2023-03-31-accounts

Knitted Knockers UK

Annual Report and Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March 2023

Charity Number: 1161125

Contents

Charity Details .................................................................................................................... 1 Trustees Annual Report ..................................................................................................... 2 Structure, governance and management ................................................................ 2 Objectives and activities ......................................................................................... 3 Achievements and performance ............................................................................. 4 Financial Review .................................................................................................... 4 Reserves ................................................................................................................ 5 Independent Examiners Report .......................................................................................... 6 Receipts and Payments Account ........................................................................................ 7 Statement of assets and liabilities....................................................................................... 8 Notes to the accounts ......................................................................................................... 9

Charity Details

Charity Name: Knitted Knockers UK Also known as: KKUK Registered Charity Number: 1161125 Address: 25 Aylesbury Drive Sunderland SR3 2XT Current Trustees: Mrs Deborah Wright Chair Mrs Sandra Ground 12 June 2023 Mrs Pamela Blythe Secretary 13 July 2023 Mrs Gillian George 13 July 2023 Other Trustees serving during the financial period: Mrs Lynne Hawksworth Deceased 8 June 2023 Mrs Mary Mochan Resigned 11 July 2023

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Trustees Annual Report

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their report for the year ended 31 March 2023

Structure, governance and management

The charity is a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation which is governed by a constitution dated 10 January 2015, updated December 2016, October 2019 and September 2023.

The charity is governed by its Trustees. In addition, advice is available from Non-Trustee Advisory Board members.

New Trustees are invited and voted by majority.

The charity has no employees, with everyone acting in a voluntary capacity in all roles.

The charity’s organisational structure is given below:

----- Start of picture text -----
TRUSTEES
NON-TRUSTEES
ADVISORY BOARD
MEMBERS
PR VOLUNTEERS SHOP ONLINE ADMIN
Knitters and Applications
PR Events Shop Team
Crocheters Team
Sample Packs Fundraisers Orders team
Social Media
Supporters Approvals Team
Team
Supplies Team
----- End of picture text -----

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Objectives and activities

The objective of KKUK is to ‘provide free of charge, a prosthetic to any woman who has undergone mastectomy or lumpectomy due to breast cancer’. Summary of activities:

• Provision of knitted and crochet prosthetics for recipients In order to do this, our teams of volunteers are involved in:

• responding to general enquiries received via the website ‘enquiry’ forms

• collating and filling of orders from recipients for knitted prosthetics

• selection, approval & mentoring new volunteers and ensuring the required product standard is met & maintained

• Provision of sample packs of knitted and crochet prosthetics to healthcare and other services aimed at women who have undergone mastectomies or lumpectomies

• collating and filling sample pack requests for organisations requesting sample packs

• Liaising with these organisations, and offering speakers to talk to health professionals, staff and potential recipients

• Raising Awareness of Knitted Knockers UK and the service we provide In order to do this, our teams of volunteers are involved in:

• advertising and promoting KKUK CIO through website, direct contact with healthcare organisations, support groups, retail outlets & bespoke lingerie stores

• profile raising through social media & mainstream media

• Organisational admin and management In common with all charitable organisations behind the scenes a huge volume of other work goes on, to keep the organisation running and develop it to meet the needs of beneficiaries now and in the future

• ordering and purchasing yarn and other items to make the prosthetics

• developing and building on the Charity’s identity – developing ‘house style’ for flyers and promotional material

• engaging with volunteers with skills or knowledge not held by Trustees or Board members for the advancement of the charity (e.g. web design)

The charity is reliant on the hard work and effort of our volunteers: without whom the charity would not exist. The charity continues to rely primarily on the work of our approved volunteers to:

• knit & crochet

• fundraise

• raise awareness by attending events across the country

Whilst providing the prosthetics is the key purpose of KKUK, a real depth of understanding and the spirit of community has developed amongst the volunteers. Being spread all over the UK has made it difficult for every volunteer to meet up but efforts continue for ‘pockets’ of volunteers to meet.

Public benefit statement

The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the Trust’s aims and objectives and in planning future activities and setting the grant making policy for the year.

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Achievements and performance

The Trustees consider the following to be the key achievements during the year:

• consolidated volunteers numbers and continued growth including welcoming our first male knitting volunteer (102 approved knitting and crocheting volunteers)

• number of individual knockers made and delivered were 5320 in the year to 31 March 2023 (4620 31 March 2022)

• total orders were 3762 (3234 31 March 2022)

• restarting of publicity events in John Lewis stores and talks at WI groups (following suspension due to COVID)

• continued success of the online shop with limited edition minis and specially designed notecards being offered for sale

Raising Funds for the Charity

When KKUK was established it relied upon the donations and the generosity of its volunteer members to operate. We soon became aware that the unique design of our prosthesis made a talking point and as they could be made smaller, we started to make and sell mini knocker keyrings. They are ‘made with love and filled with hope’ by the knitters in the same way as the standard knockers.

