DRAGONFLY CANCER TRUST LTD
(a company limited by guarantee without share capital)
Trustees Report and Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 December 2025 Company Registration number 10070362
Charity Registration number 1167247
AIMS Accountants for Business 11a Front Street Monkseaton NE25 8AN
DRAGONFLY CANCER TRUST LTD
DRAGONFLY CANCER TRUST LTD
| Reference and administrative details | 1 |
|---|---|
| Trustees' report | 2 |
| Independent examiner's report | 8 |
| Statement of financial activities | 9 |
| Balance sheet | 10 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 11 |
DRAGONFLY CANCER TRUST LTD
Reference and administrative details
Trustees and directors
Bilal, M Harker, D Gleghorn, D Asante, C Appointed 29 September 2025 Carr, K Appointed 29 September 2025 Foster, A Appointed 29 September 2025 Chaytor, P Resigned 17 July 2025 Rayner, A Appointed 6 May 2025 Hatton, Robyn Appointed 17 July 2025, Resigned 30 December 2025 Hay-Bryant, J Appointed 6 May 2025, Resigned 17 July 2025 Lambert, I Resigned 5 December 2025 Pickersgill, C Resigned 3 March 2025
Registered office and operational address
West 2 Asama Court Newcastle Business park Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 7YD
Independend examiner
Lee Thomson ACA AIMS Accountants for Business 11a Front Street Monkseaton NE25 8AN
Bankers
Handelsbanken Winder House Kingfisher Way Stockton on Tees TS18 3EX
Company number 10070362 Charity number 1167247
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DRAGONFLY CANCER TRUST LTD
Trustees Report
The trustees and directors of the company present their annual report together with the financial statements for the year to 31 December 2025.
The trustees confirm that the annual report and financial statements of the charity comply with the current statutory requirements, the requirements of the charity's governing document and the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102); and the Companies Act 2006.
Objectives and activities
The core principles of the Trust revolve around alleviating the needs of children and young individuals with a life-threatening or terminal illnesses, according to the discretion of the trustees.
Our Vision
"Our vision is to ensure that each moment matters for young cancer patients with limited time, providing them with the support and opportunities to create cherished memories that honour their lives and bring comfort to their journey."
What we do
The Trust supports young cancer patients aged from birth to 24 years who have received the unimaginable news that no further treatments options are available. Each request is centred on ensuring that patients and their families can create lasting memories together, facilitated through a range of services provided by Dragonfly Cancer Trust.
These services include: - Cash Gifts - Activity Boxes - Sibling Boxes - Memory Boxes - Keepsakes such as glass hearts and fingerprint jewellery.
Requests are submitted by Healthcare Professionals across the NHS, hospices, and cancer charities like Teenage Cancer Trust and Young Lives vs Cancer and occasionally referrals may come directly from the families.
We collaborate with medical teams to achieve the very best outcomes for young cancer patients under their care. Requests are submitted to the Trust via a secure server and their approval is overseen by the Trustees. The monetary amount granted is subject to the Trustees' discretion and is continually reviewed and monitored.
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DRAGONFLY CANCER TRUST LTD
Trustees Report
Our Impact
Cash Gifts
Through our Cash Gifts, we have been able to provide immediate support to young cancer patients facing unimaginable circumstances. The cash can be used on a pain free day enabling a strong sense of control and independence. These gifts offer a sense of relief, allowing families to focus on spending precious time together without the added burden of financial stress.
Activity Boxes:
Our specialist age-appropriate boxes are sent on a rolling basis to young people’s oncology wards and hospices throughout the country, many hundreds of young patients access the contents of the boxes which provide s focus and distraction during lengthy periods of treatment.
Sibling Boxes/Memory Boxes:
Understanding the impact of cancer on the entire family, our Sibling Boxes are thoughtfully curated to bring comfort to the brothers and sisters of young cancer patients. These boxes are filled with activities designed to bring a moment of escape, focus and a much-needed distraction during difficult times.
