CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1184699
OURBRAINBANK CIO
Unaudited Financial Statements 31 December 2024
BURGESS HODGSON LIMITED
Camburgh House 27 New Dover Road Canterbury Kent CT1 3DN
OURBRAINBANK CIO
Financial Statements
Year ended 31 December 2024
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Trustees' annual report | 1 |
| Statement of financial activities | 5 |
| Statement of financial position | 6 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 7 |
OURBRAINBANK CIO
Trustees' Annual Report
Year ended 31 December 2024
The trustees present their report and the unaudited financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Reference and administrative details
Registered charity name OURBRAINBANK CIO Charity registration number 1184699 Principal office 2 Florida Street London E2 6AL
The trustees
Accountants
U Yunis F Thorne (Appointed 21 March 2024) A Coulson J Arnold-Forster R Clemmow S D Matthews A Bennett-Clemmow E Pilkington N Nuttall E S Bathers Burgess Hodgson Limited Camburgh House 27 New Dover Road Canterbury Kent CT1 3DN
Structure, governance and management
OurBrainBank in the UK is governed on a voluntary basis by its experienced UK Board of Trustees, which meets and engages regularly to provide direction, oversight and implementation of the charity's activities in the UK. We work closely with our colleagues at OurBrainBank US and our Trustees join global board meetings to collaborate across areas of strategic development and communications, operating globally where we can and independently for campaigns that reflect local context. In 2024 we were joined by Fiona Thorne as a UK Trustee, a highly experienced campaigns and communications specialist.
OurBrainBank also benefits from robust medical and patient advisors based in the US, co-headed by leading neuro-oncologists Fabio Iwamoto MD of Columbia University, and Lakshmi Nayak MD of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The advisors bring together a wide range of clinical specialists spanning neuro-surgery, psychiatry and neuro-oncology. The patient advisors include patients and caregivers.
During the past year we have continued to build links with international GBM medical and patient/carer communities, and particularly in the UK we have grown relationships with healthcare and wider stakeholders.
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OURBRAINBANK CIO
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Year ended 31 December 2024
Objectives and activities
Created by the late Jessica Morris as a direct result of her own diagnosis, OurBrainBank is an innovative, patient-led movement designed to move glioblastoma (GBM) from terminal to treatable, powered by patients.
It is the first non-profit created by, for and with people with GBM, a rare and deadly brain cancer whose 5-year survival rate is 5%. Glioblastomas are the most common high grade (cancerous) primary brain tumour in adults. A glioblastoma is the fastest growing form of glioma brain tumour and is extremely difficult to treat.
The objectives of OurBrainBank are:
the advancement of health by the provision of support, assistance and information to persons living with glioblastoma, and by research into the nature, causes, diagnosis and treatment of glioblastoma; as part of this our core focus is currently to advocate for an increase in tissue freezing and whole genome sequencing for all GBM patients.
- the advancement of the education of the general public in all areas relating to glioblastoma.
OurBrainBank aims to raise awareness and understanding of GBM, improve standards of patient care and quality of life, and highlight the importance of GBM-focused research and clinical trials. Globally and in the UK, it engages with GBM patients and their carers through a variety of channels, and uses its external channels, fundraising activities and advocacy initiatives to reach wider stakeholders.
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OURBRAINBANK CIO
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Year ended 31 December 2024
Achievements and performance
During 2024 we continued the work started by the launch of our ground-breaking 2023 white paper, GBM - the Neglected Cancer in the Treatment Revolution, and our first major campaign #UseYourBrains! which demanded greater recognition of, and support for, glioblastoma.
Throughout the year we continued to engage stakeholders about the content and findings of the report, including collaborating with other brain tumour charities in the UK. It has been very important to understand the work that they are undertaking in this space and ensure that we are not duplicating or performing any work that overlaps with their activities. To that end it has become and will remain our focus for the time being to advocate and campaign for an increase in tissue freezing and genomic medicine.
Throughout 2024 and 2025 we actively contributed to shaping the stakeholder debate around GBM in the UK. We supported the launch of the 2024 report by the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission, highlighting a lack of whole genome sequencing in the UK, which is key to unlocking personalised treatment and trials for patients. We have been regular attendees and contributors at the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Brain Tumours. We submitted evidence to the report, published in June 2025, from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Less Survivable Cancers, which urged the UK Government to prioritise faster diagnosis of less survivable cancers. Our chair also joined the Brain Tumour Charity to meet with the Department of Health and Social Care to discuss the barriers and issues facing brain tumour patients and carers. We are also regular attendees at the British Neuro-Oncology Society (BNOS) annual conference, attending again in 2024 and 2025 to engage with health industry stakeholders and other charities.
A major focus of our work in 2025 has been the launch of a collaborative patient and carer research project, together with a team from Imperial College London, to better understand the experience of adult brain tumour patients from the UK, some of whom may be accessing treatment outside of the standard care that is offered by the NHS. We launched the survey at the BNOS conference in London in June 2025 with some preliminary findings, and plan to publish the full results of the survey later in the year.
