**REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1168194**
**Report of the Trustees and**
**Financial Statements**
**for the Year Ended 31 March 2025**
**for**
**Sophie's Journey**
**Sophie's Journey**
## **Contents of the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025**
|||**Page**||
|---|---|---|---|
|**Report of the Trustees**|1|to|3|
|**Independent Examiner's Report**||4||
|**Statement of Financial Activities**||5||
|**Balance Sheet**||6||
|**Notes to the Financial Statements**|7|to|12|
|**Detailed Statement of Financial Activities**|13|to|14|
**Sophie's Journey**
## **Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2025**
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. 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 and adults 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.
## **ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE**
## **Charitable activities**
We have been able to help approximately 240 families in the current year with stays at our caravans at Golden Sands Holiday Park in Mablethorpe taking our total number to 1,035 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. This year, we were also chosen as Lincoln's Marks and Spencer's charity of the year. 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 £41,000.
## **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 £19,000 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 2025 the free reserves were £163,852 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 2025**
## **FUTURE PLANS**
In November 2024, we opened our first Charity Shop in Lincoln selling pre-loved items, which is now the home of Sophie's Journey giving families the chance to drop in for a chat. Stacy continues to support the families within the community offering support and advice.
The charity is looking to raise funds to purchase a lodge/property in another part of Lincolnshire. This lodge/property will enable the families to go on holiday to an alternative location that’s more comfortable and closer to local hospitals to help provide any care they may need. It will also become the first palliative care break for adults and children affected by cancer who have sadly been given a life expectancy of 12 months or less.
We are also looking to purchase a van which will enable us to collect items for the charity shop and use for events.
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.
## **Recruitment and appointment of new trustees**
The existing board of trustees were individually appointed on the strength of their respective background and an obvious enthusiasm and commitment to support the company on an ongoing basis. As set out in the Articles of Association, the board may from time to time and at any time appoint a new trustee to join. The decision to elect new trustees to the board is based upon the availability of suitable candidates with a requisite skills base together with an acknowledgement by the board that additional support would be beneficial in order to assist in the company's development.
## **REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number**
1168194
## **Principal address**
246 Newark Road Lincoln Lincolnshire LN6 8RP
## **Trustees**
S Southwell (resigned 30.11.24) B Robinson S Broadley (resigned 30.11.24) A Marshall N Gallop (appointed 27.6.25)
## **Independent Examiner**
Steve Robinson Nicholsons Chartered Accountants Newland House The Point Weaver Road LINCOLN Lincolnshire LN6 3QN
Page 2
**Sophie's Journey**
## **Report of the Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2025**
Approved by order of the board of trustees on 13 December 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
N Gallop - Trustee
Page 3
## **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 2025.
## **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
17 December 2025
Page 4
## **Sophie's Journey**
## **Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 March 2025**
|Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM**
Donations and legacies
51,084
Other trading activities
2
41,102
**Total**
92,186
**EXPENDITURE ON**
**Raising funds**
Raising donations and legacies
3
18,036
Other trading activities
27,155
45,191
**Charitable activities**
Caravan Usage
16,025
**Total**
61,216
**NET INCOME**
30,970
**Transfers between funds**
8
4,295
**Net movement in funds**
35,265
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
Total funds brought forward
155,703
**TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD**
190,968|Restricted
fund
£
19,641
-
19,641
189
15,157
15,346
-
15,346
4,295
(4,295)
-
-
-|2025
Total
funds
£
70,725
41,102
111,827
18,225
42,312
60,537
16,025
76,562
35,265
-
35,265
155,703
190,968|2024
Total
funds
£
26,162
48,758|
|---|---|---|---|
||||74,920|
||||20,576
11,716|
||||32,292
13,330|
||||45,622|
||||29,298
-|
||||29,298
126,405|
||||155,703|
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 5
## **Sophie's Journey**
## **Balance Sheet**
## **31 March 2025**
|Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
**FIXED ASSETS**
Tangible assets
6
27,116
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Cash at bank
165,905
**CREDITORS**
Amounts falling due within one year
7
(2,053)
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
163,852
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT**
**LIABILITIES**
190,968
**NET ASSETS**
190,968
**FUNDS**
8
Unrestricted funds
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Restricted
fund
£
-
-
-
-
-
-|2025
Total
funds
£
27,116
165,905
(2,053)
163,852
190,968
190,968
190,968
190,968|2024
Total
funds
£
29,745
127,934
(1,976)
125,958
155,703
155,703
155,703
155,703|
|---|---|---|---|
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 13 December 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:
N Gallop - Trustee
The notes form part of these financial statements
Page 6
**Sophie's Journey**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **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.
## **Legacies**
For legacies, entitlement is taken as the earlier of the date on which either: the charity is aware that probate has been granted, the estate has been finalised and notification has been made by the executor(s) to the charity that a distribution will be made, or when a distribution is received from the estate. Receipt of a legacy, in whole or in part, is only considered probable when the amount can be measured reliably and the charity has been notified of the executor’s intention to make a distribution.
## **Donated Goods (Pre-Loved Items for Resale)**
The Charity receives donations of pre-loved items which are sold in the charity shop. Most donated items are not recognised as income or inventory when received, as their fair value cannot be measured reliably. Income from donated goods is therefore recognised at the point of sale, based on the proceeds received.
## **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.
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 7
continued...
**Sophie's Journey**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **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.
## **Hire purchase and leasing commitments**
Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.
## **Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits**
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charity's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.
