Charity registration number: 1176686
## The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)
known as
## Friends Of The RUH
Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 30 September 2024
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Contents (continued)**
|Trustees' Report|1 to 14|
|---|---|
|Independent Auditors' Report|15 to 17|
|Statement of Financial Activities|18|
|Balance Sheet|19|
|Cash Flow Statement|20|
|Notes to the Financial Statements|21 to 35|
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Trustees' Report**
The Trustees present the annual report together with the financial statements and auditors' report of the Charity for the year ended 30 September 2024.
The League of Friends of the Royal United Hospitals (Bath) (the 'Friends') is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation - registered charity number 1176686. The principal office is at the Royal United Hospitals - Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Combe Park Bath BA1 3NG. Its Governing Document is its Constitution adopted on 15 January 2018, amended by resolution dated 18 June 2019.
## **Objectives and activities**
## _**Objects and aims**_
The object of the League of Friends of the Royal United Hospitals (Bath) is to preserve and protect the health of patients of the Royal United Hospitals by providing and assisting in the provision of facilities, support services and equipment not normally provided by the statutory authorities.
## _**Fundraising**_
Our main source of regular income is our retail operations - the Friends of the RUH Shop in the Atrium and the Café at B18 (previously known as the Friends Coffee Shop).
We do not employ any professional fundraisers. Our fundraising activity is limited to the placement of collection boxes in our retail units and at a number of locations in the hospital. We receive some funds in the form of legacies, in memoriam collections, and from supporters of the charity.
We do not employ any third-party fundraising agencies or have any activities carried out on our behalf or by commercial participators.
We are not aware of any failures to comply with fundraising standards or related schemes of regulation by us or others acting on our behalf.
During 2023-24 we did not receive any suppression requests through the Fundraising Preference Scheme.
We received no complaints about our fundraising activities during 2023-24.
## _**Public benefit**_
The trustees confirm that the Charity complies with The Charities Act 2011 with regard to public benefit requirements.
## _**Trustees**_
The Charity is managed by a Board made up of up to 12 volunteer trustees. Trustees serve for a period of three years but may seek re-election at the next Annual General Meeting. The Trustees are always seeking people with appropriate business and professional skills to join the Board or to assist with one-off projects.
Ronny Helvey, who advised the charity during the refurbishment of the Shop and the improvements to the Café at B18, joined the Board as the Communications and Marketing Trustee on 1 October 2023.
Page 1
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Trustees' Report (continued)**
The current trustees and their respective roles are:
Bernard Rymer - Chair Jane Rymer - Treasurer Paul Satterly - Joint Vice Chair & Lead for Volunteering Philip Addis - Joint Vice Chair & Lead for Retail Matters Andrea Pierce - Lead for Legal Matters & Grants Committee Richard Bryan - Volunteer Representative & Grants Committee Dave Biggs - Volunteer Representative & Grants Committee Ronny Helvey - Lead for Communications and Marketing
## _**Management of staff and volunteers**_
The Trustees wish to place on record their appreciation of the excellent work of the paid staff and volunteers who help run the charity’s retail units and support our volunteering activities. It is through their hard work and dedication that the charity has been able to donate a total of £381,323 (2023: £283,270) and a total of 198 volunteer provided 21,158 volunteer hours (2023: 18,588) to the RUH during the year under review.
## _**Risk management**_
The Trustees actively review the major risks that the Charity faces and are confident that the systems in place and reserves held are adequate to mitigate these risks.
## _**Decision making**_
The Board regularly reviews matters that are reserved to the Board and which can be delegated. It collectively exercises the powers of delegation to individual trustees and staff.
The Board describes its ‘delegations’ framework in a document that provides sufficient detail and clear boundaries that the delegations can be clearly understood and carried out.
The Royal United Hospitals Foundation Trust provides the Charity with a number of services, including IT and payroll. Human Resources advice is provided by Moorepay, and bookkeeping services by Mutu.
The Board assures itself that the work is carried out in the interests of the Charity and in line with its values and the agreement between the Charity and the supplier.
The Board regularly checks the Charity’s key policies and procedures to ensure that they still support, and are adequate for, the delivery of the Charity’s aims.
## _**Lease**_
In October 2021 the RUH renewed the lease for the Friends of the RUH shop, the Café at B18 and the Volunteers’ office for 4 years to October 2025.
A new lease is in the process of being negotiated with the trust to extend the charity’s tenure for 10 years to October 2035.
Page 2
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Trustees' Report (continued)**
## **Structure, governance and management**
## _**Recruitment and appointment of Trustees**_
Trustees are appointed by the Board and elected at the Annual General Meeting on the basis of their enthusiasm for and commitment to the objects of the Charity. The aim is to have a Board consisting of trustees with business and professional skills, experience and expertise that mirrors the charity’s governance needs and operational activities. In seeking new trustees, the charity advertises on its website, through social media channels, and through relevant third sector associations.
## _**Induction and training of trustees**_
Potential new Trustees attend board meetings as an observer to familiarise themselves with the business and to test their suitability and enthusiasm for the work involved. If appointed, the new trustee is partnered with an existing Board member and attends suitable training courses.
## _**Arrangements for setting key management personnel remuneration**_
The Trustees consider the Board of Trustees, Chief Executive, Retail Manager, and the Volunteer Manager as comprising the key management personnel of the Charity in charge of directing and controlling the charity and running and operating the Charity on a day to day basis.
The Board reviews the pay and remuneration of its key management personnel. In making decisions the Board takes into consideration its commitments and market factors.