These mini knocker key-rings are normally on display at events, and special editions are made for Christmas and Breast Cancer Awareness Month. They can be bought along with our specially designed notecards and Christmas cards from our online shop at www.knittedknockersuk.com

Financial Review

Receipts increased from £19,579 in the year ended 31 March 2022 to £28,228 in this financial year. However this is still lower than pre-COVID years (Year ended 31 March 2020 £39,976). This year we also benefited from a large donation of £6,879.

Voluntary donations increased from £16,960 last year to £21,590 this year (year ended 31 March 2020 £30,358). Fundraising and Trading Activity Income increased from £2,619 to £6,638 (year ended 31 March 2020 £9,618).

The cost of our charitable activity increased from £11,617 to £18,459.

We managed to end the financial year with a surplus of £9,769 and the charities unrestricted funds carried forward to next year are £81,221 (£71,452 last year).

We rely predominantly on donations with a significant source of donations being recipients, family or friends who choose to donate in thanks for the prosthesis they have received. All Prostheses are supplied free of charge to recipients.

The other source of donations comes via fundraising sites, which supporters use to collect donations as sponsorship for undertaking a challenge type event.

Fundraising is primarily from sales of mini knocker keyrings and cards via the online shop. The mini keyrings are replicas of the real prosthesis but knitted in 4ply with a tag bearing the charity’s strap line and logo attached to a key fob. These are available at information events at a price of £3 with a post and packaging price added when purchased online. The cards are in a pack of 5 for £3 plus P&P.

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Funds are used to purchase yarn and distribute it to volunteers to make the prosthesis, small/medium organza bags which are used to hold the knitted knockers and also mailing bags for posting knockers are sent to recipients. Volunteers purchase stuffing for the knockers and incur the costs of posting the knocker orders to the recipients. These costs are claimed back on a monthly basis via an expense claim form.

Reserves

The charity’s unrestricted reserves are £81,221 (2022: £71,452)

Currently the charity does not have an official policy regarding reserves, and in general only incurs expenditure when funds are available.

Up until now the charity has relied heavily on Facebook in order to manage orders, volunteers and supplies of knitted knockers, however, our plan is to move to a more suitable website based management system, where the trustees will have more oversight of the operations of the whole organisation. The new website will be developed during 2023/24. The reserves currently held will be used to develop this resource.

This report was approved by the Trustees and signed on behalf of the Trustees by

Signed Dated 18.12.2023

Mrs Deborah Wright

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES

For the year ended 31 March 2023

I report on the financial statements of for the year ended 31 March 2023, which are set out on pages .

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2022 ("the Charities Act) 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:

• h examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,

• h to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act), and

• h to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.

Basis of independent examiner's statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with 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 the 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 material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

• h the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or

• h the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or

• h the accounts did 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.

I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Doug Maltman FMAAT Fellow Member of the Association of Accountancy Technicians Connected Voice Business Services Ltd One Strawberry Lane Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4BX

Date: 18.12.2023

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Receipts and Payments Account

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

		Year to 31 March 2023		Y/E 31
				March 2022
	Note	Unrestricted	Total Funds	Total Funds
		Funds
		£	£	£
Receipts
Donations	4	21,590	21,590	16,960
Receipts from Funding &	5	6,638	6,638	2,619
Trading Activities
Total Receipts		28,228	28,228	19.579
Payments
Cost of Generating Funds	6	1,489	1,489	1,126
(Fundraising & Trading to
Raise Funds)
Cost of Charitable Activities	7	16,970	16,970	10,492
Governance Costs
Total Payments		18,459	18,459	11,617
Net Receipts/(payments)		9,769	9,769	7,962
Transfers to/(from) Funds		-	-	-
Surplus/(deficit) for year		9,769	9,769	7,962
Opening Cash & Bank Balance		71,452	71,452	63,491
Closing Cash & Bank		81,221	81,221	71,452
Balance

The Receipts and Payments Statement includes all gains and losses recognized in the year. All receipts and payments derive from fundraising and charitable activities.

At present the charity only holds unrestricted funds and therefore no restricted funds column is shown

The notes on pages 11-15 form part of these accounts.

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Statement of Assets and Liabilities

AT 31 MARCH 2023

		At 31 March	2023	At 31 March
				2022
		Unrestricted	Total	Total Funds
		Funds	Funds
	Note	£	£	£
Cash, Bank and Deposit		71,452	71,452	63,491
Balances at start of year
Movement in the Year
Surplus/(deficit) of Receipts over		9,769	9,769	7,962
payments for the year
Cash, Bank and Deposit	12	81,221	81,221	71,452
Balances at end of the year
Other Assets Estimated
Gift Aid Recoverable	11	400	400	400
Total Other Assets Estimated		400	400	400
Liabilities	13
Volunteer expenses for March 2023		793	793	972
for Post & Packing & materials to fill
knockers.
Independent Examiners’ Fee	9	144	144	-
Total Estimated Liabilities		937	937	972

As the Charity holds only unrestricted funds, no restricted column is shown.

The notes on pages 11-15 form part of these accounts Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by

Signed Dated 18.12.2023

Mrs D Wright

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FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Notes to the Accounts

1. Basis of Preparation

These accounts are prepared on the Receipts and Payments basis.

