Charity registration number: 1174677
Nialls Foundation
Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 30 June 2024
Nialls Foundation
Contents
| Reference and Administrative Details | 1 |
|---|---|
| Trustees' Report | 2 to 4 |
| Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities | 5 |
| Independent Examiner's Report | 6 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 7 |
| Balance Sheet | 8 |
| Cash Flow Statement | 9 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 10 to 18 |
Nialls Foundation
Reference and Administrative Details
Trustees Mr NM El-Assaad Mrs S El-Assaad Mr R El-Assaad Charity Registration Number 1174677 Principal Office Abbeydale Orrell Road Orrell Wigan WN5 8QZ Independent Examiner Williamson & Croft Audit Limited York House 20 York Street Manchester M2 3BB
Page 1
Nialls Foundation
Trustees' Report
The trustees present the annual report together with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30 June 2024.
Trustees and officers
The trustees and officers serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:
Trustees:
Mr NM El-Assaad
Mrs S El-Assaad Mr R El-Assaad
Structure, governance and management
Nature of governing document
Nialls Foundation is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. The charity is governed by the Charitable Incorporated Organisation constitution adopted on 15th September 2017.
Organisational structure
The charity is administered by the trustees. The trustees that have served during the year are shown on page 1.
Relationships with related parties
Fuel Service Ltd
Two of the trustees are directors of the above company.
Cintralis Ltd
One of the trustees is a director of the above company.
Fuel Service Ltd has an interest in the above company.
Objectives and activities
Objects and aims
The objects of the charity are to provide grants to promote research in the treatment and cure of spinal injuries and to provide grants so that the results of such research can be published.
The aims of the charity are to advance the education of the public in general in the treatment and cure of spinal injuries.
Page 2
Nialls Foundation
Trustees' Report
Objectives, strategies and activities
Nialls Foundations aim is to bring cures and treatments to the clinic for people with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury. The strategy to do this is based on
-
Fund research on discoveries that are at an early stage and have shown promise in known targets for repair. 2. Fund targeted research with small grants that answer questions that enables larger funding from large scale funders.
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Fund chronic research on treatments that have shown promise in Acute injuries which may work in the Chronic timeframe.
Public benefit
The charity's activities are undertaken to promote research into the treatment and cure of spinal injuries for the benefit of the general public.
The trustees confirm that they have complied with the requirements of section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
Achievements and performance
During the period, the charity has made grants of £337,447 (2023 - £171,734) to various organisations that undertake research into spinal injuries.
In this financial year we provided funding for the following:
Microcures
Funding to replicate the acute work done on Fl2 in the chronic model to verify Fl2 as a target and to progress a drug that can offer repair of damaged axons within the spinal cord.
CRP Leeds University PhD
Funding for a PhD student at Leeds University to understand if CRP can be paired with other technologies such as spinal cord stimulation to enhance the effects and give meaningful recovery to people with a spinal cord injury.
Univesity of Wisonsin-Madison - Microparticles
Funding to test the treatment of Spinal Cord Injury with Mineral Coated Microparticles Delivering mRNA.
SCI Ventures
Donation to be used to support its mission to fund recovery of function for people living with paralysis.
The University of Leeds - Gait Trainer
Funding to test the development and initial efficacy of a home-based gait-trainer for people with Spinal Cord Injuries.
The University of Leeds - SCI Centre
Donation to be used to deepen Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) research at Leeds further by establishing a dedicated SCI Research Hub at the University, led by Professor Ronaldo Ichiyama, Chair of the SCI Hub board.
Page 3
Nialls Foundation
Trustees' Report
There was no additional investments provided in this financial year. Historical investments made are as follows:
Cintralis Ltd
Cintralis is an early stage biotech with the aim of bringing CRP to the clinic. We have previously funded the research in CRP at Cleveland Clinic and Leeds University with positive results. The investment will be used for further research in translating this technology so that it can be used in human patients with a Spinal Cord Injury.
inContAlert
The investment will be used for a clinical trial to test the device in people with a Spinal Cord Injury.
NeuroCreis Inc
The investment will fund work needed to have the technology developed for Chronic Spinal Cord Injury.
Financial review
The charity received donations of £640,440 (2023 - £329,476) during the period. The charity made grants to organisations amounting to £337,447 (2023 - £171,734) during the period.
Reserves carried forward at the year-end amounted to £1,198,830 (2023 - £870,310)
Policy on reserves
The policy of the charity is not to hold any reserves. All funds received are used to fund grants at the earliest opportunity.
Principal funding sources
The principle funding source is donations received from Fuel Service Ltd.
Investment policy and objectives
The charity has Programme Related Investments. These investments have been made to further the aims and objectives of the charity.
Our investment strategy is to support early stage companies where research will be performed in the Chronic injury model to fast track treatments to the clinic.