All Trustees give up their time freely and no Trustee remuneration was paid in the year. Details of Trustee expenses and related party transactions are disclosed in note 10 to the accounts.
Trustees are required to disclose all relevant interests and register them with the Chair and in accordance with the Charity's policy and withdraw from decisions where a conflict of interest arises.
Page 3
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Trustees' Report (continued)**
## **Review of the Year’s Activities and Priorities for 2023-24** _**Governance**_
For a long time, the trustees have played a major role in the day-to-day management of the charity’s activities. This was placing an unacceptable burden on the volunteer trustees, and after much consideration, the trustees made the decision to appoint a Chief Executive to manage the charity’s activities. In May 2024, Warren Finney, who had previously worked for a charity in the hospice sector, became our first Chief Executive.
In addition to appointing a Chief Executive, committees were formed to ensure trustee oversight of the charity’s retail and volunteering activities. The Chief Executive took steps to enhance relationships with the Trust and external partners. New leadership strategies were put in place together with improved arrangements to ensure effective engagement with the Friends’ staff and volunteers. Significant work was also undertaken to review and update policies and procedures to ensure they continue to support the aims of the charity.
In January 2025, the trustees approved changes to the retail establishment which were designed to strengthen the operational management of the Café and Shop and to increase capacity in the Cafe, especially over the busy lunch period.
The appointment of the Chief Executive provides the trustees with the chance to review their plans for the future and envision how the charity might grow and evolve. During the second half of the year, the trustees and senior staff will collaborate to draft a strategic plan for the next three years.
## _**Retail Trading**_
The two retail units - the Friends of the RUH Shop in the Atrium and the Café at B18 are the Charity’s main source of income. Surplus profits are used to fund the management of the volunteer workforce and to fund donations to the Trust for resources and services that benefit the patients.
The success of the Charity’s retail trading activities is due in large part to the efforts of the Retail Manager, Mark Vincent, and his hard-working team of staff and volunteers for which the Trustees are most appreciative.
Page 4
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Trustees' Report (continued)**
## _**The Friends of the RUH Shop**_
The Friends of the RUH Shop in the Atrium stocks a wide range of merchandise including soft drinks, confectionery, sandwiches, ready meals, newspapers, toiletries, groceries, and greetings cards. The shop is open 7 days a week from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 11am to 4pm on weekends. Items can also be ordered for delivery throughout the hospital.
The range is constantly evolving to ensure that we are providing an ever-improving choice of healthier snack items. Our series of seasonal promotions covering Christmas, Mother’s Day, Easter, and Halloween helped us to grow sales.
## _**Additional Shop Supervisor**_
The shop is increasingly busy and especially over lunch periods. To help manage the workload the trustees agreed to appoint an additional Shop Supervisor. In February we welcomed Vimala Kannaiah to our retail team as our new Shop Supervisor.
## _**Turnover**_
In another year of large price increases it has been important to monitor margins on all products and ensure that we continue to provide value as well as convenience. By doing so, we have been able to grow sales from £670,646 in 2022/23 to £786,942 in 2023/24, while at the same time maintaining satisfactory profit margins.
## _**Shop Priorities for 2024/25**_
## _**Shop Trolley**_
The shop trolley service stopped when the hospital went into lockdown in March 2020. It is anticipated that this previously popular service to patients on the wards will be reintroduced in the second half of the year.
## _**Product Range**_
We will also be investigating opportunities to increase our healthy food options in the shop and how we might be able to engage more with local producers to offer the best local produce where we can.
Page 5
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Trustees' Report (continued)**
## _**The Café at B18**_
The Café at B18 is situated at the rear of the hospital, near Combe Ward and is a popular venue for staff and visitors to the hospital. Since COVID, custom has markedly increased. In recognition of the increase the espresso machine was upgraded allowing a faster service and a better quality product.
The post of Assistant Catering Supervisor was established to enable the hours during which hot food is offered to be extended and to strengthen supervisory cover during the second half of the day. New window blinds were fitted to help keep the Café cooler during the summer months and improvements were made in the year to the recycling process.
By continuing to focus on every aspect of the business, sales grew from £341,520 in 2022/3 to £424,539 in 2023/4.
## _**Café Priorities for 2024/25**_
We will continue to review the range and look for ways of managing the ‘problem’ of the Café’s popularity. Currently being considered are a new sandwich fridge and a second till to help increase the speed at which we can serve customers, especially during lunchtimes.
Given the hot weather during recent summers, we are also investigating options to keep the kitchen and cafe areas cooler during the summer months for the benefit of both staff and customers. We will also explore options to open the Café at B18 earlier in the day.
Page 6
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Trustees' Report (continued)**
## _**Volunteering**_
Our volunteer management work is managed by our Volunteer Services Manager, Karen Paddock. The volunteers’ work is greatly valued by all associated with the hospital and letters of thanks for acts of kindness are often received. Volunteers make a huge difference to our ability to help and support the Trust. We cannot thank our volunteers enough for their commitment and dedication.
The challenge for the year has been to gradually increase the number of active volunteers and the number of hours they donate to the hospital. In the year under review a total of 198 (2023: 173) volunteered. In quarter 4 of the year under review a total of 144 people volunteered compared with 124 in the same quarter 12 months earlier. In total, the volunteers contributed some 21,158 up from 18,588 hours in 2023.
Gill Kingwell, Volunteer Coordinator, retired in March 2024 after more than 10 years with the charity, firstly as a volunteer and more recently as a member of staff. After working for the charity in an interim capacity, Liz Rack became our new Volunteer Coordinator in February 2024.
