travel £2000 Carisbrooke C/E £1197.87 9 **Grants for Specific use. £15717.50** Grants over £500 IW Council Household support fund £15717.50 **JustGiving Donations and sponsored events £3503.70** Donations over £501 Martyn Thorpe £600 **JustGiving Gift Aid £537.27 Events Income Events £4580.27 IW Festival £14,957.16 Festival of Heroes £31,335.48 Gross Income £83,258.98 Less costs of Events and Sponsored Activities £32,391.44 Total Net Income £50,867.54 Expenditure Family Travel Granting £13,043.70 All Other Family Support Costs £30,235.60** Treatment, Therapy Wishes and Family Treats £7,505.84 Regular family support £10,080 NICU Boxes £239.02 Food, Heat and Basic Essentials Funding £12,410.74 **Insurance £667.17 Rent, Rates and Utilities £3321.60 Postage and Stationery £588.17** 10 |**Advertising and office Equipment**|**£1460.95**| |---|---| |**JustGiving Fees**|**£216**| |**Volunteer Costs**|**£860.20**| |**Websites and computer programmes**|**£518.88**| |**Events and sponsored activities**|**£32,391.44**| ||**Total spending at bank £83,303.71**| |**………………………………………………………………………………………………**|| |**Daisy Chains IW**|| |**Statement of financial activities year end April 2025**|| |**Opening Balance**|**£1870.92**| |**………………………………………………………………………………………………….**|| |**Gross Income**|**£83,258.98**| |**Total Expenditure**|**£83,303.71**| |**…………………………………………………………………………………………………**|| |**Total Funds Carried Forward**|**£1826.19**| |**Total at Bank**|**£1780.17**| |**Total In Cash**|**£46.02**| 11 **The above financial information is approved by the trustees and signed for on their behalf by** **Mrs Clare Plant Chair of Trustees** **Signed………Clare Plant …… …. Date …29/01/26………………………………….** **Daisy Chains IW Balance Sheet Year-end April 2025 (All unrestricted funds)** ## **Current Assets** **Cash at bank £1780.17 Cash in Hand £46.02** ## **Creditors** **Amounts falling due within 1 year £0** **Net current assets £1826.19 Total assets less current liabilities £1826.19 Total Funds £1826.19** 12 **These financial statements are approved by the board and signed on their behalf by** **Chairperson …Clare Plant ……………………………Date…26/01/26………………….** ## **Independent Examiners Report of Daisy Chains IW** **I report on the accounts for the charity for the year end April 6[th] , 2025 as set out in this document.** **The charity Trustees are responsible for the preparation of accounts. The Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under the section 144(2) of the charities act 2011 (the 2011 act) but that an independent examination is sufficient.** **I can confirm I have examined the accounts and must state if any particular matters have come to my attention, I have examined the accounting records of the charity and made a comparison with the accounts presented with those records.** **I have also considered if any items are unusual in any way and would seek explanations if this was the case, the procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion can be given as to whether the accounts present a true or fair view, and this report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.** No Matter has come to my attention: - 1) Which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the requirements: - To keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act. 13 - To prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act and principles of statement of - recommended practice, accounting and reporting by charities have not been met or - 2) To which my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the account’s to be reached. **Examiner:** Amy Graham **Date:** 30/01/2026 **Address:** 69 Manor Crescent, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 2BJ. **Position:** Finance Assistant. 14