The annual report was approved by the trustees of the charity on 25 April 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
.........................................
Mr NM El-Assaad Trustee
Page 4
Nialls Foundation
Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities
The trustees are responsible for preparing the trustees' report and the financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice) and applicable law and regulations.
The law applicable to charities 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 period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper 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 Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, and the provisions of the constitution. The trustees 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.
The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company's website. Legislation governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
Approved by the trustees of the charity on 25 April 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
......................................... Mr NM El-Assaad Trustee
Page 5
Nialls Foundation
Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of Nialls Foundation
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Nialls Foundation for the year ended 30 June 2024.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees of Nialls Foundation 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 Nialls Foundation's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
Since Nialls Foundation's gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which is one of the listed bodies.
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:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of Nialls Foundation as required by section 130 of the 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 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.
...................................... Tor Stringfellow FCA Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
Williamson & Croft Audit Limited York House 20 York Street Manchester M2 3BB
25 April 2025
Page 6
Nialls Foundation
Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 30 June 2024
| Note Income and Endowments from: Donations and legacies 2 Investment income 3 Total income Expenditure on: Charitable activities 4 Total expenditure Net income Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward 12 |
Unrestricted funds £ 640,440 40,667 681,107 (352,587) (352,587) 328,520 328,520 870,310 1,198,830 |
Total 2024 £ 640,440 40,667 681,107 (352,587) (352,587) 328,520 328,520 870,310 1,198,830 |
Total 2023 £ 329,476 26,705 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 356,181 | |||
| (173,476) | |||
| (173,476) | |||
| 182,705 | |||
| 182,705 687,605 |
|||
| 870,310 |
All of the charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods. The funds breakdown for 2023 is shown in note 12.
The notes on pages 10 to 18 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 7
Nialls Foundation
(Registration number: 1174677) Balance Sheet as at 30 June 2024
| (Registration number: 1174677) Balance Sheet as at 30 June 2024 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Note Fixed assets Investments 9 Current assets Debtors 10 Cash at bank and in hand 11 Net assets Funds of the charity: Unrestricted income funds Unrestricted funds Total funds 12 |
2024 £ 499,276 71,169 628,385 699,554 1,198,830 1,198,830 1,198,830 |
2023 £ 499,276 44,170 326,864 |
| 371,034 | ||
| 870,310 | ||
| 870,310 | ||
| 870,310 |
The financial statements on pages 7 to 18 were approved by the trustees, and authorised for issue on 25 April 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
.........................................
Mr NM El-Assaad Trustee
The notes on pages 10 to 18 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 8
Nialls Foundation
Cash Flow Statement for the Year Ended 30 June 2024
| Note Cash flows from operating activities Net cash income Adjustments to cash flows from non-cash items Investment income 3 Working capital adjustments Increase in debtors 10 Net cash flows from operating activities Cash flows from investing activities Interest receivable and similar income 3 Purchase of investments Net cash flows from investing activities Net increase in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at 1 July Cash and cash equivalents at 30 June |
2024 £ 328,520 (40,667) 287,853 (26,999) 260,854 40,667 - 40,667 301,521 326,864 628,385 |
2023 £ 182,705 (26,705) |
|---|---|---|
| 156,000 (24,526) |
||
| 131,474 | ||
| 26,705 (99,276) |
||
| (72,571) | ||
| 58,903 267,961 |
||
| 326,864 |
All of the cash flows are derived from continuing operations during the above two periods.
The notes on pages 10 to 18 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 9
Nialls Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2024
1 Accounting policies
Statement of compliance
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the second edition of the Charities Statement of Recommended Practice issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
Basis of preparation
Nialls Foundation meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts.
Going concern
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis.
The trustees assess whether the use of going concern is appropriate i.e. whether there are any material uncertainties related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the ability of the charity to continue as a going concern. The trustees make this assessment in respect of a period of one year from the date of approval of the financial statements.
Income and endowments
Voluntary income including donations, gifts, legacies and grants that provide core funding or are of a general nature is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Donations and legacies
Donations and legacies are recognised on a receivable basis when receipt is probable and the amount can be reliably measured.
Investment income
Income from interest, royalties and dividends is recognised when its receipt is probable and the amount receivable can be measured reliably.
Expenditure
All expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to that expenditure, it is probable settlement is required and the amount can be measured reliably. All costs are allocated to the applicable expenditure heading that aggregate similar costs to that category.
Page 10
Nialls Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2024
Charitable activities
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them.
Grant expenditure
Grants payable are payments made to third parties in the furtherance of the charitable objectives.
Grant provisions
Provisions for grants are made when the intention to make a grant has been communicated to the recipient but there is uncertainty about either the timing of the grant or the amount of grant payable.
Governance costs
These include the costs attributable to the charity’s compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements, including audit, strategic management and trustees meetings and reimbursed expenses.