## _**Achievements in 2023/24**_
Throughout the year we saw a continuous supply of new applicants, and as a result we were able to increase the numbers of volunteers and hours and improve inclusion. We saw a high amount of complimentary patient, visitor and staff feedback for the Welcome volunteer role.
Through the appointment of a Chief Executive and the continued work of the Volunteer Services Manager we were able to increase our strategic influence within the trust. We also part funded the Volunteering Development post in the Trust’s Patient Experience Department. To learn lessons about best practice in the world of volunteering we Increased our engagement with external charities and other Trust’s volunteering teams.
Working closely with our Communications and Marketing trustee we were able to improve communications via newsletter, website and events.
Page 7
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Trustees' Report (continued)**
The list below shows the range of volunteering activities during the year under review.
- ●Art at the Heart
- ●Bliss NICU
- ●Breast Feeding Peer Support
- ●Children's Ward Support
- ●Dementia Co-ordinator
- ●Dyson Centre Welcome Volunteer
- ●FRUH Shop & Café at B18
- ●Gardening
- ●Housekeeping
- ●Ophthalmology
- ●Patient Experience Team
- ●Pets as Therapy
- ●Pharmacy Runner
- ●Spiritual Care
- ●Ward Volunteer - Acute Stroke Unit
- ●Ward Volunteer - Charlotte
- ●Ward Volunteer - Combe Ward
- ●Ward Volunteer - Emergency Dept
- ●Ward Volunteer - Forrester Brown
- ●Ward Volunteer - MAU
- ●Ward Volunteer - Oncology
- ●Ward Volunteer - OPAU
- ●Ward Volunteer - Philip Yeoman
- ●Ward Volunteer - Respiratory
- ●Ward Volunteer Helena
●Welcome Volunteer - Atrium
## **Priorities for 2024/25**
We will work closely with the Patient Experience Department to review the Trust's Volunteer Strategy to create an aligned vision for the direction of volunteering in the next three years
The Trust’s managers are keen to have more volunteers assisting on the wards and departments. We will be working closely with the managers and role owners to provide an effective environment for volunteering within the wards and departments.
Our focus on increasing volunteer numbers and inclusion will continue with the specific targeting of cohorts of volunteers who are in further education students, ex NHS staff, etc
We will be aiming to increase engagement with volunteers through more regular events and communications.
Our aim is to ensure that we can offer the best possible volunteering opportunities. To this end we will continue working with other NHS volunteering organisations and external charities to identify best practice and innovation.
Page 8
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Trustees' Report (continued)**
## _**Communications**_
## _**Achievements in 2023/24**_
During the year we delivered a suite of updated and branded marketing materials from banners to information leaflets to raise the charity’s profile within the trust and at events, and conferences.
The Friends’ Shop was provided with a range of seasonal Point of Sale items to help drive sales. This included spring flower imagery to connect with the optimism at the start of the year, healthy eating, and special gifts for Mother’s Day, Easter, Christmas, and warming images as we headed into the autumn and winter seasons.
Our social media exposure and followers on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn built steadily and successfully through the year as a key part of marketing the activities of the charity and its involvement with the RUH community. During the year we delivered informative and engaging quarterly newsletters to the 550 Friends’ followers and supporters. To align ourselves with Charity Commission guidance we introduced a Social Media policy.
We engaged with the Trust’s Communications Team, Art for the Heart and Patient Experience teams to ensure the charity was involved and represented in key events. We featured in several joint press releases and social media posts such as Volunteers’ Week, the RUH musician in residence and stories on key volunteers who worked over Christmas.
## _**Priorities for 2024/25**_
In 2024/25 we will aim to build the number of Friends of the RUH followers and supporters.
The Café at B18 and the Friends of the RUH Shop are our main income sources. We will strive to ensure we have a strong point of sale to help drive sales and strengthen messaging to ensure customers understand that by shopping with us, as well as drinking and eating in our café they are helping us make a difference as profits we make enable us to donate toward projects, equipment and manage the volunteer workforce.
We will provide regular updates and communications about the work and achievements of the charity to our volunteers and supporters keeping them engaged through the use of social media, newsletters, events, and our website.
We will continue our work to enhance the relationship of the Charity with the Trust and its Communications Team to ensure the profile of the Friends is presented through the Trust’s internal social media as current, pro-active and through regular attendance at the wider group meetings, and involvement in mutual projects.
## **Financial review**
The Friends were generously supported by donations and fundraising. A total of £114,281 (2023: £137,717) was received this way. This amount included legacies of £101,379 (2023: £123,504). The profit from primary trading activities was £302,833 (2023: £255,210). Funds carried forward for the future were £1,299,474 (2023: £1,301,959). The figure includes reserves, provisions, and restricted funds.
Full details of the financial activities for the year are given in the attached financial statements.
Page 9
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Trustees' Report (continued)**
## _**Principal funding sources**_
The sole beneficiary of the charity’s funding is the Royal United Hospitals Foundation Trust.
The Charity sets aside its surplus profits in order to make donations to the hospital in accordance with its objectives. During the year, donations totalled £381,323, comprising £108,088 in cash contributions and £201,235 accrued at the end of the year (total 2023: £283,270).
## _**Policy on reserves**_
Reserves are held for expenditure on the Objects of the Friends, with adequate reserves, at least £300,000, retained to enable prudent management of any unforeseen circumstances.
## _**Investment policy and objectives**_
The overall investment objective is to produce the best financial return with the least level of risk. To this end, only cash investments shall be allowed. No other investment activity such as the purchase of shares, or land acquisition for rent or sale is sanctioned.
