Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31st March 2023
www.littlemiraclescharity.org.uk
Registered Charity Number: 1160178
3
Contents
Legal and Administrative Information
Trustees' Report 4 Our Impact 10 Independent Examiner's report to the 11 Trustees of Little Miracles 12 Statement of the Financial Activity
Balance Sheet 13 Notes to the Financial Statements 14
www.littlemiraclescharity.org.uk
01733 262226 Registered Charity Number: 1160178
Legal and Administrative Information
Trustees
Iain Crighton MBE Timothy Bedward-Jones Tina Moser-Wager Emerson Patton Peter Jackson Emma Hannon Matthew Kember
Chief Executive Officer Registered Charity Number Registered Office
Michelle King
1160178
Little Miracles @The Spinney Hartwell Way Ravensthorpe Peterborough PE3 7LE
Independent Examiner
Odiri Tax Consultants and Accountants Stuart House Peterborough PE1 5DD
Bankers
Barclays Bank 1-3 Church Street Peterborough PE1 1XE
Solicitors
Hunt and Coombs Solicitors 35 Thorpe Road Peterborough PE3 6AG
www.littlemiraclescharity.org.uk
01733 262226
Registered Charity Number: 1160178
Trustees' Report
The Trustees present their report along with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2023. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the account policies set-out on pages 14 to 16 and comply with the charity's constitution and applicable law.
Vision
Our vision is a world where all families that have disabled and life-limited children have the support that they need, at the time that they need it. Over the next ten years we will improve the lives of 50,000 children across the UK.
Purpose
Our purpose is to help families with disabled children to get the support that they need to live their lives and fulfil their potential.
Mission
Little Miracles uses its expertise and knowledge to ensure that families are getting the support they need at the time that they need it. We work in a variety of ways to equip the whole family to take control of their future.
We do this by providing:
Support – in order to address families’ questions, worries and fears and ensure that they are receiving everything that they are entitled to, both financially and emotionally
Training – to both the parents/carers and the young people so they can develop the essential skills needed to care for their families and achieve their full potential
Activities – where children and young people can build relationships, receive essential respite and enjoy accessible development opportunities
Respite – essential breaks for families in order for them to thrive and grow
Safe-spaces – where families can come, be themselves and receive the support they need in an inclusive, non-judgmental and supportive atmosphere
www.littlemiraclescharity.org.uk
01733 262226
Registered Charity Number: 1160178
Trustees' Report continued
Values
Reaching families one by one – we recognise that every family is unique and the life-changing difference we can make to them
Available to all – every family that has a child with additional needs, disabilities and/or lifelimiting conditions is welcome and cost is never a barrier
Integrity is the heart of our service – we create a place of trust and safety where people can grow in a secure environment
Never boring – there is always a sense of fun, excitement and adventure in what we do
Beneficial - we benefit all users in a measurable way
Outstanding – we strive to be the best in everything we do
We can do it together – we recognise that no one person can deliver our vision and goals alone but that working together as a team alongside our families miracles can happen
Beliefs
Little Miracles strives to provide effective solutions to meet local need and to campaign for change that will ensure that families with disabled children get the support that they need when they need it.
Activities, achievements and performance
Little Miracles is a charity that exists to provide support to families that have children with additional needs, disabilities and life-limiting conditions. Although we started in Peterborough and continue to deliver services from our purpose-built centre, The Spinney, we are also now delivering services across the whole of the eastern region and have expanded to provide services in the following areas:
Peterborough Ramsey Milton Keynes Holbeach St Neots Ely Spalding Wisbech Kings Lynn Boston March Stamford Bourne Chatteris We are also about to open a branch in Nottinghamshire.
www.littlemiraclescharity.org.uk
01733 262226
Registered Charity Number: 1160178
Trustees' Report continued
We have utilised the Pot of Gold process to open a number of new branches with another 3 to open in the next year including, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and St Ives. This project aims to support families with small grants to set-up activities in local which will flourish into Little Miracles' branches.
This year has been difficult financially but also a year that has been very hard on our staff and volunteers. We have seen an influx of families needing support, many of which being extremely complex cases. Previously lots of these families might have met the threshold for support via Children’s Social Care and other statutory services but at present we are seeing all services struggling with increased demand and a lot of additional pressure falling to the third sector.
Covid led to a mentality shift for many people, appointments which would historically been face-toface moved online and we were able to see more people. Post-Covid this has not changed and numbers remain high. We are a small charity with a big impact; another incredibly busy year saw 30,152 people participating in activities and 10,764 people accessing our support services. We also interacted with over 200,000 people on social media.
