Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 01.09.2024 To 31.08.2025
Charity name: Friends Of Serenity
Charity registration number: 1157866
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | To support and assist the provision of facilities at East Lancs Women and Newborn Centre not normally provided by the trust/NHS, providing support for bereaved families and those in subsequent pregnancies. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
This financial year, our service has continued to provide memory boxes, rainbow boxes, and personalised keepsakes to families experiencing baby loss. These items remain consistently available to all bereaved families across East Lancashire, ensuring they receive meaningful support at every stage of their journey. We have also continued to develop our Tree of Life project, collecting names for new blossoms and honouring the memory of our children through collective acts of remembrance. This ongoing work ensures that families have a dedicated space to reflect, remember, and feel connected to a supportive community. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | In planning and delivering our activities throughout the year, we have ensured that all work remains fully aligned with the charity’s core objectives. We have carefully considered the guidance provided by the Charity Commission and sought professional advice where appropriate to ensure that our services continue to deliver clear public benefit. This approach has enabled us to maintain high standards of governance while ensuring that our support remains meaningful, ethical, and responsive to the |
needs of the families we serve.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference |
||
|---|---|---|
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | n/a |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | n/a |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | Our volunteers have continued to play an essential role in supporting our work throughout the year. They have contributed their time and skills at our memory box and keepsake-making events, held regularly at our storage unit, ensuring we can meet the ongoing demand for these treasured items. Many volunteers have also created their own fundraising initiatives and taken part in races and events accessed through_Run4Charity_, further strengthening our ability to sustain and grow our services. In addition, volunteers who knit items for our memory boxes provide a deeply personal touch that is greatly appreciated by the families we support. Their dedication and compassion remain central to the success of our charity. |
| Other |
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | Over the past year, Friends of Serenity has continued to make a profound and measurable difference to the lives of bereaved families across East Lancashire and beyond. Through the expansion of our memory-making services, the provision of keepsakes, memory boxes, and practical support such as funding birth and stillbirth certificates, we have helped families create lasting connections with their babies at an unimaginably difficult time. Our community partnerships, including work with healthcare providers and local organisations, have strengthened the support network available to parents, while initiatives such as the Tree of Life project have offered a meaningful space for remembrance and healing. Collectively, these achievements not only enhance the wellbeing of our beneficiaries but also contribute to wider societal benefits by promoting compassionate bereavement care, reducing isolation, and fostering a more understanding and supportive community for those experiencing baby loss. Through our memory-making service, we have continued to see a notable increase in the number of losses across East Lancashire. As a result, we have provided significantly more keepsakes than in previous years. These keepsakes are deeply valued by our beneficiaries, offering families the opportunity to create and hold on to cherished memories of their babies. We continue to collaborate with Lancashire County Council to directly fund birth and stillbirth certificates, easing the financial and emotional burden on parents during an exceptionally difficult time. In addition, the Tree of Life project now complete and in situ, continues to offer a dedicated, reflective space where families can go to remember and honour their babies in a peaceful and supportive environment. We look to improve the garden space and seek planning ideas from the hospital estates team. We are now working towards fundraising towards the project of refurbishing the bereavement suites and are currently in a planning phase. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 |
Donations from the public have enabled us to meet key targets and continue supporting the hospital in enhancing its services. This generosity has ensured we can maintain our full offer of memory boxes, rainbow boxes, and personalised keepsakes for bereaved families. The Tree of Life is now in place and had a grand opening on 15th October 2024, starting with over 150 baby names. We continued to care for and preserve our Tree of Life sculpture, adding new blossoms each quarter. This ongoing commitment ensures the tree remains a meaningful and comforting space for families to honour and remember their babies. We have also strengthened our community partnerships this year through our collaboration with Blackburn Rovers Community Trust, particularly via the _Blackburn Rovers Dads FC_group. This partnership has created a supportive space for bereaved fathers to connect, share experiences, and engage in physical activity as a means of promoting wellbeing. Through this collaboration, we have been able to extend our reach, offer tailored support to dads, and ensure they feel included, valued, and represented within our wider bereavement services. |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | Through our continued partnership with Run4Charity, we have seen a significant interest from families taking part in fundraising events on our behalf. Each participant set a personal fundraising target and successfully achieved their goals, demonstrating remarkable commitment to supporting our projects. Fundraisers who raised over £1,000 were invited to submit a dedication for a large blossom on the Tree of Life. All other participants were offered the opportunity to have a blossom added to the tree during the next installation, ensuring every supporter is recognised for their contribution. Fundraising has played a vital role in enabling us to maintain and expand our keepsake services, which continue to grow |