Glass Hearts:
Our Glass Hearts have become a symbol of love, strength, and remembrance. Each heart is handcrafted with care, offering families a tangible reminder of the love they share.
2025 in Review
Dragonfly Cancer Trust ended 2025 in a stronger position, with growing fundraising momentum, wider supporter engagement, and a more confident platform for the future. The year showed that a focused fundraising approach, careful stewardship, and a compelling case for support can strengthen sustainability while protecting and expanding services for young people with cancer.
During 2025, the charity made clear progress in building a more resilient fundraising model shaped by community generosity, corporate support, challenge events, grants, and flagship fundraising activity. This broader approach strengthened the charity’s ability to plan ahead and reinforced the importance of investing in relationships, supporter experience, and long-term fundraising growth.
The year also demonstrated the strength of the Dragonfly community. Support came from individuals, businesses, grant-makers, event participants, donors giving in memory, and people choosing to fundraise in their own way, all united by a shared commitment to enhance the lives of young people living with cancer.
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DRAGONFLY CANCER TRUST LTD
Trustees Report
Fundraising Progress
Fundraising in 2025 was shaped by a deliberate emphasis on sustainable and higher-value activity. Rather than relying heavily on traditional events alone, the charity benefited from a balanced mix of challenge events, grant funding, corporate giving, flagship events, community fundraising, in-memory support, and regular giving.
Several areas stood out as especially important. Grants and trusts remained central to the year’s success, confirming the value of strong relationships with institutional funders, while corporate support reflected growing confidence from businesses choosing to align with a charity making a meaningful difference locally. Major challenge activity, flagship events, and supporter-led fundraising also played a significant role, showing how well-designed fundraising experiences can inspire supporters, deepen connection to the mission, and strengthen long-term engagement.
Events such as the Great North Run, open challenges, independent supporter-led fundraising, seasonal appeals, collection tins, and in-memory giving all contributed to that momentum. Together, these strands demonstrated that Dragonfly Cancer Trust is supported not by one single source, but by a generous and committed community that believes deeply in the charity’s purpose.
Supporter Recognition
During 2025, Dragonfly Cancer Trust benefitted from the generous support of corporate partners including Kans and Kandy, Cabaret vs Cancer, 4Q Cancer, Fundraise and Recycle Limited, Raffle House and Dotera, alongside meaningful grant funding from The Rothlay Trust and The Louise Dalton Fund, together with matched funding from Lloyds Bank.
Their commitment played a vital role in sustaining and growing support for young people living with cancer across the country helping to fund memory-making grants, special experiences, and activity resources for young patients and their siblings at some of the toughest moments in their lives.
This support represents far more than income alone. It reflects trust in the charity’s mission, confidence in its ability to deliver, and a shared belief that young people facing cancer deserve compassion, dignity, and meaningful support throughout their journey.
Why Support Matters
Every fundraising success strengthens the charity’s ability to deliver compassionate, practical support to children and young people with cancer, and to the families around them. Resources remain focused on direct service delivery and the infrastructure needed to sustain that work effectively.
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DRAGONFLY CANCER TRUST LTD
Trustees Report
This matters because the need for support does not stand still. Young people facing cancer need moments of comfort, understanding, advocacy, and calmness, and that support must be available consistently, not only when conditions are easy. A stronger fundraising base makes it possible to respond with confidence, extend support more widely, and remain present for families when they need it most.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Dragonfly Cancer Trust will build on the success of its sibling support boxes, recognising the, often unseen, impact that a child’s cancer diagnosis has on brothers and sisters. Over the coming year the charity will further develop and expand the sibling box programme, creating age-appropriate resources, activities and keepsakes that help siblings feel included, supported and remembered, while also working with clinical teams to reach more families earlier in their journey.
The charity will also benefit from the redevelopment of its website, made possible thanks to the support of The Rothlay Trust. This investment will strengthen and improve the referral process and provide a wider-growing and increasingly respected platform for young cancer patients and their families, helping more people to understand the support available and access it more easily.