## _**Restricted and Designated Funds**_
**Courtyard Gardens - Restricted Fund** - In 2022/23 the charity received two donations totalling £1,241 in support of the work of the gardening team. £993 came from the Estate of the Late Barbara Feather and £248 came from the Estate of the Late Jocelyn Price, a much-loved member of the Gardening Team. The donations will be used to replant Lovers’ Garden and two other courtyard gardens in Spring 2025.
## **Donations to the RUH**
During the year the charity donated equipment and services to the trust totalling £381,323. Among the more significant donations were:
## **Fit to Sit - Emergency Department - £16,818**
The donation was used to provide furniture, screens and tables to create a new area within the Emergency Department where patients who are able can sit and wait for their consultation.
## **Stryker Wheelchair - Atrium - £16,217**
The wheelchairs were provided to increase the stock available to the volunteers who provide assistance to patients arriving at the main entrance to the hospital with mobility issues.
## **Laryngoscope - Anaesthesia/ITU - £15,436**
This is a device used by anaesthetists to place a breathing tube into the windpipe of unconscious patients. It is used frequently in theatres and on the Children’s ward to aid intubation.
Page 10
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Trustees' Report (continued)**
## **Reclining/Sleeping Chairs - Mary Ward - £15,036**
Twelve reclining/sleeping chairs were provided to give a more restful time to those persons who need to stay with a patient overnight.
## **Soundbite - Various - £14,323**
To provide musical instruments for children, publicity material, and a comprehensive programme of musical entertainment for using Dragon Fly Sound Systems and FW Music Services.
## **Bladder Scanner - Charlotte Ward - £7,790**
To replace an existing bladder scanner that was nearing the end of its useful life.
## **Savi Scout Machine - Breast Care - £37,650**
The machine was purchased to allow surgeons to more easily locate cancerous cells and to save patients having to be fitted with intrusive locator wires prior to surgery.
## **Ultra-Sound Machines - Breast Care - £17,317**
The residual sum from a restricted legacy was donated to a Trust fundraising project designed to provide two new Ultrasound machines in the Breast Care Department.
|**Project/Equipment**|**Ward/Area**|**£**|
|---|---|---|
|Fit to sit project|Emergency|16,818|
|Stryker wheelchairs|Welcome|16,217|
|Laryngoscope|Anaesthesia/ICU|15,436|
|Sleeping chair|Mary|15,036|
|Soundbite|Various|14,323|
|Bladder Scanner|Charlotte|7,790|
|Microscope|Riverside Centre|6,966|
|Over Bed Tables|Children’s|5,806|
|Breast Pumps|Children’s|5,031|
|Bedside Cabinets|Children’s|4,646|
|Sleeper Chairs|Children’s|4,617|
|Mobile Phone Charge Box|Emergency|4,500|
|Cognitive Sensory
Equipment|Complex Regional Pain Centre|2,290|
|Room Hire|Philip Yeoman|1,872|
|Chair Beds|Children’s|1,154|
|Air glove|Anaemia Clinic|995|
|Sit on Scales|Charlotte|668|
|Baby Cribs|Children’s|573|
|Artwork|Diabetes|429|
|Bean Bags|Children’s|394|
Page 11
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Trustees' Report (continued)**
|Lunch Trays
Medical Assessment DAA
Dementia Clock
Diabetes
One-off Donation
Dyson Centre
Savi Scout Machine
Breast Care
Ultrasound Machines
Breast Care
Soundbite - Event
Collections
**Regular Donations**
Activity Packs
Christmas Gifts
Emergency Packs
Gardening Maintenance
Hanging Baskets and Bedding
Newspapers for Discharge Hub|159
125
680
37,650
17,317
331
800
2,344
3,267
1,564
3,435
763|
|---|---|
||193,996|
## **Pendants - Intensive Therapy Unit - £150,000**
£150,000 was donated to help pay for a series of pendant systems in the Intensive Therapy Unit. These ceiling-mounted systems enable monitors, ventilation systems and electrical cables to be moved off the floor. Their capacity to act as supply units for data and electrical technologies frees staff from having to maintain subsidiary records.
Note: The donation was originally approved by the trustees in 2018. Due to the pandemic, the need for the Trust to continually re-prioritise its Capital Programme, and the decision to create a new Intensive Therapy Unit on the second floor the work was delayed.
Payment for the pendants was made during the year, however for accounting purposes the expenditure was reported in a previous year.
## _**New and Pending Donations**_
On 30 September 2024, a total of £187,327 remained outstanding pending delivery and installation of the equipment or completion of the work. The figure includes the sum of £96,000 set aside to part-fund the salary of the Trust’s Volunteer Coordinator for a period of 3 years.
In November 2024, the trustees made a further £400,000 available to the Trust for new donations in the 2024/25 financial year.
## _**Cost of Volunteering**_
In addition to the above, the charity’s costs associated with recruiting and managing volunteers for the Trust amounted to £71,000 (2023: £55,000). This is an indirect benefit to the trust.
Page 12
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Trustees' Report (continued)**
## **Reference and Administrative Details**
Charity Registration Number: 1176686 Principal Office: Friends of the RUH Royal United Hospital Combe Park Bath BA1 3NG Auditor: ML Audit LLP 4 Queen Street Bath BA1 1HE Solicitors: Stone King Solicitors LLP 13 Queen Square Bath BA1 2HJ Bankers: Lloyds Bank Plc
## **Trustees and officers**
The trustees and officers serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:
Trustees: J Rymer, Treasurer B Rymer, Chairman P J Satterly A Pierce P Addis R Bryan D Biggs R Helvey (appointed 1 October 2023)
Page 13
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Trustees' Report (continued)**
## **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:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- 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 charity's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
## **Disclosure of information to auditor**
Each member has taken steps that they ought to have taken as a member in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Charity's auditor is aware of that information. The Trustees confirm that there is no relevant information that they know of and of which they know the auditor is unaware.
