2025-12-31-accounts - Elsie Ever After

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Elsie Ever After – Trustees’ Annual Report for the period of 1[st] Jan 2025 – 31[st] December 2025

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period 1[st] January 2025 - 31[st] December 2025

Elsie Ever After – CIO - Charitable Incorporated Organisation

Registered Charity Number – 1177173

Elsie Ever After – Trustees’ Annual Report for the period of 1[st] Jan 2025 – 31[st] December 2025

Reference and Administration Details

Elsie Ever After

Registered charity number: 1177173

Registered public address:

Elsie Ever After, Industry Coworking 1 Overleigh Road Handbridge Chester CH4 7HL

Names of charity trustees who manage the charity:

Helen Lyons	Founder, Chief Executive officer and trustee	From 1stJan 2018
Victoria Wright	Signatory and trustee	From 1stJan 2018
Rebekah Tittle	Chief Financial officer and trustee	From 1stJan 2018
Rhiannon Birch	trustee	From 29thJune 2025
Gemma Gerrish	Signatory and trustee	Term of office ended 31/12/25

Solicitors who advised on application and constitution:

Jack Farrer and William Beverley, Weightmans LLP, The Plaza, 100 Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L3 9QJ

Structure, governance and management

Type of governing document : CIO Foundation Constitution

How charity is constituted : CIO – Charitable Incorporated Organisation

Trustee selection methods : Appointed by trustees.

Additional governance: The charity was formally incorporated on 15[th] February 2018, however prior to this, the charitable activities were conducted under the registered charity Storehouse Church charity number 1088755. Where we refer to prior years’ figures within the report, these relate to charitable activities undertaken during incubation under Storehouse charity and trustees.

New trustees will be given the constitution, latest Trustees’ Annual Report, Statement of accounts and a copy of all policies including safeguarding, privacy and finance.

Elsie Ever After – Trustees’ Annual Report for the period of 1[st] Jan 2025 – 31[st] December 2025

Objectives and Activities

Objects of charity:

Our charity’s purposes as set out in our constitution are:

a) To promote the advancement of mental wellbeing to those who have suffered bereavement through the provision of: bereavement counselling, financial support and the provision of access and referral to national bereavement organisations.
b) To raise public awareness of the needs of bereaved people through delivering bereavement courses.

These come under the charity commission classifications of ‘advancing health or saving of lives’ and ‘Education, training and research’.

Ensuring our work delivers these objects:

We review our objectives and activities each year. This review looks at what we achieved and the outcomes of our work in the previous 12 months. The review looks at the success of each key activity and the benefits they have brought to those groups of people we are set up to help. The review also helps us ensure our objectives and activities remained focused on our stated purposes. We have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our objectives and in planning our future activities. In particular, the trustees consider how planned activities will contribute to the objectives they have set.

The focus of our work:

Our main objectives of the year focussed on providing advice and support to bereaved people. We did this by working alongside existing bereavement services and referring families to them wherever possible. If the bereaved person could not get help from existing organisations, then we offered support. This may have taken the form of counselling or financial help to be able to access support; providing books about bereavement; and offering a range of approaches to support, such as creative therapies. Additionally, we signposted professionals to bereavement training and gave advice on supporting people through loss. Our social media also signposts people to bereavement support by posting links to organisations such as the Samaritans during the Christmas season. We also provide advice via social media by linking to articles written by organisations such as Child Bereavement UK. This year, we focussed on restocking our primary bereavement packs and purchased 520 books in order to make 260 primary packs. We also purchased 500 primary folders, 500 business cards, 1,000 new leaflets and 1,120 book stickers in order to complete these packs. We restocked a range of additional bereavement books by purchasing them ourselves (192 books) and asking our supporters to ‘gift’ these books (62 books) to us using an Amazon wish list tool. We also advertised for a new trustee to fulfil our need for someone with knowledge of social media and advertising and appointed Rhiannon Birch in June 2025. Fundraising events to meet increasing costs were organised (such as dress sales raising £3,303 in total) and we contacted all schools in Cheshire West and East in order to ensure all current staff knew about our charity and the resources available.

