**DSO TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR PERIOD TO END OF 2025** ## **I. INTRODUCTION** So much has not changed since DSO’ last Annual Report. There is a wealth of feedback confirming that DSO continues to make an enormous contribution to the local community and is an increasingly high profile and respected charity. Possibly the most gratifying feature of being a member of The DSO Board of Trustees is the manner in which feedback from both our clients and those with whom we interact, sometimes for the first time, continues to fill us with pride. We continue to emphasise the DSO team effort that encompasses Trustees and selfless volunteeers underpinning DSO’s work. We continue to attract those living in a range of Care Homes, those living at home and a significant number of supporters. Our website content & social media feeds provide extensive evidence of both our charity’s weekly activities and the testimonials which never fail to humble us. ## **II. OVERVIEW of CHARITY’S ACTIVITIES SINCE THE LAST REPORT** Trustees remain 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 Assistant Scheme 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 to share experiences and lessons learned with other organisations. An obvious result of this is that numerically, as our data collection confirms, our reach has remained consistent (135 - similar to the previous 12 months) though this figure is boosted by a Zoom attendance of another 40 per week. Prompted by our attendance success we have now investigated a number of possible opportunities for expansion (of what we have termed ‘DSO2’). This research into the viability of expansion was prompted by a demand from our clients for either another weekly session at Compass Church in Wellingborough or, more probably, in an alternative location in the county. We have visited a number of possible locations and the intense debate within the Trustee body has not yet been concluded. We have prided ourselves, since our inception, on the unique nature of our Zoom facility. At times we have reached at least eight Care Homes and in the region of 50 additional clients with this facility. The downside has been an ongoing frustration with the technology which we have never quite, been able to master despite countless initiatives in an effort to smooth our weekly stresses. In deference to good governance we conduct an Annual Review and this has proved to be vital in self-reviewing and assessing our future strategic direction and in particular the allocation of our funds. Our regular meeting minutes reflect the extensive, and often forthright debate, which accompanies all of our Trustee work. 1 **DSO CHARITY COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT Summer 2026.** As last year’s Report discussed we have a stated commitment to social prescribing and have continued to work closely with numerous other organizations in the field of dementia support in the local community. We have introduced manual handling training as well as continuing to provide Dementia awareness training and safeguarding training for volunteers and supporters alike. There have been countless benefits of our commitment to Dementia Friendly network breakfast meetings not the least of which has been that of the development of links with local Admiral Nurses. We introduced a Transport Assistance Scheme with the aim of removing any financial barriers to people wishing to attend our weekly singing sessions. We are pleased that this arrangement has been taken up by 2 families. As Trustees we have been acutely aware of not wanting to be complacent about our weekly content and this has ensured that we have committed to themed mornings and visiting music groups – The Starlight Sisters with their 1940s repertoire, Roy and the Saracens with their 1950s, 60s and 70s playlist and of course our local ‘Elvis ‘ has, by popular demand, been in the building twice! ## **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 and Manual Handling training for all Trustees, supporters and volunteers - V. Continued collaboration with local Maintained Sector and Independent primary schools. - VI. Christmas Party event with involvement of Wellingborough Community Gospel Choir and once again included 42 children from a Wellingborough maintained sector Primary School (the attendance on that day was 230 people ranging in age from 6-102!) - VII. Visits by two local Maintained Sector Primary School Choirs - VIII. As part of Dementia Action Week Trustees attended Kettering General Hospital Information Day. ## **IV. CONCLUSION** Trustees continue to see transparency as essential ( _**see CC returns, Website and Social Media presence on Facebook & Instagram highlighting current activities, regular news sheets and testimonials**_ ). The most recent CC annual financial Report provides further evidence of the Charity’s continuing solid financial management. We continue to be humbled by the continuing benevolence of a disparate array of benefactors. GRB Chairman of Trustees July 2026. 