2024-12-31-accounts

Knitted Knockers UK

Annual Report and Accounts for the period 1 April 2024 to 31 December 2024

Charity Number: 1161125

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Contents

Charity Details ................................................................................................................... 3 Trustees Annual Report ..................................................................................................... 4 Structure, governance and management ................................................................ 4 Objectives and activities ......................................................................................... 5 Achievements and performance ............................................................................. 6 Financial Review .................................................................................................... 7 Reserves ................................................................................................................ 7 Independent Examiners Report ......................................................................................... 8 Receipts and Payments Account ....................................................................................... 9 Statement of assets and liabilities .................................................................................... 10 Notes to the accounts ...................................................................................................... 11

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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 Mrs Pamela Blythe Secretary Mrs Gillian George

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Trustees Annual Report

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their report for the nine-month period ended 31 December 2024

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.

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
PR VOLUNTEERS RAISING ADMIN
Events Knitters FUNDS Applications
Team
Display Crocheters Webshop
Orders Team
Packs
Fundraisers Events
Social Approvals
Admin
Team
Media
Supporters
Supplies Team
Finances
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 display packs of knitted and crochet prosthetics to healthcare and other services aimed at women who have undergone mastectomies or lumpectomies

• completing display pack requests for organisations requesting display 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

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:

• maintaining volunteers’ numbers through periodic recruitment (97 approved knitting and crocheting volunteers)

• number of individual knockers made and delivered were 3810 in the 9m period to 31 December 2024 (5664 year to 31 March 2024)

• total orders were 2843 (4092 year to 31 March 2024)

• display packs delivered to healthcare professionals were 44 in the 9m period to 31 December 2024 (45 years to 31 March 2024)

• publicity events in John Lewis stores, wool shows and talks at WI groups

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

• introduction of a new website with backend functionality that supports the processing of orders

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 keyrings 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 decorations from our online shop at www.knittedknockersuk.com

Financial Review

The charity changed its financial year end to 31 December meaning that this is a report for a 9-month period ending 31 December 2024. This was done to align financial reporting with the new website orders system. Receipts for the 9-month period were £22,776 compared to £18,479 for the last financial year. This was an improvement and some of this can be credited to the introduction of the new website which has made it easier for people to donate.

Voluntary donations increased from £13,663 for the year ended 31 March 2024 to £18,133 for the 9 months ending 31 December 2024. Fundraising and Trading Activity Income was £3,997 for the 9 months ending 31 December 2024. When annualized this is a small improvement from £4,816 for the year ending 31 March 2024.

The cost of our charitable activity was £17,142 for the 9 months ending 31 December 2024 compared to £22,161 for the year ended 31 March 2024. This shows a consistent spend over both financial periods.

We finished the financial period with a surplus of £5,634 (loss £3,683 year ended 31 March 2024) and the charity's unrestricted funds carried forward to next year are £83,173 (£77,539 year ending 31 March 2024).

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.

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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.

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 at 31 December 2024 are £83,173 (31 March 2024: £77,539)

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

On 2 April 2024 a new website was introduced which includes a sophisticated back-end area where we can process our orders. It affords the trustees with a better oversight of the operations of the whole organisation.

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

Signed Dated 09.05.2025

Mrs Deborah Wright

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES�

For the year ended 31 December 2024

I report on the financial statements of for the year ended 31 December 2024, which are set out on pages 7 to 13.

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 One Strawberry Lane Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4BX

Date: 09.05.2025

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Receipts and Payments Account

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

		9m period to 31	December 2024	Y/E 31
				March 2024
	Note	Unrestricted	Total Funds	Total Funds
		Funds
		£	£	£
Receipts
Donations	4	18,133	18,133	13,663
Receipts from Funding &	5	3,997	3,997	4,816
Trading Activities
Other income	12	647	647	0
Total Receipts		22,776	22,776	18,479
Payments
Cost of Generating Funds	6	1,001	1,001	1,066
(Fundraising & Trading to
Raise Funds)
Cost of Charitable Activities	7	16,141	16,141	21,096
Governance Costs
Total Payments		17,142	17,142	22,162
Net Receipts/(payments)		5,634	5,634	(3,683)
Transfers to/(from) Funds		-	-	-
Surplus/(deficit) for year		5,634	5,634	(3,683)
Opening Cash & Bank Balance		77,539	77,539	81,221
Closing Cash & Bank		83,173	83,173	77,539
Balance

The Receipts and Payments Statement includes all gains and losses recognized in the financial period. 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 DECEMBER 2024