In addition, increased storage capacity will enable the charity to grow its ability to offer more items for activity boxes, sibling boxes and memory boxes, while also creating a practical hub for volunteers. This will support both service delivery and the charity’s capacity to respond efficiently as demand continues to grow.
From a fundraising perspective, the charity will introduce a new overseas challenge to widen its supporter base and will increase efforts to encourage supporters to sign up for open challenges. Alongside this, there will be a renewed focus on impact reporting gathered directly from the families who use the charity’s services and from the medical professionals who refer into them, ensuring that every stakeholder fully understands the depth and reach of Dragonfly Cancer Trust’s impact.
More broadly, the charity will continue to build on proven fundraising activity, deepen grant and trust relationships, strengthen corporate engagement and grow digital fundraising, using this stronger platform to expand support for young people with cancer. The aim is not simply to maintain momentum, but to turn it into greater reach and deeper impact across the U.K.
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DRAGONFLY CANCER TRUST LTD
Trustees Report
Thanks to Supporters
The progress made during the year was only possible because of a wide network of people who gave their time, energy, influence, and compassion. That includes trustees providing outstanding strategic leadership, staff and volunteers delivering with care and professionalism, donors and grant funders backing the mission, businesses choosing to partner with the charity, and participants in events and challenges who turned personal commitment into life-changing support.
Their contribution goes far beyond fundraising alone. It builds confidence, visibility, and hope, and it ensures that young people facing cancer know they are not facing it on their own.
Organisational Structure, Governance and Management
The organisation was registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee on 17 March 2016 and as a Charity on 20 May 2016. The company was established under Memorandum and Articles of Association and a Charitable Trust deed which govern its objects and powers. In the event of the company being wound up members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £10.
On September 7th, 2022, the Trust officially changed its name to Dragonfly Cancer Trust. This name had previously been used as our working name and the Trustees believed that this change would enhance clarity and strategically reposition our brand.
The Directors of the company are also charity Trustees and the management of the organisation is their responsibility. They are appointed under the terms of the governing documents. Trustees are elected to serve for 2 years after which they are eligible for re-election at the next AGM.
The day-to-day operations are delegated to the CEO who leads a team of staff and volunteers. We are grateful to our many volunteers and supporters who make such a huge difference.
Dragonfly Cancer Trust has undertaken a comprehensive review of its Board of Trustees to enhance its governance and strategic direction. As part of this initiative, we are actively recruiting additional Trustees to broaden and strengthen our expertise. This strategic approach aims to bolster our capacity to navigate the evolving landscape and drive our goals forward with greater impact.
We will continue to strengthen our volunteer engagement strategy to attract individuals who are passionate about our mission and eager to contribute to the charity’s growth and development.
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DRAGONFLY CANCER TRUST LTD
Trustees Report
Reserves Policy
Our fundraising income streams are not constant nor guaranteed. In order to ensure continuity and stability for the staff, volunteers and beneficiaries, it is necessary to hold enough reserves to mitigate a short-term fall in income and enable continued operation for a period of six months.
The trustees consider the highest risks to be associated with the generation of unrestricted income, from which the core central costs, including staff salaries. are paid. Core organisational costs are reasonably static, however payments to beneficiaries are difficult to predict and some element of flexibility for this needs to be built into the level of reserves held.
The level of reserves held is therefore based upon the level of “core” costs for a six-month period, together with an additional amount set aside to allow for a 10% increase in the level of gifts awarded. After consideration of the above points the trustees consider the appropriate level of unrestricted fund reserves to be £65,000. However, in line with our growth aspirations this will be reviewed during 2026.
Other Unrestricted Reserves
The capital reserve is adjusted annually to reflect the net book value of fixed assets, which cannot be easily realised, in the event of a cash shortfall.
Restricted Reserves
Where the Trust receives contributions that are restricted to specific types of expenditure, any unused amounts are held in a restricted reserve. At the end of 2025 there is a small restricted reserve balance which is the remainder of a grant received from the Freemasons for the provision of Activity Boxes for hospital wards.
