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**Registered charity name** Brain Tumour Support **Charity registration number** 1163856 **Company registration number** 09718307 **Registered and principal office** 7a St Mary’s Street, Thornbury, BS35 2AB
## **The Trustees**
The Trustees (who are directors for the purpose of company law) who served during the year and since the year end were as follows:
**Independent examiner**
Ms E Brereton (Chair until 31st January 2025) Mr S Bodley (Chair from 31st January 2025) Mr K Wilson Ms S Lawless (Resigned 25th October 2024) Mr J Stuart Mrs A Woodhead Mr S Derricourt Mr S Mayers
Joshua Kingston BSc ACA Burton Sweet Limited, Chartered Accountants The Clock Tower, 5 Farleigh Court, Old Weston Road, Flax Bourton, Bristol BS48 1UR
**Your support has made the difference between coping and not!**
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## WELCOME
Steve Bodley Our Chair of Trustees
2024/25 has been a year of considerable challenge, hard work and achievement that I feel proud to report on in the pages that follow. Having been appointed Chair of Trustees in January 2025, taking over from Emma Brereton, I can say with certainty that, as a board, we’re incredibly grateful for the hard work, passion, and commitment that both the Brain Tumour Support team, and the charity’s supporters have shown over the past 12 months. We can reflect on a year of challenge, and a year of change, but ultimately a year of progress, both with regard to the charity’s financial position, and the support we’ve been able to offer. The sense of common purpose and teamwork has been palpable, driven always by the knowledge that the support we provide is so needed and makes such a crucial difference to families every day.
Our primary strategic focus for 2024/25 was to achieve financial stability and put the charity in a sustainable financial position for the future. This in a challenging fundraising climate (a trend that has continued into this financial year), with donations dropping across the charity sector amid rising living costs. With staff costs also increasing there has been a growing economic strain on UK charities, and Brain Tumour Support has been no exception.
Despite these challenges, the team have made significant progress, increasing the charity’s free reserves over the past year, and crafting a strategy to further diversify our fundraising streams.
The year also saw our Founder, Tina Mitchell Skinner, stepping down from her role as CEO in July 2024 after a wonderful job leading the charity for 21 years. Former Deputy CEO Emma McKeown moved into the CEO role, maintaining the charity’s ethos and values, and bringing her own professional expertise and personal commitment to the cause. In addition, there were changes on the Board of Trustees with Ali Woodhead, Stephen Mayers and Sam Derricourt joining the board, and long-term board member Steph Lawless stepping down in October.
Amidst this change the team continued to focus on expanding the reach and quality of our support services, with the community we support at the heart of everything.
The trustees are pleased to present their annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ending 31 March 2025. We have referred to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the aims and objectives of the charity and in planning future activities. All activities therefore reflect the trustees’ desire to follow the purposes of the charity and to meet the requirements of general public benefit.
Emma McKeown Our Chief Executive
Throughout a year of significant change for the charity, as we bid a fond farewell to Tina Mitchell Skinner, it was my greatest privilege to assume the role of Chief Executive to continue the incredible work started by Tina in 2003, in meeting the needs of the brain tumour community.
Starting the financial year with an essential need to focus on financial recovery, our incredible staff team and supporters set about exploring every opportunity to increase income to work towards financial stability, whilst looking at ways we could minimise expenditure, without impacting on the delivery of our support services.
I am beyond proud of our team, and everyone involved in supporting the charity, as we reflect on just how far we have come in this past year alone, and the incredible impact we have made to those affected by a brain tumour diagnosis. The passion, dedication, warmth and kindness shown has been inspiring.
A highlight for me is always meeting and talking to those individuals and families we have supported, getting to know their stories and how their diagnosis has impacted them, understanding their needs and striving, together with my team, to continually improve and develop our services to support them. To see the difference we make is simply remarkable, often words cannot sufficiently describe the impact we have had for families, but we feel it when we meet and talk with them, we see it in their faces, and hear it in their voices, and through their stories shared.
It is a pleasure to highlight within this report some of the key successes and programmes of work from this past year, and as we consider our strategic approach and aims for the year ahead, and beyond, I am excited to build upon the excellent foundations of this remarkable charity with our team. We truly believe that nobody should feel alone when impacted by a brain tumour, and we are passionate about working towards this by reaching more and more people each year.
**For people who already have a good support system, Brain Tumour Support are the icing on the cake. For those without a strong support system, they are a lifeline. Darren**
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THE CHANGE WE WANT TO BE FOR OUR BRAIN TUMOUR COMMUNITY
## Our MISSION
To support individuals, carers, friends and families impacted by a brain tumour by providing individualised and specialist information, guidance and emotional support, for as long as it is needed.
## Our VALUES
Be INCLUSIVE – Together we are stronger, all embracing and available to anyone.
Be SUPPORTIVE – Together we are caring and always ready to come alongside to encourage and empower.
Be COMPASSIONATE – Together we are gentle and warm-hearted with a listening ear, yet incredibly resilient.
Be PROFESSIONAL – Together we are consistently reviewing and re-evaluating our services, so that they are personalised, proficient and rich with experience.
Be INNOVATIVE – Together we strive to bring new ideas to the way we approach all areas of our work and engage with our community.
## Our STRATEGIC FOCUS
UNDERSTAND the support needs within the brain tumour community
RAISE AWARENESS of how Brain Tumour Support supports those affected by a brain tumour
PROVIDE SUPPORT to patients and families affected by any type of brain tumour
**The amazing team at Brain Tumour Support have really been the light for me and my family at such a dark time - I couldn’t have got through this period without them. Hannah**
Underpinning these three strategic aims are our six strategic pillars and these drive our work forward and help to guide the planning in all areas of the charity to ensure that we are operationally making progress and enhancing our strategic plans.
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OUR STRATEGY TO
SERVE OUR COMMUNITY Our
FINANCIAL
STABILITY
Sustainability to ensure we are there
for our community into the future
We are committed to operating sustainably
and responsibly, giving our community
confidence that we will be here to support
you well into the future
Our Service Our Our Our
Excellence REACH IMPACT PEOPLE
Meeting our Ensuring our community know The difference we make to our The right people to support
community’s needs about us when they need us community our community
We are committed to delivering support We are dedicated to creating support We show our donors the real impact of Our highly trained and passionate staff,
services shaped by you, for you — meeting services that you know about and their gifts and share with our community leaders, volunteers and trustees are
your needs when you need us most can access easily, exactly when you the difference we are making through our dedicated to bringing you the best possible
need them services every day support and care
Our
Operational
Excellence
Providing the safety and structure to
support our community
We make sure we have the right policies,
procedures, systems, and governance in place
to support you safely and securely
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## OUR SERVICE EXCELLENCE MEETING OUR COMMUNITY’S NEEDS
AIM: Understanding our community’s voice and unmet needs to review, develop and deliver quality programmes of support that meet their needs
Our unique person-centred support model has been developed with the insight and feedback of the individuals and families we support.
Surveys and focus groups within our community told us that they want and need:
- One-to-one, personalised emotional and practical support
- Expert guidance and specialist information they can trust
- Counselling by specialist Brain Tumour Support counsellors who understand the complexities they are facing
- Connection with others in their situation – both face-to-face and online
- 24/7 access to digital support online
- Support with the complex welfare benefits system
We proudly offer a broad range of support services designed to meet these needs, and in consultation with each individual or family, we create a bespoke package of support to suit their unique circumstances and the ever-changing nature of the journey faced by many following a brain tumour diagnosis.
## Our ServiceS ARE FREE TO ACCESS...
Named Support Professional Support for anyone: Specialist welfare patients, family and benefits service friends Support for any Online forum for grade of brain 24/7 support tumour AT BRAIN TUMOUR SUPPORT WE Specialist family PROVIDE... Topic support and and individual information groups counselling Access to Support for as long as it is needed dedicated support line Regional friendship Bespoke individual groups support ...WE WANT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY
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## HOW WE SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY
## Bespoke individual support
Our personalised one-to-one support is delivered with regular contact by phone, video call, email, or in person - a tailored approach to suit each individual.
**The ability to really listen to someone is so rare. I feel so privileged that I have had you to listen to me for so many hours over the last two years. They say talking will help, and you think it won’t do anything. But actually, it changes everything.**
## Support for as long as it’s needed
The impact of a brain tumour diagnosis for individuals and their loved ones can be unpredictable and long lasting, but our support will always be available at any point on this journey.
**Right from the start we knew that Brain Tumour Support was for both of us, not just Mike! That is so important as we are going through this together.**
**Thank you so much for not giving up on me and for calling to check in. You have cheered me up with this chat, I had been having such a bad week.**
## Support for anyone affected
We know that the impact of a brain tumour diagnosis is far reaching, so we are here to support not only the individual with the brain tumour, but also their friends, family, colleagues and anyone connected who may be affected.
Support for any type or grade of brain tumour Whether you have been affected by a high grade or low grade brain tumour, a primary or secondary (metastatic) tumour, we are here to support.
**They helped me accept that even with a low grade tumour that was completely removed, I was just as important as everyone else.**
**It’s like you find your people, you find others who actually get it, you can help others with your own experience, and you can listen to people, and comfort them and sometimes even make them smile or laugh if you are lucky. Polly**
## **We continually listen to and are guided by the needs of our community and respond wherever possible to meet those needs.**
Our High Grade Friends and Family group started as a monthly online meeting. It proved to be extremely popular and also, due to the intensity of experience and speed of change for this group of people, there was a desire expressed for the meetings to be held more often. As a result, it now runs twice a month and proves to be a lifeline of support for those attending.
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## OUR SUPPORT SERVICES
## Named Support Professional
## Specialist welfare benefits service
Every person referred to our support service is introduced to a named Support Professional who will remain their contact, offering a consistent point of connection during what can be an overwhelming and isolating time.
Our dedicated Welfare Benefits Support Professional provides personalised guidance and assistance to help navigate the very complex benefits system.
**I will never forget how kind you were telephoning every week after my diagnosis. It was a great support for us. Thank you for what you did.**
**It will absolutely change my life, for sure, thank you again for fighting my corner, it’s meant such a lot.**
## Specialist family and individual counselling
Our experienced in-house specialist counselling service offers a powerful extra layer of support to help anyone affected navigate their way through the impact of a brain tumour diagnosis and beyond.
**The counselling is helping me to offload, just to have someone listen and not talk about someone else’s experience is refreshing!! It gives some relief to be able to gain strength to continue to support my loved one.**
## Bereavement support
We understand the enduring impact that losing a loved one to a brain tumour has, and our wraparound support is here to help family and friends at any time after their loss.
**When I lost my mum, I felt utterly alone. Brain Tumour Support gave me a place to grieve, heal, and find hope again. The bereavement group became a lifeline when I needed it most.**
## Information sessions and resources
Our online resources and information sessions are designed to equip people with practical information and cover key areas such as treatment, wellbeing, and navigating life after diagnosis.
