**REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1168194** ## **Report of the Trustees and** ## **Financial Statements** **for the Year Ended 31 March 2024** **for** **Sophie's Journey** **Sophie's Journey** ## **Contents of the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024** ||**Page**| |---|---| |**Report of the Trustees**|1 to 2| |**Independent Examiner's Report**|3| |**Statement of Financial Activities**|4| |**Balance Sheet**|5| |**Notes to the Financial Statements**|6 to 10| ## **Sophie's Journey** ## **Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2024** The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2024. 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 principal aim of the charity is to provide free holidays to children with cancer in Lincolnshire. ## **Public benefit** The trustees have regard to the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit and always ensure that activities which we undertake are in line with our charitable objects and aims. ## **Volunteers** The Charity is grateful to numerous volunteers who offer their time in furtherance of the Charity's objectives. ## **ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE** ## **Charitable activities** We have been able to help approximately 195 families in the current year with stays at our caravans at Golden Sands Holiday Park in Mablethorpe taking our total number to 795 since the charity was established. The caravans have been in operation throughout the season, however support has been continuous throughout the period. ## **Fundraising activities** Throughout the year, we have continued to hold our usual events such as: raffles, tombolas, our annual ball, a Christmas market, fun runs, and family nights. Once again, we were charity of the year for the Lincoln 10k, and we were also the chosen charity for a Daisy Made Farm event. We have been working with several businesses in the area as their chosen charity. We brought back the skydive event and have attended several local events with our stall to raise awareness and donations on the day. This has helped to raise an amount in excess of £48,000. ## **FINANCIAL REVIEW** ## **Reserves policy** The Trustees have established a policy whereby the free reserves, that being the unrestricted funds not committed or invested in tangible fixed assets, held by the charity, should be equivalent to approximately 3 months resources expended, which equates to approximately £11,000 in general funds. At this level, the Trustees feel that they would be able to continue running the organisation in the event of a loss of all funding sources. At 31 March 2024 the free reserves were £125,958 and as such above the targeted level, however the Trustees continue to monitor funds available. ## **Going concern** The ongoing support from donations and fundraising events has helped us to remain in a surplus position and as such, the Trustees believe the charity is a going concern. We aim to continue to develop streams of income to aid our sustainability through future fundraising events. We wish to thank each individual who supported the charity this year. Page 1 **Sophie's Journey** ## **Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2024** ## **FUTURE PLANS** 2024 would have been Sophie's 21st birthday. Therefore, the charity is looking to raise funds to purchase a Lodge in another part of Lincolnshire. It is hard for families to revisit places they have been to with a loved one and made memories now that they are sadly no longer with us. This lodge will enable the families to go on holiday to an alternative location. We are also in the process of opening our very first charity shop which will not only raise funds for the charity, but will also be supporting our local small business with "Rent a shelf". It will become the Home of Sophie's Journey where we will provide support to our families with drop in sessions. This will be a stepping stone into our overall aim of supporting families with free holidays across Lincolnshire. ## **STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT** ## **Governing document** The charity is controlled by its constitution and represents an unincorporated charity. ## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number** 1168194 ## **Principal address** 10 Lurgan Close Lincoln Lincolnshire LN5 8SZ ## **Trustees** S Southwell B Robinson S Broadley A Marshall ## **Independent Examiner** Steve Robinson Nicholsons Chartered Accountants Newland House The Point Weaver Road LINCOLN Lincolnshire LN6 3QN Approved by order of the board of trustees on 30 September 2024 and signed on its behalf by: S Southwell - Trustee Page 2 **Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Sophie's Journey** ## **Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Sophie's Journey** I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Sophie's Journey (the Trust) for the year ended 31 March 2024. ## **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: 1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by Section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or 3. 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. Steve Robinson Nicholsons Chartered Accountants Newland House The Point Weaver Road LINCOLN Lincolnshire LN6 3QN 1 October 2024 Page 3 ## **Sophie's Journey** ## **Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 March 2024** |Notes
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
Other trading activities
2
**Total**
**EXPENDITURE ON**
Raising funds
3
**Charitable activities**
Caravan Usage
