REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1165808
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND
UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021 FOR
ANN CONROY TRUST CIO
Read, Milburn & Co 71 Howard Street North Shields Tyne and Wear NE30 1AF
ANN CONROY TRUST CIO
CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Report of the Trustees | 1 to 6 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 7 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 8 |
| Balance Sheet | 9 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 10 to 15 |
| Detailed Statement of Financial Activities | 16 to 17 |
ANN CONROY TRUST CIO
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2021. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
The aims of the Charity continue to be "Support, Education and Research". Ensuring that patients and their families have support when needed has been of paramount importance to the trustees of the Ann Conroy Trust. In addition, the Charity puts in a great deal of effort as regards providing education about the medical conditions that it covers. Such services are provided both for patients and for medical, nursing and other health care workers who may be called upon to treat these conditions. The Charity also offers grants to support research projects when such projects are deemed appropriate and worthy of support.
Public benefit
In explaining how the activities of the charity meet the public benefit of its work, the trustees have met the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.
ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE
During 2021 and subsequently the Ann Conroy Trust concentrated on restoring to its membership some of the services which were lost or had become restricted during the COVID pandemic. During this time we lost two valuable trustees, including our former chairman, both of whom died. We have since appointed two new officers, as medical advisers. Officers of the Charity during 2021 therefore consisted of seven trustees, two non-trustee medical advisors and an honorary secretary.
The stated objectives of the Ann Conroy Trust have always been to provide, for people who suffer from syringomyelia, Chiari malformation and related disorders, support and education. We also offer to fund research projects if these are relevant to the aforementioned conditions. The following sections summarise, under each of these three headings, our work over the past twelve months and our plans for future development.
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ANN CONROY TRUST CIO
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE - continued
Support
Following the loss of our former chairman, Lynn Burton, we were unable to continue running a telephone helpline. It has nevertheless been and remains our intention to re-introduce this service as soon as we can. We realise that we will need to establish a team of volunteers to run this helpline, on a shared basis and running a regular rota. It will not be possible to offer this service at all times and every day but even a limited service, if defined and publicised as such, will still be of value. Past experience has taught the Charity that it is newly diagnosed people who turn to helplines, such as the one that the Ann Conroy Trust formerly ran. Such people are usually distressed and may well not fully understand the condition or what their hospital specialist has said to them. They may therefore have accessed information on the internet and this may not have been appropriate to them. The Ann Conroy Trust is, as ever, not able to offer medical advice but we can try to point callers in the right direction, so that they can obtain the appropriate expert professional help.
Those volunteers who will run the helpline will require training in counselling skills, in particular teaching them to be a good listeners. The Charity's medical advisors will also provide some training about the conditions that come under our remit, in order that our counsellors can understand better what a caller's may be reporting to them by way of advice already received.
We will need to look at what technology is available so that the Charity's helpline telephone number can transfer incoming calls to the phone line of the individual manning the service at any given time.
In the absence of a telephone helpline, the charity has received regular requests for advice via our "enquiries@" web address. We do our best to respond but we are often asked for an opinion about advice already given to a caller by their healthcare professional. We politely point out that we are not qualified to do this but, once again, we try and help callers get appropriate expert advice. We also refer callers to our website (see below) for explanatory educational material.
The Ann Conroy Trust continues to produce a very professional looking magazine, laid out and illustrated in full colour and printed to a high standard. Recently we have been able to produce only two editions a year. We would like to increase the frequency of editions but this will depend on how many articles are submitted to the editorial board.
A form of indirect support that the Charity offers to the public is that of the British Syringomyelia Chiari group. The Charity organises and part funds these meetings of healthcare professionals from around the UK who are regularly involved in treating people with syringomyelia, Chiari or related conditions. Cases, discussed anonymously at these meetings provide for exchange of experiences and ideas and constitute an invaluable educational resource for these healthcare professionals. One interesting paradox of the COVID pandemic has been that the frequency of these meetings, previously twice yearly, has now increased, courtesy of Microsoft Teams. The group also organised two hybrid meetings, with success but with produced numbers attending in person. In the future we plan to run three virtual meetings each year and one in-person meeting.
