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← The Platelet Society

2024-07-31-accounts

Report of the Trustees

For the year ending 31 July 2024

The Trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the financial year 202324 and confirm that they comply with the Charities Act 2011 & 2022.

Charity Name: The Platelet Society

Charity Registration Number 1172202

Registered Address: Office 7 35-37 Ludgate Hill, London, EC4M 7JN,

UK Board of Trustees (https://plateletsociety.co.uk/trustees/)

Professor Jeremy Pearson (Chair), Professor Alison Goodall, Dr Gillian Lowe, Maryam Samina, Crispian Strachan

Outgoing Trustees

Professor Stephen Watson (stepped down March 2024).

Executive Committee

Dr Amanda Unsworth (Chair), Dr Craig Hughes (Financial Officer/Treasurer), Dr Prachi Stafford, Dr Kalwant Authi, Dr Julia Sandrin Gauer, Dr Giordano Pula, Dr Paul Armstong, Dr Sarah Westbury (clinical), Dr Suthesh Sivapalaratnam (clinical), Dr Samantha Montague (ECR), Dr Joanne Mitchell (ECR), Dr Beth Webb (ECR)

Outgoing Committee Members

Dr Steve Thomas (Outgoing Vice-Chair), Dr Alan Harper (Outgoing Treasurer), Dr Ilaria Canobbio, Dr Samantha Montague (will step down in Spring 2025)

Secretary/Governance Officer

Dr Joy Wright

Bankers

HSBC

UK Structure, Governance and Management

The Platelet Society is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered with the Charity Commission in August 2017 under the charity number 1172202.

Organisational Structure

The charity has a Board of Trustees which is responsible for the governance of the charity. The Trustees set up an Executive Committee that is responsible for enacting strategies that allow the charity to fulfil its key objectives.

Trustees: The charity has five Trustees (Gillian Lowe, Jeremy Pearson, Maryam Samina, Crispian Strachan and Alison Goodall). Stephen Watson stepped down in March 2024 and was replaced by Alison Goodall. All Trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity. Any expenses reclaimed from the charity are set out in the accounts.

Ambassador: Lieutenant Colonel Crispin Black MBE MPhil

Executive Committee (https://plateletsociety.co.uk/committee/)

The Executive Committee currently has twelve members. Amanda Unsworth is the current Chair of the Executive Committee. Alan Harper has acted as treasurer for 2023/2024 and will formally handover to Craig Hughes in September/October 2024. Julia Sandrin Gauer and Joanne Mitchell (ECR) joined the committee in 2023. Steve Thomas, Ilaria Cannobbio and Alan Harper will all step down from the committee in Oct 2024. We thank them all for their hard work and support of the Society. Paul Armstong, Craig Hughes and Giordano Pula joined the committee in the summer of 2024. We also welcome Beth Webb as new ECR executive committee member, who will take over from Samantha Montague who will step down in Spring 2025, to allow for a six month handover period. All Committee members have research backgrounds relevant to the work of the Charity and were elected to represent different stages of the academic career track. The Committee remains inclusive and diverse, and represents our membership by inclusion of male and female researchers, and Early Career Researchers. The Committee meets quarterly, and is responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the Society. The Committee is focused on facilitating participation of the research community through the Society webpage, newsletters, social media and networking, supporting conference organisation and outreach activities.

Risk Management

The Trustees and Executive Committee have reviewed the major risks to which the Charity may be exposed, and appropriate systems have been implemented to mitigate risk. In particular, risks to external funding have led to the development of a plan which allows ring fencing for funding for core activities. All medical-related information provided on our website is general and is covered by a specific medical disclaimer policy. Structures have been put in place to account for recent changes in General Data Protection Regulations. The Trustees are satisfied that arrangements are in place to manage risks that have been identified. The Board of Trustees will be reviewing the risk register in the coming year.

Our Aims

Our Society’s purpose is to promote excellence in research, education and public awareness of platelet biology in human health and disease. To ensure that we remain focussed on our key aims they are appraised on a yearly basis to review what we have achieved and evaluate

the outcome of our work. The review examines the success of each key activity to ensure that they benefit the groups that hope to serve.

The Focus of our Work

Our main objectives for the year were focussed on further establishing the Society within the research community and creating activities and structures that would help promote our key aims in the future.

The strategies we used to meet these objectives were:

Activities and Achievements

How our activities deliver public benefit

The Society carries out a number of activities in pursuance of its aims. These activities, summarised below, provide benefit to members of the Society and wider society.