**Total**
**NET INCOME**
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**|2024
Unrestricted
fund
£
26,162
48,758
74,920
32,292
13,330
45,622
29,298
126,405
155,703|2023
Total
funds
£
31,883
35,963| |---|---|---| |||67,846| |||34,545
13,250| |||47,795| |||20,051
106,354| |||126,405| The notes form part of these financial statements Page 4 ## **Sophie's Journey** ## **Balance Sheet** ## **31 March 2024** |Notes
**FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible assets
5
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Cash at bank
**CREDITORS**
Amounts falling due within one year
6
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT**
**LIABILITIES**
**NET ASSETS**
**FUNDS**
7
Unrestricted funds
**TOTAL FUNDS**|2024
Unrestricted
fund
£
29,745
127,934
(1,976)
125,958
155,703
155,703
155,703
155,703|2023
Total
funds
£
34,907
92,753
(1,255)
91,498
126,405
126,405
126,405
126,405| |---|---|---| The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 30 September 2024 and were signed on its behalf by: S Southwell - Trustee The notes form part of these financial statements Page 5 **Sophie's Journey** ## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2024** ## **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. ## **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. ## **Raising funds** Fees payable to the independent examiner during the current year amounted to £1,260 ( 2023 £1,320). ## **Tangible fixed assets** Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life. Fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation, or in cases where fixed assets have been donated, at valuation at the time of acquisition less depreciation. ## **Depreciation** Depreciation is charged on all tangible fixed assets other than freehold land as follows: |Freehold Property|15% reducing balance| |---|---| |Computer Equipment|20% reducing balance| |Fixtures and Fittings|15% reducing balance| ## **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. Page 6 continued... **Sophie's Journey** ## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the year ended 31 March 2024** ## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued** ## **Fund accounting** 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. ## **2. OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES** |Fundraising events
**3.**
**RAISING FUNDS**
**Raising donations and legacies**
Storage fees
Support costs|2024
£
48,758
2024
£
1,690
18,886
20,576|2023
£
35,963| |---|---|---| |||2023
£
1,521
9,139| |||10,660| ## **4. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS** There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2024 nor for the year ended 31 March 2023. ## **Trustees' expenses** There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2024 nor for the year ended 31 March 2023. Page 7 continued... ## **Sophie's Journey** ## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the year ended 31 March 2024** ## **5. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS** |Fixtures
Freehold
and
property
fittings
£
£
**COST**
At 1 April 2023
70,948
-
Additions
-
115
At 31 March 2024
70,948
115
**DEPRECIATION**
At 1 April 2023
36,856
-
Charge for year
5,114
-
At 31 March 2024
41,970
-
**NET BOOK VALUE**
At 31 March 2024
28,978
115
At 31 March 2023
34,092
-
**6.**
**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
Other creditors
**7.**
**MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
At 1.4.23
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
126,405
**TOTAL FUNDS**
126,405
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Incoming
resources
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
74,920
**TOTAL FUNDS**
74,920|Computer
equipment
£
1,986
-
1,986
1,171
163
1,334
652
815
2024
£
1,976
Net
movement
in funds
£
29,298
29,298
Resources
expended
£
(45,622)
(45,622)|Totals
£
72,934
115
73,049
38,027
5,277
43,304
29,745
34,907
2023
£
1,255
At
31.3.24
£
155,703
155,703
Movement
in funds
£
29,298
29,298| |---|---|---| Page 8 continued... ## **Sophie's Journey** ## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the year ended 31 March 2024** ## **7. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued** ## **Comparatives for movement in funds** |**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**|At 1.4.22
£
106,354
106,354|Net
movement
in funds
£
20,051
20,051|At
31.3.23
£
126,405| |---|---|---|---| ||||126,405| Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: ||Incoming|Resources|Movement|Movement| |---|---|---|---|---| ||resources|expended||in funds| ||£|£||£| |**Unrestricted funds**||||| |General fund|67,846|(47,795)||20,051| |**TOTAL FUNDS**|67,846|(47,795)||20,051| |A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:||||| |||Net||| |||movement||At| ||At 1.4.22|in funds||31.3.24| ||£|£||£| |**Unrestricted funds**||||| |General fund|106,354|49,349||155,703| |**TOTAL FUNDS**|106,354|49,349||155,703| |A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined||net movement in fund||| |included in the above are as follows:||||| ||Incoming|Resources|Movement|| ||resources|expended||in funds| ||£|£||£| |**Unrestricted funds**||||| |General fund|142,766|(93,417)||49,349| |**TOTAL FUNDS**|142,766|(93,417)||49,349| A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows: Page 9 continued... **Sophie's Journey** ## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the year ended 31 March 2024** ## **8. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES** There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 March 2024. Page 10