2024-11-30-accounts - Dementia Sings Out

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DSO TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR PERIOD TO END OF 2024

I. INTRODUCTION

“What a truly wonderful place, everyone was so friendly & made me so welcome ” (Local MP Gen Kitchen)

The DSO Board of Trustees continues to be humbled by the feedback which we receive on a weekly basis; we are told that, even after six years, we continue to bring joy to so many people for whom DSO provides support whether they be carers or those living with dementia (“Its lovely to see his spark & humour reignited”). Equally as Trustees we continually draw attention to those who selflessly give in their own way by volunteering as the Charity continues to thrive on the efforts of an amazing level of commitment and support from unpaid volunteers. The DSO website content & social media platforms provide a graphic into the charity’s weekly activities for anyone seeking proof of what we are told are “moments of magic”;

II. OVERVIEW of CHARITY’S ACTIVITIES SINCE THE LAST REPORT

We are acutely aware of the logistical difficulties facing both Care Homes and those living privately in terms of accessing our weekly sessions. One initiative which we trialed is that of a Transport Grant to enable those living privately to attend more easily. Our increased commitment to networking across the local Charity sector has enabled us to both spread DSO’s word but also share experiences and lessons learned with other organisations. An obvious result of this is that numerically, as our data collection since the Charity’s previous Annual Report illustrates, our reach is increasing (an average inperson attendance of 110 in 2024 which in 2025 has increased further still to135) with the associated pressures which this places upon our organisation. The simple issues of the requisite layout of the room, the moving of chairs and tables, the provision of an increased number of teas and coffees and car-parking pressures have each placed demands on us for which we have had to find solutions.

Feedback from our clients is that there remains a real appetite for more than one weekly session. We have withstood this development up to this point largely because of the burden upon Trustees in particular but no doubt the issue will be debated again in our forthcoming annual strategic review. A distinctive feature of our activities is our continuing use of a Zoom facility. The extended reach which this provides certainly outweighs the technical challenges with which we continue to wrestle; however, nothing can come close to the in-person experience and we invite anyone to visit our free Thursday morning sessions.

We conduct, at the end of each reporting period, a wide-ranging Strategic Review of the Charity’s activities enabling us to re-establish commonly-held values, agree measures of success and future direction. This re-focused our determination to build upon our commitment to social prescribing by extending further our already-strong links with local community groups especially those involved in support for those living with

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DSO CHARITY COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT Summer 2025.

dementia. Dementia Friendly network breakfast meetings have been attended by Trustees and the contacts created and cemented have undoubtedly provided benefits for those who attend DSO. Similarly our continued involvement with the Northants Community Fund network has opened up yet further new links across a wide spectrum of community groups.

One of our stated objective is to provide support to attendees and their families outside of our weekly sessions because so many have voiced feelings of isolation when faced with a diagnosis of dementia. One example has been a visit by solicitors from local law firm Tollers.) “ I think that it’s truly inspirational to add these extra benefits for carers such as the latest one covering legal and financial advice”

At the same time Manual handling training, refresher Dementia awareness training and safeguarding training have been further developed for both volunteers and supporters because we as Trustees acknowledge our broader responsibilities in working with vulnerable adults.

Recognition of the Charity at the Annual NCF Awards Evening with Happy & Healthy Communities award for DSO itself was a well-received accolade but the award of Volunteer of the Year to Alan Mason was confirmation of the joy which Alan brings with his dancing feet each week even after he has accompanied many clients from their minibuses and positioned them in his meticulously planned seating arrangements! Alan’s modesty is such that he received the award on behalf of a whole team of volunteers”.

A 5 Year Anniversary Celebration with the deliberate objective of involving family members who might not normally be able to see their loved ones benefiting from DSO on a weekly basis was an enormous success.

Another specific event was that of a Donors & Sponsors’ Thankyou Morning in November 2024. Intended as a public recognition of the humbling benefaction from an increasingly broad range of both Community groups and private individuals.

In our last strategic review we set ourselves the task of achieving even greater variety of content, in part in response to customer feedback when we invited their suggestions. As a result we have recently witnessed the enormous success of an African Youth Drumming Group as well as an exceptional Elvis Tribute performer who was not allowed to leave the building until he agreed to return again!

III. SUMMARY OF DSO ACTIVITIES

I. Weekly Zoom and in-person singing sessions
II. Promotion of Dementia awareness amongst attendees and contacts.
III. Provision of wider support for families via specific information events.
IV. Safeguarding training for all Trustees, supporters and volunteers
V. Continued collaboration with local primary schools: Ruskin Infants and Wellingborough School as part of their community education programmes.
VI. Promotion of DSO activities through increased social media publicity campaigns (Maurice’s Bring Me Sunshine went viral with over 2k views on Facebook including direct feedback from the son and daughter of Eric Morecombe) – as well as mainstream media coverage of events such as the Christmas Party on Anglia News and BBC East as well as local radio (ie interviews with both BBC Northampton and Times Radio) & newspapers.

DSO CHARITY COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT Summer 2025.