in demand each year. The generosity of our supporters ensures that we can keep providing meaningful, high-quality keepsakes to families when they need them most. During this financial year, we were successful in participating in a golf and gala event alongside three cast members from Coronation Street . While the event took place within the current reporting period, the financial benefit generated will be reflected in the charity’s accounts for the next financial year. This opportunity not only raised our profile but also strengthened community engagement and future fundraising potential. Investment performance against objectives Para 1.41 Other
Financial Review
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | At the end of the financial period, the charity remains in a stable and sustainable financial position. Income generated through fundraising activities, public donations, and community partnerships has enabled us to continue delivering our core services without interruption. Expenditure has been carefully managed to ensure that resources are directed toward activities that provide the greatest benefit to bereaved families, including the ongoing provision of memory boxes, keepsakes, and support initiatives. The charity has maintained appropriate reserves in line with our policy, ensuring financial resilience and the ability to meet future commitments. Overall, the charity’s financial position reflects responsible stewardship, effective planning, and a continued commitment to supporting families experiencing baby loss. |
|---|---|---|
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Reserves are held to ensure the continued delivery of our core services, including the creation of keepsakes and memory boxes, as well as the provision of books and funding for stillbirth certificates. Maintaining appropriate reserves allows us to safeguard these essential offerings and ensure stability for the families who rely on our support. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | We try to ensure we maintain £10,000 in reserves |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
The charity’s principal sources of funds continue to come from public donations, individual fundraising efforts, and organised community events. Many families have The charity’s principal chosen to support our work by creating their sources of funds (including
| any fundraising) | Para 1.47 | own fundraising pages through platforms such as Enthuse and JustGiving, often in memory of their babies or in recognition of the support they have received. These personal initiatives not only generate vital income but also help raise awareness of our services within the wider community. In addition, collaborative events, most notably our charity golf day have provided significant fundraising opportunities and strengthened our partnerships with local organisations and supporters. Together, these income streams ensure the sustainability of our core services and enable us to continue delivering meaningful support to bereaved families. |
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | n/a |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | All the trustees support the charity in a voluntary capacity, working full time elsewhere, therefore, completing paperwork, driving the charity socials and profile forward as well as maintaining our continuous supply of keepsakes can be challenging at times. The charity faces several principal risks that could impact its ability to deliver services effectively. A key risk is the reliance on voluntary income, including public donations and community-led fundraising, which can fluctuate due to economic pressures and changes in donor behaviour. This creates potential uncertainty in sustaining core services such as memory boxes, keepsakes, and bereavement support initiatives. The charity also depends heavily on volunteers for operational activities, meaning any reduction in volunteer availability could affect service delivery. In addition, rising costs of materials and resources present a financial risk, requiring careful budget management and forward planning. By monitoring these risks and maintaining appropriate reserves, the charity aims to ensure long-term stability and continuity of support for bereaved families. |
Other
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Trust Deed |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Trustees / Trust |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Appointed by Joanne Edwards Founder and consultation of trustees. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 |
Trustee’s participate in Teams meetings, group meetings and webinars from charities and fundraising platforms |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | We continue to strengthen our collaborative relationships with key partners to ensure our services remain responsive and effective. We maintain an active Memorandum of Understanding with the hospital charity, meeting with them as required to support joint hospital projects. Regular engagement with Lancashire County Council registrars has enabled ongoing discussions around funding for certificates, ensuring families receive timely and compassionate support. We also hold routine check-ins with Run4Charity to coordinate participation in events and maximise fundraising opportunities. In addition, our partnerships with Maggie’s Stillbirth Legacy and Blackburn Rovers Community Trust have further expanded our reach, allowing us to work closely together through regular meetings and shared initiatives that enhance |
