Making Miracles
Annual Report and Accounts 2023/2024
Company Registered Address 7 The Street, Detling, Maidstone, Kent ME14 3JU. Head Office: 01622 735230
Registered Charity No. 1158233 Company Registration No. 9073484
Contents Page
| Legal and Administrative | 1 |
|---|---|
| Charity Objectives and Main Activities | 2 |
| Recruitment of Trustees and Policy on Reserves | 3 |
| Chairman’s Report | 4 |
| C.E.O. Report | 5-6 |
| Organisation Structure | 7 |
| Support Services | 8 |
| Key Achievements | 9 |
| Impact | 10 |
| Income Sources | 11 |
| Our service user’s presenting issue(s) | 12 |
| Independent Examiners Report | 13 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 14 |
| Balance Sheet | 15 |
| Financial Notes | 16 |
MAKING MIRACLES
(A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE AND REGISTERED CHARITY)
Legal and Administrative Information
| Registered Charity Number | 1158233 |
|---|---|
| Company Registration Number | 9073484 |
| Date of Incorporation | 5thJune 2014 |
| Start of Financial Year | 1 July 2023 |
| End of Financial Year | 30 June 2024 |
| Trustees/Directors as at 4 August 2024 | |
| Sally Howells Patricia Bax | Linda Goss |
| Matt Crockett Laura Shutt | Julie Fentiman |
| Chief Executive Ofcer | Kelly Wells |
| Registered Address | 7 Te Street |
| Detling, | |
| Maidstone | |
| Kent ME14 3JU | |
| Bankers | Charities Aid Foundation |
| West Malling, Kent | |
| Barclays Bank | |
| Rainham, Kent |
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Governance And Management
The charity is a company limited by guarantee and registered charity. It is operated under the rules of its memorandum and articles of association dated 05/06/2014 and most recently amended 25 June 2020. It has no share capital and the liability of each member in the event of winding up is limited to £1.
Charity Objectives
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Providing appropriate personal, professional, emotional and practical support to our service users and their wider family network including partners, siblings and grandparents in relation to baby loss and miscarriage and adapting our services to meet the needs of other client groups as needed.
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��To�raise�the�profile�of�issues�surrounding�miscarriage,�baby�loss�and�other�issues�affecting�those� other groups we support who have lost in order to make the public more aware of the need for services and the need for such issues to be discussed more openly.
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3.��Developing�new�support�services�as�identified�by�our�service�users.
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Finding new ways of raising funds to ensure the sustainability of our organisation for�the�benefit�of�the�public.
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5.���To�promote�volunteering�in�the�wider�community�engaging�them�in�fulfilling�opportunities�to�raise� funds for our charity and, at the same time, promote their own personal well-being;
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Taking care of our staff and volunteers and recognising the value they add to the organisation.
Summary of the main activities undertaken using the Charity�Commission�guidance�on�public�beneft�
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To provide to members of the public professional counselling services and other informal support services for bereavement, trauma or loss in order to reduce mental health issues and improve emotional well-being for themselves and their families.
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2.���To�promote�volunteering�in�the�wider�community�engaging�them�in�a�range�of�fulfilling�opportunities� to raise funds for the provision of services which the charity provides and, at the same time, promote their own personal well-being.
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To respond to local and national issues and use the experience we have to support other client groups as needed.
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Methods adopted for the Recruitment and Appointment of new Trustees
In the event of needing new Trustees the charity publishes invitations on social media and through existing�links�with�volunteers�and�supporters�of�the�Charity.�People�firstly�have�a�telephone�interview�with� the Chairman, they then provide information including a pen picture about themselves which is circulated to all existing Trustees.
Trustees have 7 days to object advising why any objection is forthcoming. Arrangements are then made for the Chairman to meet them to go through the role and responsibility of being a Trustee and if they still wish to do so and they are suitable they are then put forward at a Board meeting. Induction and then ongoing support and training is provided as and when needed.
Potential new Trustees are required to familiarise themselves with the practical work of the charity. They are encouraged to meet key employees and attend a variety of the fundraising events. New Trustees are provided with information which includes:
A copy of the Memorandum and Articles of Association.
