**Charity registration number 1165808 (England and Wales)**
## **ANN CONROY TRUST CIO**
# **ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**
## **ANN CONROY TRUST CIO**
## **LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION**
**Trustees** Mr G Flint Miss J Millward Mr N Haden Mr J S Yates Mr J Wright (Appointed 27 January 2025) Miss J Sutherland (Appointed 3 February 2025) **Other Officers** Mrs M Flint Honorary Secretary Mr J Jayamohan Medical Adviser Mrs S Kewin Medical Adviser Mr G Tsermoulas Medical Adviser Mr J McDonald Patron Mr T Woods Patron Mrs B Woods Patron **Charity registration** England and Wales 1165808 **Principal address** The Gateway 85-101 Sankey Street Warrington Cheshire WA1 1SR **Independent examiner** Nicholas Liley FCA BK Plus Limited 13 Windsor Terrace Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HE
## **ANN CONROY TRUST CIO**
## **CONTENTS**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trustees' report|1 - 3|
|Statement of trustees' responsibilities|4|
|Independent examiner's report|5|
|Statement of financial activities|6|
|Balance sheet|7|
|Notes to the financial statements|8 - 13|
## **ANN CONROY TRUST CIO**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**_
The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, the Charities Act 2011, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Charities SORP "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)".
## **Objectives and activities**
## Objective 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.
## **Achievements and performance**
## Support for patients
Providing appropriate support for people living with the neurological disorders known as Chiari malformation and syringomyelia is seen, by the Charity, as being a vital part of what we do. Those supported include people living with the conditions, their families and the medical professionals who treat them. We recognise both the practical and emotional needs of individuals who have recently been diagnosed as having one or both conditions.
With the above in mind, we were able, in 2024, to re-establish a telephone helpline, so that newly diagnosed and other patients can obtain one-to-one support. Helpline volunteers are all people who have direct experience of what it is like to live with Chiari malformation or syringomyelia. Volunteers have all received training in the listening skills required to undertake such work.
Another form of peer-support is now being provided by the re-formation of some local support groups. Also set-up in 2024, this programme ensures that affected individuals do not need to travel long distances to be able to exchange experiences with others, similarly affected. We feel that, whatever medical and other state-provided services can and cannot do for them, it is of great comfort to patients if they know that they are not alone in what they are experiencing. We have taken particular care to ensure that all meetings are led by group leaders who understand the purposes of the Ann Conroy Trust and know what we require by way of proper governance of such groups and how the meetings are run.
The Charity magazine continues to provide another vital lifeline for members of the Charity. Currently, two editions are produced each year, containing a mixture of personal stories, reports on fundraising activities and medical information. In an age of increasingly digital-only information sources, the Charity magazine represents a welcome source of information for many.
We also continue to develop our website, which we see as a source of reliable information, to which anybody wanting to learn more about the conditions that we cover can be referred. By way of illustrating its use, we continue to receive email requests for advice on medical matters but it would be inappropriate for us, as a charity, to offer any form of medical advice. We do, however, on our website, provide information as to where people can go to get advice, from qualified, accredited health professionals practicing in the UK. The website also provides information that we hope will enable patients to better understand any advice given to them by their medical advisors.
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## **ANN CONROY TRUST CIO**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**_
The trustees recognise, however, that we now live in a time when people seek information, initially, via social media, rather than from websites. In order to increase public awareness of us and what we do, particularly amongst younger generations, we established, in 2025, a presence on selected social media platforms, including Facebook & Instagram. This has involved additional financial commitments for us but we regard this as appropriate and a productive use of our predictable annual income.
Another initiative, aimed at modernising our services to people living with the conditions that we cover, has been the recording of a number of podcasts. Begun as a pilot in 2024, these have proven successful and we have therefore produced further recordings in 2025.
## Support for healthcare professionals
The British Syringomyelia-Chiari Group continues to meet twice a year, once virtually and once in-person. At these meetings individual case histories are discussed (anonymously), in order that the presenter (usually a neurosurgeon) can then learn from colleagues who may have had experiences of similar cases. Feedback from those attending continues to show that healthcare professionals find these meetings invaluable. Exchanges of experiences amongst specialists caring for people affected by syringomyelia, Chiari malformation and related conditions helps them keep up-to-date in the field and well placed to advise their patients. Both the virtual and the in-person meetings are attended by at least one lay representative from the Ann Conroy Trust, to ensure that any discussions that take place are appropriate to the purposes of the Charity.
## Administrative support
For many years the Charity has depended upon, not only financial donations from the general public, but also the hours put in by a small group of dedicated volunteers. These individuals, as well as the trustees themselves, have taken on most of the day-to-day executive duties involved in running the Charity. We recognise, however, that such an approach is unsustainable, if we are to develop further the services that we hope to provide. We note that our finances are sufficient for us now to purchase the services of a specialised charities administration company, in the form of Admin & More. This company will be providing bookkeeping facilities and IT support, as well as general communication and administrative support.