To facilitate greater communication within the research community

1. Communication channels.

A key element of the creation of the Platelet Society was to create a stronger network of biomedical researchers and clinicians with interests in platelet biology. Provision of communications channels has been an important part of bringing the research community together

2. Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

The Society believes that everybody’s contribution matters, regardless of their identity, background, experiences or beliefs. The Society aims to develop a culture in which everyone feels welcome, heard and free to fully express themselves. The Society has a dedicated EDI webpage which includes a code of conduct for members and activities of the Society, a series of EDI statements to help us continue on our journey, and a mechanism for reporting concerns. Further information can be found on our EDI webpage. https://plateletsociety.co.uk/edi/

3. Early Career Researchers' Initiatives.

Building a strong sense of collaboration and community amongst the ECRs is important for the future growth and activity of The Society. In 2023/2024 the Working Group membership was refreshed, and we welcome Alex Slater, Beth Webb, Xenia Sawkulcyz, Nicola Dark and Rachel Lamerton to the group, supported by Executive ECR committee members Sam Montague and Jo Mitchell. The Society thanks all previous Working Group and ECR representatives for their hard work in establishing the group. The ECR Working Group has continued to develop career development, wellbeing, public engagement and social media content to support and promote our members and activities led by the Society. This can all be - found on the ECR space on the Platelet Society website (https://plateletsociety.co.uk/early career-researchers).

(driven majorly by Beth Webb and Jo Mitchell). This is something we wish to continue and expand with for the upcoming year.

4. Awards.

The Society has two awards for members to recognise excellence in platelet research and in achieving the aims of The Society. Named in honour of two internationally well-respected UK platelet researchers, (Gustav Born and Alison Goodall) they provide an annual way for the Society to rewarded excellence. Further details of the awards can be found at https://plateletsociety.co.uk/platelet-society-awards/ .The recipients of the 2024 awards are Professor Steve Watson (Gustav Born Award) and Dr Samantha Montague (Alison Goodall Award).

To facilitate and promote research into platelets and platelet-related disorders

5. Fundraising.

The Society was awarded $37,500 (£28,874) from the London 2022 ISTH legacy funds to support its work. Funds from this award have been used to establish/support the following opportunities, over a 3 year period (until 2026):

More details are provided in section 9.

Together, we believe that using the funds in this way helps the Platelet Society achieve its remit in terms of research and education and provides a healthy portfolio of activities for the next 3 years. The Society is grateful to the ISTH for this support.

We are currently seeking assistance with our fundraising efforts to help us ensure we can continue to offer similar awards and grants beyond 2026.

To cover Society running costs, following open review, the decision was made to increase the annual membership fees from £15 per annum to £25 per annum, which took effect on 1st August 2024 for all new membership applications or membership renewals. £25 per annum brings the Society in line with other similar charities.

6. Summer studentships.

Thanks to the ISTH legacy funds, the Society offered two students the opportunity to work in a platelet lab during the summer of 2024. Following a competitive call, and independent review, 2 students and projects at the University of Manchester and Leeds Beckett University were selected and funded during July and August 2024. Further details of the studentships awarded can be found at https://plateletsociety.co.uk/studentships/

7. Scientific meetings.

Scientific conferences facilitate valuable exchange of new ideas and methods.

2024 Platelet Society Meeting - Aberdeen.

This year our annual meeting was held in Aberdeen (24[th] – 26[th] April 2024). Thanks to Steve Thomas, Nikki Mutch, Sam Montague, Jo Mitchell and Claire Whyte for organising the meeting. Reports on all Platelet Society meetings, and meetings where Platelet Society researchers have presented, can be found on the Platelet Society webpage, under “News”.

The 2025 Platelet Society Meeting will be held at Manchester Metropolitan University and hosted by Dr Sarah Jones, supported by an organising committee consisting of academics and ECRs from Manchester, Leeds and Keele.

8. Research Strategy.

The Society wishes to build on the opportunities made possible with the ISTH legacy funds to support platelet research and education. The Executive Committee has written a research strategy document and plans to become a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities, which can provide advice and support to grant awarding societies. The research strategy document is reviewed annually, and the latest version is available on our website - - https://plateletsociety.co.uk/research strategy

9. Funding and grant opportunities

https://plateletsociety.co.uk/funding/ Thanks to the ISTH legacy funds, the Society currently offers the following funding and grant opportunities to its membership:

To facilitate an open and fair assessment of applications for the above awards, the Executive Committee has established a sub-committee to review applications for small grants for research. More information about this committee and membership can be found at: https://plateletsociety.co.uk/funding/

10. Clinical perspectives and direction.

The Society aims to increase its activities in patient focused and clinical activities. To ensure that future activities are relevant and do not replicate what is provided by other charities (especially those with more patient focussed remits), we have initiated a clinical focus working group, which includes Dr Gill Lowe, Dr Sarah Westbury and Dr Suthesh Sivapalaratnam. This group aims to ensure that activities of the Society have a clinical perspective and to identify appropriate patient-focused activities. Following the success of patient focussed clinical sessions at the Hull and Bristol meeting, similar patient/clinical sessions will now be included at future Platelet Society annual meetings. The allocation of ISTH funds to clinical audits to highlight clinical areas of focus will also be important in driving this forward: these clinical audit opportunities will launch in 2025.