The annual report was approved by the Trustees of the Charity on 1 April 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
J Rymer Trustee
Page 14
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Independent Auditor's Report to the Trustees of The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **Opinion**
We have audited the financial statements of The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath) (the 'Charity') for the year ended 30 September 2024, which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Statement, and Notes to the Financial Statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is United Kingdom Accounting Standards, comprising Charities SORP - FRS 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and applicable law (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
- In our opinion the financial statements:
- give a true and fair view of the state of the Charity's affairs as at 30 September 2024 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended;
- have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
- have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.
## **Basis for opinion**
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the auditor responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the Charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
## **Conclusions relating to going concern**
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Charity's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the original financial statements were authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
## **Other information**
The Trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the trustees annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
Page 15
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Independent Auditor's Report to the Trustees of The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath) (continued)**
In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception**
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Charities (Accounts and Report) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
- adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
- the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
- the information given in the financial statements is inconsistent in any material respect with the Trustees report; or
- we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
## **Responsibilities of Trustees**
As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities (set out on page 14), the Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are responsible for assessing the Charity's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Trustees either intend to liquidate the Charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
## **Auditor Responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements**
We have been appointed as auditor under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 and report in accordance with regulations made under section 154 of that Act.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
- obtained an understanding of the nature of the industry and sector, including the legal and regulatory framework that the charity operates in and how the charity is complying with the legal and regulatory framework;
Page 16
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Independent Auditor's Report to the Trustees of The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath) (continued)**
- inquired of management, and those charged with governance, about their own identification and assessment of the risks or irregularities, including known and actual, suspected or alleged instances of fraud;
- discussed matters about non-compliance with laws and regulations and how fraud might occur including assessment of how and where the financial statements may be susceptible to fraud.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.
## **Use of our report**
This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charity’s trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Ian Lloyd (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of ML Audit LLP, Statutory Auditor
4 Queen Street Bath BA1 1HE
1 April 2025
ML Audit LLP is eligible for appointment as auditor of the charity by virtue of its eligibility for appointment as auditor of a company under section 1212 of the Companies Act 2006.
Page 17
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 30 September 2024**
|**Note**
**Income and Endowments from:**
Donations and legacies
2
Charitable activities
3
Other trading activities
4
Investment income
5
Other income
6
Total income
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
7
Charitable activities
8
Total expenditure
Net income/(expenditure)
Net movement in funds
**Reconciliation of funds**
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
20|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**£**
114,281
1,211,481
4,662
40,490
48
1,370,962
(83,476)
(1,234,324)
(1,317,800)
53,162
53,162
1,245,071
1,298,233|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(55,647)
(55,647)
(55,647)
(55,647)
56,888
1,241|**2024**
**£**
114,281
1,211,481
4,662
40,490
48
1,370,962
(83,476)
(1,289,971)
(1,373,447)
(2,485)
(2,485)
1,301,959
1,299,474|**2023**
**£**
137,717
1,012,166
5,262
18,718
25|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||1,173,888|
|||||(69,123)
(1,040,226)|
|||||(1,109,349)|
|||||64,539|
|||||64,539
1,237,420|
|||||1,301,959|
All of the Charity's activities derive from continuing operations during the above two periods. The funds breakdown for 2023 is shown in note 20.
The notes on pages 21 to 35 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 18
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **(Registration number: 1176686) Balance Sheet as at 30 September 2024**
|**Note**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
13
**Current assets**
Stocks
14
Debtors
15
Cash at bank and in hand
16
**Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year**
17
**Net current assets**
**Net assets**
**Funds of the Charity:**
**Restricted income funds**
Restricted funds
**Unrestricted income funds**
Unrestricted funds
**Total funds**
20|**2024**
**£**
45,445
15,873
92,585
1,405,283
1,513,741
(259,712)
1,254,029
1,299,474
1,241
1,298,233
1,299,474|**2023**
**£**
50,187
14,013
21,764
1,437,072|
|---|---|---|
|||1,472,849
(221,077)|
|||1,251,772|
|||1,301,959|
|||56,888
1,245,071|
|||1,301,959|
The financial statements on pages 18 to 35 were approved by the Trustees, and authorised for issue on 1 April 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
J Rymer Trustee
The notes on pages 21 to 35 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 19
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Cash Flow Statement for the Year Ended 30 September 2024**
|**Note**
**Cash flows from operating activities**
Net cash (expenditure)/income
**Adjustments to cash flows from non-cash items**
Depreciation
7
Investment income
5
Loss on disposal of tangible fixed assets
**Working capital adjustments**
Increase in stocks
14
(Increase)/decrease in debtors
15
Increase in creditors
17
Net cash flows from operating activities
**Cash flows from investing activities**
Interest receivable and similar income
5
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
13
Sale of tangible fixed assets
Net cash flows from investing activities
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 October
Cash and cash equivalents at 30 September|**2024**
**£**
(2,485)
15,373
(40,490)
1,732
(25,870)
(1,860)
(70,821)
38,635
(59,916)
40,490
(13,613)
1,250
28,127
(31,789)
1,437,072
1,405,283|**2023**
**£**
64,539
16,729
(18,718)
1,412|
|---|---|---|
|||63,962
(2,808)
42,377
24,769|
|||128,300|
|||18,718
(4,798)
-|
|||13,920|
|||142,220
1,294,852|
|||1,437,072|
All of the cash flows are derived from continuing operations during the above two periods.
