Trustees’ Annual Report
Blue Skye Thinking
From 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022
Registered Charity Number 1158021
Principle Address:
66 Five Mile Drive Oxford Oxfordshire OX2 8HW
Names of Trustees:
Mr Andrew S Hall Mrs Sally G Hall Mrs Victoria E B Marcham Mrs Lisa Ruggles Dr Joanne Wilkinson
Website:
www.blueskyethinking.org
Contact Email:
contact@blueskyethinking.org
Contact Telephone: 01242 262731
Bankers:
Royal Bank of Scotland 32 St Giles’ Oxford OX1 3ND Account No: 11002339 Sort Code: 16-10-15
Introduction to Blue Skye Thinking
In August 2013, Skye Hall, aged 4, was diagnosed with a brain tumour, which had metastasised to various parts of his brain and spinal cord, despite showing very few symptoms over a period of just 4 weeks. Just 12 months later Skye died as a direct result of the side effects of the treatment, which included surgery to remove the bulk of the tumour, an 11 week course of Chemotherapy, 5 weeks of Radiotherapy, followed by high dose Chemotherapy. The disease was stable, but the rigorous treatment protocols which he was subjected to, led to his paralysis and subsequent death.
In response to this, Skye’s parents, Sally and Andrew Hall, set up Blue Skye Thinking in order to accelerate research into the Research and Treatment of Childhood Brain Tumours, so that all children diagnosed would have a better chance of survival and a better quality of life post treatment. Blue Skye Thinking is a registered charity with the Charity Commission and as a Charitable Trust with the HMRC, and is governed by the Trust Deed dated 24 July 2014.
Aims and Objectives
To help promote research into the causes, cures and prevention of childhood brain tumours and to disseminate the useful results of such research for the benefit of the public.
The relief of children who are suffering from a brain tumour by the provision of grants and financial assistance to provide equipment and apparatus to hospital wards, and support people suffering from brain tumours, their families and carers.
Raising awareness of brain cancer as the number one cancer killer amongst children and teenagers.
Trustees
There must be at least three [3] trustees. Apart from the first trustees, every trustee must be appointed [for a minimum term of two years] by a resolution of the trustees passed at a special meeting called under clause 15 of the Deed.
In selecting individuals for appointment as trustees, the trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the charity. The trustees must keep a record of the name and address and the dates of appointment, reappointment and retirement of each trustee. The trustees must make available to each new trustee, on his or her first appointment:
(a) a copy of this deed and any amendments made to it;
(b) a copy of the charity’s latest report and statement of accounts.
Achievements and Performance
The global COVID-19 pandemic continued to have an impact on the Charity sector in 20212022. Blue Skye Thinking considers itself fortunate to have been able to withstand the impact and due to the policy decision of not embarking on projects before having raised all the necessary funds in place proved most useful, as the Charity linked up with fellow charities Little Hero and Children with Cancer UK to support some much-needed funding to ensure the continuation of the INSTINCT-MB project.
Blue Skye Thinking continues to be represented on key Medical Steering Committees representing the parent voice; these include the UK Children’s Genome England (Genomics England Clinical Interpretation Partnership - GeCIP), SIOP-HRMB International Society of Paediatric Oncology, and Stratified Medicine Paediatrics. See here for further detail.
INSTINCT-MB
Blue Skye Thinking, alongside charity co-funders Children with Cancer UK and Little Hero have announced their funding for a new landmark research programme with the aim of combating medulloblastoma (MB), the most common high-grade brain tumour in children.
Led by Professor Steve Clifford from Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, the research project will aim to identify and develop effective treatments against Group 3 medulloblastoma, combining different drugs alongside CAR-T cell therapies. The research project will be supported by the INSTINCT research network with UCL Institute of Child Health and The Institute of Cancer Research.
Fundraising
The majority of funds have been raised through regular Donations and individuals raising money through Sponsorship. These have seen a sharp decline during the pandemic and post-pandemic, which makes us so grateful for the support we did receive from the pupils of The Dragon School in Oxford and Didcot Girls’ School and others mentioned below.
Goring and Streatley Golf – Ladies Section
We were pleased to be selected by the Ladies Section to be the chosen Charity for 2020 to 2022. Trustees were welcomed to the Club to talk about the Charity and engage in conversation with members about the work being done. Club members held raffles and a variety of other fundraising events to support Blue Skye Thinking.
Truck Festival
The lovely Binning family held a special fundraising event in their garden to help the shortfall suffered by many charities unable to volunteer in the ‘feel good’ charity tent at this year’s cancelled Truck Festival. Blue Skye Thinking was delighted to be one of those beneficiaries.
Nomads Vets Rugby Team
Nomads Vets are a charity focused Rugby Team and are proud to support two amazing causes by raising funds and awareness through playing in tournaments, hosting charity days and taking on other activities. Their first chance to represent Blue Skye Thinking and Special Effect was at The Bournemouth Rugby Festival on August Bank Holiday weekend 2021 which they won! Skye’s younger brother Jesse was on hand to congratulate them at the final whistle.
Events
There were unfortunately no fundraising events in the 2021-2022 financial year.
Reserves
A policy decision was taken by the Trustees, that before embarking on the sponsorship of any research projects, the Charity would ensure that the full sum of money was in place prior to commencement, to ensure that should the financial or political climate change, that sufficient funds were available to ensure that any project would run its full course. Hence, the Charity would always operate with reserves in the bank.
Declaration
The Trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed:
Signed:
Signed: Signed: Signed: Date: 28 January 2023
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl membars of BLUE SKYE THINKING On accounts for the year ended 31 MARCH 2022 Charity no (If any) 1158021 Set out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity {"the Trust"} for the year ended 3110312022. Responsibllltles and As the charity trust8es of th8 Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requiremenls of lh6 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 14515}Ibl of the Act. I have completed my examination. l Gonfirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with Ihe examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect-. accourlting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of Ihe Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records Independent examiner's statement I have no concerns and have come across no olh6r 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. Signe Date: Name: ABI AIL AVERSA Relevant professlonal qualification(s) or body (If anyl: ACCA Address: BLUNDELL, STATION ROAD CHURCHDOWN GLOUCESTERSHIRE, GL3 2JR Section B Disclosure Only complele if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concem (see CC32, Independent examination of chanly accounts.. directions and guidance for examiners). IER October 2018
Give here brief details of any ilams that the examiner wishes to disclose. NIA IER October 2018
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OOOOOOBlue Skye Thinking Accounts 2021-22 l-Apr-21 Current Capital & Reserves (Net Worth) Prevlous Donatlons less Expenses 2020-2021 Donatlons less Expenses Current Year donations less expenses £375 286 £344,247 £31,039 £255 260.53 £375,285.60 -£120,025.07 Current Liabilities £0 £0.00 VAT Held £0 £0.00 Total Liabilities £375,286 £255,260.53 Flxed Assets £0 £299.10 Trailer Warming Drawer £0 £0 £75.00 £224.10 Current Assets £375 286 £254 961A3 A&L Current Account Savings Account PayPal £73,621 £301,464 £200 £103,276.26 £151,484.72 £200,45 £375,286 £255,260.53 £0 £0. 0000003110112023 XOOOD BST Accounts 21-22.xlsx