We continued to work with our colleagues in the US to build our shared website resources, providing a hub of information and relevant links for GBM patients and carers, geographically-tailored information for people in the UK and the US, including campaign information, GBM-related news and personal stories.
In 2024 we launched a range of dedicated social media channels for supporters, patients and carers in the UK, building our profile during the year and using the channels to engage with and advocate on behalf of patients, carers and campaigners in the UK.
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OURBRAINBANK CIO
Trustees' Annual Report (continued)
Year ended 31 December 2024
Financial review
OurBrainBank currently has no full-time UK employees, but thanks to the generosity of individual donors and fundraisers, we have generated sufficient funds to undertake all these activities and were supported during 2024/25 by our first part-time Campaign and Communications Manager in the UK.
2024 saw a number of generous individual donations and energetic fundraisers in support of OBB UK, which boosted our funds significantly during the year. For example, Julia Hobsbawm, one of our founder Jessica's oldest and closest friends, undertook 60 Soul Cycle rides ahead of her 60th birthday, and what would have been our founder Jessica's in 2024, raising more than £6,000 in the process. In 2025, Jam Bensilum and Milo Caiger-Smith, our founder Jessica's nephew, completed the Brighton marathon to to raise more than £6,000 for OurBrainBank.
We are so grateful to these and to all of our donors and fundraisers for their support, without which we would not be able to continue our work. We hope to use the funds to engage more support to grow our activities and continue our campaigning on behalf of all GBM patients in the UK.
The trustees' annual report was approved on .............................. and signed on behalf of the board of24th Oct 2025 trustees by:
J Arnold-Forster Chair and Trustee
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OURBRAINBANK CIO
Statement of Financial Activities
Year ended 31 December 2024
| 2024 | 2024 | 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted | ||||
| funds | Total funds | Total funds | ||
| Note | £ | £ | £ | |
| Income and endowments | ||||
| Donations and legacies | 4 | 27,711 | 27,711 | 84,600 |
| | | | ||
| Total income | 27,711 | 27,711 | 84,600 | |
| | | | ||
| Expenditure | ||||
| Expenditure on charitable activities | 5,6 | 20,939 | 20,939 | 26,520 |
| | | | ||
| Total expenditure | 20,939 | 20,939 | 26,520 | |
| | | | ||
| | | | ||
| Net income and net movement in funds | 6,772 | 6,772 | 58,080 | |
| | | | ||
| Reconciliation of funds | ||||
| Total funds brought forward | 104,545 | 104,545 | 46,465 | |
| | | | ||
| Total funds carried forward | 111,317 | 111,317 | 104,545 | |
| | | |
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
The notes on pages 7 to 11 form part of these financial statements.
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OURBRAINBANK CIO
Statement of Financial Position
31 December 2024
| 2024 | 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Note | £ | £ | |
| Current assets | |||
| Debtors | 11 | 3,272 | 3,225 |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 108,585 | 101,860 | |
| | | ||
| 111,857 | 105,085 | ||
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | 12 | 540 | 540 |
| | | ||
| Net current assets | 111,317 | 104,545 | |
| | | ||
| Total assets less current liabilities | 111,317 | 104,545 | |
| | | ||
| Net assets | 111,317 | 104,545 | |
| | | ||
| Unrestricted funds | 111,317 | 104,545 | |
| | | ||
| Total charity funds | 13 | 111,317 | 104,545 |
| | |
These financial statements were approved by the board of trustees and authorised for issue on 24th Oct 2025........................, and are signed on behalf of the board by:
J Arnold-Forster Chair and Trustee
The notes on pages 7 to 11 form part of these financial statements.
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OURBRAINBANK CIO
Notes to the Financial Statements
Year ended 31 December 2024
1. General information
The charity is a public benefit entity and a registered charity in England and Wales and is unincorporated. The address of the principal office is 2 Florida Street, London, E2 6AL.
2. Statement of compliance
These financial statements have been prepared in compliance with FRS 102, 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland', the 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) (Charities SORP (FRS 102)) and the Charities Act 2011.
3. Accounting policies
Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, as modified by the revaluation of certain financial assets and liabilities and investment properties measured at fair value through income or expenditure.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the entity.
Going concern
There are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue.
Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty
The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. These estimates and judgements are continually reviewed and are based on experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.
Foreign currencies
Foreign currency transactions are initially recorded in the functional currency, by applying the spot exchange rate as at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the exchange rate ruling at the reporting date, with any gains or losses being taken to the statement of financial activities.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees to further any of the charity's purposes.
Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular future project or commitment.
Restricted funds are subjected to restrictions on their expenditure declared by the donor or through the terms of an appeal, and fall into one of two sub-classes: restricted income funds or endowment funds.