The notes on pages 21 to 35 form an integral part of these financial statements. Page 20
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 September 2024**
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **Statement of compliance**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 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) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
## **Basis of preparation**
The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath) 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 trustees have reviewed the charity’s operations and regularly monitor the charity’s financial commitments, cash reserves, margins and overheads to ensure the future of the charity. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the report of the trustees and financial statements.
## **Income and endowments**
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 are recognised when the Charity has been notified in writing of both the amount and settlement date. In the event that a donation is subject to conditions that require a level of performance before the charity is entitled to the funds, the income is deferred and not recognised until either those conditions are fully met, or the fulfilment of those conditions is wholly within the control of the charity and it is probable that those conditions will be fulfilled in the reporting period.
Legacy gifts are recognised on a case by case basis following the granting of probate when the administrator/executor for the estate has communicated in writing both the amount and settlement date. In the event that the gift is in the form of an asset other than cash or a financial asset traded on a recognised stock exchange, recognition is subject to the value of the gift being reliably measurable with a degree of reasonable accuracy and the title to the asset having been transferred to the Charity.
## _**Investment income**_
Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the Charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank. Dividends are recognised once the dividend has been declared and notification has been received of the dividend due.
Page 21
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 September 2024 (continued)**
## _**Charitable activities**_
Income generated from charitable activities is comprised of the fair value of consideration received for the sale of goods in the ordinary course of the Charity's activities. Income is shown net of value added tax, returns, rebates and discounts.
## **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. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of resources, with central staff costs allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges allocated on the portion of the asset’s use. Other support costs are allocated based on the spread of staff costs.
## _**Raising funds**_
These are costs incurred in attracting voluntary income, the management of investments and those incurred in trading activities that raise funds.
## _**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.
## **Support costs**
Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources, for example, allocating property costs by floor areas, or per capita, staff costs by the time spent and other costs by their usage.
## **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.
## **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.
## **Tangible fixed assets**
Individual fixed assets costing £200 or more are initially recorded at historical cost, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.
Page 22
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
# **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 September 2024 (continued)**
## **Depreciation and amortisation**
Depreciation is provided on tangible fixed assets so as to write off the cost or valuation, less any estimated residual value, over their expected useful economic life as follows:
**Asset class Depreciation method and rate** Cafe at B18 fittings 25% reducing balance Friends shop fittings 25% reducing balance Office equipment 25% reducing balance
## **Stock**
Stock is valued at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell, after due regard for obsolete and slow moving stocks. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO).
## **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.
## **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.
## **Trade creditors**
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Trade creditors are classified as current liabilities if the does not have an unconditional right, at the end of the reporting period, to defer settlement of the creditor for at least twelve months after the reporting date. If there is an unconditional right to defer settlement for at least twelve months after the reporting date, they are presented as non-current liabilities.
Trade creditors are recognised initially at the transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
## **Fund structure**
Unrestricted income funds are general funds that are available for use at the Trustees discretion in furtherance of the objectives of the Charity.
Restricted income funds are those donated for use in a particular area or for specific purposes, the use of which is restricted to that area or purpose.
Page 23
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 September 2024 (continued)**
## **Pensions and other post retirement obligations**
A defined contribution plan is a pension plan under which fixed contributions are paid into a pension fund and the Charity has no legal or constructive obligation to pay further contributions even if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employees the benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods.
Contributions to defined contribution plans are recognised as employee benefit expense when they are due. If contribution payments exceed the contribution due for service, the excess is recognised as a prepayment.
## **Financial instruments**
## _**Classification**_
The charity only holds basic financial instruments as defined in FRS 102. The financial assets and liabilities of the charity and their measurement basis are as follows;
Financial assets - trade and other debtors are basic financial instruments and are debt instruments measured at amortised cost. Prepayments are not financial instruments.
Cash at bank - is classified as a basic financial instrument and is measured at face value.
Financial liabilities - trade creditors, accruals and other creditors are financial instruments, and are measured at amortised cost. Taxation and social security are not included in the financial instruments disclosure definition. Deferred income is not deemed to be a financial liability, as the cash settlement has already taken place and there is an obligation to deliver services rather than cash or another financial instrument.
Page 24
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 September 2024 (continued)**
## **2 Income from donations and legacies**
|Donations and legacies;
Donations from individuals
Legacies
Street collection income|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
10,250
101,379
2,652
114,281|**2024**
**£**
10,250
101,379
2,652
114,281|**2023**
**£**
12,848
123,504
1,365|
|---|---|---|---|
||||137,717|
£114,281 (2023 - £128,243) of the income above was attributable to unrestricted funds and £Nil (2023 - £9,474) attributable to restricted funds.
## **3 Income from charitable activities**
|Cafe at B18 takings
Friends shop takings|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
424,539
786,942
1,211,481|**2024**
**£**
424,539
786,942
1,211,481|**2023**
**£**
341,520
670,646|
|---|---|---|---|
||||1,012,166|
All of the income above was attributable to unrestricted funds in 2024 and 2023.
Page 25
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 September 2024 (continued)**
## **4 Income from other trading activities**
|Local fundraising|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
4,662
4,662|**2024**
**£**
4,662
4,662|**2023**
**£**
5,262|
|---|---|---|---|
||||5,262|
All of the income above was attributable to unrestricted funds in 2024 and 2023.