2. Fund Accounting

• Unrestricted Funds are funds which can be used at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the charity’s objectives.

• Restricted Funds are funds which can only be used for specific purposes as specified by the donor or when funds have been raised for a specific purpose. Currently the charity holds only unrestricted funds.

3. Debts and Guarantees

The charity has not given any guarantees where there is an outstanding liability at the date of this statement

The charity has no outstanding debts at the date of this statement which are secured on the assets of the charity.

4. Analysis of Donations Receipts

		Year to 31 March2023	Year to 31 March2023	Year to 31
				March 2022
	Note	Unrestricted	Total Funds	Total
		Funds		Funds
		£	£	£
Corporate Donations		3,261	3,261	6,020
Voluntary Donations direct to		11,392	11,392	3,110
Charity
Donations via Just Giving		1,966	1,966	2,943
Gift Aid via Just Giving		378	378	473
Donations via Virgin Money		-	-	50
Donations via Charitable Giving		123	123	39
Donations via PayPal		4450	4450	3,892
PayPal Giving Fund		20	20	434
Total Donations		21,590	21,590	16,960

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5. Analysis of Fundraising & Trading Receipts

	Year to 31 March 2023	Year to 31 March 2023	Year to 31
			March 2022
Note	Unrestricted	Total Funds	Total
	Funds		Funds
	£	£	£
Sales of Mini Knocker Keyrings	5,658	5,658	1,785
Sales of Cards/Notelets	63	63	99
Postage charges for online	612	612	307
sales
Easy Fundraising	112	112	254
Amazon Smile	193	193	174
Total Fundraising & Trading	6,638	6,638	2,619
receipts
6.Analysis of Cost of Raising Funds
	Year to 31 March 2023		Year to 31
			March 2022
Note	Unrestricted	Total Funds	Total
	Funds		Funds
	£	£	£
Fundraising Events	-	-	-
Cost of Mini Keyrings	324	324	603
Cost of Cards	100	100	4
General online shop costs	475	475	129
PayPal/Just Giving Cost	591	591	390
Total F/R Activities Costs	1,489	1,489	1,126

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7. Analysis of Cost of Charitable Activity

		Year to 31 March 2023	Year to 31 March 2023	Year to 31
				March 2022
	Note	Unrestricted	Total Funds	Total
		Funds		Funds
		£	£	£
Cost of Knitted Knockers
Cost of Yarn		3,650	3,650	1,507
Cost of Filling for Knockers		1,289	1,289	830
Postage & Packaging Knockers		8,835	8,835	5,885
Cost of Sample Packs		198	198	120
Cost of Helpful Hearts
Beads		41	41	13
Postage		179	179	98
Other Postage		431	431	372
Promotional materials		141	141	-
Educational Events		423	423
Phone		202	202	164
Insurance		415	415	415
Website, software & IT		992	992	1,065
Accounting		90	90	-
Bank Charge		83	83	22
Total F/R Activities Costs		16,969	16,969	10,492

8. Trustee Remuneration and Expenses

No remuneration was paid to any trustee or related party

Trustees received expenses of £632 which were reimbursement of costs incurred for KKUK.

9. Fees for examination of the accounts

	2023	2022
	£	£
Independent examiner’s fees for	144	-
reporting on the accounts
Total	144	-

10. Corporation Taxation

The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 ot the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objectives.

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11. Assets (receivable within 1 year)
	2023	2022
	£	£
Gift Aid receivable	400	400
Total	400	400
12. Cash at bank and in hand
	2023	2022
	£	£
Current Account	80,737	70,309
Paypal Account	485	1,143
Deposit Account	-	-
Cash in hand	-	-
Total	81,221	71,452
13. Liabilities (payable within 1 year)
	2023	2022
	£	£
Volunteer expenses	793	872
Accruals
Independent Examination of	144	-
accounts
Total	937	872

14. Events after the end of the reporting period

No events (requiring adjustment to the accounts) have occurred after the end of the reporting period but before the accounts are authorised which relate to conditions that arose after the end of the reporting period.

15. Analysis of Charitable Funds

Analysis of movements in unrestricted funds As at 31 March 2023

	Fund				Fund
	Balances				Balances
Unrestricted	Brought	Incoming	Resources	Transfers	Carried
Funds	forward	Resource	Expended		Forward
	£	£	£	£	£
General	71,452	28,228	(18,549)	-	81,221
Unrestricted Fund
Totals	71,452	28,228	(18,549)	-	82,221

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Analysis of movements in unrestricted funds As at 31 March 2022

	Fund				Fund
	Balances				Balances
Unrestricted	Brought	Incoming	Resources	Transfers	Carried
Funds	forward	Resource	Expended		Forward
	£	£	£	£	£
General	63,491	19,579	(11,617)	-	71,452
Unrestricted Fund
Totals	63,491	19,579	(11,617)	-	71,452

Purpose of unrestricted funds

General unrestricted funds: Free reserves of the charity

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