| the support available to bereaved families. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | We continue to strengthen our collaborative relationships with key partners to ensure our services remain responsive and effective. We maintain an active Memorandum of Understanding with the hospital charity, meeting with them as required to support joint hospital projects. Regular engagement with Lancashire County Council registrars has enabled ongoing discussions around funding for certificates, ensuring families receive timely and compassionate support. We also hold routine check-ins with Run4Charity to coordinate participation in events and maximise fundraising opportunities. In addition, our partnerships with Maggie’s Stillbirth Legacy and Blackburn Rovers Community Trust have further expanded our reach, allowing us to work closely together through regular meetings and shared initiatives that enhance the support available to bereaved families. |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Friends Of Serenity |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | FOS |
| Registered charity number | 1157866 |
| Charity’s principal address | Friends of Serenity PO BOX 194 Darwen |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Nam e of pers on (or body ) entitl ed to appo int trust ee (if any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joanne Edwards | CEO | |||
| Mark Edwards | ||||
| Elizabeth Norbury | ||||
| Lisa Brown | ||||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name Joanne Edwards
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
| Trustee name | Dates acted if not for whole year | |
|---|---|---|
| Joanne Edwards | ||
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets
held in this capacity
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects
Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional) Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of adviser Name Address Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees Signature(s) Full name(s) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date
Friends of Serenity — Receipts & Payments Account | Year Ended 31 August 2025
Friends of Serenity | Charity No. 1157866
Receipts and Payments Account for the year 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2025
| Description | Amount (£) | |
|---|---|---|
| A1 RECEIPTS (INCOME) | ||
| Donations | 40,464.54 | |
| Interest | 353.40 | |
| Total Receipts | 40,817.94 | |
| A2 PAYMENTS (EXPENSES) | ||
| Purchases | 18,706.54 | |
| Just Giving Fees | 514.80 | |
| PayPal Fee | 82.43 | |
| PO Box Fee | 246.60 | |
| 123 Reg | 280.46 | |
| Bank Fee | 57.00 | |
| Rent | 1,852.38 | |
| Entry Fees | 3,579.50 | |
| Sponsorship | 350.00 | |
| Travel & Accommodation | 134.00 | |
| Total Payments | 25,803.71 | |
| NET SURPLUS / (DEFICIT) | ||
| Net Receipts less Payments | 15,014.23 | |
| B1 CASH FUNDS | ||
| Opening Balance (1 Sep 2024) | 23,504.43 | |
| — Current Account | 2,734.89 | |
| — Savings Account | 20,662.03 | |
| — PayPal | 107.51 | |
| Closing Balance (31 Aug 2025) | ||
| — Current Account | 2,989.48 | |
| — Savings Account | 35,165.12 | |
| — PayPal | 504.04 | |
| Total Closing Balance | 38,658.64 |
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
| Section A Independent Examiner’s Report Report to the trustees/ members of Charity Name Friends of Serenity On accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 Charity no (if any) 1157866 Set out on pages (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets) Responsibilities and basis of report I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended31 August 2025. As the charity trustees of the Trust, 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 Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed 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 which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: ● accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or ● the accounts do not accord with the accounting records I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: L. Buckingham Date: 10.06.2026 Name: Laura Buckingham |
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report Report to the trustees/ members of Charity Name Friends of Serenity On accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 Charity no (if any) 1157866 Set out on pages (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets) Responsibilities and basis of report I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended31 August 2025. As the charity trustees of the Trust, 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 Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed 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 which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: ● accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or ● the accounts do not accord with the accounting records I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: L. Buckingham Date: 10.06.2026 Name: Laura Buckingham |
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report Report to the trustees/ members of Charity Name Friends of Serenity On accounts for the year ended 31 August 2025 Charity no (if any) 1157866 Set out on pages (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets) Responsibilities and basis of report I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended31 August 2025. As the charity trustees of the Trust, 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 Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed 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 which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: ● accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or ● the accounts do not accord with the accounting records I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: L. Buckingham Date: 10.06.2026 Name: Laura Buckingham |
|---|---|---|
| 10.06.2026 | ||
| Laura Buckingham |
1
October 2018
IER
Section B Disclosure
Relevant professional ACCA qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: Flat 4, 171b Gipsy Road, London, SE27 9QT
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
2
October 2018
IER
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
3
October 2018
IER