Specific events to be noted:

VII. Visit by African Drumming youth Group.
VIII. Christmas Party event with involvement of Wellingborough Community Gospel Choir and included 42 children from Wellingborough School being taught choregraphical moves by our very own Grace (the attendance on that day was 230 people ranging in age from 6-102!)
IX. 5-year Anniversary Celebration event in July 2024 attended by family members with involvement again from Wellingborough Community Gospel Choir which includes the majority of DSO’s trustees and a sizeable number of our own volunteers.
X. Northampton Community Foundation networking & workshop day,
XI. Diwalhi Celebration Session
XII. Visit by All Saints Primary School Choir
XIII. As part of Dementia Action Week Trustees attended Kettering General Hospital Information Day.

IV. CONCLUSION

Trustees are regularly reminded of DSO’s charitable objectives and the Charity Commission responsibilities at our regular meetings. In our last Annual Review meeting we committed to building upon our social prescribing links with other organisations as well as providing support for attendees beyond the reach of our weekly sessions. As stated a number of clients have benefited from contacts and introductions which we have facilitated with regard to solicitors, private care sector individuals and support groups.

Trustees take a genuine sense of pride in the Charity’s activities and successes which are documented on our social media platforms ( see Website and Social Media presence on Facebook & Instagram highlighting current activities, regular news sheets and testimonials ). The current annual financial Report provides evidence of the Charity’s continuing meticulous financial management and also, most importantly, the ongoing benevolence of our numerous benefactors.

There is a sense of sadness that by the very nature of our clients’ condition we have had to come to terms with the fact that the cruelty of dementia will take some of our attendees; nothing prepares us for this but families invariably thank us for having brought some light into their lives and those of their loved ones. “DSO was such a wonderful space for mum to forget about her dementia each week & feel a real joy”

GRB Chairman of Trustees June 2025.

3 DSO CHARITY COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT Summer 2025.

Dementia Sings Out a Chxitsble Incorporated Organi10 Registered Charity number.. 1186115 Tax reference number: 2616622750 Trustees Catherine Barrett lan Barrett Garry Powe- Chalrman Ruth Bowe Judith apMan Lucy James Stephen Line- Treasurer Kthy) mnIng Background Notes for the year erth 30 November 2024 The Dementla Slngs Out charlty: alms to promde muslc and sln8in8 seson$ tor the benefit of those Ilvlne vh Dementla and their CaTers residin8 in Northamptonshlre. hès employees. and all the tharbty's actlvltles are carried out by w)lunteer helpe who provide thelr ttme free of charge. derive5 its Income from third party donatlon5 and the National Lottery Communlty Fund. has no assets other than Its bank account. Page I

Dementia Sings Out th¥itable Incorpor*ed Organisation Receipts and Payments Account For the year ended 30 November 2024 2024 2023 Receipts l)onatlons 13.007 10,824 8,723 The National Lottery Community Fund Total Recei 18.078 31,085 PawTnents Muslc director fees Room hire Refreshments Website costs Other con5umable5 Marketin and rintln Trainin Costs Insurance Miscdlaneous 7,520 1.831 1.065 7.280 1,056 181 116 94 218 35 976 54 365 Total Pa ments Exce$5 Re¢ei s ¢)ver Payments 8alance at bank i December 2023 31.109 Balance at bank 30 November 2024 45.184 33,506

Dementia Sings Out aritable Incorporated Organisatlon Balance Sheet As at 30 November 2024 2024 2023 Unrestricted reserves 45,184 33,506 Repre5errted bv: Bank Balance 45,184 33,506 The Ileceipts and Payments Account of the Dementia Sin8s (Xrt charlty lor the year ended 30 November 2024 and its Balance Sheet as at that date as set out on pages 2 and 3 were approved by the Board of Trustees on 30 May 2025 and signed on its behalf by.. S P Llne.. Trustee Page 3

Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteos Dementia sings Out On accounts for the year 30 November 2024 Chartty no (It any) 1186115 Set out on yges 2and3 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above tharlty 1.the Trust") for the ended 30 NoNtmber 2024. Responslbllhles and 51% As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparatlon of the ot report accounts In actordance wlth the requirements of the Charrtles Act 2011 l*he Art"). I report Sn respect of my examlnatlon of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Art and in carrying Out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under sectSon 14515llbl of the Art. Indopendent I have completed my examinatlon. I confinn that no mateTSal matters have •xamln•fs statsmont come to my attentlon In connection with the examination which 8ives me cause to believe that in. any material respect: the accountfjng records were not kept In accordance wlth sectfon 130 of the Charities Act; or the accounts did not accord with the a¢count6n8 records,. or the accounts did not cornply with the appllcable requSrements concernin8 the fom and cortent of accounts set out In the Charittes IAccounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair. view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examinatfjon. I ha no concerns and have come xross other matters in Connection with the examinaOn to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper UndetandIng of the accounts to be reached. Sllned: Name:

Relevant professlonal quallficatlon(s) or body {If anv).. Th{ 4 E¢¢wALILs Address: Section B Disclosure Only coryplele ' the exaryiner needs lo highSighl maleria,. rnatters of concer (see CC32. Indepeftdenl examinati of chanty acs)unls: directions and guidance for examin8rs}.

Give here brlet detslls ot any items that the examlner wlshos to dlsdose. None