**Finding straightforward and relevant information is so important - otherwise it can all just be too overwhelming, especially just after the shock of getting a diagnosis.**
## Online support groups
Brain Tumour Support offers a wide range of monthly online support groups designed to reduce isolation, foster meaningful connections, and empower individuals with knowledge.
**Thank you for the invite to the zoom group today. It’s been really helpful. I know I was a bit shy, but it was lovely to hear other journeys. I can’t wait for the next one.**
## Regional face-to-face support groups
## Dedicated support line
Our confidential support line, staffed by our dedicated Support Co-ordinator, provides a listening ear, guidance and information. Further support needs are assessed and referrals efficiently made into our wider support services.
**Thank you so much - I only discovered your charity this morning and contacted support about a group in Bristol in July. I had such a lovely response, I already feel ‘seen’ by your organisation and I can’t tell you how much that means.**
## Online forums for 24/7 support
We facilitate private groups on Facebook which are safe, protected spaces for members, moderated by our dedicated Digital Support Professional, and offering peer to peer support for people 24/7.
**This group helped me so much. I was a mess after diagnosis. I felt so alone. To see and hear others experiencing the same or similar has made such a difference.**
Our face-to-face support groups meet regularly in a number of regions bringing vital connection and contact for people who often feel isolated in their experience.
**My advice to anyone in the brain tumour community is to take a chance, go to a support group meet up if you have one near you. It may be difficult and scary at first, but I guarantee you will leave there feeling lighter, less stressed, and more importantly, not alone anymore.**
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## SUPPORT HIGHLIGHTs
Over the past year we have proudly continued to support everyone reaching out to our charity, alongside really honing and developing our support services to improve their impact for the families we support. Amongst the hundreds of invaluable and meaningful touchpoints of support, there is so much to be proud of and shout about. Here we share more about just some of our key programmes of support.
## How Family First supports families
Each family is assigned their own Support Professional who remains a consistent point of contact and is in regular contact throughout the journey with the family, ensuring support needs are met
We offer a course of specialist family counselling sessions, with individual sessions also running in parallel when needed, for parents or children to be able to speak confidentially about their own needs
## Our Family First programme
The Brain Tumour Support Family First programme recognises the profound impact a brain tumour diagnosis has on the entire family, not just the individual diagnosed, and often leads to:
- Loss of job and financial security
Guidance from our Welfare Benefits Support Professional to assist with financial support and access to practical help
Bespoke support as required – for example delivering a talk to a child’s school, or an individual’s work place
- Changes in relationships and friendships
- Changes in cognition, communication and decision making capacity in many cases
- Loss of mobility and independence often requiring care being given from within the family, or external support being brought in
Anyone connected to the family is Access to our Facebook Forums welcome to join our face-to-face and (24/7 online support groups) for online support groups peer to peer support
- Anticipatory grief with short prognosis and poor survival rates of high grade tumours
- Lasting and long term deficits and impact from lower grade tumours
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Grandparents
Wider family
Colleagues
Parents
Children
School
Friends
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Our Family First programme is a LIFELINE, guiding families through the barrage of unique emotional and practical challenges facing them. Every family has their own set of circumstances and the support they need will be unique to them. Our Family First programme reflects this by offering a bespoke package of support to meet the complex and ever-changing needs, wrapping arms of support around the entire family.
The Family First programme ensures that families feel supported, included, and empowered, from diagnosis through every stage of the journey, providing them with space to talk, guidance to navigate challenges and resources to help them cope with the future that lies ahead for them.
## **How Family First helped Michelle and her family**
## **Our Support Professional, Amy, talks about how support wraps around the whole family:**
After Michelle was diagnosed with a high grade brain tumour, it was not just her but also her husband and teenage children who benefited from support.
Michelle attends the high grade zoom group regularly and says how much it helps her to speak to others who understand. She also comes along to her local in person groups, and takes a lot of comfort from these, sharing openly.
As Michelle’s Support Professional, I’m also there for one-to-one support and, about 18 months after initial treatment, she reached out to me to say that she had regrowth, news shared ahead of telling her family. She said that she felt like she needed moral and emotional support to do this, and knew that she would find that by making contact with Brain Tumour Support.
Soon after, Michelle shared that she was worried that her 18 year old daughter was struggling with the diagnosis and what it might mean in the future. I spoke to her daughter, registered her with the charity and referred her to our specialist counselling service. A few weeks after she’d completed her counselling sessions, I checked in with her and she replied: ‘I’m doing okay! Managing to stay on top of everything and the counselling was so useful and really helped me, I cannot thank you enough!!’
Michelle’s husband was also struggling with stress and had handed in his notice at work. She brought him along to one of the face-to-face support groups so that he could meet others and feel supported. As a result of this, he has also had support from our Welfare Benefits Support Professional enabling him to apply for Carer’s Allowance whilst he has been off work.
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## SUPPORT HIGHLIGHTs
## Our Welfare Benefits support
In the midst of a cost of living crisis, financial uncertainty has impacted millions of families. Add in a brain tumour diagnosis and the financial burden can be all encompassing. 88% of our families say their finances have been affected following their brain tumour diagnosis.
Our Welfare Benefits programme is a lifeline to many families, guiding them through the challenges that financial uncertainty can bring. From the initial call into our support line, and every step of the way, our welfare benefits service offers practical guidance and support around finances and helps families to understand if they are receiving all the financial support they are entitled to.
Many brain tumour patients struggle with symptoms such as fatigue and poor memory or concentration, making the application forms for benefits such as Personal Independence Payment and Universal Credit overwhelming and inaccessible. Vicki, our dedicated Welfare Benefits Support Professional, is here to assist in navigating the benefits system, including help with the completion of forms right through to representation at tribunal hearings if necessary.
of due benefits unlocked with our help for individuals and families
## £382,426
## Longevity of our support
The impact of a brain tumour can be long lasting, and we understand. Our support services are available to individuals at any point in their journey, for as long as is needed.
Linda has been accessing our support since 2015, two years after her brain tumour diagnosis. She explains the mental challenges faced when living with a brain tumour and how our support has made such a difference to her outlook.
A brain tumour diagnosis, surgery and treatment can be extremely hard mentally. It feels like taking a detour on the road you had been on your whole life, and suddenly travelling down a new and unfamiliar one. This can make you feel very vulnerable – it is the feeling of being out of control, mixed with fatigue, anxiety, fear, anger and much more.
It feels like a grief of yourself. Perhaps you no longer recognise the way you look, you can no longer do all the things you used to do, or you have had to stop working and driving – it all adds up to feeling like you’ve lost a part of you and your identity.
I was already two years post diagnosis when I found Brain Tumour Support, and then suddenly, there you were; what I had been looking for!
It is transformative to have people there who understand what you are experiencing and feeling – the ‘knowing’ that Brain Tumour Support offers is priceless. They build trust and provide a space where you feel safe enough to say all of the things that have been laying heavy on your heart. After feeling like you have to bottle it all up; there is finally somewhere to let it out. For me, that is what their support is all about.
**Having people at Brain Tumour Support to help you explore, understand and reach acceptance – both in one to one, counselling and group sessions – allows you to feel more confident with yourself and keep building yourself back up. Acceptance comes with time, and that timeframe is different for each person. Linda**
## Our Men Only support
## **How our Welfare Benefits support changed life for Ian**
Ian has an inoperable tumour and after he had tried to renew his Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which was essential to him and his young family, he was told that he would have to go to appeal. He was really worried about how he would cope with the application himself and so our Welfare Benefits Support Professional, Vicki, supported him to gather and read over the submissions to the Tribunal Service.
Once the DWP had received the evidence, they reversed their decision and awarded Ian his PIP, without the need to wait for a hearing.
Considering that sometimes the wait for a tribunal hearing can take over 12 months, this provided crucial support for Ian’s whole family and avoided a lot of additional stress for them all. Ian expressed what a huge relief this was for him, and his family.
**I cannot tell you how greatly appreciated this is.**
Evidence shows that men are less likely to seek emotional or psychological support following a brain tumour diagnosis, and when speaking with our community we discovered this can be due to a combination of factors including stigma around vulnerability and seeking help, cultural expectations and a lack of tailored support. At Brain Tumour Support, we recognise the complexities and unmet need in this area, and one way we are having an impact is through our Men Only support groups. A monthly online safe space for men to share and find the much-needed emotional and practical support from peers and our Support Professional, Gavin, reducing isolation and fostering secure connections.
Chris has been living with a brain tumour for the last eight years and over that time has found group support a huge benefit. He finds the monthly men’s group extremely helpful to chat and talk about his experiences with other men facing similar challenges to himself.
**It gives you a real insight into other people’s brain tumour journeys and makes you feel like you’re not alone. It also gives me the opportunity to talk to someone outside of my support network and I can talk to someone in a safe space. Chris**
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## OUR REACH ENSURING OUR COMMUNITY KNOWS ABOUT US WHEN THEY NEED US
AIM: Maintain and expand nationwide awareness and access to our services through clinical partnerships, collaborative relationships, community outreach, and a strategic communications approach. We are also committed to reaching those who are not yet aware of the support we offer, while continuously seeking to understand how we can best connect with and serve them.
More than 30,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with a brain tumour every year – over 12,500 with a primary brain tumour and over 18,000 with a secondary, metastatic brain tumour.
We proudly support individuals and families from across the country with our online, virtual and telephone support and our Support Professionals offer face-to-face support groups and one-to-one sessions for those living locally to them, and via key neuro centres across the M5 and M4 corridor. As the demand for and the reach of our services expands, we hope to recruit more Support Professionals to offer greater geographical reach for our face-to-face services.
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Every 33 minutes someone
in the UK is diagnosed
with a brain tumour
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5,900
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Over the course of 12 months we have provided support to over 5,900 people who have been impacted by a brain tumour
## Reaching and supporting our community earlier – Our Early Intervention Programme
We regularly heard from people we support that they wish they had found out about our services much earlier in their clinical pathway. Sadly we know of many families that only found Brain Tumour Support following the bereavement of a loved one to a brain tumour, without accessing the vital support they needed during diagnosis, treatment and preparing for death. From surveys, focus groups and working closely with our clinical and brain tumour communities, we know that support at the earliest possible stage has the greatest impact for individuals with a brain tumour and their loved ones.
This understanding drove us to try and improve an individual’s clinical pathway, by having earlier knowledge of, and access to, our support services. Working closely with the neuro oncology team at Southmead Hospital Bristol, we developed our Early Intervention Pilot. During the six month pilot, all newly diagnosed brain tumour patients were referred directly to Brain Tumour Support immediately following their diagnosis by the clinical team. Our Support Professionals were able to reach out in those early and overwhelming days to offer emotional and practical support in dealing with such a
devastating diagnosis. Individuals and their families had access to welfare and benefits guidance, individual and family counselling, one-to-one, face-to-face and telephone support. They also benefited from our online support groups and our face-to-face support groups held at the hospital.