## **5 Investment income**
|Interest receivable and similar income;
Interest receivable on bank deposits|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
40,490|**2024**
**£**
40,490|**2023**
**£**
18,718|
|---|---|---|---|
All of the income above was attributable to unrestricted funds in 2024 and 2023.
## **6 Other income**
||**Unrestricted**|||
|---|---|---|---|
||**funds**|||
||**General**|**2024**|**2023**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|
|Other income|48|48|25|
All of the income above was attributable to unrestricted funds in 2024 and 2023.
Page 26
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 September 2024 (continued)**
## **7 Expenditure on raising funds**
## **a) Costs of generating donations and legacies**
|**Note**
Allocated support costs
9
Staff Costs|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
28,633
50,424
79,057|**2024**
**£**
28,633
50,424
79,057|**2023**
**£**
28,868
39,469|
|---|---|---|---|
||||68,337|
## **b) Costs of trading activities**
|Fundraising trading costs;
Other fundraising costs|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
4,419
4,419|**2024**
**£**
4,419
4,419|**2023**
**£**
786|
|---|---|---|---|
||||786|
All of the expenditure above was attributable to unrestricted funds in 2024 and 2023.
Page 27
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 September 2024 (continued)**
## **8 Expenditure on charitable activities**
|**Note**
Cafe at B18
Friends shop
Donations to the
RUH
Support costs
Staff costs
Sundry expenses
Bookkeeping fees
Governance costs
9
Cafe at B18
Friends shop
Donations to RUH|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
191,661
502,191
325,676
6,038
174,184
3,562
12,644
18,368
1,234,324
**Activity**
**undertaken**
**directly**
**£**
287,473
596,768
381,323
1,265,564|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
-
-
55,647
-
-
-
-
-
55,647
**Activity**
**support**
**costs**
**£**
6,742
17,665
-
24,407|**2024**
**£**
191,661
502,191
381,323
6,038
174,184
3,562
12,644
18,368
1,289,971
**2024**
**£**
294,215
614,433
381,323
1,289,971|**2023**
**£**
160,616
422,731
283,270
8,962
141,274
-
10,701
12,672|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||1,040,226|
|||||**2023**
**£**
243,731
513,225
283,270|
|||||1,040,226|
£1,234,324 (2023 - £915,384) of the expenditure above was attributable to unrestricted funds and £55,647 (2023 - £124,842) attributable to restricted funds.
Included within the expenditure analysed above are governance costs of £18,368 (2023 - £12,672) which relate directly to charitable activities. See note 9 for further details.
Page 28
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 September 2024 (continued)**
## **9 Analysis of governance and support costs**
## **Raising funds expenditure Costs of generating donations and legacies**
|**Basis of**
**allocation**
Other resources expended -
insurance, stationery etc.
A
**Charitable activities expenditure**
**Basis of**
**allocation**
Governance costs|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
28,633
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
18,368|**2024**
**£**
28,633
**2024**
**£**
18,368|**2023**
**£**
28,868|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**2023**
**£**
12,672|
## **Basis of allocation**
**Reference Method of allocation** A Directly attributable
## **Governance costs**
|Staff costs
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs
Audit fees
Audit of the financial statements
Other fees paid to auditors
Independent examiner fees
Examination of the financial statements
Other governance costs|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
4,407
655
163
9,185
3,372
-
586
18,368|**2024**
**£**
4,407
655
163
9,185
3,372
-
586
18,368|**2023**
**£**
-
-
-
8,750
3,722
63
137|
|---|---|---|---|
||||12,672|
Page 29
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 September 2024 (continued)**
## **10 Trustees remuneration and expenses**
No Trustees, nor any persons connected with them, have received any remuneration from the Charity during the year.
During the year, Nil (2023 - 1) Trustees were reimbursed expenses totalling £Nil (2023 - £1,356) relating to shop enhancements paid on behalf of the charity before becoming a trustee.
No trustees have received any other benefits from the charity during the year.
## **11 Staff costs**
The aggregate payroll costs were as follows:
|The aggregate payroll costs were as follows:|||
|---|---|---|
|**Staff costs during the year were:**
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs|**2024**
**£**
215,257
12,201
2,375
229,833|**2023**
**£**
167,712
10,451
2,580|
|||180,743|
The monthly average number of persons (including senior management team) employed by the Charity during the year was as follows:
|Staff
Cafe at B18
Friends shop
Administration/Governance
Total staff||**2024**
**No**
13
**2024**
**No**
5
6
2
13|**2023**
**No**
13|
|---|---|---|---|
||||**2023**
**No**
5
6
2
13|
No employee received emoluments of more than £60,000 during the year
The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the Charity were £78,659 (2023 - £55,479).
Page 30
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 September 2024 (continued)**
## **12 Taxation**
The Charity is a registered charity and is therefore exempt from taxation to the extent that such income or gains are applied exclusively for charitable purposes.