Risk Management
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, particularly those risks related to the operations and finances of the charity The Trustees. are satisfied those systems and procedures are in place to mitigate our exposure to the major risks. Approved by the trustees and directors on 16[th] April 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
Chair of Trustees and Company Director
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DRAGONFLY CANCER TRUST LTD
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Dragonfly Cancer Trust LTD ("the company") for the year ended 31 December 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.
An independent examination does not involve gathering all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently does not cover all the matters that an auditor considers in giving their opinion on the accounts.
The planning and conduct of an audit goes beyond the limited assurance that an independent examination can provide. Consequently I express no opinion as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and my report is limited to those specific matters set out in the independent examiner’s statement.
Independent examiner’s statement
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:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 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 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
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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)].
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.
21 April 2026 ............................................................. ................................................. Lee Thomson ACA Date AIMS Accountants for Business
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DRAGONFLY CANCER TRUST LTD
Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 December 2025
| Income and Endowments from Note Donations 2 Other trading activities 3 Total Income Expenditure on Raising funds 4 Charitable activities 5 Total expenditure Net incoming resources Transfer between Funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward 11 Check - BS |
Unrestricted Funds 2025 £ 104,591 110,554 215,144 48,088 149,185 197,273 17,872 0 88,828 106,700 |
Restricted Funds 2025 £ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4,347 4,347 |
Total Total Funds Funds 2025 2024 £ £ 104,591 106,824 110,554 52,841 215,144 159,665 48,088 18,337 149,185 143,897 197,273 162,234 17,872 (2,569) 0 0 93,175 95,744 111,047 93,175 0 0 |
|---|---|---|---|
Check - BS
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DRAGONFLY CANCER TRUST LTD
| Notes Fixed Assets 7 Current Assets Debtors 8 Cash at Bank and in Hand Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 9 Net current assets / (liabilities) Creditors: amounts falling due after one year Total net assets / (liabilities) Funds of the Charity Restricted funds 11 Unrestricted funds 11 |
2025 £ 643 6,160 106,082 112,242 1,838 110,404 0 111,047 4,347 106,700 111,047 |
2024 £ 757 0 114,687 |
|---|---|---|
| 114,687 22,269 |
||
| 92,418 0 |
||
| 93,175 | ||
| 4,347 88,828 |
||
| 93,175 |
Check Audit Exemptions
For the financial year in question the company was entitled to exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
No members have required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The directors acknowledge their responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and for the preparation of accounts.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime.
The financial statements on pages 1 to 14
were approved by the trustees,
and authorised for issue on and signed on their behalf
by
Director
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DRAGONFLY CANCER TRUST LTD
Accounting Policies
1. Accounting policies
The principal accounting policies are summarised below. The accounting policies have been consistently applied.
1.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements
The Financial Statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102); and the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act 2011.
1.2 Funding Account
General Funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designed for other purposes.
Designated funds are general funds which have been set aside by the trustees for a specific purpose.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
1.3 Incoming resources
All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the charily has entitlement to the funds, certainty of receipt and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability. For legacies, entitlement is the earlier of the charity being notified of an impending distribution or the legacy being received.
Gifts in kind are included in the statement of financial activities at a reasonable estimate of their value at the time they are utilised by the charity, with the equivalent amount recognised as charitable expenditure.
No amounts are included in the financial statements for services donated by volunteers. Donated services or facilities, which comprise donated services, are included in income at a valuation which is an estimate of the financial cost borne by the donor where such a cost is quantifiable and measurable. No income is recognised where there is no financial cost borne by a third party. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of donation.
1.4 Resources expended
Support costs are those costs incurred directly in the support of expenditure on the objects of the charity. They include governance costs. Which are those incurred in connection with the administration of the charity and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements. All resources expended are inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.