The positive impact and feedback has led to an agreement with the clinicians at Southmead Hospital to continue our Early Intervention Programme as a permanent part of the clinical pathway and we have recently secured funding from The National Lottery Awards for All Programme for a scoping project to explore delivering the programme in Wales, and we have clinicians from several key neuro centres across the country looking for us to bring this programme to support their patients.
of people we support found it useful to be contacted by Brain Tumour Support so soon after their diagnosis
80% 93% have found the ongoing support invaluable
**Just to know the charity is there to guide and support us makes such a difference to us. Jane**
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## Digital support
of our Facebook Forum members say that being in the group helps them feel less alone
The online and social media space is an increasingly popular and important means to reach and connect with a wider community. This can often be an entry point for people discovering that support is available, and sometimes the visibility and interaction offered through contact on social media is in itself a direct and powerful form of support.
## **Just feels good to rant at 4.38am to you amazing strong, good people who understand xx Kim**
Brain Tumour Support also facilitates private groups on Facebook offering peer to peer support for people 24/7. These are safe, protected spaces for members to talk about their experiences, raise questions, gain information, and share feelings and emotions within a supportive, understanding community. They also offer individuals the opportunity to post anonymously, to share their concerns and gain the support they need without divulging any personal information if they wish. Both groups are moderated by our dedicated Social Media Support Professional.
**I found this group in my search of somewhere for support following my husband’s diagnosis... I know there’s no cure and there’s no happy ending here, I just need somewhere to turn to try and get my head round it all. Tania**
**Being on this group has helped me too. I felt so alone and extremely terrified in the beginning. Jenni**
Our main Brain Tumour Support Forum, now provides this platform for more than 4,600 people who have been affected by a brain tumour diagnosis.
The Family and Friends Facebook Group currently has over 400 members who are able to share the particular challenges which face loved ones and caregivers.
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posts, comments and interactions in our
online support forums over the past year
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**It’s so wonderful to know that my messages are read and heard and that there is support if I need it. Thank you so much. I really do appreciate it and all you do. Rachel**
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## Website and information services
Our website plays an important role as an arm of our support service and is an area of work which we are keen to develop still further. We aim to provide accessible and easy to understand information and resources, shaped by our support team’s depth of knowledge and experience, and their understanding of the overwhelm that can be felt when facing the impact of a brain tumour. It includes a downloadable series of ‘Supporting you’ leaflets, and guidance on welfare benefits and cost of living.
active users on our website page views
The sharing of personal stories through our website is also an enduring and rich source of encouragement, hope and understanding for people going through similar experiences.
## Keeping in touch with our community
Talking with our community is at the heart of our work. Our communications strategy is led by a continuing desire to understand the support needs, provide connection and a voice for those affected, bring deeper understanding and awareness to the wider community of the impact of brain tumours and the vital importance of specialist support.
We publish monthly support e-newsletters giving news and information on upcoming support groups, and regular fundraising and charity updates via email.
Twice yearly our Support Matters News is published, both online and in print, which highlights the work we do, shares stories of those we support, and celebrates the many fundraisers and charity supporters who make our work possible.
We have built a strong and engaged audience across our social media platforms, extending our reach by 28% across the year and building our followers by 21%.
Two of our key social campaigns in the year captured great engagement. Our ‘Month of Hope’ in January and ‘Living with’ campaign for Brain Tumour Awareness Month both drew on moving and inspirational lived experience. The campaigns were designed to both support and bring hope to those within our community, and raise awareness in a broader audience of the realities around the day-to-day impact that a brain tumour diagnosis has.
## The power of hope
The photograph ‘Verdant’ epitomises hope.
It is an award winning portrait of Charlie Bishop – now 38, diagnosed with a high grade brain tumour at the age of 19, and told on three separate occasions that he was approaching end of life.
The photographer is Stefania Distante, who lost her career due to a brain tumour, but transformed her life, studying to become a photographer. Brain Tumour Support helped Stefania through the years coming to terms with the impact of her diagnosis and she met Charlie whilst fundraising for us. They remain close friends and a source of inspiration to each other.
Make up is by Panda Cooper who sadly lost her dad to a brain tumour and volunteered her skills for this project.
Through the exotic artwork around Charlie’s craniotomy scar, captured in this single image, their stories come together.
Titling the photograph ‘Verdant’, Stefania says of her friend, ‘Like flora growing in some inhospitable places he keeps flourishing.’
## Benign is not fine
This simple message received over 110,000 views, raising awareness of the life changing impact that low grade brain tumours can have and prompting many members of our community to further share the post alongside commenting on their own experiences.
**My meningioma, now 20 years ago was not given a grade. It was benign but I still had a craniotomy 11 hour surgery and am left with no peripheral vision, so can’t drive, no sense of smell or taste, and chronic pain. The tumour didn’t all come out and is still growing slowly, with the possibility of another close by. So benign might be ‘not cancer for now’ but still changes your life forever. Jackie**
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## Building support together
We see collaborative working as essential to achieving our aims and improving the lives of people affected by a brain tumour.
## Coming together as one voice for our community
Brain Tumour Support is committed to working with clinicians and like-minded organisations to enhance support for individuals and families affected by a brain tumour diagnosis. This collaborative approach ensures greater reach, consistency of care, and a stronger collective voice when advocating for change.
## Our work with the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission
We are a proud founding member on the Joint Strategy Board for the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission and have an important part to play in working with hospitals to help to support the Tessa Jowell Centres of Excellence programme, feeding into better progress towards the common goals of the brain tumour community. We are also involved in delivering training to their academy members, which includes hundreds of nurses, doctors, consultants and allied health professionals, on the importance of support in the patient pathway.
Whilst delivering individualised support to anyone affected by a brain tumour is our priority focus at Brain Tumour Support, we will always seek out and get involved in opportunities to collaborate and be a part of much needed development and progress in the field of brain tumour treatment and care. We are passionately involved in many partnerships, collectives and advisory groups, where we advocate for individuals impacted by a brain tumour and their families, and ensure that support needs are highlighted as a priority. We regularly meet with the CEO’s of other key charities in our sector to collaborate and work together to improve the lives of our community, these include national charities such as The Brain Tumour Charity, Brainstrust, Brain Tumour Research amongst many other local Bristol charities.
Other key activities this year have included:
- Working with other charities to compose a joint letter of appeal to NICE, asking them to reconsider their position on assessing a new treatment for glioblastomas called Optune.
- A joint call for support from new Labour MPs regarding unmet needs within the brain tumour community.
- Advisory involvement in the Delphi Panel Research ensuring expert input in improving patient care.
- Attendance at the 2024 British Neuro Oncology Society Annual Meeting, ensuring that we stay at the forefront of research and clinical developments.
- Attendance at the Somerset, Wiltshire, Avon and Gloucestershire Clinical Advisory Group.
- Presentation at the 2024 European Association of Neuro-oncology delivering findings on the
- importance of early intervention support for individuals and their loved ones.
- Considered submission to the National Cancer Plan, which was shared with NHS England’s Cancer Programme Director.
Vital partnerships include strong relationships and working groups with patient organisations, key input and connection with the International Brain Tumour Alliance, and input to the All Party Parliamentary Group for Brain Tumours (APPGBT), which works with government and senior officials, local MPs and other decision makers on campaigning priorities, for which we offer individuals (patient) voice and experience.
## Our campaigning priorities
2 Earlier awareness Equity across the of and access clinical and support to the support pathway for all services which brain tumour types are available and grades
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3
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Recognition of equal need for support beyond the individual with the brain tumour – non-medical support services for all those whose lives are impacted by a diagnosis are an essential part of the pathway and wrap-around care
The Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission
## Equality, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (EDEI)
We understand that brain tumours do not discriminate, and any person can be affected regardless of race, ethnic origin, age, gender, socio-economic status, disability or faith and so our organisation puts huge importance on ensuring our support services are available to anyone. One of our core values is to Be Inclusive. People living with brain tumours can automatically be at a disadvantage due to the impact the tumour has on their life, and we are committed to supporting them to face these challenges.
Over the last year, with our staff team and input from our community we carried out a comprehensive review of our EDEI policy and have commitment from everyone in the organisation to continue to challenge ourselves in this area to ensure we are representative, fully inclusive, accessible and equitable for the diverse range of people affected by brain tumours.
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## OUR IMPACT THE DIFFERENCE WE MAKE TO OUR COMMUNITY
Attendees at our support groups benefitted from support, information, connection and shared understanding with their peers
Meaningful, tailored support connections made per week with families, ranging from face-to-face support, telephone calls or online support
AIM: Invest in how we invite, record, monitor and evaluate our community’s voice to ensure our impact is effective, visible and understood by all for a sustainable future.
The most important voice in everything we do, is that of the community we serve. Here are some of the ways we have involved our community in this past year to listen to their voice, understand their needs and assess the effectiveness of our services:
- Regular surveys to understand their needs and assess how we are meeting those needs.
- Quick to answer voting polls in our Facebook Forum to gain further understanding for speedy
evaluation.
Individuals and families have received direct, ongoing support from our Support Professionals
- Focus groups when considering our strategy, development of services, or review of existing services.
- Seeking feedback at regular points of the individual’s pathway at three months, six months, and annually to measure impact of the support services they have received and their needs.
- Distance travelled assessments for each support call, counselling session or meeting, to understand
- how our support is making a difference for the individuals.
Specialist individual and family counselling sessions delivered
- Anecdotal quotes, stories and the voice of our community offer unique insight into what our services truly mean for individuals and their loved ones.
- Feedback from clinical partners helps us understand our community’s need from their point of view.
## Long term positive impact for our community
Our support model is designed to provide support at any point in, and through, the brain tumour journey for any individual or family, so that they feel in control and knowledgeable and therefore can be themselves and not feel defined as a ‘patient’ or ‘carer’. This is some of the positive long-term impact our community have shared:
Hours of support have been delivered by our Support Professionals
- The chance to participate more fully in life, feel better able to live independently and feel useful, valuable and better about themselves.
- Feeling less isolated and alone through having a safe social space to talk freely and openly.
- and increased resilience.
- Developing greater self-confidence
- Finding ways to cope better with the emotional impact of a brain tumour and the challenges of loss and bereavement.
- Alleviation of practical and financial worries through welfare benefits advice and advocacy.
The average amount of benefits accessed through the assistance of our welfare benefits support service
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## HOW WE EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF OUR SERVICES
## One-to-one support
At the beginning of each one-to-one support session our Support Professionals ask the individual to rate their wellbeing on a scale 1 (negative) to 10 (positive). At the end of the support session, the individual is then asked to once again rate their wellbeing on the same scale.