A copy of the latest approved Report and Financial Statements.
In addition to the above, initial and then periodic training and information sessions are arranged by the Chairman of the Charity, to update Trustees on their obligations, the charity’s framework, risk assessments, understanding�financial�reporting�and�strategic�planning.
Making Miracles Policy on Reserves
The charity has a policy which has enabled one years running cost to be secured in a separate Reserve Account in order to ensure that should the organisation cease to exist all families receiving the range of professional bereavement and counselling services and other support services at that time would be able to complete their individual services still free of charge from an alternative provider. In addition the charity would�provide�sufficient�to�meet�staffing�for�the�one�year�whilst�services�were�reduced�and�redundancy� costs for all current staff employed.
For 2024 the total reserve fund would be £254,101
All�monies�remaining�after�necessary�payments�made�would�be�transferred�to�another�not�for�profit� provider of bereavement services within our area.
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Chairman’s Report
Ten years old and where did those years go?.
Making Miracles services continue to be in high demand and we are all as busy as ever, listening to our�users�and�developing�further�services�to�help�support�them�at�such�a�difficult�time.
As part of our ten years of service we are also currently having an independent review carried out to ensure what we do, how and when we do it all continue to meet the needs of our families. We are led by our service users needs and this has always been our focus when looking at new ways of supporting families.
In addition our shop, Handmade with Love by Making Miracles, continues to be the public face of Making Miracles enabling more people to hear what we are able to offer for anyone facing trauma or loss of a baby.
We are truly blessed to have an army of volunteers out in local communities supporting what the team deliver and without them we would not be able to achieve everything we do and we are really thankful to have each and everyone of them.
My thanks as always to Kelly and her team who all work tirelessly and to all our fund raisers and funders who support us.
Last, but never least, my thanks also to other Trustees on our Board for the continued support and challenge they provide.
Sally Howells Chairman
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Founder & CEO Report
It is both an honour and a privilege to sit writing this report in such a milestone year! Never when I founded the charity did I dream to think we would see the growth we have seen in the last ten years and I personally wanted to thank anyone that has touched Making Miracles in whatever way for their contribution to this amazing achievement!
This year has had many wonderful moments and achievements, which I will touch upon later. We are, as always,�very�busy�ensuring�our�core�services�are�fulfilled.�This�is�a�challenge�where�the�demand�is�higher� than what is sustainable with funds and although the wait is never for long (around 2-4 weeks) it is a clear indication that the numbers and demand for services are rising. Thus we need to ensure we have enough donations, funding and fundraising activities to keep up with the demand and great reputation our counselling carries.�This�is�not�always�an�easy�task�and�will�remain�a�challenge�as�we�go�into�the�next�financial�year.
Having said this we are still raising record funds and again it has been a fantastic year in that space vs�last�financial�year.�Many�people�get�involved�in�memory�of�their�baby�or�someone�they�know.� More corporates are coming on board with the likes of Kent Police and Eurotunnel to name a few of the local companies committed to education, awareness and fundraising with us. The service user’s feedback is as always exemplary and we continue to support hundreds of families year on year.
We have had our 2nd anniversary of the wonderful “Handmade with Love” shop opening which has become so successful with new partnerships and donators including the Prison Service making wooden items, learning new skills and giving back to their community via donating these items to sell at our shop. We also have plans to open another HWL so watch this space!
I am writing this report just after National Volunteers Week where we hosted a get together with some of our volunteers to pop in for some tea and cake at our Handmade with Love shop in Maidstone. We invited those who serve Making Miracles to be served by our Making Miracles Team as a way of thanking them for every�effort�they�make�throughout�the�year.�It�was�such�a�lovely�morning�filled�with�our�community�knitters� and our shop and stall volunteers. A fantastic morning was had by all and every volunteer left with a keepsake keyring thanking them for all they do for us. Holding these events remind us of just how many amazing volunteers work with us and appreciate even more the team effort and ethos that goes into all we do. People who volunteer, often in the background with no fuss do so because they genuinely do care about those we serve and this is most demonstrated by the amount of people we have who generously donate their time and skills to our wonderful charity.