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DRAGONFLY CANCER TRUST LTD
Accounting Policies
1.5 Fixed Assets
Fixed Assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Computer equipment 15% reducing balance
1.6 Going concern basis
The directors of the charitable company are satisfied that there are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.
| 2 Donations and Legacies Donations Grants Receivable Check 3 Other trading activities Fundraising Events Check 4 Expenditure on Fund Raising Fundraising Events Check 5 Analysis of resources by activity Charitable Activities Check |
2025 | Total £ 58,127 46,464 104,591 Total £ 110,554 110,554 Total £ 48,088 48,088 Total £ 149,185 149,185 |
2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted Funds £ 58,127 46,464 104,591 |
Restricted Funds £ 0 0 2025 |
Total £ 77,112 29,712 |
||
| 106,824 | ||||
| 0 2024 |
||||
| Unrestricted Funds £ 110,554 110,554 |
Restricted Funds £ 0 0 2025 |
Total £ 52,841 |
||
| 52,841 | ||||
| 0 2024 |
||||
| Unrestricted Funds £ 48,088 48,088 |
Restricted Funds £ 0 0 2025 |
Total £ 18,337 |
||
| 18,337 | ||||
| 0 2024 |
||||
| Direct costs £ 70,579 70,579 |
Support Costs £ 78,605 78,605 |
Total £ 143,897 |
||
| 143,897 | ||||
| 0 |
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DRAGONFLY CANCER TRUST LTD
| 6 Support Costs Wages and Salaries Employer's National Insurance Employer's Pension Premises Costs Office Costs Bank Charges and Interest Legal and Professional Fees Depreciation |
2025 £ 56,958 9,286 715 3,667 6,556 16 1,294 114 78,605 |
2024 £ 64,088 1,444 32 1,200 5,639 32 1,340 134 |
|---|---|---|
| 73,909 |
The average number of employees during the year was:
| 2025 | 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Administration | 2 | 2 |
No employee received renumeration in excess of £60,000. No Trustees received any renumeration or re-imbursement of expenses
| 7 Fixed Assets Cost As at 1 Jan 2025 Additions Disposals At 31 Dec 2025 Depreciation As at 1 Jan 2025 Charge for the year As at 1 Jan 2025 Net Book Value at 1 Jan 2025 Net Book Value at 31 Dec 2025 Check 8 Debtors Prepayments 9 Creditors: Amounts due within one year Deferred Income (Note 9) Other taxes and social security Accruals Check |
Computer Equipment £ 2,810 0 0 2,810 £ 2,053 114 2,167 757 643 0 £ 6,160 6,160 2025 £ 0 1,838 0 1,838 0 |
Total £ 2,810 0 0 |
|---|---|---|
| 2,810 | ||
| £ 1,919 134 |
||
| 2,053 | ||
| 891 | ||
| 757 | ||
| 0 £ 0 |
||
| 0 | ||
| 2024 £ 20,215 1,514 540 |
||
| 22,269 | ||
| 0 |
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DRAGONFLY CANCER TRUST LTD
| 10 Deferred Income As at 1 Jan 2025 Additions Releases At 31 Dec 2025 Check |
2025 £ 20,215 0 20,215 |
|---|---|
| 0 | |
11 Movement in Funds
| Restricted Funds Freemasons Grants under £1,000 Total Restricted Funds Check Designated Funds Capital Fund Operating Fund General Funds General Funds Total Unrestricted Funds Check |
Funds 2024 £ 4,347 0 4,347 0 757 65,000 65,757 23,071 23,071 88,828 0 |
Income £ 0 0 0 0 0 0 215,144 215,144 215,144 |
Expenditure £ 0 0 0 114 0 114 197,159 197,159 197,273 0 |
Funds 2025 £ 4,347 0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,347 | ||||
| 643 65,000 |
||||
| 65,643 41,057 |
||||
| 41,057 | ||||
| 106,700 | ||||
| 0 |
The Capital Fund represents the net book value of the assets held and is not therefore readily realisable The Operating Fund has been established to ensure the short term continuation of the charity in the event of significantly reduced income.
The Operating Fund has been established to ensure the short term continuation of the charity in the event of significantly reduced income.
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