Irrecoverable VAT
Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the category of resources expended for which it was incurred.
Taxation
The charity is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 of the Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes. Accordingly, the charity is potentially exempt from taxation in respect of income or capital gains received within categories covered by Chapter 3 Part 11 of the Corporation Tax Act 2010 or Section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992, to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively to charitable purposes.
Programme related investments
Programme related investments are made in furtherance of the charity's objects and any investment return is secondary to the charitable purpose supported by the investment. Such investments are included at their cost. Any loss or impairment arising from such investments is charged as part of charitable activities within the Statement of Financial Activities.
Trade debtors
Trade debtors are amounts due from customers for merchandise sold or services performed in the ordinary course of business.
Trade debtors are recognised initially at the transaction price. They are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less provision for impairment. A provision for the impairment of trade debtors is established when there is objective evidence that the charity will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the receivables.
Page 11
Nialls Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2024
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.
Foreign exchange
Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded at the rate of exchange at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the balance sheet date are reported at the rates of exchange prevailing at that date.
Fund structure
Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the trustee's discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the charity.
Financial instruments
Classification
Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised when the charity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the charity after deducting all of its liabilities.
Recognition and measurement
All financial assets and liabilities are initially measured at transaction price (including transaction costs), except for those financial assets classified as at fair value through profit or loss, which are initially measured at fair value (which is normally the transaction price excluding transaction costs), unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction. If an arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, the financial asset or financial liability is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are only offset in the statement of position when, and only when there exists a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and the charity intends either to settle on a net basis, or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Financial assets are derecognised when and only when a) the contractual rights to the cash flows from the financial asset expire or are settled, b) the charity transfers to another party substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership of the financial asset, or c) the charity, despite having retained some, but not all, significant risks and rewards of ownership, has transferred control of the asset to another party.
Financial liabilities are derecognised only when the obligation specified in the contract is discharged, cancelled or expires.
Page 12
Nialls Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2024
2 Income from donations and legacies
| 2 Income from donations and legacies |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Donations and legacies; Donations from companies, trusts and similar proceeds 3 Investment income Interest receivable and similar income; Interest receivable on bank deposits Other investment income 4 Expenditure on charitable activities Grants payable Bank charges Foreign currency (gains)/losses Governance costs |
Unrestricted funds General £ 640,440 640,440 Unrestricted funds General £ 13,667 27,000 40,667 Unrestricted funds General £ 337,447 407 296 14,437 352,587 |
Total 2024 £ 640,440 640,440 Total 2024 £ 13,667 27,000 40,667 Total 2024 £ 337,447 407 296 14,437 352,587 |
Total 2023 £ 329,476 |
| 329,476 | |||
| Total 2023 £ 2,179 24,526 |
|||
| 26,705 | |||
| Total 2023 £ 171,734 454 620 668 |
|||
| 173,476 |
Page 13
Nialls Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2024
5 Analysis of governance and support costs
| Governance costs Legal fees 6 Grant-making |
Unrestricted funds General £ 14,437 14,437 |
Total 2024 £ 14,437 14,437 |
Total 2023 £ 668 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 668 | |||
Analysis of grants
| Analysis of grants | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analysis Grants paid The support costs associated with grant-making are £Nil (30 June 2023 - £Nil). Below are details of material grants made to institutions. Name of institution The endParalysis Foundation Canadian Spinal Research Organization Microcures Phoenix Pharmaceuticals CRP PhD Student University of Wisconsin-Madison SCI Ventures UOL - Gait Trainer Research UOL - Leeds SCI Centre |
Grants to institutions 2024 £ 2023 £ 337,447 171,734 2024 £ 2023 £ 21,265 13,892 - 59,745 - 41,029 - 9,776 17,164 47,292 19,391 - 78,632 - 75,185 - 125,810 - 337,447 171,734 |
|||
| 2023 £ 13,892 59,745 41,029 9,776 47,292 - - - - 171,734 |
Page 14
Nialls Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2024
7 Trustees remuneration and expenses
No trustees, nor any persons connected with them, have received any remuneration from the charity during the year.
No trustees have received any reimbursed expenses or any other benefits from the charity during the year.
8 Taxation
The charity is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation.
9 Social investments
Programme related investments
| Programme related investments | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost At 1 July 2023 At 30 June 2024 Provision At 30 June 2024 Net book value At 30 June 2024 At 30 June 2023 |
Programme related investments - Loans £ 400,000 400,000 - 400,000 400,000 |
Programme related investments - Equity £ 99,276 |
Total £ 499,276 |
| 99,276 - |
499,276 - |
||
| 99,276 | 499,276 | ||
| 99,276 | 499,276 |
Page 15
Nialls Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2024
All investments made are to further the charities aims of advancing education and promoting research into the treatment and cure of spinal injuries.