The range of improvements individuals shared with us are between +1.5 to +5 in their wellbeing score, demonstrating the impact and effectiveness of the support. None of the individuals we asked reported no improvement in their wellbeing after a support session, demonstrating a consistent improvement in mood and wellbeing.
## Counselling
9 out of 10 rated our specialist counselling as ‘excellent’ or ‘good’
7 out of 10 perceived the counselling they had from us to be ‘much better’ or ‘better’ than they had experienced in the past
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Brain Tumour
Support Counsellors,
Kate and Julie
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**The counselling is helping me to offload, just to have someone listen and not talk about someone else’s experience is refreshing!! It gives some relief to be able to gain strength to continue to support my loved one.**
**I am very grateful to have started my counselling sessions so promptly and that this amazing service is offered by the charity. Thank you again!**
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Wellbeing Average improvement in
wellbeing score was +2
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**You helped me at a really difficult time. You listened to me and helped me find a way through the darkness. I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have you at the other end of the phone.**
## **Support for Adam and Ruth**
When Adam was diagnosed with a schwannoma brain tumour, he was told that without surgery he would have just two months to live. The surgery itself was a high risk, 23-hour operation, followed by months of recovery at home.
**Brain Tumour Support helped a lot. They got involved and got everything sorted for when I was discharged from hospital. They arranged a care package and gave me all the proper information, set up the physio for me, helped get the equipment and gave me all the right contacts I may have needed. Without them I would have really struggled.**
**They supported my family from a psychological point of view. They have been there for us as a family when our whole world was turned upside down. Adam.**
## **Helping Stephen**
Stephen was diagnosed with a grade 2 glioma and our counselling service has helped equip him with techniques to manage the ongoing challenges of living with a brain tumour.
‘From my initial diagnosis through to my surgery, radiotherapy and ongoing chemotherapy, Kate was very supportive. I have found the tools to deal with my anxiety and talking to Kate helped me formulate these’.
**The sessions were very helpful, very professional and a valuable independent resource to call on when it’s not always easy to talk with family, friends and other loved ones.**
‘The counselling has provided a valuable support to help guide me from initial diagnosis through different treatment stages, and I am able to manage my anxiety, for example around scan and test results, much more effectively.’
## **Helping Jane**
Jane had support and contact through our Support Professionals as she and her family were caring for her husband John, who had been diagnosed with glioblastoma in December 2023. John sadly died in August 2024 and Jane was then grateful to have the counselling service to support her through this desperately hard period.
‘Following the experience of 20 months of nursing my husband and then losing him, the BTS counselling has been essential. Just having someone who is so sympathetic and who understood my situation helped enormously. I feel life is more manageable, hard which I would expect, but some of the techniques Kate gave me have been so useful. It’s helped me interact with others - ways to answer sometimes difficult or intrusive questions by well meaning people - and I understand the process of grief a little better’.
**The fact that you offer this service is amazing, and I’m so grateful.**
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## HOW WE EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF OUR SERVICES
## Support Groups
As part of our ongoing commitment to evaluate and enhance the support we provide, all attendees of Brain Tumour Support’s face-to-face and Zoom groups were invited to complete a feedback questionnaire.
of attendees felt When asked to rate the sessions on a the support group scale of 1 to 5, the average score across timings worked all groups was 4, indicating a high level well for them. of satisfaction and perceived value.
said they would attend a session again in the future.
## Key impact of our services identified by our community
- Feeling emotionally supported
- Feeling empowered to make decisions
- A sense of community
- Feeling more confident in tackling difficult conversations
- Practical guidance
## The voice of our community
Key findings from our ‘Your Voice’ survey asking for our community’s thoughts and perspectives on the support they had received from us in 2024.
Almost half of In addition, 1 in When asked the respondents 3 of those had whether Brain 3 out of 4 felt had attended at also accessed Tumour Support we had reduced least one faceour specialist services met their their feelings to-face support counselling service needs, 98% shared of isolation and group, with a third and 1 in 5 had that we had met loneliness. having attended received support or exceeded online support from our Welfare the majority of groups. Benefits Support their needs. Professional.
**I don’t mean to sound selfish, but nobody is thinking about me or how I feel, this is the only place I can be honest about how all of this is affecting me and be understood, without feeling guilty. Allan**
## **The impact of meeting others**
**Our Support Professional, Amy, recalls how a support group changed the outlook for Matt, who was diagnosed with a glioblastoma (GBM) brain tumour last year. We were contacted by his Clinical Nurse Specialist, who said that he was struggling, and they felt he needed our support.**
He attended one of our face-to-face support groups in January, very upset when he arrived. He said that he was feeling depressed, and that he would wake up in the morning and think to himself ‘what is the point’.
I sat Matt with someone else who had also recently had a GBM diagnosis, and the pair got chatting and sharing their experiences. When it came to sharing with the group, I went to Matt in the hope that he might start to share anything he felt comfortable with. He was clearly in a very difficult place mentally, looking down or directly across at me rather than to the rest of the group. As he talked about his story and how he was feeling, he shared that he had just been prescribed an antidepressant, one often also used to combat panic attacks and PTSD. After he said this, almost all of the other people around the table nodded, and, as he hadn’t noticed their reaction, I said ‘You got a lot of knowing nods around the table then,’ and Matt looked down towards the group for the first time. He saw many very welcoming and understanding faces, and his whole demeanour shifted.
A discussion opened up, with him being able to ask others questions about his treatment, his mood, his symptoms, and a lot of supportive advice was shared. ‘If you ever need any support, talk to these guys,’ one of the group told him, pointing to me and my support team colleague. ‘They are amazing and know everything.’ Suddenly Matt wasn’t alone.
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## OUR PEOPLE THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY
We have a robust performance management process in place with all staff having regular 1:1’s and periodic appraisals against formal objectives. Staff are encouraged to focus on their own training and development with at least half a day a month of self-focussed learning, and access to paid and free training courses to support their role. We bring the whole charity team together once a year for our annual Team Away Days, a chance to celebrate success, share challenges and work together to bring focus to our future plans and objectives. Whilst our short term plans with our people have been somewhat halted by financial constraints, the longer term plan continues to be growth of our teams for both income generation and support delivery with a fair and appropriate reward package.
## Volunteering
AIM: Successful transition and succession of the Founder CEO, governance review and succession within our Board of Trustees and maintaining staff morale in a difficult financial year, whilst focussing on wellbeing and development.
We are extremely proud of our team of people at Brain Tumour Support, we celebrate the diverse and rich backgrounds of work, educational and life experience that each and every member of the team brings to shaping the charity and delivering our specialist support services. We have considerable first hand knowledge of brain tumours in our team, both those who have been through a diagnosis themselves, or have supported family members in their devastating diagnosis, and this drives our passion in supporting anyone else who has been affected. The collective personal experience, skills, qualifications and professional background of our Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and Board of Trustees offers a passionate and trusted leadership of the charity in working towards and delivering our strategy.
We have been delighted to offer promotions and development to several members of the team as we have undergone a significant period of change and succession. This has included the succession of the CEO from within the team, welcoming two new members to the SLT and implementing a new Team Leader role within the support team.
During this last financial year where the focus has been on financial recovery, rewarding staff financially as we would wish to has not been possible. We have also carried restrictions in certain functions where we were unable to backfill roles, or recruit additional resource as needed. This has brought challenge and risk to staff retention at times. We have focussed on staff wellbeing, welfare, development and flexibility as a priority to offer as supportive a model of reward as we can for our staff. We are committed to offering a pay award to staff as soon as finances allow, and during this time we need to take the opportunity to benchmark our salaries to ensure we are offering a fair and rewarding package to our staff that reflects their commitment and delivery of our charitable services.
## In our recent staff survey
of our team shared they felt very valued, or valued
rated the communication within the charity as excellent
**It’s a real privilege to work with Brain Tumour Support. I love the charity, believe deeply in its mission, and find my work meaningful and fulfilling. Thank you for creating such a supportive and values-led culture — it shines through in everything you do. Staff Member**
The Brain Tumour Support volunteering programme offers individuals, family members, and loved ones the opportunity to give back, share their experiences, and make a meaningful difference. For many, volunteering provides a renewed sense of purpose and connection, while helping to strengthen the support available to others affected by a brain tumour. A range of roles are available, including fundraising, awareness-raising, and support-based volunteering, allowing individuals to contribute in ways that suit their interests, skills, and availability. Volunteers are a vital part of the Brain Tumour Support community, and their involvement helps extend our reach and impact across the UK.
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total volunteer hours
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total cost saving for the charity
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## **Volunteering helps Jeanette**
Jeanette has had a lot to face since being diagnosed with a high grade brain tumour in 2021. As well as lengthy surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, she had to give up driving and her job, so she faced practical and financial worries as well as needing to move house in order to be closer to her daughter.
‘I had to surrender my driving license and I sold my car as I didn’t see any future to my life. I had lost my independence.’
It was seven months after her diagnosis that Jeanette found Brain Tumour Support. Initially she talked one-to-one with a Support Professional and later she connected with others through her local face-to-face support group. Both Jeanette and her daughter have also benefited from our specialist counselling service, helping them to cope with the anxiety and overwhelming emotions experienced as a result of the diagnosis.
Now, although her life has changed, Jeanette feels in a much better place, and is embracing life after the birth of her first grandchild. She has also started volunteering with Brain Tumour Support to help give other people the support which has made such a difference to her.
Sarah Richardson, our Data Services Manager, explained how valuable Jeanette’s work is:
‘Jeanette has been volunteering with us on data cleaning tasks, helping us keep our organisation data up to date and more recently also taking on online research to ensure we maintain full and accurate information for the many organisations we talk to. She is lovely to work with and is really helping with the tasks we need to do but struggle to have the time and resource for.’
**I’m a lot stronger and more positive now and although my journey is still uncertain, I have a lot to look forward to.**
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## OUR OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE PROVIDING THE SAFETY AND STRUCTURE TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY
Aim: Review and operate within procedural frameworks and governance that protect our staff and the community we support in all areas of the charity’s operations.
## Our structure, governance and management
Brain Tumour Support is a charitable company limited by guarantee registered at Companies House as a company and with the Charity Commission. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which outlined the objects of the charitable company. It is governed by its Articles of Association.
## Public benefit
The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission. The annual report contains a fuller description of the public benefit that the charity provides within the main body of the report.
## Our charity’s objects and activities
1. The relief of illness of persons suffering from brain tumours by the provision of support, advice and information for such persons and to offer support, advice and information to their carers and families.
2. The promotion of research into the effects and causes of brain tumours and the public dissemination of the useful results thereof.