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OURBRAINBANK CIO
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31 December 2024
3. Accounting policies (continued)
Incoming resources
All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when entitlement has passed to the charity; it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the charity and the amount can be reliably measured. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:
-
income from donations or grants is recognised when there is evidence of entitlement to the gift, receipt is probable and its amount can be measured reliably.
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legacy income is recognised when receipt is probable and entitlement is established.
-
income from donated goods is measured at the fair value of the goods unless this is impractical to measure reliably, in which case the value is derived from the cost to the donor or the estimated resale value. Donated facilities and services are recognised in the accounts when received if the value can be reliably measured. No amounts are included for the contribution of general volunteers.
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income from contracts for the supply of services is recognised with the delivery of the contracted service. This is classified as unrestricted funds unless there is a contractual requirement for it to be spent on a particular purpose and returned if unspent, in which case it may be regarded as restricted.
Resources expended
Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is classified under headings of the statement of financial activities to which it relates:
-
expenditure on raising funds includes the costs of all fundraising activities, events, noncharitable trading activities, and the sale of donated goods.
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expenditure on charitable activities includes all costs incurred by a charity in undertaking activities that further its charitable aims for the benefit of its beneficiaries, including those support costs and costs relating to the governance of the charity apportioned to charitable activities.
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other expenditure includes all expenditure that is neither related to raising funds for the charity nor part of its expenditure on charitable activities.
All costs are allocated to expenditure categories reflecting the use of the resource. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs are apportioned between the activities they contribute to on a reasonable, justifiable and consistent basis.
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OURBRAINBANK CIO
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31 December 2024
3. Accounting policies (continued)
Financial instruments
Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into.
Debtors and creditors with no stated interest rate and receivable or payable within one year are recorded at transaction price. Any losses arising from impairment are recognised in the profit and loss account in other administrative expenses.
Loans and borrowings are initially recognised at the transaction price including transaction costs. Subsequently, they are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method, less impairment. If an arrangement constitutes a finance transaction it is measured at present value.
4. Donations and legacies
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | Unrestricted | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | 2024 | Funds | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Donations | ||||
| Donations | 27,711 | 27,711 | 84,600 | 84,600 |
| | | | | |
| Expenditure on charitable activities by fund type | ||||
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | Unrestricted | Total Funds | |
| Funds | 2024 | Funds | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Support costs | 20,939 | 20,939 | 26,520 | 26,520 |
| | | | |
5. Expenditure on charitable activities by fund type
6. Expenditure on charitable activities by activity type
| Total funds | Total fund | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Support costs | 2024 | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Support costs | 20,129 | 20,129 | 25,920 |
| Governance costs | 810 | 810 | 600 |
| | | | |
| 20,939 | 20,939 | 26,520 | |
| | | | |
| Analysis of support costs | |||
| Analysis of | |||
| support costs | Total 2024 | Total 2023 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| General office | 1,174 | 1,174 | 15,527 |
| Finance costs | (959) | (959) | 643 |
| Governance costs | – | – | 9,750 |
| Subcontractor | 19,914 | 19,914 | – |
| | | | |
| 20,129 | 20,129 | 25,920 | |
| | | |
7. Analysis of support costs
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OURBRAINBANK CIO
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31 December 2024
8. Net income
Net income is stated after charging/(crediting):
| Net income is stated after charging/(crediting): | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Foreign exchange differences | (47) | 363 |
| | |
9. Staff costs
The average head count of employees during the year was Nil (2023: Nil).
No employee received employee benefits of more than £60,000 during the year (2023: Nil).
10. Trustee remuneration and expenses
No remuneration or other benefits from employment with the charity or a related entity were received by the trustees.
11. Debtors
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||||
| Amounts owed by group undertakings | 3,272 | 3,225 | |||
| | | ||||
| 12. | Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | ||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||
| £ | £ | ||||
| Accruals and deferred income | 540 | 540 | |||
| | | ||||
| 13. | Analysis of charitable funds | ||||
| Unrestricted funds | |||||
| At | At | ||||
| 1 January 202 | 31 | December | |||
| 4 | Income | Expenditure | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| General funds | 104,545 | 27,711 | (20,939) | 111,317 | |
| | | | | ||
| At | At | ||||
| 1 January 202 | 31 | December | |||
| 3 | Income | Expenditure | 2023 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| General funds | 46,465 | 84,600 | (26,520) | 104,545 | |
| | | | |
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OURBRAINBANK CIO
Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)
Year ended 31 December 2024
14. Analysis of net assets between funds
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|
| Funds | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Current assets | 111,857 | 111,857 |
| Creditors less than 1 year | (540) | (540) |
| | | |
| Net assets | 111,317 | 111,317 |
| | | |
| Unrestricted | Total Funds | |
| Funds | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Current assets | 105,085 | 105,085 |
| Creditors less than 1 year | (540) | (540) |
| | | |
| Net assets | 104,545 | 104,545 |
| | |
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