Congratulations to Santa Dave who received our special fundraising recognition award who comes along to Dickens festival and the Christmas event at the Baby Garden. He kindly donates all he raises throughout December to us and he is so appreciated by us all.
Special Recognition Award for Volunteering this year also went to couple Matt and Kirstie Crockett. They both do so much for MM individually and as a couple and we are so very grateful.
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The Podcast too had its birthday in April and has continued to grow with many new towns, cities and countries adding to the list of listener’s year on year. It has now been downloaded over 11.4k times across 77 countries worldwide. This has been a very special service because it reaches so many people who may have no resources or support like we provide locally. It is important to me that they never feel alone and feedback from listeners abroad has been very positive (as well as those in the UK and outside of our funded areas).
The launch of “The Baby Loss Retreat” has been widely successful with some amazing feedback for this new service and we plan to continue this next year for the service users and baby loss community in Kent. People commented saying it was invaluable and so worthwhile to their healing and is a special service for MM.
October saw another very successful Baby Loss Awareness campaign in conjunction with one of our local churches.�Following�last�year’s�success�we�turned�“Pink�and�Blue”�again�with�hundreds�of�floating�pink� and blue umbrellas; meaning people had a place to go during the week and to see the beautiful display and hang their babies names with the umbrella via a wooden heart. The public’s response is always simply outstanding and it is something that we will continue to build upon this year with some added special extras as we turn and mark our 10th anniversary. Our annual “Memorial Walk” was also a huge success to mark the�start�of�the�week�and�our�“Wave�of�Light”�service�to�finalise�the�week�at�the�Baby�Memorial�Garden� where we also held family Summer and Christmas events.
The Baby Memorial Garden continues to bring comfort and offer solace to our service users. It is a constant and healing space at the heart of MM for all of our families to visit whenever they need to so that they can sit�and�remember�their�lost�baby.�Reflect,�pause�and�grieve�in�a�safe,�beautiful�and�special�place.
As a whole the start to our 10 year anniversary has been amazing with our wonderful ball where over 200 people came along to celebrate all that is MM, a night of story sharing, entertainment and good food in a stunning�venue�along�with�some�wonderful�prizes�for�our�auction�and�raffle�with�great�fundraising�totals.
I would like to end this overview with some “thank you’s” to all: our Trustees, supporters, volunteers, staff and service users. All of us when working together make up the family that is Making Miracles and in our own unique ways help to ensure families that enter the world of trauma and loss never have to do so on their own.
Here is looking forward to celebrating the next successful decade.
Kelly
Kelly Wells CEO & Founder
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Meet the Team Kelly W'ells Founder, CEO& Lead Counsdkjr Hayley Spooner Support Services Manajer Becci lohnson Support Services Manager leoitylliyit Jodie Warman Fundraising Administrator _r4 -le(uiijlLI Il Faye Martin Chairman Teoom Pal Bax Deputy Chaimian Linda Goss Treasurer Julie feiitijiian TrLtstse latt Croikett l.aura %hutt TTUStee
Making Miracles is the birth trauma and baby bereavement care charity offering families the support, services and tools they need to help find their “new normal” following trauma and grief.
We are THE local registered charity providing support for individuals or family members touched by the loss of a baby or who have experienced a traumatic pregnancy or birth.
We have been established and providing these services across parts of Kent and Medway since 2014 and have a team of professional counsellors on hand to provide free of charge specialist counselling . We are the only UK Charity providing this service to the whole family ensuring our services help improve emotional well-being to everyone who has been affected.
Following on from the face to face (or via Zoom) specialist counselling or play therapy for children we have a range of excellent support services to ensure that no-one ever feels alone during trauma and baby loss.
Handmade with Love Shop
By Making Miracles Charity
Our Charity Shop is honestly like no other! Not only because of the effort that goes into every unique item handmade with love by our lovely and talented crafters, but also the time, dedication and energy that every volunteer gives to help us sell these beautiful items and raise funds for those in need of support through birth trauma and baby loss.