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ANN CONROY TRUST CIO
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE - continued
Education
During the lockdown, and with generous financial support from two of our patrons, the Charity has successfully re-designed and re-launched its website. The content is now more extensive than it was previously and, to date, has received complimentary feedback. The Charity acknowledges that there will inevitably be some errors and omissions and has actively encouraged feedback from its supporters. Overall, this new website represents a big step forward in terms of us providing up-to-date educational material for people. It is our intention to develop this website further over the ensuing years.
The Ann Conroy Trust has, for many years now, held at least one annual meeting for patients, their relatives and carers. These have been held on a Saturday, often with social gatherings on the preceding Friday and/or the following Sunday. The Charity has normally invited speakers - healthcare professionals or patients - to address the assembled audience. A good deal of time is also set aside to allow those attending to talk informally amongst themselves and provide feedback to the Charity officers. The hotel that the Charity has used for a number of years sadly fell victim to COVID and has since closed. The Charity put in a great deal of time and effort to identify a suitable replacement venue, taking into account the need for many attendees to travel some distances to join us. We were also well aware of cost implications, particularly as the cost of living crisis began to take hold in the second half of 2022. The Charity has always subsidised these events to a significant degree and feels that, historically at least, such meetings have been of great value to those who attend.
The Charity has not been able to arrange any training events for healthcare professionals over the past year or two, again because of COVID. No new training events are currently being planned. We are conscious of the fact that many groups who are currently trying to organise academic events are experiencing difficulty in getting adequate number of delegates to attend in person. Hopefully these adverse effects of COVID will begin to subside and, when the time seems right, we may look to re organise further training days.
Research
The Ann Conroy Trust is well aware that, when individuals or groups donate to a medical charity, they frequently have in mind the supporting of research in the hope of finding a cure for the condition or conditions in question. The Charity recognises, however, that some conditions, such as Chiari malformation, cannot be cured as such as they are part of the affected individual's physical constitution. It then becomes a matter of finding the best ways of managing the condition medically, be this with or without surgical intervention. With this in mind, the Ann Conroy Trust continues to support a research study being conducted on a national basis, by the British Neurosurgical Trainees Association, under the auspices of the Oxford neurosurgical unit.
The Ann Conroy Trust would be happy to support future projects of a similar nature. The Charity is therefore happy to consider applications for grants, to support such work, up to the sum of £10,000 each. It would consider applications for larger amounts if this circumstances justified such sums but the Charity does not have sufficient funds to pay salaries of research workers. Instead its philosophy is to support research projects that are carried out by individuals who already hold a salaried post. By way of example, a hospital doctor may wish to conduct a research project looking at the application of an MRI scanning method in helping the management of patients with syringomyelia or Chiari malformation. These scans would be carried out after normal working hours and would need to be funded.
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ANN CONROY TRUST CIO
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Financial position
The charity's income for the period under review amounted to £21,248 (2020 - £153,416). Expenditure amounted to £9,946 (2020 - £10,442). At the balance sheet date total reserves were £500,339 (2020 - £489,037), there were no restricted funds.
Reserves policy
There is no formal reserves policy in place. The trustees are considering this as part of our review of the finances of the charity.
Going concern
After making enquiries, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the annual report and accounts.
FUTURE PLANS
The charity remains committed to the support of those living with the conditions of Chiari Malformation and Syringomyelia, the education of medical professionals and the funding of appropriate research.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The charity is controlled by its constitution, and constitutes a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
Trustees are appointed via a vote from the current Trustees and are sought to ensure a balance between people living with syringomyelia and/or Chiari malformation and medical advisors/health care professionals who deal with these conditions.
Organisational structure
An executive committee of up to ten trustees manage the charity. All members of the executive committee remain in office until they submit their resignation or are asked to do so by the remainder of the committee.
Induction and training of new trustees
New trustees are given adequate training to meet the requirements of the charity.
Risk management
The trustees have made assessments of the major financial and operating risks that the charity faces and have put in place controls to mitigate or eliminate these risks. They have regular meetings to review the position of the trust and the level of reserves.