## The Board of Trustees
Brain Tumour Support has directors and members. The directors of the charity are also Trustees of the charity for the purposes of the Charities Act. The Board of Trustees makes up the governing body and oversees the governance of the charity, whilst the day-to-day management is led by Emma McKeown, the appointed Chief Executive Officer who took over from the outgoing Founder and CEO Tina Mitchell Skinner in July 2024.
The Chief Executive Officer, together with the charity’s Senior Leadership Team, submit proposals and recommendations to the Board on a quarterly basis for approval of strategy and to review and officially sign off on-going implementation plans for each area of activity carried out by the charity. In between, all Trustees are sent comprehensive monthly management accounts and KPI reports, to update them on monthly activities.
The Trustees are all experienced business people in their individual fields and provide a sound authority on direction and governance. They willingly give up their time free of charge and none of them, without exception, receive any Trustee remuneration or expense reimbursement.
## Recruitment and appointment of trustees
In accordance with the Articles of Association, Trustees are not required to retire by rotation each year. The number of elected Trustees shall not be less than three and subject to a maximum of 12. The elected Trustees may co-opt a maximum of up to one half of their number as Trustees.
## Trustee training and induction
New Trustees undergo an induction to brief them on their legal obligations under charity law, the content of the Memorandum and Articles of Association, the structure and governance of the charity as well as all policies and procedures, their obligations under the Trustees’ Code of Conduct, strategic and operational plans and budgets together with recent financial performance.
## Risk management
A comprehensive risk register is held by the charity and is regularly reviewed by the Chief Executive and SLT, and shared with the Board of Trustees on a monthly basis for review. At each board meeting the top three, or any new concerning risks, are discussed and action plans created to mitigate, minimise or reduce the risk.
Robust policies and procedures are in place to support identified risks and governance, with adequate mandatory and regular training courses as required occurring.
## Safeguarding and mandatory training
The Brain Tumour Support Safeguarding Policy is a vital framework designed to ensure the safety and wellbeing of both the individuals and families we support and our staff. It outlines clear guidelines and responsibilities for identifying, responding to, and reporting any concerns related to the abuse, self-harm or neglect of vulnerable individuals. By adhering to this policy, the organisation maintains a safe and professional environment, allowing staff to work confidently and effectively while prioritising the individual’s welfare. Both the Safeguarding Policy and the Safeguarding Procedures are reviewed quarterly, and we hold a case conference following each safeguarding incident to ensure our policy was robust in supporting the staff member and individual. All staff have mandatory safeguarding training once a year, with our support staff receiving a more intense training and development using external providers and clinical supervision as required.
Our team also undertake appropriate GDPR, Health and Safety and EDEI training on an annual basis, as well as more role specific training required in their roles.
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## Chief Executive
The Chief Executive is responsible for setting the strategic direction for the charity with the Trustees, leading its implementation, and holds operational and financial authority within the set parameters. Having led the charity from its founding in 2003, Tina Mitchell Skinner stepped down as CEO at the end of July 2024. Tina’s primary desire was to ensure that the charity’s work would continue to thrive under new leadership – seeking a balance of continuity, stability and embracing of new opportunity.
## OUR FINANCIAL STABILITY ENSURING WE ARE THERE FOR OUR COMMUNITY INTO THE FUTURE
With a fundraising speciality and an overall business and NHS background, Emma McKeown was appointed to the Deputy CEO position in June 2019, and worked closely with Tina on the review, setting and delivery of the charity’s strategy whilst working towards the planned succession and move into the role of Chief Executive.
Emma’s aforementioned professional background has provided an excellent foundation and this, together with her personal experience, with brain tumours affecting her own family, and her proven track record of persistence, resilience and overriding integrity has ensured confidence in a secure future and smooth transition, which officially took place on 1 August 2024.
During Emma’s time in the role, she has focussed on financial recovery for the charity, and prioritised staff wellbeing to ensure the charity team were on board and alongside throughout. There have been many successes to be celebrated throughout the year, none more so than the shared positivity and determination to secure the future of the charity, in a very difficult financial climate for fundraising.
Emma’s person-centred approach to service improvement and development, along with a keen focus on financial scrutiny and sustainable funding, has given funders and trustees alike faith and trust in the charity and continuation of the strategic approach in the coming year.
**When my brother-in-law Jamie was diagnosed with a glioblastoma grade 4 brain tumour we were absolutely lost, in complete shock that there was nothing that could be done to save this legendary fella from our lives, and that we would face losing him. Brain Tumour Support swooped in offering support to our family and specialist counselling to help my sister navigate the impossible task of caring for Jamie and keeping family life going. Since Jamie’s death, I have been passionate about making a difference to families like ours, and determined in ensuring Brain Tumour Support is a sustainable organisation to be there long into the future. Emma McKeown**
AIM: Use impactful data to secure multi-year funding and larger partnerships, while exploring diversification and growth across all income streams. Maintain considered and reduced expenditure to support financial recovery and rebuild charitable reserves.
Brain Tumour Support receives very little government or statutory funding (less than 0.3% of our income), and we rely in the main on voluntary donations and fundraising. Our published statutory accounts for 2024/25 include the financial position of the charity as at 31 March 2025.
We entered the financial year with severely diminished cash reserves and a priority focus on financial recovery and striving for sustainability. Although this was a difficult time for the staff team, we adapted our approach in many areas of the charity, rallied and worked hard to ensure our support services were not impacted. The team have worked tirelessly to rebuild our financial security, and have significantly increased reserves in the last twelve months, in our continued efforts for financial stability and sustainability. Weekly financial analysis is in place as a senior team, alongside monthly monitoring with the board, ensuring we are on track, or ahead of budget, and to make impactful change as needed.
Our fundraising strategy for the next three years focuses on greater diversity in our income streams. Our focus is on achieving multi-year funding partnerships from larger funders, trusts and grants, long term support from corporates, major donors, statutory organisations, and a broader range of activity in the community and individual giving space to secure and develop our donor base.
We have continued with a focus on keeping expenditure to a minimum across all functions of the charity in order to support financial recovery and, together with considerable successes in fundraising, we are delighted with the year-end financial position in comparison to 12 months ago.
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Total Income £574,659 £495,470
Total Expenditure £507,993 £647,199
Pence in £ spent on delivering our support services
2025 74p in every £1
2024 69p in every £1
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Income breakdown
Gift Aid
£24,120
Trusts and Foundations
£230,830
Individual donations
TotaL
£73,222
£574,659 Merchandise
Corporate fundraising
£1,233
and donations
£121,678 Investments
£914
Community fundraising
£122,662
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Community fundraising grew by 23.91%, with third party events bringing in over 50% of the income and exceeding pre-covid sign up levels
Corporate income increased by 143%, reflecting great relationship management and new business activity.
Gift Aid rose by 40.43%, highlighting improved donor data capture and Gift Aid processing
While Trusts and Foundations continue to provide the largest share of income—growing by 5.56%
Individual donations increased by 5.12%, largely down to the raffles and crowdfunders which have helped to increase our donor numbers
Average donation increased by 12% to £100 from £91.
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Expenditure breakdown
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Fundraising activities Raising awareness
(Including Fundraising £11,225
payroll) Operating costs
£124,833 £21,280
TotaL
Governance
£507,993 £5,376
Support delivery
(Including Support
payroll)
£345,279
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## Summary
In summary, gross income for the year ending March 2024/25 has increased by £79,189 from £495,470 to £574,659.
Cash position – £114,251 Restricted reserves £35,929 compared to £2,885 as at 31/3/24 Free reserves £41,592 compared to £7,536 as at 31/3/24
The free reserves figure shown above factors in a deduction of £21,000 for our Covid 19 Bounce Back Loan. The repayment terms of this loan could be extended should the charity enter cash flow difficulties in the future.
## Fundraising policy
Fundraising policy for Brain Tumour Support is regulated by the Fundraising Regulator. The charity primarily fundraises from community fundraising events, individual donations and trusts and grants.
The charity recognises the need to conduct its fundraising within the context of recognised standards set out in the Chartered Institute of Fundraising’s Code of Fundraising Practice, the Data Protection Act 1998/ UKGDPR2021 and the CAP Code (Committee of Advertising Practice). We do not employ external professional fundraisers or companies.
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## Garnering the support of our community
Despite the ongoing cost of living crisis, our community remained steadfast in its commitment to our mission: that no one should face a brain tumour diagnosis alone. Every contribution, regardless of size, was recognised for the meaningful impact it had on the daily lives of individuals and families. Thanks to the dedication of our supporters, we achieved our highest percentage income growth since before the pandemic, ensuring the continued delivery of our vital support services.
The income generation strategy for this year was to provide excellent donor support alongside diversifying income and reducing the reliance on trusts and grants. This year’s income growth reflects a stronger and more balanced funding model, with gains in corporate and community income significantly contributing alongside Trusts and Foundations. This diversification enhances financial resilience and reduces dependency on any single area, aligning with our long-term sustainability goals.
We are so thankful for every donation and show of support for our work from our community and the general public, we continue to be overwhelmed and filled with pride at the dedication and passion shown to support our work. Thank you.
## Corporate partnerships
Continued efforts in increasing our corporate partnerships and pipeline have continued at pace and we had some incredibly meaningful partnerships across the year, bringing both income and awareness raising of our charity. We have proudly maintained some existing partnerships into multiyear support, and attracted a number of new key partners and we are so very grateful and thankful for their ongoing support.
Our partnership with Alpha FMC was a true highlight of the year. From the beginning, their goal was both ambitious and extremely meaningful: to raise enough funds to cover the cost of running our support line for an entire year. The Alpha team connected deeply with the stories shared and the tangible impact their support could make. Their flagship fundraising initiative — the ‘One Hour, One Day’ scheme, where staff donate between one hour and one day of their pay — became a powerful force. Driven by a shared understanding of the difference they could make together, the team exceeded their fundraising target for the entire partnership in just one day.
## Trusts and Foundations
Trusts and Foundations remain a vital source of income, and we take pride in the growth of this income stream particularly in the strength and depth of our relationships. By providing regular, detailed updates on our financial progress, we have built trust with key funders and maintained many of our multi-year and repeat funding relationships – as well as attracting new funders for our work.
This approach led to the Edward Gostling Foundation awarding a significant grant to support our operating costs over the next two years, with a real show of commitment and confidence in our achievements and progress over this past year, and the clarity of our plans and approach for the future. Their ongoing commitment reflects a deep understanding of the value of our services and inspires confidence among other funders to support Brain Tumour Support.
We are incredibly grateful to each and every Trust or Foundation that has supported our work over this past year and have shown comittment to our work for the year ahead and beyond.
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## INSPIRING FUNDRAISERS
## The Peaky Climbers raised over £18,000 from their Three Peaks Challenge
In June 2024, the ‘Peaky Climbers’, a team of eight climbers and three support crew, took on the gruelling Three Peaks Challenge – conquering the three highest peaks of Scotland, England and Wales over the course of 24 hours. Their motivation to take on such a demanding challenge was to raise funds following the family experiences of Ben Smart and his fellow climber, and brother-in-law, Jonathan Golder.