## **2. OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES**
|**2.**|**OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES**||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||2025|2024|
||||£|£|
||Fundraising events||23,148|48,758|
||Shop income||17,954|-|
||||41,102|48,758|
|**3.**|**RAISING DONATIONS AND LEGACIES**||||
||||2025|2024|
||||£|£|
||Storage fees||-|1,690|
||Support costs||18,225|18,886|
||||18,225|20,576|
|**4.**|**SUPPORT COSTS**||||
||||Governance||
|||Management|costs|Totals|
|||£|£|£|
||Raising donations and legacies|16,156|2,069|18,225|
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continued...
## **Sophie's Journey**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **4. SUPPORT COSTS - continued**
Support costs, included in the above, are as follows:
## **Management**
|2025
Raising
donations
and
legacies
£
Insurance
672
Postage and stationery
142
Advertising
9,288
Sundries
1,419
Depreciation of tangible and heritage
assets
4,635
16,156
**Governance costs**
2025
Raising
donations
and
legacies
£
Accountancy and legal fees
1,569
Independent examiner fees
500
2,069|2024
Total
activities
£
227
467
10,424
571
5,277
16,966
2024
Total
activities
£
1,420
500
1,920|
|---|---|
## **5. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS**
There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.
## **Trustees' expenses**
There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 March 2025 nor for the year ended 31 March 2024.
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continued...
## **Sophie's Journey**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **6. TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS**
|Fixtures
Freehold
and
property
fittings
£
£
**COST**
At 1 April 2024
70,948
115
Additions
-
1,906
At 31 March 2025
70,948
2,021
**DEPRECIATION**
At 1 April 2024
41,970
-
Charge for year
4,347
154
At 31 March 2025
46,317
154
**NET BOOK VALUE**
At 31 March 2025
24,631
1,867
At 31 March 2024
28,978
115
**7.**
**CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
Taxation and social security
Other creditors
**8.**
**MOVEMENT IN FUNDS**
Net
movement
At 1.4.24
in funds
£
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
155,703
30,970
**Restricted funds**
Restricted fund
-
4,295
**TOTAL FUNDS**
155,703
35,265|Computer
equipment
£
1,986
100
2,086
1,334
134
1,468
618
652
2025
£
478
1,575
2,053
Transfers
between
funds
£
4,295
(4,295)
-|Totals
£
73,049
2,006
75,055
43,304
4,635
47,939
27,116
29,745
2024
£
-
1,976
1,976
At
31.3.25
£
190,968
-|Totals
£
73,049
2,006|Totals
£
73,049
2,006|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||75,055||
||||43,304
4,635||
||||47,939||
||||27,116||
||||29,745||
|||||2024
£
-
1,976|
|||||1,976|
|||190,968|||
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continued...
**Sophie's Journey**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **8. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
|Incoming
resources
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
92,186
**Restricted funds**
Restricted fund
19,641
**TOTAL FUNDS**
111,827
**Comparatives for movement in funds**
At 1.4.23
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
126,405
**TOTAL FUNDS**
126,405
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Incoming
resources
£
**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
74,920
**TOTAL FUNDS**
74,920|Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
(61,216)
30,970
(15,346)
4,295
(76,562)
35,265
Net
movement
At
in funds
31.3.24
£
£
29,298
155,703
29,298
155,703
Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
(45,622)
29,298
(45,622)
29,298|
|---|---|
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:
|**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**Restricted funds**
Restricted fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**|At 1.4.23
£
126,405
-
126,405|Net
movement
in funds
£
60,268
4,295
64,563|Transfers
between
funds
£
4,295
(4,295)
-|At
31.3.25
£
190,968
-|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||190,968|
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continued...
**Sophie's Journey**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the year ended 31 March 2025**
## **8. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued**
A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
|**Unrestricted funds**
General fund
**Restricted funds**
Restricted fund
**TOTAL FUNDS**|Incoming
resources
£
167,106
19,641
186,747|Resources
Movement
expended
in funds
£
£
(106,838)
60,268
(15,346)
4,295
(122,184)
64,563|
|---|---|---|
## **9. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES**
There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 March 2025.
Page 12
## **Sophie's Journey**
## **Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 March 2025**
|**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS**
**Donations and legacies**
Donations
Legacies
**Other trading activities**
Fundraising events
Shop income
**Total incoming resources**
**EXPENDITURE**
**Raising donations and legacies**
Storage fees
**Other trading activities**
Purchases
Light and heat
Wages
Social security
Pensions
Rent
Property repairs
Telephone
**Charitable activities**
Site fees
Caravan expenses
**Support costs**
**Management**
Insurance
Postage and stationery
Advertising
Sundries
Freehold property
Fixtures and fittings
Computer equipment|2025
£
51,084
19,641
70,725
23,148
17,954
41,102
111,827
-
17,707
1,468
9,330
684
140
9,555
3,197
231
42,312
13,342
2,683
16,025
672
142
9,288
1,419
4,347
154
134
16,156|2024
£
26,162
-|
|---|---|---|
|||26,162
48,758
-|
|||48,758|
|||74,920
1,690
11,716
-
-
-
-
-
-
-|
|||11,716
11,422
1,908|
|||13,330
227
467
10,424
571
5,114
-
163|
|||16,966|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
Page 13
**Sophie's Journey**
## **Detailed Statement of Financial Activities**
## **for the year ended 31 March 2025**
|**Detailed Statement of Financial Activities**
**for the year ended 31 March 2025**|||
|---|---|---|
|**Management**
**Governance costs**
Accountancy and legal fees
Independent examiner fees
Total resources expended
**Net income**|2025
£
1,569
500
2,069
76,562
35,265|2024
£
1,420
500|
|||1,920|
|||45,622|
|||29,298|
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements
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