		At 31 December	2024	At 31 March
				2024
		Unrestricted	Total	Total Funds
		Funds	Funds
	Note	£	£	£
Cash, Bank and Deposit		77,539	77,539	81,221
Balances at start of year
Movement in the Year
Surplus/(deficit) of Receipts over		5,634	5,634	(3,683)
payments for the year
Cash, Bank and Deposit	12	83,173	83,173	77,539
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 forDecember		459	459	738
2024for Post & Packing & materials
to fill knockers.
Independent Examiners’s Fee	9	204	144	144
Total Estimated Liabilities		663	882	882

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 09.05.2025

Mrs D Wright

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Notes to the Accounts

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

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

	9 months to 31 December 2024	9 months to 31 December 2024	Year to 31
			March 2024
	Unrestricted	Total Funds	Total
	Funds		Funds
	£	£	£
Corporate Donations	2,916	2,916	1,591
Voluntary Donations direct to	6,663	6,663	6,275
Charity
Donations via Just Giving	5,152	5,152	2,227
Gift Aid via Just Giving	910	910	435
Donations via Charitable Giving	92	92	123
Donations via PayPal	2,400	2,400	3,012
PayPal Giving Fund	-	-	-
Total Donations	18,133	18,133	13,663

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5. Analysis of Fundraising & Trading Receipts

	9 months to 31 December 2024	9 months to 31 December 2024	Year to 31
			March 2024
	Unrestricted	Total Funds	Total
	Funds		Funds
	£	£	£
Sales of Mini Knocker Keyrings	3,103	3,103	4,064
Sales of Cards/Notelets	114	114	130
Sales of Christmas Decorations	405	405	-
Postage charges for online	325	325	403
sales
Easy Fundraising	50	50	93
Amazon Smile	-	-	126
Total Fundraising & Trading	3,997	3,997	4,816
receipts

6. Analysis of Cost of Raising Funds

	9 months to 31 December 2024	9 months to 31 December 2024	Year to 31
			March 2024
	Unrestricted	Total Funds	Total
	Funds		Funds
	£	£	£
Cost of Mini Keyrings	217	217	123
Cost of Cards	-	-	148
General online shop costs	292	292	337
PayPal/Just Giving Cost	492	492	458
Total F/R Activities Costs	1,001	1,001	1,066

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7. Analysis of Cost of Charitable Activity

	9 months to 31 December 2024	9 months to 31 December 2024	Year to 31
			March 2024
	Unrestricted	Total Funds	Total
	Funds		Funds
	£	£	£
Cost of Knitted Knockers
Cost of Yarn	2,662	2,662	3,364
Cost of Filling for Knockers	1,066	1,066	1,541
Postage & Packaging Knockers	7,005	7,005	9,775
Cost of Display Packs	199	199	214
Cost of Helpful Hearts
Beads	-	-	93
Postage	158	158	305
Other Postage	534	534	474
Promotional materials	235	235	50
Educational Events	52	52	91
Phone	105	105	211
Insurance	425	425	425
Website, software & IT	3,364	3,364	3,633
Accounting & Independent	279	279	324
Examiner
Printing	-	-	196
Misc	-	-	40
Bank Charge	57	57	90
Total F/R Activities Costs	16,141	16,141	21,096

8. Trustee Remuneration and Expenses

No remuneration was paid to any trustee or related party. Trustees are reimbursed for expenditure incurred on behalf of the charity.

9. Fees for examination of the accounts

	9m PE	YE
	31/12/2024	31/03/2024
	£	£
Independent examiner’s fees for	144	144
reporting on the accounts
Total	144	144

10. Corporation Taxation

The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of 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)

11. Assets (receivable within 1 year)
	31/12/2024	31/03/2024
	£	£
Gift Aid receivable	400	400
Total	400	400
12. Cash at bank and in hand
	31/12/2024	31/03/2024
	£	£
Current Account	12,319	77,309
PayPal Account	207	230
Deposit Account	70,647	-
Cash in hand	-	-
Total	83,173	77,539

Interest of £647 was received in the Deposit Account and is included in Other Income.

13. Liabilities (payable within 1 year)

	31/12/2024	31/03/2024
	£	£
Volunteer expenses	459	738
Accruals
Independent Examination of	204	144
accounts
Total	663	882

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 December 2024

	Fund				Fund
	Balances				Balances
Unrestricted	Brought	Incoming	Resources	Transfers	Carried
Funds	forward	Resource	Expended		Forward
	£	£	£	£	£
General	77,539	22,776	(17,142)	-	83,173
Unrestricted Fund
Totals	77,539	22,776	(17,142)	-	83,173

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Analysis of movements in unrestricted funds As at 31 March 2024

	Fund				Fund
	Balances				Balances
Unrestricted	Brought	Incoming	Resources	Transfers	Carried
Funds	forward	Resource	Expended		Forward
	£	£	£	£	£
General	81,221	18,479	(22,162)	-	77,539
Unrestricted Fund
Totals	81,221	18,479	(22,162)	-	77,539

Purpose of unrestricted funds

General unrestricted funds: Free reserves of the charity

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