Back in 2004 Jonathan sadly lost his stepdad, aged just 49, to a glioblastoma brain tumour. Then in November 2023 Ben’s dad, Geoff, received the same diagnosis, having had a huge seizure out of the blue. His sudden diagnosis brought into focus the reality that a brain tumour can affect anyone at any time, and the families and friends came together in a desire to do something positive and help others. They set themselves a target of £10,000.
On each of the ascents - Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and finally Snowdon - they faced some brutal weather, but they battled through it all to complete their challenge with 25 minutes of the 24-hour timeframe remaining.
The Peaky Climbers not only succeeded in their challenge but hit their £10,000 fundraising target too. In fact they smashed it and, with more fundraising and donations achieved through a homecoming party in their local community, their final fundraising, including gift aid, reached £18,182.
Having done well through surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, Geoff Smart was able to be at the homecoming party and celebrate the achievements of this inspiring challenge.
Sadly, Geoff passed away in October 2024, but the fundraising taken on in tribute to him has ensured other families affected have been able to find vital support when it was most needed.
## Sian Norman raised over £8,000 from her party night
Sian’s busy life as a working mum of two young children, changed suddenly when a brain tumour was diagnosed after tests for an unrelated eye condition. Having experienced no symptoms from the brain tumour, in January 2024 Sian discovered that she had been ‘walking around with this thing in my head for the last 10 years.’
She initially had to face the prospect of surgery. However further scans indicated that this was too risky and so she is on ‘watch and wait’ - monitored with six monthly MRI scans, and living with the uncertainty and anxiety that this brings.
It is an ongoing rollercoaster of emotion that comes with the knowledge that you have a brain tumour for which treatment cannot yet be determined.
Sian has had fantastic support from her partner, family and friends, but having the reassurance of specialist support, available when needed, has meant a lot to her throughout such a difficult and unpredictable time. She has had regular contact with her Brain Tumour Support Professional, Louise, and been able to draw on the expertise of our welfare benefits service to check on any financial help she’d be entitled to when her work was affected.
Sian has also found a huge benefit in focusing on something positive, to ‘give back’ and help others as a result of her own experience. With incredible support from family, friends and local businesses, she organised a sensational fundraising evening in March 2025 which raised over £8,000, and she is now continuing her fundraising through her own Brain Tumour Support Champion Fund.
Donna Naughton raised £3,861 from a 56km Memory March in memory of her father
Donna lost her dad, John Lawton, to a brain tumour in 1992. She explained ‘Dad was unfortunate to have had a few tumours over the course of approximately 25 years, meaning several operations which also lead to him losing his hearing. Despite struggling for those many years with illness, he kept
going and never complained. He never lost his sense of humour, his love of life and his beautiful, beaming smile. Taken far too soon at only 58, my Mum was left heartbroken as were my sister and I.’ So Donna wanted to pay special tribute to him by taking part in our Memory March.
‘Your charity is so important to people because it offers support not only for sufferers of this horrible illness but also their families, something my Mum didn’t have. She had some absolutely amazing friends who looked after her and my Dad’s brother was fantastic. She had that love and support, but not the support and advice that Brain Tumour Support offers. What you do is invaluable.
‘So, I’m going to walk for my Dad and for all the individuals and families who have been affected by brain tumours. The 58km is because my Dad was just 58 years old when he died and the date, 13th March, is his birthday. People are being so supportive and keep saying it’s quite a challenge I have set myself. Yes it is, but what my Dad had to deal with was a challenge, this is just a walk!’
Donna completed her incredible challenge, setting out at 6.30am and finishing at 7.30pm. Her fundraising page raised a remarkable £3,860, and the generous donations and beautiful comments clearly showed the love and respect felt for her dad John. A wonderful tribute which also provides a lifeline of support for so many other families.
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45
## Investment for the future
In December 2024, we were thrilled to learn that we had been awarded 12 Gold Bond places for the TCS London Marathon from 2026, secured for a four-year period. This represents a significant investment for the charity, but one we are confident will deliver strong returns. We’re excited about the opportunity to maximise both the fundraising potential and the awareness-raising power of this iconic event.
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Image: John Walton/Alamy
**----- End of picture text -----**
This will build on the wonderful achievements of our 2025 runners, who all took part with such commitment, together raising over £16,000. They included TV presenter and comedian Joel Dommett, our long-standing supporter and ambassador, who had set himself a personal challenge to run in under three hours, in spite of an incredibly busy work schedule.
With very hot conditions on race day, Joel explained it was ‘Not the race I expected! I fainted at mile 17 – and woke up in an ambulance!’
However Joel was determined to complete the course: ‘I really wanted to finish it. After a few hours my pulse was back and I got going again, at a very different pace but really got to soak it all in. Proud of myself for finishing.’
That pride was felt by the charity team too, as Chief Executive Emma expressed:
**Joel’s resilience and spirit to not give up when life suddenly changes under you is something we see every day in the incredible individuals and families that we support, so Joel’s achievement yesterday has great resonance for the brain tumour community.**
Our income growth targets for the next three years are ambitious yet achievable, following a strategic focus on financial sustainability. Key priorities include expanding our regular giving, philanthropy, and legacy programmes. We continue to concentrate our fundraising efforts on the areas that deliver the highest return, while also working to reduce reliance on any single income stream.
Our fundraising strategy is built around diversifying income sources and securing multi-year funding partnerships from major funders, trusts, and statutory organisations. We are also committed to building long-term relationships with corporate partners, major donors, and expanding our community and individual giving programmes to strengthen and grow our donor base.
With a structured strategic approach and a more confident demonstration of the impact of our service, supported by clear impact data, we aim to attract more sustainable funding. This will enable us to plan effectively and deliver the essential support services needed by those affected by a brain tumour diagnosis.
## Investment policy
Free cash reserves, aside from operating cashflow, are invested on a monthly basis in a high interest yielding savings account. Trustee Sam Derricourt meets monthly with our Finance Assistant to agree our investment approach for the next month.
As our reserves continue to replenish, we will review our investment approach to consider longer-term investments for any designated funds or surplus amounts above our reserves policy.
## Reserves policy
As charitable reserves reached a concerning low point at the start of 2024, key learnings have been made, and the need for greater financial risk planning and governance was identified. Following various discussions at board level, a review of our approach to reserves and financial management was carried out, with a new Reserves Policy being presented and signed off by the board in January 2025.
Our new reserves policy lays out our longer-term desire to reach three months free reserves as a charity, but recognises the historical trend that we have held a high % of restricted funds as part of our overall cash reserves, restricted and allocated for our core costs and service delivery in line with the funders’ wishes and restrictions. In recent years, we have reviewed and developed a sophisticated approach to restricted funds, ensuring the allocation and drawdown is in line with monthly charitable spend and core costs, demonstrating sustainability and use of restricted funds in strict adherence to the funders’ stipulations.
Whilst three months free cash reserves is optimal longer-term, we feel confident as a charity that holding a % of restricted funds within our reserves position still provides us with a sustainable approach as we deliver our services in agreed timeframes against spend, and can provide the historical data to demonstrate this.
Three months free cash reserves would equate to £126,998. As at 31 March 2025 we hold £41,592 in free cash reserves, and £35,929 in restricted funds.
The free reserves figure shown above factors in a deduction of £21,000 for our Covid 19 Bounce Back Loan. The repayment terms of this loan could be extended should the charity enter cash flow difficulties in the future.
The charity is still in a period of financial recovery as of April 2025, but considerable progress has been made throughout 2024 in the replenishment of free cash reserves and plans are in place for recovery and replenishment of reserves by the end of the 2026/2027 financial year in agreement with the board.
As we progress through our financial recovery plans, we have continued to hold on average 50% restricted funds, and expenditure is tracking well against these funds to provide confidence in our spending plans against budget, and delivery of services.
## Spending approach and monitoring
All expenditure is planned and agreed at board level, with the sign off of annual budgets in January for the upcoming financial year commencing 1st April. Any significant variance from these budgets requires board agreement.
Monthly management accounts are produced and submitted to the board for review and scrutiny, with open dialogue to identify or address any concerns.
Quarterly board meetings are held with a fixed agenda item of ‘Finance Review’ where greater scrutiny is welcomed, with progress and forecasting being monitored against budget.
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47
## STEVE BODLEY, CHAIR OF TRUSTEES
The board of trustees feel that the progress made this year, both in financial recovery, and also in our service and operational excellence across all functions of the charity, creates a hopeful sense of excitement for the future and the direction of the charity in the years to come.
We are planning a strategic review toward the end of the 2025/26 financial year to review and refine our charitable activities for the next 3-5 years. As always, we will consult with our community, key stakeholders, staff and volunteer teams to ensure their voice and need is driving our thoughts and strategic direction. The strategic investment and efforts in our systems, processes, people and governance over the last few years have provided an excellent foundation for us to consider our future plans.
We will focus on continuing the excellence of many of our support delivery programmes, whilst exploring the powerful connection and collaboration opportunities to bring about greater impact for our community. We will explore the development of our geographical and demographical reach, consider our outreach opportunities and continue our excellent clinical and stakeholder relationships to ensure we are bringing the best possible support to those that need us, at the right time for them. We will proudly continue to nurture the wonderful relationships we have with the generous individuals, organisations, trusts and foundations that have supported our work to date, and explore new opportunities to engage a wider audience to support the growth and continuation of our work for the future.
We will underpin this work with a focus on our team, prioritising their wellbeing, whilst investing in the mix of skills and expertise we have, and the technology and structures that are in place to give us all the best chance of success.
Our financial progress and organisational focus under Emma’s leadership leave us well positioned and committed to continue to support the growing number of people affected by a brain tumour diagnosis who need our services.
## Statement of Trustees’ responsibilities
The Trustees (who are also directors of Brain Tumour Support for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Report (incorporating the strategic report and directors’ report) and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102: The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law 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 charitable company and of the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP
- make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business
The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Small company provisions
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions for small companies under part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
Registered office: 7a St Mary’s Street, Thornbury, South Gloucestershire, BS35 2AB
Approved by the Trustees on 18/08/2025
Signed by order of the Trustees
Mr Stephen Bodley Chair of Trustees
48
49
## **BRAIN TUMOUR SUPPORT**
## Independent examiner’s report to the Trustees of Brain Tumour Support (the Company’)
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2025. .
## Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s Trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘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.
## Independent examiner’s statement
Since the Company’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 am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, 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:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act 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
4. 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).