How our activities deliver public benefit:

Our vision is that everyone, regardless of location or circumstance, can access bereavement support of their choice. Our main activities and who we have helped are outlined below. These activities are all focussed on promoting the advancement of mental wellbeing to those who have suffered bereavement and are undertaken to further our charitable purposes for the public benefit.

Elsie Ever After – Trustees’ Annual Report for the period of 1[st] Jan 2025 – 31[st] December 2025

Who used and benefitted from our services?

We provide guidance for any bereaved person – referrals can be made through any means, including self-referral. We mainly work within the Cheshire area, but we have no boundary of support and therefore, will aim to support anyone who contacts us.

This year, we received 93 referrals for individual families (Table 1). We also received an additional 88 referrals from organisations requesting support (see table 2).

Table 1 - Family referrals: 687 in total since beginning in 2014.

Year	No.
2014	30
2015	29
2016	42
2017	32
2018	47
2019	70
2020	84
2021	69
2022	77
2023	56
2024	58
2025	93

Table 2 - Organisation referrals: 174 in total since beginning in 2014.

Year	No.
2014	5
2015	4
2016	4
2017	20
2018	6
2019	2
2020	8
2021	10
2022	4
2023	10
2024	13
2025	88

This means the total number of people helped via direct referrals over the last 12 years is 3,081 comprising of 605 bereaved adults, 2,226 bereaved children and 250 professionals.

Individual referrals have been made by:

	Familymember	Community	Professional	Self-referral
	No.	No.	No.	No.
Over last 12years	120	98	417	53
2025	8	2	81	3

Elsie Ever After – Trustees’ Annual Report for the period of 1[st] Jan 2025 – 31[st] December 2025

Organisation referrals over the last 12 years have been made by:

Learning mentors Hospitals CAMHS Schools Community paediatricians Churches Family intervention worker Educational psychologists Mental health team Doctor surgeries School nurses Hospices Children’s centre Crisis intervention teams Psychotherapists Emotional Literacy Support Assistants Social Care Services Universities Crematoriums Brake charity

The tables below show the different types of relationships people had to the deceased person.

Relationship to deceased: Bereaved adults

	Husband	Wife	Parent	Son or Daughter	Sibling	Wider family member	Friend
	No.	No.	No.	No.	No.	No.	No.
Over last 12 years	68	147	162	110	17	13	9
2025	22	27	13	10	2	3	0

Relationship to deceased: Bereaved children

	Son or Daughter	Sibling	Wider family member	Friend	Unknown
	No.	No.	No.	No.	No.
Over last 12years	529	142	236	153	985
2025	101	8	27	1	290

Main causes of death over the last 12 years were:

	Accident	Long Term Illness	Murder	Military	Neonatal	SIDS	Sudden Death	Suicide	Unknown	Covid 19
	No.	No.	No.	No.	No.	No.	No.	No.	No.	No.
Over the last 12 years	37	214	5	1	29	10	136	77	363	12
2025	4	42	1	0	1	0	18	19	80	0

Elsie Ever After – Trustees’ Annual Report for the period of 1[st] Jan 2025 – 31[st] December 2025

What services were provided?

Types of support we have offered to bereavedpeople via individual referrals:	Types of support we have offered to bereavedpeople via individual referrals:	Types of support we have offered to bereavedpeople via individual referrals:	Types of support we have offered to bereavedpeople via individual referrals:	Types of support we have offered to bereavedpeople via individual referrals:	Types of support we have offered to bereavedpeople via individual referrals:
	Bereavement pack	Additional books	Signposting to organisations	Counselling	Creative therapies – art/dance	Financial support	Advice
	No.	No.	No.	No.	No.	No.	No.
Over last 12 years	600	362	290	51	22	12	263
2025	151	113	44	1	0	0	45

Types of support we have offered through organisation referrals over the last 12 years:

Speaking to professionals at courses Financial support to host remembering days for bereaved children Advice Signposting Bereavement packs Creative dance Art therapy Counselling Leaflets Additional bereavement books Advising on the design of a remembrance garden at a crematorium

We have provided resources and advice for professionals such as: educational psychologists, psychotherapists, professionals involved with safeguarding, crematoriums, funeral directors, healthcare professionals, learning mentors, Social workers, headteachers, counsellors, Education welfare officers and church leaders.