Loan investments are with Cintralis Ltd, a Biotech company setup to advance the Chondroitinase ReductionPeptide (CRP) that was previously funded in research by Nialls Foundation. Investment into Cintralis is by way of convetible loan notes.
Equity investments were made in the prior year with inContAlert and NeuroCreis Inc.
Funding with inContAlert will be used for a clinical trial to test their device in people with a Spinal Cord Injury.
Funding with NeuroCresis Inc will be used for work needed to have their technology developed for Chronic Spinal Cord Injury.
10 Debtors
| 10 Debtors | ||
|---|---|---|
| Accrued income 11 Cash and cash equivalents Cash at bank Short-term deposits |
2024 £ 71,169 2024 £ 1,466 626,919 628,385 |
2023 £ 44,170 |
| 2023 £ 3,422 323,442 |
||
| 326,864 |
Page 16
Nialls Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2024
| 12 Funds Unrestricted funds General General funds Unrestricted funds General General funds 13 Analysis of net assets between funds Programme related investments Current assets Total net assets Programme related investments Current assets Total net assets |
Balance at 1 July 2023 £ 870,310 Balance at 1 July 2022 £ 687,605 |
Incoming resources £ 681,107 Incoming resources £ 356,181 |
Resources expended £ (352,587) Resources expended £ (173,476) Unrestricted funds General £ 499,276 699,554 1,198,830 Unrestricted funds General £ 499,276 371,034 870,310 |
Balance at 30 June 2024 £ 1,198,830 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance at 30 June 2023 £ 870,310 |
||||
| Total funds at 30 June 2024 £ 499,276 699,554 |
||||
| 1,198,830 | ||||
| Total funds at 30 June 2023 £ 499,276 371,034 |
||||
| 870,310 |
Page 17
Nialls Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 June 2024
14 Analysis of net funds
| 14 Analysis of net funds | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash at bank and in hand Current asset investments Net debt Cash at bank and in hand Current asset investments Net debt |
At 1 July 2023 £ 25,888 300,976 326,864 At 1 July 2022 £ 267,961 - 267,961 |
Financing cash flows £ (24,422) 325,943 301,521 Financing cash flows £ (242,073) 300,976 58,903 |
At 30 June 2024 £ 1,466 626,919 628,385 At 30 June 2023 £ 25,888 300,976 |
| 326,864 |
15 Related party transactions
During the year the charity made the following related party transactions:
Fuel Service Ltd
(Two of the trustees are directors of the above company.)
Donations of £640,440 (2023 - £329,458) were received from the above company during the period. At the balance sheet date the amount due to/from Fuel Service Ltd was £Nil (2023 - £Nil).
Cintralis Ltd
(One of the trustees is a director of the above company. Fuel Service Ltd, in which two of the trustees are directors, has an interest in the above company.)
The charity has made a programme related investment in Cintralis Ltd via convertible notes.
At the balance sheet date the amount due from Cintralis Ltd was £525,258 (2023 - £500,108).
Page 18
Nialls Foundation
Statement of Financial Activities by fund for the Year Ended 30 June 2024
| Income and Endowments from: Donations and legacies Investment income Total income Expenditure on: Charitable activities Total expenditure Net income Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Total Unrestricted Funds 2024 £ 640,440 40,667 681,107 (352,587) (352,587) 328,520 328,520 870,310 1,198,830 |
Total Unrestricted Funds 2023 £ 329,476 26,705 |
|---|---|---|
| 356,181 | ||
| (173,476) | ||
| (173,476) | ||
| 182,705 | ||
| 182,705 687,605 |
||
| 870,310 |
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements. Page 19
Nialls Foundation
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 30 June 2024
| Income and Endowments from: Donations and legacies (analysed below) Investment income (analysed below) Total income Expenditure on: Charitable activities (analysed below) Total expenditure Net income Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Total 2024 £ 640,440 40,667 681,107 (352,587) (352,587) 328,520 328,520 870,310 1,198,830 |
Total 2023 £ 329,476 26,705 |
|---|---|---|
| 356,181 | ||
| (173,476) | ||
| (173,476) | ||
| 182,705 | ||
| 182,705 687,605 |
||
| 870,310 |
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements. Page 20
Nialls Foundation
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 30 June 2024
| Donations and legacies Appeals and donations Investment income Interest on cash deposits Income from other investments Charitable activities Grants payable - institutions Bank charges Foreign currency (gains)/losses Legal and professional fees |
Total 2024 £ 640,440 640,440 13,667 27,000 40,667 337,447 407 296 14,437 352,587 |
Total 2023 £ 329,476 |
|---|---|---|
| 329,476 | ||
| 2,179 24,526 |
||
| 26,705 | ||
| 171,734 454 620 668 |
||
| 173,476 |
This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements. Page 21