The Mall Maidstone Upper Level, The Mall, Pads Hill, Maidstone, Kent
St Georges Centre, Gravesend, DA11 OTA
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Our Year with Key Achievements
July 2023
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MHS Homes Lunch & Learn
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Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge
January 2024
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Making Miracles 10th Year
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50K Campaign Starts
August 2023
- Summer Party at Baby Memorial Garden
February 2024
- UK Government launch their official Baby Loss Certificate
September 2023
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Kent Charity Award Finalists
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Baby Loss Retreat
March 2024
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10 Miles for 10 Year Costal Walk
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“I am a MUM” Campaign
October 2023
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Baby Loss Awareness Month
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MM BLAW Memorial Walk
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Sheltered from the Storm Event
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Wave of Light Service
April 2024
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April Awareness Month
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10 Year Charity Ball
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The Hever Castle Triathlon (MHS Homes)
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The Big Knit
November 2023
May 2024
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Baby Loss Retreat
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Doris, Cuxton Knitter turns 100 Years
December 2023
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Rochester Dickens Festival
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Send a Gift Campaign
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Christmas Service at Baby Memorial Garden
June 2024
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National Volunteer Week
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“I am a DAD campaign”
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Podcast ‘Baby Loss, Grief & Love’ 2nd Birthday
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Santa Dave Fundraisers
Thank you to all our supporters who have raised funds for us
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Impact 2023-24
100%
1,326
221 1,326 7,107 100% Of our People receiving Counselling Supported people a min of sessions over 12 months counselling 6 professional delivered across our range service users leave counselling sessions of services MM with at least a 100% rise in their emotional 23 48 200 wellbeing score
23 48 200 Counsellors across Community 200+ Kent and Medway Volunteers for knitters/crafters Making Miracles in the Community
Service User Outcomes
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----- Start of picture text -----
Y Y Y Y
Improved Feeling more Feeling able Feeling less lonely
relationships positive & confident to cope and isolated
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Quotes from Service Users
The podcast has been so valuable for me.
Sophie, Bereaved Mum
I would generally be lost without Making Miracles.
Tania, Bereaved Mum
Making Miracles means, Robin. My son Robin.
Matt, Bereaved Dad
The Making Miracles Charity is performing the miracle of helping me navigate through the grieving process and building me back up.
I was apprehensive about their name to start with but now I understand that the making miracles’ isn’t just about becoming a parent.
Katie, Bereaved Mum
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Income Sources
The pie chart below shows the breakdown of our income with the biggest percentage being income raised through grants.
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Our service user's presenting issue(s) Making Miracles Service Users, Presenting Issues: July 2023 to June 2024 NF. 1% Multiple 1% MlsfarrfjaEe, 36% Termlnatlon lor medlfal reasons ITFMRI. 14% Eclopic PreBrbancies IX Still Birth5. 8% Death after birth, 5% Neonatal l Trduma. 24% Making Miracles Service Users, Ethnicity- July 2023 to June 2024 Making Miracles Service Users, Referral Route- July 2023 to June 2024 Other. 2% 4X Blxk. 6% c1jrtyPactrtfter. 12% Se. 34% Whfte firSh. 85% HoSWLIl. 51% 12
I report on the accounts of the charity, which are set out on pages 14 & 15
The Trustees (who are also the directors of the company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and that an independent examination is needed.
Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is my responsibility to:
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Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Charities Act;
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Follow the procedures laid down in the general directions given by the
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Charity Commissioners under section under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011
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State whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of independent examiner’s report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair view’ and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with section 386 of the Companies Act 2006; and to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the methods and principles of the Charities SORP (FRS102) have not been met; or to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
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Making Miracles
(Company number 9073484 Charity number 1158233) Statement�of�financial�activities
(Incorporating income and expenditure account)
For the year ended 30 June 2024
| 2024 | 2024 | 2024 | 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | ||
| Income: | |||||
| Stalls/Shop | 49,278 | 5,960 | 55238 | 43053 | |
| Grants/Projects | 5,960 | 133,768.00 | 139728 | 152543 | |
| Donations & Events | 44072 |
14,668.00 | 58,740 | 38670 | |
| Bank Interest & | 13278 |
19295 | 32573 | 13256 | |
| Other Income | |||||
| Total income | 112,588 | 173,691 | 286,279 | 247522 | |
| Expenditure: | |||||
| Shops/Stalls | 14,048 | 2095 | 16143 | 8,044 | |
| Grants/Projects | 6102 |
102,740 | 108,842 | 101795 | |
| Donations / Event costs | 6503 | 11410 | 17913 | 3267 | |
| Operational running costs | 91422 | 16689 | 108111 | 11881 | |
| 8044 | |||||
| _______ | ___ | **___ ** | ___ | ||
| Total expenditure | ___118,075 | 132934 | 251009 | 231987 |
total carried forward including restricted funds
35,270
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Making Miracles
(Company Number 9073484, Charity Number 1158233) Balance sheet as at 30 June 2024
| 2024 2023 |
2023 | |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed Asset | ||
| Tangible assets 18957 | Tangible assets 18957 20,629 |
20,629 |
| Cash at bank and in hand | ||
| Barclays (Grants) 33468 64903 | Barclays (Grants) 33468 64903 | Barclays (Grants) 33468 64903 |
| CAF Making Miracles 107342 | CAF Making Miracles 107342 71162 |
71162 |
| CAF Instant Gold Saver (Reserve Account) 202381 182005 |
182005 | |
| Skipton (Reserve instant access) 51719 | Skipton (Reserve instant access) 51719 | 50000 |
| Barclays Shop Account 2 38930 | Barclays Shop Account 2 38930 | 29597 |
| Total Cash at bank and in hand 382121 397667 | Total Cash at bank and in hand 382121 397667 | Total Cash at bank and in hand 382121 397667 |
| LIABILTIES | ||
| Accruals NIL |
NIL | NIL |
| NET ASSETS | 382121 397667 | 382121 397667 |
| FUNDS | ||
| Unrestricted General Fund |
100759 | |
| Designated | 87264 | |
| Restricted 294857 |
294857 | 296908 |
| Total Charity Funds 382,121 |
382,121 | 397,667 |
| Total Charity Assets | 401,078 | 401,078 418,296 |
The�financial�statements�have�been�prepared�in�accordance�with�the�provisions�applicable�to� companies subject to the small companies regime and with the Financial Reporting standard for Small�Entities�(effective�April�2008).��The�financial�statements�were�approved�and�authorised�by� the Board of Trustees and were signed below on their behalf by the Chairman.
Date
15
Financial Notes
Our Barclays (Grants) account is funding which is restricted and which runs on a different financial�year�basis�to�that�of�Making�Miracles.
The�income�from�our�shop�and�stalls�transfers�all�profits�to�Making�Miracles�towards�the�professional� bereavement support services. The shop account is shown as Barclays Shop Account.
As agreed with the Charity Commission Making Miracles has reserves to the value of one year running�costs�so�that,�in�the�unlikely�event�of�closing�down,�there�are�sufficient�monies�to�continue�with� our service delivery for all those already in the system and monies would transfer to another organisation that enables this to be achieved. (We have some of that funding in an easy access account with the Skipton Building Society should there be any emergency and we needed to access some funds immediately and the total of the two accounts makes up our one year running costs).
Taxation: The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
Fixed Assets: These are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year. They are valued at cost. The rates applied per annum are at a reduction of 25% value year on year. We have not depreciated the value of our two brick storage assets.
Risk Assessment: The Trustees actively review the major risks which the charity faces on a regular basis and believe that maintaining the reserves stated, combined with the annual review of the controls over�key�financial�systems�carried�out�on�an�annual�basis�will�provide�sufficient�resources�in�the�event� of adverse conditions. The Trustees have also examined other operational and business risks which they�face�and�confirm�that�they�have�established�systems�to�mitigate�the�significant�risks.
Accounting Policies: There has been no change to the accounting policies (variation rules and methods of accounting) since last year, and no changes to the previous accounts
Volunteer Help: The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts but is described in the charity annual report.
Legal and Professional Costs: include costs of the preparation and examination of statutory accounts, the costs of various insurances and the cost of any legal advice to Trustees on governance or constitutional matters.
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