2 **DSO CHARITY COMMISSION ANNUAL REPORT Summer 2026.** Dementia Sings Out a CharFtable Incorpotated Owdni5ation Registered Charity number.. 1186115 Tax reference number: 2616622750 Trustees Catherine Barrett lan Barrett Garry Bowe- Chairnian Ruth Bowe Judith Chapman Lucy James Stephen Line - Treasurer Kathryn Manning Background Notes for the year ended 30 November 2025 The Dementia Sings Out charity.. aims to provide weekly music and singin8 sessions for the benefft of those living with Dementia and their carers residing in Northamptonshire. has no employees, and all the charity's activities are carried out by volunteer helpers who provide their time free of charge. derives its income from third party donatlons and the National Lottery Community Fund. has no assets otherthan its bank account. Page I Dementia Sings Out a Charttable Incorporated Organisation Receipts and Payments Account For the year ended 30 November 2025 2025 2024 Receipts Donations 28.051 13.007 The National Lottery Community Fund Bank interest 18,718 18,078 511 47,280 Total Receipts 31,085 Payments Music director fees Room hire Refreshments Webstte costs Special events Other consumables Marketing and printing Training costs Insurance Trademark registrdtion fee Miscellaneous 10.200 7.600 1,685 1,121 1.647 403 612 40 277 220 464 7.050 7,520 1.831 1,065 546 976 365 Totsl Payments 24.269 19.407 Excess Receipts over Payments 23.011 11,678 Balance at bank l December 2024 45,184 33,506 Balance at bank 30 November 2025 68.195 45,184 Page 2 Dementia Sings Out a Charitsble Incorporated Organisation Balance Sheet As at 30 November 2025 2025 2024 Unrestricted reserves 68,195 45,184 Represented bv: Bank account 4,685 23,051 40.459 45,184 Saving5 accounts Notice account 95 days 68,195 45,184 The Receipts and Payments Account of the Dernentia sin￿ Out charity for the year ended 30 November 2025 and its Balance Sheet as at that date as set out on pages 2 and 3 were approved by the Board of Trustees on 16 January 2026 and signed on Èts behalf by: S P Line: Trustee Page 3 O November 2025 and its Balance Shee Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustees Dementia Sings Out On acujunts for the year ended 30 November 2025 Charity no {if any) 1186115 Set out on pages 2and3 I report to the trustees on my examination of the a¢counts of the above charity I'the Trust") for the year ended 30 November 2025. Responsibilities and basis As the charity's trustee5, you are responsible for the preparation of the of report accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {"the Act"). I report In respect of my examination of the Tnjst'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 section 145151{b) of the Act. Independent I have completed my examination. l Confirm that no material matters have examlner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect- the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act,. or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 otherthan any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding ofthe account5 to be reached. Signed: Date: Name: IAN PAUL BLANCHARD Relevant professional qualific3tlon(s) or body (If any): Fellow of the Instftute and FacuFty of Actuaries Address: Junipef House, St James Road Sway Lymington S0416AN Section B Disclosure Only complete if Ihe exaffliner needs to highlight material matters of concem (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidan￿ for examiners). Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trustees Dementia Sing5 Out On accounts for the year ended 30 November 2025 Charlty no Irf any) 1186115 Set out on pages 2and3 I report to the twstees on my e￿MinatiOn of the accounts of the above charity 1.the Trust") for the year ended 30 November 2025. Responslbllltles and basi$ of report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 {"the Act"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts Carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under se¢tion 14515}{b) of the Act. Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have exarninorfs statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or the accounts did not comply with the applicable regul￿MentS concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities {Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair, view which Is not a matter considered as partof an independent examination. I have no concern5 and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attentlon should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Slgned: Date: Name: IAN PAUL BLANCHARD Relevant professlonal quallficationfs) or body qif any): Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries Address: Juniper House. St James Road Sway Lymington S0416AN Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight malerial matters of ¢x)ncem (see CC32. Independent 8￿9M1nati￿ of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).