## **13 Tangible fixed assets**
|**Cost**
At 1 October 2023
Additions
Disposals
At 30 September 2024
**Depreciation**
At 1 October 2023
Charge for the year
Eliminated on disposals
At 30 September 2024
**Net book value**
At 30 September 2024
At 30 September 2023
**14 Stock**
Cafe at B18 stock
Friends shop stock|**Friends shop**
**fittings**
**£**
143,134
3,645
(5,850)
140,929
103,326
10,863
(5,412)
108,777
32,152
39,808|**Office**
**equipment**
**£**
-
449
-||**Cafe at B18**
**fittings**
**£**
75,631
9,519
(7,979)
77,171
65,252
4,398
(5,435)
64,215
12,956
10,379
**2024**
**£**
1,998
13,875
15,873|**Cafe at B18**
**fittings**
**£**
75,631
9,519
(7,979)
77,171
65,252
4,398
(5,435)
64,215
12,956
10,379
**2024**
**£**
1,998
13,875
15,873|**Total**
**£**
218,765
13,613
(13,829)
218,549
168,578
15,373
(10,847)
173,104
45,445
50,187
**2023**
**£**
3,192
10,821|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||449|||||
|||-
112
-|||||
|||112||64,215|||
|||337||12,956|||
|||-||10,379|||
|||||**2024**
**£**
1,998
13,875
15,873|||
|||||||14,013|
Page 31
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 September 2024 (continued)**
## **15 Debtors**
|Trade debtors
Prepayments
Accrued income|**2024**
**£**
1,903
1,589
89,093
92,585|**2023**
**£**
5,814
-
15,950|
|---|---|---|
|||21,764|
## **16 Cash and cash equivalents**
|**16 Cash and cash equivalents**|||
|---|---|---|
|Cash on hand
Cash at bank
Short-term deposits|**2024**
**£**
4,394
450,974
949,915
1,405,283|**2023**
**£**
6,994
480,163
949,915|
|||1,437,072|
## **17 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
|Trade creditors
Other taxation and social security
VAT liability
Other creditors
Accruals|**2024**
**£**
16,702
1,822
15,746
24,207
201,235
259,712|**2023**
**£**
30,237
841
13,898
14,047
162,054|
|---|---|---|
|||221,077|
## **18 Commitments**
## **Other financial commitments**
The Charity has an operating lease agreement with the Royal United Hospital Bath to pay an annual nominal rental payment of £200 including VAT. The expiry date of the lease is 31 October 2025.
## **19 Contingent assets**
In May 2024 the Charity was made aware that it is due to receive an estimated £441,000 legacy from the residuary of an estate. Since the year end, an interim amount of £35,000 has been received, and recognised in the accounts as legacy income and accrued income.
Page 32
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 September 2024 (continued)**
## **20 Funds**
|**Unrestricted funds**
**_General_**
Unrestricted
general fund
**_Designated_**
Volunteers Post
**Total unrestricted**
**funds**
**Restricted funds**
Breast Care Unit
Memorial gardens
Dyson Centre
**Total restricted**
**funds**
**Total funds**|**Balance at**
**1 October**
**2023**
**£**
1,245,071
-
1,245,071
54,967
1,241
680
56,888
1,301,959|**Incoming**
**resources**
**£**
1,370,962
-
1,370,962
-
-
-
-
1,370,962|**Resources**
**expended**
**£**
(1,317,800)
-
(1,317,800)
(54,967)
-
(680)
(55,647)
(1,373,447)|**Transfers**
**£**
(96,000)
96,000
-
-
-
-
-
-|**Balance at**
**30**
**September**
**2024**
**£**
1,202,233
96,000|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||1,298,233|
||||||-
1,241
-|
||||||1,241|
||||||1,299,474|
Page 33
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 September 2024 (continued)**
|**Unrestricted funds**
**_General_**
Unrestricted general fund
**Restricted**
Breast Care Unit
Paediatric Oncology
Memorial gardens
Dyson Centre
**Total restricted funds**
**Total funds**|**Balance at 1**
**October**
**2022**
**£**
1,065,164
167,256
5,000
-
-
172,256
1,237,420|**Incoming**
**resources**
**£**
1,164,414
12,553
(5,000)
1,241
680
9,474
1,173,888|**Resources**
**expended**
**£**
(984,507)
(124,842)
-
-
-
(124,842)
(1,109,349)|**Balance at**
**30**
**September**
**2023**
**£**
1,245,071
54,967
-
1,241
680|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||56,888|
|||||1,301,959|
The specific purposes for which the funds are to be applied are as follows:
The Charity maintains a general fund which is unrestricted and represents funds which are expendable at the direction of the Trustees in furtherance of the objects of the Charity. Such funds may be held in order to finance both working capital and capital investment.
The restricted funds are funds which the donor has specified for a specific purpose.
Breast Care Unit - expenditure is restricted to the Breast Care Unit.
Paediatric Oncology - executors paid a legacy to the wrong charity and this has now been passed on to the correct recipient.
Memorial gardens - expenditure is restricted to the memorial gardens.
Dyson Centre - expenditure is restricted to the Dyson Centre.
Page 34
## **The League Of Friends Of The Royal United Hospitals (Bath)**
## **known as Friends Of The RUH**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 30 September 2024 (continued)**
## **21 Analysis of net assets between funds**
|Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Total net assets
Tangible fixed assets
Current assets
Current liabilities
Total net assets|**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
45,445
1,512,500
(259,712)
1,298,233
**Unrestricted**
**funds**
**General**
**£**
50,187
1,415,961
(221,077)
1,245,071|**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
-
1,241
-
1,241
**Restricted**
**funds**
**£**
-
56,888
-
56,888|**Total funds**
**at 30**
**September**
**2024**
**£**
45,445
1,513,741
(259,712)|
|---|---|---|---|
||||1,299,474|
||||**Total funds**
**at 30**
**September**
**2023**
**£**
50,187
1,472,849
(221,077)|
||||1,301,959|
## **22 Related party transactions**
There were no related party transactions in the year except those mentioned in Note 10.
Page 35