To provide the public with accessible information on platelet related diseases

The Society does not provide medical advice and when contacted by individuals seeking such advice directs them to the clinician(s) involved in their care pathway. However, the Society does provide a number of fact sheets on the role of platelets in health and disease and platelet related diseases; these are reviewed by the Executive Committee’s clinical members. We also provide a number of personal perspectives from patients who live with platelet-related diseases to raise awareness of how individual sufferers cope with their particular disorders. Our two clinical Committee members have been in discussions with other relevant societies to help support these organisations, so the Society can undertake more patient-focused interactions.

To improve public understanding of platelet biology

As part of our mission to improve the public understanding of blood platelets and their roles in health and disease our members engage in a number of outreach activities. These activities are undertaken by our members at a local level often in collaboration with their host university and other outside bodies. The Society now has Outreach and Education grants available on a rolling basis to support members who wish to create and organise such activities.

The Society also has an outreach working group chaired by Julia Sandrin-Gauer (Leeds) which has developed a range of suggestions for increasing our public profile and activities.

Plans for Future Period

The Society plans to continue the activities outlined above in the coming years subject to a satisfactory funding position, but also expand the activities into other areas.

Financial Review

During the year the Trustees agreed to change the end date for financial accounting to 31[st] July rather than 30[th] June and notified the relevant authorities. At the end of the financial year on the 31[st] July 2024, the Platelet Society held £49682.32, which is a decrease from £81,429 held at the end of the last financial year (30[th] June 2023). A significant proportion of our income and expenditure arises from meetings. The accounts provide a snapshot at a given time in the financial cycle. Income is maximal in the run-up to annual meetings and expenditure is maximal afterwards This financial year unusually includes the bulk of costs for both the 2023 EUPLAN meeting (autumn 2023) and the spring 2024 Aberdeen meeting, while the majority of the income from the EUPLAN meeting, which made a net profit of over £5000, was accounted for in the 2022-23 financial year.

The summary of accounts for the financial year in the format required for submission to the Charity Commission is appended at the end of this report.

Income

Donations are increased this year versus the previous year, as 23/24 included income from registration fees for both the EUPLAN meeting, and Aberdeen meetings.

Membership income remains steady (£3533; £3803 in 22/23). To keep up with rising running costs, and to allow the Society to provide different opportunities for our members, following review the decision was made to increase the membership fees from £15 to £25 per annum. The membership fee increase came into effect on 1[st] August 2024.

Events and Courses income has decreased from 22/23, but this is due to the one-off award in that year of £28,874 of legacy funds from the 2022 London ISTH congress.

Our sponsorship is down, with no charitable fundraising activity in this cycle. The Society needs to develop a strategy to look at increasing this in future years.

Interest Rate rises and the holding of greater financial reserves has increased our bank interest payments this year.

Expenditure

Meeting costs are substantially higher in 23/24 than the previous year, as payments for both the EUPLAN and Aberdeen meetings fell in this period.

The basic running costs for the society have increased slightly this year with increases in the cost of website maintenance, accountancy reports, and additional fees associated with the submission of a corporate tax return to HMRC. Other basic running costs including Governance Officer (now Secretary) remuneration, and registration payments for the Fundraising Regulator and Company House (‘Legal fees’) remain largely the same.

Our Banking charges have risen this year as we now have facilities to make international payments and international transactions incur small additional fees, which have increased as the society increases our international activities particularly supporting the hosting of the EUPLAN meeting which attracted more international attendees.

The Other charges category reflects society expenditure on our Summer Studentship scheme.

Current Financial Position

The Society currently holds reserves of £49682 (as of 31[st] July 2024) of which £24743 is committed to ISTH legacy fund initiatives. This leaves the society with reserves of £24939 uncommitted funds. This is lower ~~:~~ than last year, due to the Aberdeen meeting running at a loss, and increases in expenditure listed above. Our current financial position indicates that the society remains sustainable in the short-medium term, although in the face of rising costs further diversification of income will likely be required to maintain this in the longer term.

Declaration

The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the Charity’s Trustees.