• Bereavement packs

On request, we have sent out bereavement packs for children which comprise of a bereavement workbook and a story book about grief. We have 2 types of pack: one for primary aged children and one for secondary aged children. We have additional books for children to address specific circumstances such as explaining suicide, manslaughter, military deaths and when a loved one has a terminal illness. We also offer schools and professionals advice and materials on how to support bereaved young people.

In 2025, we gave away 59 primary packs and 35 secondary packs which is a total of 94 bereavement packs for individual referrals. Additionally, organisations such as schools requested 205 primary packs and 104 secondary packs, totalling an extra 309 packs. Therefore, in total during 2025, we supplied 403 bereavement packs for children. Over the last 12 years, we have given out 1,280 primary packs and 623 secondary packs to those who have contacted us via individual referrals and from organisations. Over the last 12 years, additional packs were given out to schools, children’s centres, doctors and professionals as part of our big pack giveaways which total over 3,280 packs altogether.

Elsie Ever After – Trustees’ Annual Report for the period of 1[st] Jan 2025 – 31[st] December 2025

• Creative and talking therapies

Over the last 12 years, 352.5 of therapies have been given.

Type of therapy And Number of hours of therapy	Creative therapies – such as dance, music, art therapy.	Talking therapy - counselling	Total therapies provided
Over last 12years	171	168.5	352.5
2025	0	5	5

• Speaking at events

The founder, Helen Lyons, has continued working full time hours as a teacher, and therefore, the public work of the charity is run in evenings and weekends outside normal working hours and completely voluntary. Therefore, attending events and promoting the work of the charity has been limited. The priority has been ensuring referrals are responded to in a timely manner and ensuring bereaved people are supported. She has advised schools when pupils have died, advised church leaders on navigating Mother’s Day and Father’s Day services to include provision for those grieving and has advocated the work of the charity at fundraising events.

Over the last 12 years, Elsie Ever After has spoken to:

Antoinette Sandbach MP, Ian Lucas MP, ITV Granada Reports after receiving a Points of Light Award from the Prime Minister, Reuben’s Retreat charity, Blackpool Clinical Commissioning Group, Directory of services lead for Cheshire, Chester Voluntary Action, Storehouse Church Cheshire, Hospice of the Good Shepherd, St Luke’s Hospice, Alder Centre Liverpool, St Rocco’s Hospice, Child Bereavement UK, A Child of Mine charity, Storehouse Church Shropshire, Children’s centres, Trinity Church, Crisis Intervention Team meeting, Chester University students, Compassionate Communities group, Learning mentors in Ellesmere Port schools, Hope Hospice, Cheshire chord company choir fundraiser, Living Well Dying Well group, Mr and Mrs Theatre company, Link Up Cheshire, Smarties Nursery fundraising events, Safeguarding event for Cheshire West and Chester, Uniting Church coffee morning, Deo Gratias Choir concert fundraising event, Handbag of Harmonies fundraising event, The Joshua Tree charity, Hartford School, Waitrose community green coin event, SANDS, Cheshire West Clinical Commissioning Group and Cheshire Wirral Partnership, Haylo Theatre Company, Young Person’s conference delegates, Northwich Crematorium, Co-op community fund team and Sheriff of Chester events as her chosen charity of the year.

Elsie Ever After – Trustees’ Annual Report for the period of 1[st] Jan 2025 – 31[st] December 2025

Financial Review

During 2025, the charity received income of £12,390, incurred costs of £10,671 giving a surplus in the year of £1,719. The opening funds were £22,942 and the closing funds were £24,661. The charity’s plan for the year was to utilise opening reserves to provide more bereavement support in line with our charity reserves policy and to replace the primary bereavement packs by purchasing more books for these.

Income of £12,390 consisted of: Donations of £8,985, sale of merchandise of £610, grants £2,000 donated merchandise £165 and £169 gift aid relating to prior years.

Cost of sales included: bereavement purchases £6,870, merchandise purchases £362 and a stock movement of £1,607.

We started the year with bereavement stock of £12,384 a full stocktake was carried out at the year end to the value of £11,403. Stock is made up of 213 primary packs (approximately £3,878) and 165 secondary packs (approximately £3,137). The remainder relates to bereavement books (£755) and merchandise to sell (£1,337) and office supplies.

Other costs incurred were: insurance £964; website and IT £365; office, postage and stationery costs £503.