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ANN CONROY TRUST CIO
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered Charity number
1165808
Principal address
The Gateway, 85-101 Sankey Street, Warrington, Cheshire, WA1 1SR
Trustees
Mr Graham Flint Chairman Miss Julie Millward Publications Editor Mrs Gill Brereton Treasurer Mr Nicholas Haden Medical Advisor Mr Selwyn Yates Website Liaison Officer Mrs Rebecca Dodwell-Pitt Trustee
Mr Graham Winstanley (retired 30 September 2022) Prof. James van Dellen (retired 5 January 2021)
Other Officers
Marian Flint Honorary Secretary
Patrons
Mr Jamie McDonald Mr Terry Woods Mrs Barbara Woods
Independent Examiner
Read, Milburn & Co., 71 Howard Street, North Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE30 1AF
Bankers
CAF Bank, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4JQ Flagstone Group Ltd, 1st Floor Clareville House, 26-27 Oxendon Street, London, SW1Y 4EL
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ANN CONROY TRUST CIO
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales, the Charities Act 2011, Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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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 proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 19 October 2022 and signed on its behalf by:
Mr Graham Flint, Chairman
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF ANN CONROY TRUST CIO
Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Ann Conroy Trust CIO
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Ann Conroy Trust CIO (the Trust) for the year ended 31 December 2021.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of the Trust you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ('the Act').
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
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.
Nicholas J Liley Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales Read, Milburn & Co 71 Howard Street North Shields Tyne and Wear NE30 1AF
19 October 2022
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ANN CONROY TRUST CIO
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
| 2021 Unrestricted fund Notes £ INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM Donations and legacies 2 16,886 Charitable activities Charitable activities 585 Other trading activities 3 1,111 Investment income 4 2,666 Total 21,248 EXPENDITURE ON Raising funds 195 Charitable activities 5 Charitable activities 9,751 Total 9,946 NET INCOME 11,302 RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds brought forward 489,037 TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 500,339 |
2020 Total funds £ 149,646 505 - 3,265 |
|---|---|
| 153,416 | |
| 265 10,177 |
|
| 10,442 | |
| 142,974 346,063 |
|
| 489,037 |
The notes form part of these financial statements
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ANN CONROY TRUST CIO
BALANCE SHEET 31 DECEMBER 2021
| Notes CURRENT ASSETS Debtors 9 Cash at bank and in hand CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year 10 NET CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES NET ASSETS FUNDS 11 Unrestricted funds TOTAL FUNDS |
2021 Total funds £ 2,403 498,766 501,169 (830) 500,339 500,339 500,339 500,339 500,339 |
2020 Total funds £ 1,742 488,144 489,886 (849) 489,037 489,037 489,037 489,037 489,037 |
|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 19 October 2022 and were signed on its behalf by:
Mr Graham Flint, Chairman
Mrs Gill Brereton, Treasurer
The notes form part of these financial statements
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ANN CONROY TRUST CIO
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparing the financial statements
The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) 'Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
The presentation currency of the financial statements is the Pound Sterling (£).
Going Concern
The financial statements are prepared on the going concern basis. In the opinion of trustees, no material uncertainties exist about the charity's ability to continue.
Income
All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.
Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Tangible fixed assets
Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.
Improvements to property - 20% on cost Office equipment - 33% on cost and 20% on cost
Taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
continued...
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ANN CONROY TRUST CIO
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued
Financial instruments
All financial assets and financial liabilities of the charity qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.
2. DONATIONS AND LEGACIES
| Donations Gift aid Legacies Subscriptions 3. OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES Fundraising events 4. INVESTMENT INCOME Interest receivable 5. CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES COSTS Charitable activities |
Direct Costs £ 1,071 |
2021 £ 9,461 61 3,969 3,395 16,886 2021 £ 1,111 2021 £ 2,666 Support costs (see note 6) £ 8,680 |
2020 £ 25,344 241 120,231 3,830 149,646 2020 £ - 2020 £ 3,265 Totals £ 9,751 |
|---|---|---|---|
continued...