We are very fortunate to have an amazing team of staff and would like to thank everyone for giving their all during these challenging times. We would also make a special mention to our volunteers who have made meeting this increase in demand possible. They have provided counselling, emotional support and benefits advice, have adapted and delivered sessions to groups and individuals, and helped young people keep-up with their education.
Financially we have found this year better than last however it has still been very difficult. Our income has increased with the return of more face-to-face events, up from £334,892 to £590,384. However at the same time our outgoings have also increased from £392, 512 to £621,334 leaving us with a deficit of £30,950. One of the main reasons for this increase in outgoings is that we invested in our fundraising team and welcomed Louise Evans into a new Head of Fundraising role. The number of families being seen face-to-face is another reason for the increased expenditure.
The families we support have children with a wide range of needs; 32% of children have one diagnosed disability, 50% have between two and four different diagnoses and 18% have over five different diagnosed disabilities. Autism is by far the most predominant need that we see with 39% of the young people either being diagnosed or on the diagnosis pathway. However, we support families with a wide range of needs and 21% would describe their child as life-limited due to their health needs. The average age of the children we supported was 10 years old (1% under 12 months, 19% 1-5 years, 45% in primary school, 27% in secondary school, 5% as young adults under 18 and 2% young adults aged 19 to 25.)
www.littlemiraclescharity.org.uk
01733 262226
Registered Charity Number: 1160178
Trustees' Report continued
Our support services can be broadly classified into the following categories:
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Support
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Benefits advice
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Counselling
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Bereavement care - Education support
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Play therapy - Emergency essentials including food
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Behaviour support
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Sensory work
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Advocacy
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Family support
Training
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For parents
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For young people out of traditional education
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For young adults with additional needs to support them into paid employment
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For professionals working with families who have children with additional needs, disabilities and life-limiting conditions
Activities
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Parent and child groups - After-school clubs
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Sports sessions
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Play schemes
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Youth clubs
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Education and social events
Respite
- For a small but growing number of young people on a referal basis
Safe Spaces
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Our centres
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Adapted play areas
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Fully-adapted caravan - Sensory rooms
-Groups and private hire of venues where our young people can have fun and play in a safe way
www.littlemiraclescharity.org.uk
01733 262226
Registered Charity Number: 1160178
Trustees' Report continued
Financial Review
Total income received during the year increased to £590,384 compared with £334,892 in the previous year. This represents a increase of 76% and is due to being able to hold more face to face events and the appointment of a Head of Fundraising role which has enabled us to raise more income. However, the total expenditure during the year amounted to £621,334, an increase from £392,512 in the previous year. This represents increased costs of 58%. This is because the previous year many of our activities were running online and therefore we experienced lower operating costs.
This net loss of £30,950 has been offset against a surplus from 2021/22 financial year and our budgets, whilst tight, remain within satisfactory levels.
Reserves policy
The Trustees' policy is to maintain a sufficient level of general reserves to enable the charity to continue in normal existence for three months, followed by an orderly curtailment of activities over the following three months if necessary. It is the aim of the Trustees to review this policy on an annual basis. The Trustees therefore aim to hold up to six months of expenditure as unrestricted funds.
At 31 March 2023 unrestricted funds amounted to £176,541 (2022: £192,989) which provides a base for the charity to move forward with its future plans as set-out above.
Structure, governance and management:
Governing document
Little Miracles is registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) under its constitution dated 1 December 2014.
Tax status
As a registered charity, number 1160178, Little Miracles is exempt from corporation tax and income tax on its charitable activities.
Trustees
The Board of Trustees who held office during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were as follows:
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Timothy Bedward-Jones Tina Moser-Wager Emerson Patton Peter Jackson
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Emma Hannon
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Matthew Kember FCA Iain Crighton MBE
www.littlemiraclescharity.org.uk
01733 262226
Registered Charity Number: 1160178
Trustees' Report continued
Appointment of Trustees
The charity’s constitution requires a minimum of three Trustees.
Trustees are appointed for a term of three years and are invited to join the board and elected by a resolution of the Trustees.
Public benefit statement
The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in section 4 of the Charities Act 2006 to have due regard to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit, 'Charities and Public Benefit'.
Reference and administrative details
The principal addresses and details of professional advisers are included in the information sheet at the front of these accounts.
Trustees' responsibilities in relation to financial statements
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently; observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
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prepare the financial statements on an ongoing concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the Trust Deed. The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
This report was approved by the Trustees on 30th January 2024 and signed on their behalf by:
Iain Crighton MBE Matthew Kember FCA Chair of Trustees Treasurer
www.littlemiraclescharity.org.uk
01733 262226
Registered Charity Number: 1160178
Our Impact
After spending time at Little Miracles...
61% of parents 84% of parents reported their child felt their child had improved had progressed emotional in their skills regulation.