## **Financial review**
## Financial position
The charity's income for the period under review amounted to £40,239 (2024 - £40,680). Expenditure amounted to £23,089 (2024 - £18,048). At the balance sheet date total reserves were £569,087 (2024 - £551,937), there were no restricted funds.
## _Reserves policy_
The Trustees continue to review how best to use our reserves, to achieve our charitable aims. We have invested funds in such a way as to protect them from any future banking crises, with no more than £85,000 being held in anyone banking group, up until the time when the Financial Services Compensation scheme limit was raised to £120,000. We will continue to deposit our cash investments in a manner such that we continue to benefit from this protection. In doing this we also look to maximise the interest rates available from mainstream banking. Our underlying policy is to invest our reserve funds in such a way as to protect them from inflationary pressures that might otherwise reduce their real value. Thereafter excess income that they generate can be used to meet our dayto-day running costs and then to fund individual projects upon which we may embark. This way the trustees hope to ensure the financial viability of the Charity into the foreseeable future.
## Going concern
Accordingly, we 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.
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## **ANN CONROY TRUST CIO**
## **TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**_
## **Structure, governance and management**
## Governing document
The charity is controlled by its constitution, and constitutes a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.
## Trustees
The trustees who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were: Mrs G Brereton (Resigned 27 January 2025) Mr G Flint Miss J Millward Mr N Haden Mr J S Yates Mr J Wright (Appointed 27 January 2025) Miss J Sutherland (Appointed 3 February 2025)
## _Recruitment and appointment of trustees_
Trustees are appointed via a vote from the current trustees and are sought and selected 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. Trustees also avail themselves, from time to time, of the services of a number of healthcare professionals. These individuals provide, on a voluntary basis, guidance as regards educational material that we make available on or website and elsewhere.
## Induction and training of new trustees
New trustees are given full support from other trustees, to allow them to meet the requirements of the Charity.
## Risk management
The trustees remain aware of the major financial and operating risks that the charity faces and have agreed upon methods aimed at mitigating these risks. At their meetings they routinely review the level of Charity financial reserves.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
Mr G Flint
## **Trustee & Chairman**
31 July 2026
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## **ANN CONROY TRUST CIO**
## **STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**_
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report 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 requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that year.
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 judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping sufficient accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. 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.
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## **ANN CONROY TRUST CIO**
## **INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT**
## **TO THE TRUSTEES OF ANN CONROY TRUST CIO**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Ann Conroy Trust CIO (the charity) for the year ended 31 December 2025.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
Your attention is drawn to the fact that the charity has prepared the financial statements in accordance with the relevant version of the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their financial statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) in preference to the Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice issued on 1 April 2005 which is referred to in the extant regulations but has now been withdrawn. I understand that this has been done in order for the financial statements to provide a true and fair view in accordance with UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.
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 that in any material respect:
- 1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Charities Act 2011.
- 2 the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
- 3 the financial statements do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of financial statements set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the financial statements 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 financial statements to be reached.
## **Nicholas Liley FCA**
BK Plus Limited 13 Windsor Terrace Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HE 24 August 2026
- 5 -
## **ANN CONROY TRUST CIO**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**_
|||**Unrestricted**|**Unrestricted**|
|---|---|---|---|
|||**funds**|**funds**|
|||**2025**|**2024**|
||**Notes**|**£**|**£**|
|**Income from:**||||
|Donations and legacies|**3**|6,509|15,996|
|Charitable activities|**4**|2,188|2,190|
|Other trading activities|**5**|11,003|-|
|Investments|**6**|20,539|22,494|
|**Total income**||40,239|40,680|
|**Expenditure on:**||||
|Raising funds|**7**|221|218|
|Charitable activities|**8**|22,868|17,830|
|**Total expenditure**||23,089|18,048|
|**Net income and movement in funds**||17,150|22,632|
|**Reconciliation of funds:**||||
|Fund balances at 1 January 2025||551,937|529,305|
|**Fund balances at 31 December 2025**||569,087|551,937|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
- 6 -
## **ANN CONROY TRUST CIO**
## **BALANCE SHEET**
## _**AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2025**_
|**Notes**
**Current assets**
Debtors
**15**
Cash at bank and in hand
**Creditors: amounts falling due within**
**one year**
**16**
**Net current assets**
**The funds of the charity**
Unrestricted funds
**17**|**2025**
**£**
1,597
569,633
571,230
(2,143)|**£**
569,087
569,087
569,087|**2024**
**£**
2,035
551,734
553,769
(1,832)|**£**
551,937
551,937
551,937|
|---|---|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the trustees on 31 July 2026
Mr G Flint Mr J S Yates **Trustee & Chairman Trustee & Treasurer**
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## **ANN CONROY TRUST CIO**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **Charity information**
Ann Conroy Trust CIO is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registered in England and Wales. The principal address is The Gateway, 85-101 Sankey Street, Warrington, Cheshire, WA1 1SR.
## **1.1 Basis of preparation**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Charities Act 2011, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" and the Charities SORP "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)". The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a statement of cash flows.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
## **1.2 Going concern**
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
## **1.3 Charitable funds**
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
## **1.4 Income**
Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset.