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ANN CONROY TRUST CIO
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
6. SUPPORT COSTS
| SUPPORT COSTS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Governance | |||
| Management | costs | Totals | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Charitable activities | 7,960 | 720 | 8,680 |
| The following is included within Governance costs | |||
| 2021 | 2020 | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Independent Examiner's remuneration (including irrecoverable VAT) | 720 | 714 | |
| Support costs, included in the above, are as follows: | |||
| 2021 | 2020 | ||
| Charitable | Total | ||
| activities | activities | ||
| £ | £ | ||
| Storage | 2,743 | 2,554 | |
| Telephone and internet | 265 | 428 | |
| Printing, postage and stationery | 3,365 | 5,744 | |
| Advertising | 102 | 258 | |
| Sundries | 151 | 287 | |
| Travel and accommodation | 243 | - | |
| Bank charges | 1,091 | 60 | |
| Depreciation of tangible fixed assets | - | 132 | |
| Accountancy and legal fees | 720 | 714 | |
| 8,680 | 10,177 |
7. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 December 2021 nor for the year ended 31 December 2020.
Trustees' expenses
Expenses incurred on behalf of the charity amounting to £2,656 (2020 - £396) were reimbursed to 1 (2020 - 3) trustee(s).
continued...
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ANN CONROY TRUST CIO
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
8. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS
| Improvements to property £ COST At 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2021 2,593 DEPRECIATION At 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2021 2,593 NET BOOK VALUE At 31 December 2021 - At 31 December 2020 - 9. DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Other debtors Prepayments and accrued income 10. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Other creditors Accruals and deferred income 11. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS At 1/1/21 £ Unrestricted funds General fund 489,037 TOTAL FUNDS 489,037 |
Office equipment £ 1,912 1,912 - - 2021 £ 475 1,928 2,403 2021 £ 110 720 830 Net movement in funds £ 11,302 11,302 |
Totals £ 4,505 4,505 - - 2020 £ 85 1,657 1,742 2020 £ 135 714 849 At 31/12/21 £ 500,339 500,339 |
|---|---|---|
continued...
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ANN CONROY TRUST CIO
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
11. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Incoming | Resources | Movement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| resources | expended | in funds | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted funds | |||
| General fund | 21,248 | (9,946) | 11,302 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 21,248 | (9,946) | 11,302 |
Comparatives for movement in funds
| Unrestricted funds General fund TOTAL FUNDS |
At 1/1/20 £ 346,063 346,063 |
Net movement in funds £ 142,974 142,974 |
At 31/12/20 £ 489,037 489,037 |
|---|---|---|---|
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
| Unrestricted funds General fund TOTAL FUNDS |
Incoming resources £ 153,416 153,416 |
Resources Movement expended in funds £ £ (10,442) 142,974 (10,442) 142,974 |
|---|---|---|
continued...
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ANN CONROY TRUST CIO
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - continued FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
12. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 December 2021.
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ANN CONROY TRUST CIO
DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
| INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS Donations and legacies Donations Gift aid Legacies Subscriptions Other trading activities Fundraising events Investment income Interest receivable Charitable activities Meetings and events Total incoming resources EXPENDITURE Raising donations and legacies Sundries Charitable activities Event costs Support costs Management Storage Telephone and internet Printing, postage and stationery Advertising Sundries Travel and accommodation Bank charges Other Depreciation of tangible fixed assets |
2021 £ 9,461 61 3,969 3,395 16,886 1,111 2,666 585 21,248 195 1,071 2,743 265 3,365 102 151 243 1,091 7,960 - |
2020 £ 25,344 241 120,231 3,830 149,646 - 3,265 505 153,416 265 - 2,554 428 5,744 258 287 - 60 9,331 132 |
|---|---|---|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
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ANN CONROY TRUST CIO
DETAILED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021
| Other Governance costs Accountancy and legal fees Total resources expended Net income |
2021 £ 720 9,946 11,302 |
2020 £ 714 10,442 142,974 |
|---|---|---|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
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