97% of families would 94% of parents 89% of parents felt their child was more recommend Little saw an improvement accepted and safer Miracles to in their with us than a friend child's wellbeing anywhere else
We are a large family of six children; our daughter has complex needs, a genetic disorder, learning difficulties, communication and mobility difficulties and is Autistic. Two of our other children also have additional needs.
Little Miracles has supported our whole family which has been very much needed. We have attended organised trips, fun activities at their Peterborough Centre and had ad-hoc family support. Attending trips with Little Miracles has meant that our whole family could go together, something that never happens! I had the support there if needed for all children and the peace of mind this gave me was incredible. We could enjoy the day as a family, be together, make memories and have fun - absolutely priceless and something all families should be able to do!
Although we received support prior to 2020, it was from here onwards that Little Miracles made a difference that changed our lives enormously. At the beginning of 2020, just before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, my Son who has additional needs and was 11 at the time, had been removed from school due to various reasons. Covid-19 put a spanner in the works in regards to resolving the school issues, however this did not stop Little Miracles from supporting us. As a family we received weekly food parcels which felt like a huge weight had been lifted - we did not have to worry about providing our children with food.
As the pandemic lifted, we became regular visitors to the centre. With encouragement from the childcare team, our daughter made friends! Friends who understood her and welcomed her with open arms. Our daughter’s self confidence and limited social skills were frustrating her but after weekly 1:1 sessions with a childcare worker her confidence grew and she blossomed into a child who can now independently ask for some help.
The support given to our daughter was incredible - although messy! Very messy! Our daughter loves messy play and with being unable to read or write, her 1:1 got some baked beans and encouraged mark making, learning sounds and being taught phonics. Our daughter didn’t realise just how much she was learning…. Fast forward to now and our daughter can write WHOLE sentences! The work that goes into writing a whole sentence is incredible so I'm sure you can appreciate just how far she has come!
Baked beans have also meant she now loves colouring, she can stay in the lines and really enjoys winding down after a busy day with a colouring book. Baked beans, with a little help from the childcare team, have also given our daughter the ability to count and read a book out loud to us! Which is my favourite thing ever to hear.
Amazing what a tin of baked beans can do!
From the minute I was lucky enough to be welcomed into the little miracles family my children have all felt included and cared for. My daughter feels part of an amazing group of friends as well as my son who is in the home education group. Which may I add are absolutely amazing. Each of his teachers are so patient and caring and make sure each child is individually looked after with their education. I really don’t know what I would do without the care and support from you all
Thankyou!
www.littlemiraclescharity.org.uk
01733 262226
Registered Charity Number: 1160178
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Little Miracles
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Little Miracles for the year ended 31 March 2023, which comprises the statement of Financial Activities, the Summary Income and Expenditure Account, the Balance Sheet and the related notes.
Responsibilities of trustees and examiner
As the trustees of the Charity you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’). You are satisfied that the accounts are not required by charity law to be audited and have chosen instead to have an independent examination.
I report in respect of my examination of the accounts. I have carried out my examination under section 145 of the 2011 Act. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
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
Since the Trust’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I a member of the Institute of Financial Accountants, which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
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accounting records with respect to the Charity were not kept as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
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the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I confirm that there are no other matters to which your attention should be drawn to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
LOVETH WATSON AFA 16 Dodson Way, Fengate, Peterborough, PE1 5XJ
www.littlemiraclescharity.org.uk
01733 262226
Registered Charity Number: 1160178
Statement of Financial Activity for the year ended 31st March 2023
www.littlemiraclescharity.org.uk
01733 262226
Registered Charity Number: 1160178
Balance Sheet as at 31st March 2023
The notes on pages 14 to 21 form part of these financial statements.
These accounts were approved by the Trustees on 30th January 2024 and signed on their behalf by:
Iain Crighton Matthew Kember FCA Chair of Trustees Treasurer
www.littlemiraclescharity.org.uk
01733 262226
Registered Charity Number: 1160178
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31st March 2023
www.littlemiraclescharity.org.uk
01733 262226
Registered Charity Number: 1160178
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31st March 2023
www.littlemiraclescharity.org.uk
01733 262226
Registered Charity Number: 1160178
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31st March 2023
www.littlemiraclescharity.org.uk
01733 262226
Registered Charity Number: 1160178
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31st March 2023
www.littlemiraclescharity.org.uk
01733 262226
Registered Charity Number: 1160178
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31st March 2023
www.littlemiraclescharity.org.uk
01733 262226
Registered Charity Number: 1160178
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31st March 2023
www.littlemiraclescharity.org.uk
01733 262226
Registered Charity Number: 1160178
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31st March 2023
www.littlemiraclescharity.org.uk
01733 262226
Registered Charity Number: 1160178