## **1.5 Expenditure**
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, 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 classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
- 8 -
## **ANN CONROY TRUST CIO**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
**(Continued)**
## **1.6 Tangible fixed assets**
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
Leasehold improvements 20% on cost Office equipment 20% and 33% on cost
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
## **1.7 Cash and cash equivalents**
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
## **1.8 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 Critical accounting estimates and judgements**
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
## **3 Income from donations and legacies**
||**Unrestricted**|**Unrestricted**|
|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|
||**2025**|**2024**|
||**£**|**£**|
|Donations and gifts|3,349|12,798|
|Legacies|-|500|
|Membership fees|3,160|2,698|
||6,509|15,996|
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## **ANN CONROY TRUST CIO**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**_
## **4 Income from charitable activities**
||**Unrestricted**|**Unrestricted**|
|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|
||**2025**|**2024**|
||**£**|**£**|
|**Charitable activities**|||
|Meetings and events|2,188|2,190|
## **5 Income from other trading activities**
|||**Unrestricted**|**Unrestricted**|
|---|---|---|---|
|||**funds**|**funds**|
|||**2025**|**2024**|
|||**£**|**£**|
||Fundraising events|11,003|-|
|**6**|**Income from investments**|||
|||**Unrestricted**|**Unrestricted**|
|||**funds**|**funds**|
|||**2025**|**2024**|
|||**£**|**£**|
||Interest receivable|20,539|22,494|
|**7**|**Expenditure on raising funds**|||
|||**Unrestricted**|**Unrestricted**|
|||**funds**|**funds**|
|||**2025**|**2024**|
|||**£**|**£**|
||**Fundraising and publicity**|||
||Other fundraising costs|221|218|
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## **ANN CONROY TRUST CIO**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**_
## **8 Expenditure on charitable activities**
|||**Charitable**|**Charitable**|
|---|---|---|---|
|||**activities**|**activities**|
|||**2025**|**2024**|
|||**£**|**£**|
||**Direct costs**|||
||Event costs|5,471|4,506|
||Telephone and online support|1,322|3,287|
|||6,793|7,793|
||**Share of support and governance costs (see note 9)**|||
||Support|14,162|9,167|
||Governance|1,913|870|
|||22,868|17,830|
||**Analysis by fund**|||
||Unrestricted funds|22,868|17,830|
|**9**|**Support costs allocated to activities**|||
|||**2025**|**2024**|
|||**£**|**£**|
||Storage|4,251|3,274|
||Telephone and internet|384|869|
||Printing, postage and stationery|4,724|3,686|
||Advertising|37|319|
||Sundries|117|57|
||Travel and accommodation|564|-|
||Bank charges|1,326|547|
||Administrative expenses|2,759|415|
||Governance costs|1,913|870|
|||16,075|10,037|
||**Analysed between:**|||
||Charitable activities|16,075|10,037|
|||**2025**|**2024**|
||**Governance costs comprise:**|**£**|**£**|
||Independent examination fees|960|870|
||Accountancy|953|-|
|||1,913|870|
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## **ANN CONROY TRUST CIO**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**_
|**10**|**Net movement in funds**|**2025**|**2024**|
|---|---|---|---|
|||**£**|**£**|
||The net movement in funds is stated after charging/(crediting):|||
||Fees payable for the independent examination of the charity's financial|||
||statements|960|870|
## **11 Trustees**
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year.
## **12 Employees**
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
||**2025**|**2024**|
|---|---|---|
||**Number**|**Number**|
|Total|-|-|
There were no employees whose annual remuneration was more than £60,000.
## **13 Taxation**
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
## **14 Tangible fixed assets**
|**Leasehold**
**improvements**
**Office**
**equipment**
**£**
**£**
**Cost**
At 1 January 2025
2,593
1,912
At 31 December 2025
2,593
1,912
**Depreciation and impairment**
At 1 January 2025
2,593
1,912
At 31 December 2025
2,593
1,912
**Carrying amount**
At 31 December 2025
-
-
At 31 December 2024
-
-|**Total**
**£**
4,505|
|---|---|
||4,505|
||4,505|
||4,505|
||-|
||-|
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## **ANN CONROY TRUST CIO**
## **NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025**_
## **15 Debtors**
|**Debtors**|||
|---|---|---|
|**Amounts falling due within one year:**
Prepayments and accrued income
**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income|**2025**
**£**
1,597
**2025**
**£**
230
1,913
2,143|**2024**
**£**
2,035|
|||**2024**
**£**
218
1,614|
|||1,832|
## **16 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
## **17 Unrestricted funds**
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
|**At 1**
General funds
**Previous year:**
**At 1**
General funds|**January**
**2025**
**Incoming**
**resources**
**Resources**
**expended**
**At 31**
**December**
**2025**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
551,937
40,239
(23,089)
569,087
**January**
**2024**
**Incoming**
**resources**
**Resources**
**expended**
**At 31**
**December**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
**£**
529,305
40,680
(18,048)
551,937|
|---|---|
## **18 Related party transactions**
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2024 - none).
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