## **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
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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 ended**31 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 ended**31 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 ended**31 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**