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2024-09-30-accounts

Trustees' Annual Report for the period 23-24 Period start date Period end date Day Month Year Day Month Year From 1 10 2023 To 30 09 2024

Section A Reference and administration details

Charity name Other names charity is known by EE Registered charity number (if any) 1186657

EARLY ESSENTIALS UK

Charity's principal address Springfield House, Mill Lane

Cheadle Cheshire Postcode SK8 2NT

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

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Name of person (or
Dates acted if not for whole body) entitled to
Trustee name Office (if any)
year appoint trustee (if
any)
1 Graham Leech Chief Finance Officer
2 Christine Scott
3 Lea Leech
4 Martin Austin 1/10/23 to 20/10/2023
5 Sarah Hope
6 Natalie Hands
7 Laura Green From 9/9/2024
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Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)

Name
Dates acted if not for whole year		 Name
Dates acted if not for whole year
NONE

Names and addresses of advisers –

No advisors are engaged by EE.

Name of senior staff members –

Sarah Newton-Smith: ‘Executive Officer’, Co-founder. The only employed staff member (part time).

Section B Structure, governance and management

Description of the charity’s trusts

Type of governing document
CONSTITUTION
How the charity is constituted Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
Trustee selection methods Appointed by existing Trustees under para#10 of constitution

EARLY ESSENTIALS UK - TAR – 2023 to 2024 approved 22nd July 2025

1

Additional governance issues (Optional information)

Youmay choose
to include
additional
information, where
relevant, about:
policies and
procedures
adopted for the
induction and
training of
trustees;
the charity’s
organisational
structure and
any wider
network with
which the
charity works;
relationship with
any related
parties;
trustees’
consideration of
major risks and
the system and
procedures to
manage them.
This reporting year is from 1stOctober 2023 to 30thSeptember 2024.
Early Essentials UK (EE), and from now on in this report, ‘we/us/our’, received
confirmation on 29thNovember 2019 that we were entered onto the Register of
Charities as a CIO – Charitable Incorporated Organisation. We have therefore
been a CIO for 5 years at 29thNovember 2024.
This is our 5thTrustees report as a charity/CIO. For the background information,
how EE started in March 2015, and a short history of our operations, please refer
to the 2020 TAR – Trustees Annual Report.
EE UK is operated by a team known as Early Essentials Manchester, packing
and delivering Moses Baskets from rented premises in the M22 postcode area of
south Manchester. We thank The Message Trust for their generous and much
appreciated ongoing use of their premises.
For the year 2023 to 2024 there continue to also be satellite groups known as
Early Essentials Stockport, Warrington, Peterborough, Whitby and Ballymoney,
and from June 2024, Wigan. Each location operates in their local areas under the
leadership of a local Team Leader.
All our activities are undertaken by volunteers, except for one employed part-time
Executive Officer.
Our volunteers have worked tirelessly to continue to sort, wash, stock, pack, and
supply Moses Baskets throughout the period to meet a demand from the referring
agencies that is 11.5% higher than the previous year and 53% higher than two
years ago. It is sad that the demand for Moses baskets/starter packs continues to
rise but pleasing that the rate of increase has slowed down this year. The trustees
are pleased that EE has yet again been able to increase the level of service it has
provided in this period, and no eligible referral has had to be turned-away. We
aim to continue to be able to respond to each and every eligible referral going
forward.
Early Essentials operates for the ‘public benefit’ so does not ‘gift’ starter
packs/Moses baskets directly to the eligible mothers, and therefore neither meets
or knows the mothers and babies. The need is identified by ‘referring agencies’,
and the professional staff/volunteers of these agencies apply to us explaining how
the recipients meet the eligibility criteria. Our staff/volunteers then check the
application and notify the referring agency whether or not the criteria are met, and
if met, from where and when the starter pack can be collected by the referring
agency.
EE Manchester’s beneficiaries are all within Greater Manchester. Each of the
other six satellite team/location serves their local referring agency professionals
and staff with beneficiaries in their local communities.
The trustees note that none of EE’s activities involve or require face to face
contact with vulnerable adults or children. A Safeguarding Policy is in place, being
beneficial for the charity, the Executive Officer, and the volunteers. The trustees
regularly review this to ensure it is relevant and applicable. A copy is available to
the public on the EE website.
Insurance cover in the name of EE UK continues to be in place. This provides
Public and Employer’s liability cover, and also includes cover for volunteers and
material loss where packing and storage is in rented or leased property (at
Manchester and Warrington locations).