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING INCOME AND**
## **EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT)**
**YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted Total funds**
Total funds
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2025**
2024
**Notes**
**£**
**£**
**£**
£
**Income from:**
Donations and grants
**2**
368,258
204,255
572,513
489,689
Other trading activities
**3**
1,233
-
1,233
2,402
Investments
913
-
913
3,379
**Total income**
370,404
204,255
574,659
495,470
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
**4**
131,746
-
131,746
194,319
Charitable activities
**5**
205,036
171,211
376,247
452,880
**Total expenditure**
336,782
171,211
507,993
647,199
**Net income/(expenditure) and**
**net movement in funds**
**7**
33,622
33,044
66,666
(151,729)
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
**15**
8,076
2,885
10,961
162,690
**Total funds carried forward**
**15**
41,698
35,929
77,627
10,961
The comparative funds are detailed in note 9.|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted Total funds**
Total funds
**Funds**
**Funds**
**2025**
2024
**Notes**
**£**
**£**
**£**
£
**Income from:**
Donations and grants
**2**
368,258
204,255
572,513
489,689
Other trading activities
**3**
1,233
-
1,233
2,402
Investments
913
-
913
3,379
**Total income**
370,404
204,255
574,659
495,470
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
**4**
131,746
-
131,746
194,319
Charitable activities
**5**
205,036
171,211
376,247
452,880
**Total expenditure**
336,782
171,211
507,993
647,199
**Net income/(expenditure) and**
**net movement in funds**
**7**
33,622
33,044
66,666
(151,729)
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward
**15**
8,076
2,885
10,961
162,690
**Total funds carried forward**
**15**
41,698
35,929
77,627
10,961
The comparative funds are detailed in note 9.|**Restricted Total funds**
Total funds
**Funds**
**2025**
2024
**£**
**£**
£
204,255
572,513
489,689
-
1,233
2,402
-
913
3,379|
|---|---|---|
||370,404
131,746
205,036||
|||204,255
574,659
495,470|
|||-
131,746
194,319
171,211
376,247
452,880|
||336,782
33,622
8,076
41,698||
|||171,211
507,993
647,199|
|||33,044
66,666
(151,729)
2,885
10,961
162,690|
|||35,929
77,627
10,961|
||are detailed in note 9.||
The company has no recognised gains or losses other than the results for the year as set out above.
All of the activities of the company are classed as continuing.
I have no concerns and 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.
Joshua N Kingston BSc., ACA Burton Sweet Limited, Chartered Accountants The Clock Tower 5 Farleigh Court Old Weston Road Flax Bourton, Bristol BS48 1UR 18/08/2025
**----- Start of picture text -----**
The notes on pages 54 to 63 form part of these financial statements
**----- End of picture text -----**
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51
## **BRAIN TUMOUR SUPPORT**
## **BALANCE SHEET**
|**BRAIN TUMOUR SUPPORT**
**BALANCE SHEET**|||
|---|---|---|
|**AT 31 MARCH 2025**|**Company registration number: 09718307**||
|**Fixed assets**
**Notes**
Tangible assets
**10**
**Current assets**
Debtors
**11**
Cash at bank
**Creditors: Amounts falling due**
**within one year**
**12**
**Net current assets**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Creditors: Amounts falling due after**
**more than one year**
**13**
**Total net assets**
**Funds**
Unrestricted Funds
General funds
**16**
Restricted Funds
**16**|**£**
**2025**
**£**
£
2024
£
106
540
8,107
2,232
114,251
57,094
122,358
59,326
(27,593)
(27,979)
94,765
31,347
94,871
31,887
(17,244)
(20,926)
77,627
10,961
41,698
8,076
35,929
2,885
77,627
10,961||
||||
|||31,347
31,887
(20,926)|
|||10,961|
|||8,076
2,885|
|||10,961|
## **BRAIN TUMOUR SUPPORT**
## **CASH FLOW STATEMENT**
**YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Company registration number: 09718307**
|**Notes**
**Net cash inflow from operating**
**activities**
**17**
**Non-operational cash flows:**
**Investing activities**
Investment income
**Financing activities**
Loan repayments
**Net cash inflow/(outflow) for the year**
**18**||**2025**
**£**
58,239
913|2024
£
(161,095)
3,379|
|---|---|---|---|
|||913
(1,995)|3,379
(9,043)|
|||(1,995)|(9,043)|
|||57,157|(166,759)|
## **Cashflow Restrictions**
Charity law prohibits the use of net cash inflows on any endowed or other restricted fund to offset net cash outflows on any fund outside its own objects, except on special authority. In practice, this restriction has not had any effect on cash flows for the year.
For the year ending 31 March 2025 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
## Directors' responsibilities
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476,
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies regime within part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
The financial statements were authorised for issue, approved by the members of the committee on
...................................
**Mr Stephen Bodley Chair of Trustees** 18 August 2025
**The notes on pages 54 to 63 form part of these financial statements**
52
53
## **BRAIN TUMOUR SUPPORT**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
- **1 Accounting Policies**
## **a) Basis of preparation**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the historical cost convention (except where otherwise stated in the accounting policy note) and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued in October 2019, and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), and the Companies Act 2006.
## **BRAIN TUMOUR SUPPORT**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **1 Accounting Policies** _**(continued)**_
## **e) Fixed assets**
Fixed assets are held at cost less accumulated depreciation. Assets costing less than £500 are not capitalised.
Depreciation is calculated so as to write-off the cost of an asset, less its estimated residual value, over the useful economic life of the asset as follows:
Equipment 33% straight line Fixtures & fittings 15% straight line
The charity is a public benefit entity as defined under FRS102.
## **f) Trade debtors**
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties affecting the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern.
## **b) Income**
All income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the company is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.
Grants, including grants for the purchase of fixed assets, are recognised in the income and expenditure account as they become receivable.
Gifts in kind are valued at estimated open market value at the date of the gift, in the case of assets for retention or consumption, or at the value to the organisation in the case of donated services or facilities.
## **c) Expenditure**
Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to that activity. Central costs are equivalent to the SORP's definition of support costs and are where costs cannot be directly attributed to activities they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of the resource.
Trade debtors are recognised initially at the transaction price. They are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less provision for impairment. A provision for the impairment of trade debtors is established when there is objective evidence that the charity will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the receivables.
## **g) Cash and cash equivalents**
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.
## **h) Trade creditors**
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if the company does not have an unconditional right, at the end of the reporting period, to defer settlement of the creditor for at least twelve months after the reporting date. If there is an unconditional right to defer settlement for at least twelve months after the reporting date, they are presented as non-current liabilities.
## **i) Pensions**
Governance costs include the costs of governance arrangements which relate to the general running of the charity. These costs are associated with constitutional and statutory requirements and include costs associated with the strategic management of the charity’s activities. These are included within central costs.
The charity has arranged a defined contribution scheme for its staff. Pension costs charged in the SOFA represent the contributions payable by the charity in the period.
## **j) Government Grants**
## **d) Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds contain accumulated surplus and deficits on general funds and can be used in accordance with the charity's objects at the discretion of the Trustees.
Government grants are recognised in the period in which relevant expenses were incurred and deemed to be receivable.
Restricted funds represent monies received for specific purposes. All income and expenditure relating to the restricted funds' movements is included in the income and expenditure account. Further details of restricted funds are shown in note 15.
54
55
## **BRAIN TUMOUR SUPPORT**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
|**2**
**Donations and grants**
Charitable trust donations
Fundraising and individual donations
The above includes £1,700 of government grants.
**Prior year comparative**
Charitable trust donations
Fundraising and individual donations
The above includes £9,850 of government grants.
**3**
**Income from: Other trading activities**
Merchandise and other sales
**Prior year comparative**
Merchandise and other sales|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Funds**
**£**
**Funds**
**£**
**2025**
**£**
72,550
158,280
230,830
295,708
45,975
341,683|
|---|---|
||368,258
204,255
572,513|
||**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Funds**
**£**
**Funds**
**£**
**2024**
**£**
90,913
125,699
216,612
259,312
13,765
273,077|
||350,225
139,464
489,689|
||**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Funds**
**£**
**Funds**
**£**
**2025**
**£**
1,233
-
1,233|
||1,233
-
1,233|
||**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**Total**
**Funds**
**£**
**Funds**
**£**
**2024**
**£**
2,402
-
2,402|
||2,402
-
2,402|
## **BRAIN TUMOUR SUPPORT**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
|**4**
**Expenditure on: Raising Funds**
Fundraising
**Prior year comparative**
Fundraising
**5**
**Expenditure on: Charitable activities**
Providing support
Raising awareness
**Prior year comparative**
Providing support
Raising awareness|**Activities**
**undertaken**
**directly**
**Central**
**costs**
**(note 6)**
**Total**
**2025**
**£**
**£**
**£**
124,833
6,913
131,746|
|---|---|
||124,833
6,913
131,746|
||**Activities**
**Central**
**undertaken**
**costs**
**Total**
**directly**
**£**
**(note 6)**
**£**
**2024**
**£**
184,550
9,769
194,319|
||184,550
9,769
194,319|
||**Activities**
**Central**
**undertaken**
**costs**
**Total**
**directly**
**£**
**(note 6)**
**£**
**2025**
**£**
345,868
19,154
365,022
10,636
589
11,225|
||356,504
19,743
376,247|
||**Activities**
**Central**
**undertaken**
**costs**
**Total**
**directly**
**£**
**(note 6)**
**£**
**2024**
**£**
404,513
21,413
425,926
25,599
1,355
26,954|
||430,112
22,768
452,880|
56
57
## **Particulars of employees:**
The average number of employees during the year, calculated on the basis of average headcount, was 17 (2024: 24).
## **BRAIN TUMOUR SUPPORT**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **6 Central costs**
|Operating costs
Governance costs
Accountancy fees
**Prior year comparative**
Operating costs
Governance costs
Accountancy fees
**7**
**Net income for the year**
This is stated after charging:
Independent examiner's remuneration
- Independent Examination
- Accounts preparation
Depreciation|**Charitable**
**activities**
**Raising**
**funds**
**Total**
**2025**
**£**
**£**
**£**
15,761
5,519
21,280
3,982
1,394
5,376|**Charitable**
**activities**
**Raising**
**funds**
**Total**
**2025**
**£**
**£**
**£**
15,761
5,519
21,280
3,982
1,394
5,376|
|---|---|---|
||19,743
6,913
26,656||
||**Charitable**
**Raising**
**Total**
**activities**
**funds**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
21,014
9,017
30,031
1,754
752
2,506||
||22,768|
9,769
32,537|
|||**2025**
2024
**£**
£
1,110
1,056
1,386
1,320
434
434|
||||
|**8**
**Staff costs and emoluments**
**Total staff costs were as follows :**
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension contributions
**Particulars of employees:**||**2025**
2024
**£**
£
369,756
472,577
27,764
35,712
7,445
9,211|
|||404,965
517,500|
||||
The average number of employees during the year, calculated on the basis of average headcount, was 17 (2024: 24). The average number of employees during the year, calculated on the basis of full time equivalents, was 12.5 (2024: 16.9).