Opening cash was £10,558 and we closed the year with £13,259. There were no debtors or creditors at the year end.

During 2025, we purchased 192 additional bereavement books to the ones we normally have in stock as well as 520 books to make 260 more bereavement packs. In addition, we were gifted another 62 books. We gave out 403 bereavement packs from individual family referrals and local organisation referrals. In 2026, our opening funds will be used to support bereaved families in line with our policy below. Next year, we anticipate using the remainder of our available funds to restock our bereavement books when needed, provide counselling and creative therapies, support bereavement days and services in line with our objectives and vision and restock bereavement packs when needed.

Elsie Ever After – Trustees’ Annual Report for the period of 1[st] Jan 2025 – 31[st] December 2025

Financial Statements:

	£	£
Income
Grants	2,000
Donations	8,985
Fundraising event	0
Gift aid received relating to prior years	169
Merchandise donated	626
Sale of Merchandise	610
		12,390
Cost of Sales
Movement in Bereavement Stock	1,607
fundraising event costs	0
Bereavement Support Purchases	6,870
Bereavement Merchandise Purchases	362
Cost of Bereavement Support		8,839
Gross Surplus/(Deficit)		3,551
Other Expenditure
Insurance	964
Website & IT	365
Office, Stationery & Postage	503
Travel costs	0
		1,832
Net Movement in Funds		1,719
Opening Funds:		22,942
Closing Funds:		24,661
Statement of assets and Liabilities 31 December 2020
Cash		13,259
Stock		11,402
Closing Reserves		24,661

Elsie Ever After – Trustees’ Annual Report for the period of 1[st] Jan 2025 – 31[st] December 2025

Finance policies:

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS

Governing Criteria for support: Support may be offered to anyone who is bereaved under any circumstances in any location. The core team of Trustees must all agree that the grant will improve the mental health of bereaved people and could otherwise not be available.
The maximum amount that will be spent on bereavement support for any one individual will not exceed £500.
This limit will be reviewed at least annually by the Board of Trustees.

DONATIONS TO OTHER CHARITIES

Donations may be made to other Charities whereby the receiving Charity complies with EEA’s vision and objectives.
All donations to other charities will require prior authorisation by all Trustees.

INCOME RECOGNITION

Donations

The regular donations come from individuals who are known to the trustees, and such donations do not have any conditions attached to them. These donations will be recognised on a cash received basis.
One off donations through fund raising will be recognised on a cash receipt basis.

Trading Income

Trading income includes all goods and services provided for a fee and can include charitable activities where fees are charged, as well as those trading activities whose trading activities that raise funds for the Charity.
Turnover is recognised at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for goods and services provided in the normal course of the charity and is shown net of VAT and other sales related taxes.

Grant Income

Grants will be recognised on a cash received except when they have attached terms and conditions that must be met in order to retain the income.
Grants with conditions will be held on the balance sheet as deferred income and only recognised when formal notice that the conditions have been met has been received from the awarding body.

RESERVES POLICY

The Charity will not seek to retain reserves but will look to use the reserves to support the Charitable purpose at all times.
The Charity however will retain reserves of at least £1,000 at all times. This will safeguard against any drops in income and unforeseen liabilities.
Any other reserves for specific purposes will be set aside from the Charities general reserves and accounted for separately.
This reserves policy will be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure that it remains current and appropriate.

Elsie Ever After – Trustees’ Annual Report for the period of 1[st] Jan 2025 – 31[st] December 2025

FIXED ASSETS AND DEPRECIATION

Tangible fixed assets over £500 will be capitalised and initially recognised at cost and depreciated over the expected Useful Economic Life.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following basis;

Computer Equipment 3 years straight line

Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees.

Signature Full name: Helen Lyons Position: Founder, Chief Executive officer and trustee Date: 18/1/26

Signature Full name: Rebekah Tittle Position: Chief Financial officer and trustee Date: 18/1/26

Signature Full name: Gemma Gerrish Position: Signatory and trustee Date: 18/1/26

Signature Full name: Victoria Wright Position: Trustee Date: 18/1/26

Signature Full name: Rhiannon Birch Position: Trustee Date: 18/1/26

Approved electronically on 18/1/26 - See minutes- meeting 4g.