Professor Jeremy Pearson

Chair of Trustees, The Platelet Society

10 October 2024

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND ANO VIALES THE PLATELEf SOCIETY Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For the peri¢xl from 01072023 3107.￿24 Section A Receipts and payments Unrestrieted fund5 Restricted ftJnd5 Endowmtnt ftjnds Toial funds Last y￿r toth• n•ar•st £ t•th•n•¥•s1£ th• n•ar•st£ tothl n•ar•st£ th• n•arKt£ A1 Receipts Donaws JT.074 13.560 JT.D74 13.5 24.61$ 36.962 J1 B￿k￿re￿t Sub tolallGrO￿ income for ARI 61_6n $1.677 61.894 2 Asser and investmeni sales. Isee table). Sub ioial 51 6T1 S1.677 61 894 A3Pa MS We￿rtedewe￿thent Accauntsncyfe l Fee3 1.00 4.566.00 744 1.24J.12 Prtètosts 9.$99 495 293 495 293 8￿￿tha 90.44 Z750 2.7¥0 3.55QQQ Sub total B3.424 a3A24 4a.41D.67 purchases. (see tablei Sub total roi8lpaymenis 83.424 48,411 Net olreceipts1(payments) A5 Transfers btheen lund$ A6 Cash funds iastyear end Cash funds this yearend 131.747) 13.483 81 429 67 946 49 682 81.429 CCXXR1 8Lt¢x*AS ISSI 24￿8r20￿4

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||||||||| |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| |Charity Name|No (if any)| |THE PLATELET SOCIETY|1172202| |Receipts and payments accounts|CC16a| |For the period|Period start date|Period end date| |from|01/07/2023|31/07/2024| |Section A Receipts and payments| |Unrestricted|Restricted|Endowment| |Total funds|Last year| |funds|funds|funds| |to the nearest £|to the nearest £|to the nearest £|to the nearest £|to the nearest £| |A1 Receipts| |Donations|37,074|-|-|37,074|24,616| |Events and courses|13,560|-|-|13,560|36,962| |Bank interest|1,043|-|-|1,043|316| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |Sub total|(Gross income for| |51,677|-|-|51,677|61,894| |aa|AR)|a| |A2 Asset and investment sales,| |(see table).| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |Sub total|-|-|-|-|-| |————|Total receipts|51,677|-|-|——|51,677|61,894| |A3 Payments| |Website development|1,998|-|-|1,998|841.00| |Accountancy fees|540|-|-|540|240.00| |Legal Fees|4,191|-|-|4,191|4,566.00| |Events and Prize costs|9,599|-|-|9,599|30,744.00| |Meeting cost|61,819|-|-|61,819|8,248.12| |Subscription|125|-|-|125|-| |Business Entertainment|495|-|-|495|-| |Bank Charges|293|-|-|293|90.44| |Donation|1,614|-|-|1,614|131.11| |Other expense|2,750|-|-|2,750|3,550.00| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |Sub total|[ 83,424 ]|-|-|83,424|48,410.67| |A4 Asset and investment| |purchases, (see table)| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |-|-|-|-|-| |Sub total|[ - ]|-|-|-|-| |==|Total payments|83,424|-|===|-|83,424|48,411| |Net of receipts/(payments)|(31,747)|-|- (31,747)|13,483| |A5 Transfers between funds|-|-|-|-|-| |A6 Cash funds last year end|81,429|-|- 81,429|67,946| |Cash funds this year end|SS|49,682|S|-|- 49,682|SS|81,429|

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CCXX R1 accounts (SS)

24/08/2024

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Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Categories
Signed by the trustees
B1 Cash funds
B2 Other monetary assets
B4 Assets retained for the
charity’s own use
B5 Liabilities
B3 Investment assets
accounts (SS)		 Signature
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Bank current account
Bank deposit account
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Total cash funds
(agree balances with receipts and payments
account(s))
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2		 Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
to nearest £
to nearest £
9,064
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40,619
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49,682
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OK
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funds
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funds
to nearest £
to nearest £
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liability relates
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24/08/2024

CCXX R2 accounts (SS)

24/08/2024

Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner’s Report Report to the trustees/ Charity Name THE PLATELET SOCIETY members of ~~a Pr~~ On accounts for the year 31 JULY 2024 Charity no 1172202 ended (if any) ~~eeee ee~~ Set out on pages (remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets) ~~PO~~ Respective The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. responsibilities of The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year trustees and examiner under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed. It is my responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner’s statement

My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention examiner's statement 1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect,

  1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the requirements:

  2. to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and

  3. to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act

  4. have not been met; or

  5. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

  6. Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply.

Signed: Kulvarn Mahal Date: ~~a~~ Name: PEACOCK ACCOUNTANTS LIMITED ~~PO~~ Relevant professional FELLOW OF THE ASSOCIATION OF CHARTERED CERTIFIED qualification(s) or body ACCOUNTANTS (if any): ~~oo~~

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July 2024

IER

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Address: 71-75 SHELTON STREET, COVENT GARDEN
LONDON, ENGLAND
WC2H 9JQ
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Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material problems.

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July 2024

IER

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

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July 2024

IER