No employee received remuneration of more than £60,000 (2024 - nil) during the year.
Employment benefits received by seven (2024: seven) key management personnel in the period were £150,637 (2024: £166,550).
## The average number of employees during the year, calculated on the basis of full time equivalents, was 12.5 **BRAIN TUMOUR SUPPORT** (2024: 16.9).
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** No employee received remuneration of more than £60,000 (2024 - nil) during the year. Employment benefits received by seven (2024: seven) key management personnel in the period were **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025** £150,637 (2024: £166,550).
- **9 Prior year comparative Statement of Financial Activities**
||Donations
Charitable activities
Other trading activities
Investments|**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
350,225
2,402
3,379|**Restricted**
**Total funds**
**Funds**
**£**
139,464
**2024**
**£**
489,689
-
2,402
-
3,379|
|---|---|---|---|
||**Total income**|356,006|139,464
495,470|
||**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
Charitable activities
**Total expenditure**|194,319
296,922
491,241|-
194,319
155,958
452,880
155,958
647,199|
||**Net income/(expenditure) and net movement in funds**
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Total funds brought forward|(135,235)
143,311|(16,494)
(151,729)
19,379
162,690|
||**Total funds carried forward**|8,076|2,885
10,961|
||**10 Tangible fixed assets**
**Cost**
At 1 April 2024 and at 31 March 2025
**Depreciation**
At 1 April 2024 and at 31 March 2025
Charge for the year|**Equipment**
**£**
8,634
8,094
434|**Fixtures &**
**fittings**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
1,390
10,024
1,390
9,484
-
434|
||At 31 March 2025|8,528|1,390
9,918|
||**Net book value**
At 31 March 2025|106|-
106|
||At 31 March 2024|540|-
540|
||**11 Debtors**
Prepayments||**2025**
2024
**£**
£
8,107
2,232|
||||8,107
2,232|
|||||
58
59
**11 Debtors**
|Prepayments
**BRAIN TUMOUR SUPPORT**
**NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
**YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**|**2025**
2024
**£**
£
8,107
2,232
8,107
2,232|
|---|---|
|||
|**12 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
**2025**
2024
**£**
£
Trade creditors
1,848
4,899
Accruals and deferred income
14,142
11,074
Taxation and social security
5,888
7,630
Other creditors
1,665
2,013
Bank Loan
4,050
2,363
27,593
27,979||
|||
|**13Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year**
Bank Loan|**2025**
2024
**£**
£
17,244
20,926|
The bank loans due within one year and after more than one year represent a 'Bounce Back' loan, taken out in 2020, at an interest rate of 2.5% per annum. The loan is unsecured and was repayable in instalments over 10 years.
In March 2024, in response to the client's request, the bank agreed to a six-month repayment holiday until August 2024 and to extend the loan term to 120 months from the original term of 72 months.
## **BRAIN TUMOUR SUPPORT**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **15 Movement in funds** _**(continued)**_
|**Movement in funds****_(continued)_**|||
|---|---|---|
|**Year ended 31 March 2024**
**Restricted funds**
Regional support groups
Support for neuro team
Counselling
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
Designated funds
Support salaries
IT for new employees
Fundraising salaries
Staff training day
Total Unrestricted funds
**Total funds**|**At 1 April**
**2023**
**Income**
**Expenditure**
**£**
**£**
**£**
18,693
136,214
(152,568)
82
-
-
604
3,250
(3,390)
19,379
139,464
(155,958)
121,715
356,006
(469,847)
17,158
-
(17,158)
495
-
-
3,585
-
(4,236)
358
-
-|**Transfers**
**in/(out)**
**At 31 March**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
-
2,339
-
82
-
464|
|||-
2,885|
|||202
8,076
-
-
(495)
-
651
-
(358)
-|
||21,596
-
(21,394)|(202)
-|
||143,311
356,006
(491,241)|-
8,076|
||||
||162,690
495,470
(647,199)|-
10,961|
## **14 Operating lease commitments**
At 31 March 2025 the company had total minimum commitments under non-cancellable operating leases for premises as follows:
|**Payments due:**
Within 1 year
Between 2 to 5 years||**2025**
**£**
2024
£
6,600
6,075
23,650
30,250|
|---|---|---|
||||
|**15Movement in funds**
**Year ended 31 March 2025**
**Restricted funds**
Regional suppo**r**t groups
Support for neuro team
Counselling
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**Total funds**
**15Movement in funds**
**Year ended 31 March 2025**
**Restricted funds**
Regional support groups
Support for neu o team
Counselling
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**Total funds**|**At 1 April**
**Transfers At 31 March**
**2024**
**Income Expenditure**
**in/(out)**
**2025**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
2,339
204,255
-
170,747
**-**
35,847
82
**-**
-
**-**
82
464
-
-
464
-
-
**At 1 April**
**Transfers At 31 March**
**2024**
**Income Expenditure**
**i /(out)**
**2025**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
2,339
204,255
-
170,747
-
35,847
82
-
-
82
464
-
464
-||
||2,885
204,255 -
171,211
-
35,929||
||2,885
204,255 -
171,211
-
35,929||
||8,076
370,404
-
336,782
-
41,698
8,076
370,404
-
336,782
-
41,698||
||10,961
574,659 -
507,993
-
77,627||
||10,961
574,659 -
507,993
-
77,627||
The 'Regional support groups' restricted fund is where donors have restricted their donation to be used specifically to support the running costs of one of the charity's many different regional support groups. The disclosure of these different restricted funds has been combined due to their similarity, however the individual restrictions of each donation are monitored and maintained.
The 'Support for neuro team' restricted fund is where donors have restricted their donations to be used in supporting hospital CNS neuro teams who treat brain tumour patients.
The 'Counselling' restricted fund is the provision of counselling services to the charity's service users.
60
61
## **BRAIN TUMOUR SUPPORT**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **16 Analysis of net assets between funds**
|**Analysis of net assets between funds**||
|---|---|
|**As at 31 March 2025**
Restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
General funds
**As at 31 March 2024**
Restricted funds
Unrestricted funds
General funds|**Fixed**
**assets**
**Cash at**
**bank**
**Other**
**net assets/**
**(liabilities)**
**Total**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
-
35,929
-
35,929
106
78,322
(36,730)
41,698
|
||106
114,251
(36,730)
77,627|
||**Fixed**
**Cash at**
**Other**
**net assets/**
**assets**
**£**
**bank**
**£**
**(liabilities)**
**£**
**Total**
**£**
-
2,885
-
2,885
540
54,209
(46,673)
8,076|
||540
57,094
(46,673)
10,961|
## **BRAIN TUMOUR SUPPORT**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **18 Analysis of changes in cash during the year**
||
|
|---|---|
|Cash at bank and in hand
Cash at bank and in hand|**2025**
2024
**Change**
**£**
£
**£**
114,251
57,094
57,157|
||**2024**
**£**
2023
£
**Change**
**£**
57,094
223,853
(166,759)|
## **19 Related party transactions**
Trustee remuneration in the year was £nil (2024: £nil). No Trustee was reimbursed for any expenses during the year or the prior year. Total Trustee donations to the charity in the year were £1,381 (2024: £1,083). Trustees waived expenses of £974 (2024: £664) during the year.
There were no other related party transactions in either the current year or the prior year.
## **17 Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash inflow from operating activities**
|Statement of Financial Activities: Net movement in funds
Investment income
Depreciation
Decrease / (increase) in debtors
Increase /(decrease) in creditors: current liabilities
**Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating activities**|**2025**
**£**
66,666
(913)
434
(5,875)
(2,073)
58,239|2024
£
(151,729)
(3,379)
434
3,876
(10,297)|
|---|---|---|
|||(161,095)|
62
63
**We would like to thank all those who shared their stories, pictures and quotes to help us bring to life the impact of a brain tumour diagnosis and the work of Brain Tumour Support. We would also like to thank everyone who has donated, raised funds or helped in any way to make this work possible.**
**If you, or someone you know, has been affected by a brain tumour diagnosis and need support, please reach out to us:**
**Support line:** 01454 422 701 **Email:** support@braintumoursupport.co.uk **Website:** www.braintumoursupport.co.uk
64
Audit Trail
## **Document Details**
|**Title**
Accounts for signature|**Title**
Accounts for signature||
|---|---|---|
|**File Name**
HIGH RES - BTS Annual Report 2025 FINAL.pdf|||
|**Document ID**
aba15ba6e37e43acb2a2ceaa60e1b5cb|||
|**Fingerprint**
ad7bea0065b2ad62493d2a235185564c|||
|**Status**
Completed|||
|**Document History**|||
|**Document Created**|Document Created by Karen Chelton (karen@burton-sweet.co.uk)
Fingerprint: c8a25bb5e89b84a84969c932fa5b1da|Aug 20 2025
12:01PM UTC|
|**Document Sent**|Document Sent to Steve Bodley (Stevebodley@hotmail.co.uk)|Aug 20 2025
12:01PM UTC|
|**Document Viewed**|Document Viewed by Steve Bodley (Stevebodley@hotmail.co.uk)
IP: 52.102.10.165|Aug 20 2025
01:28PM UTC|
|**Document Viewed**|Document Viewed by Steve Bodley (Stevebodley@hotmail.co.uk)
IP: 31.94.0.109|Aug 20 2025
01:28PM UTC|
|**Document Viewed**|Document Viewed by Steve Bodley (Stevebodley@hotmail.co.uk)
IP: 135.232.20.64|Aug 20 2025
01:35PM UTC|
|**Document Viewed**|Document Viewed by Steve Bodley (Stevebodley@hotmail.co.uk)
IP: 31.94.0.108|Aug 20 2025
01:45PM UTC|
||Document Signed by Steve Bodley (Stevebodley@hotmail.co.uk)||
||IP: 146.200.206.211||
|**Document Signed**||Aug 20 2025
02:18PM UTC|
|**Document Sent**|Document Sent to Joshua Kingston (josh.kingston@burton-sweet.co.uk)|Aug 20 2025
02:18PM UTC|
|**Document Viewed**|Document Viewed by Joshua Kingston (josh.kingston@burton-sweet.co.uk)
IP: 193.37.83.74|Aug 20 2025
03:31PM UTC|
||Document Signed by Joshua Kingston (josh.kingston@burton-sweet.co.uk)||
|---|---|---|
||IP: 193.37.83.74||
|**Document Signed**||Aug 20 2025
03:32PM UTC|
|**Document**|This document has been completed.|Aug 20 2025|
|**Completed**|Fingerprint: ad7bea0065b2ad62493d2a235185564c|03:33PM UTC|
||||