EARLY ESSENTIALS UK - TAR – 2023 to 2024 approved 22nd July 2025

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There continue to be six trustees, although between Martin Austin standing down at the end of his two-year appointment in October 2023, and Laura Green’s appointment in September 2024, there were five.

Sarah Hope and Graham Leech have both been reappointed as trustees for 2 years from 20th October 2023. Lea Leech was re-appointed as trustee for 2 years from 18th April 2024.

Section C Objectives and activities

Summary of the To relieve or prevent the financial hardship of parents or carers of new-born objects of the charity babies in the UK, in particular but not exclusively, by providing Moses baskets set out in its and items of baby clothing, bedding, toiletries and other essentials. governing document Early Essentials provide emergency Moses Basket hampers or starter packs

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||| |---|---| |We provide Moses basket starter packs for the most vulnerable pregnant| |women, who would otherwise be unable to provide for their babies directly after| |birth. The women are referred to EE via either their midwife, health visitor,| |social worker or charity. Our criteria are that they must be 32 or more weeks| |pregnant and fall into one of the following categories:| |(a) homeless| |(b) refugee/seeking asylum| |(c) fleeing domestic abuse| |(d) in serious financial crisis| |(e) …or similar disadvantage.| |Summary of the| |The starter pack includes essentials such as: baby clothes, blankets, nappies,| |main activities| |wipes, breast pads, maternity pads, toiletries for baby and mum, toys, a towel| |undertaken for the| |and a gift for mum. The items donated are either brand new or pre-loved. All| |public benefit in| |relation to these|items are carefully inspected and checked that they are in very good condition.| |objects (include|These are packed into a Moses basket along with a mattress and wrapped, as| |within this section|a gift, in cellophane ready to be collected.| |the statutory| |declaration that|The starter pack is collected from EE premises by the referring third party| |trustees have had|agency staff, who then deliver the pack to the mother. We would also provide a| |regard to the|Moses starter pack in special but equally urgent and needy circumstances, for| |guidance issued by|example, tailored to the needs of a father and new-born baby where a mother| |the Charity|and baby are separated at birth.| |Commission on| |TRUSTEES. All trustees have been provided with applicable information, and| |public benefit)| |each have signed the required Trustee eligibility declaration which states the| |purposes and object of EE, including its underlying requirements for public| |benefit. The declaration regarding working with vulnerable groups is not signed| |as staff and volunteers and trustees do not work with vulnerable people| |including children. Trustees regularly review the main activities undertaken by| |EE in their trustee meetings.| |PUBLIC BENEFIT. The public benefit requirements are met by implementing a| |referral process, maintaining an independence of the team leaders and| |volunteers from the choosing of which mums-to-be receive the benefit of a| |Moses basket. The health care and other professionals and staff of the| |referring agencies make a referral against set out criteria, and this referral is| |checked by a team leader. If the referral meets the ‘public benefit’ criteria, the| |agency staff are informed when a basket is ready for collection.|

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EARLY ESSENTIALS UK - TAR – 2023 to 2024 approved 22nd July 2025

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Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)

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All our activities are undertaken by volunteers supported by our one paid part-
time Executive Officer (EO).
You may choose Our work, of sorting, washing, and storing of clothing, the packing of baskets
to include further with the many items we provide, replenishing stock, collecting donations,
statements, where disposal of unsuitable items, communicating with referring agencies, social
relevant, about: media promotion, admin, and website updating, has continued as demand has
 policy on increased, enabling us to meet the increasing numbers of baskets provided to
needy Mums and particularly, to never have to turn-down a valid referral.
grantmaking;
 policy Public speaking/presentations, and the training and support of volunteers, has
programme continued during this period.
related
investment; Some volunteers, who are also trustees, are involved in decision making,
accounting/bookkeeping, general administration, banking/financial
 contribution transactions, policy/procedure writing, and attending trustee/members
made by
meetings.
volunteers.
The trustees extend heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all those who directly
and indirectly volunteer and support the work of EE in providing the gifts of
Moses Baskets packed to the brim with essentials.
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Section D Achievements and performance

Summary of the
main
achievements of
the charity during
the year		 Early Essential’s (EE’s) ‘core’ activity is the supply of packed Moses baskets/
starter packs to ‘referring agency’ staff who deliver them to the needy or
vulnerable Mums.
Please refer to each EE location’s Facebook pages (links can be found on the
EE website) to see the achievements, successes, and highlights each
location has reported through the year. These social media pages also
identify our supporters - organisations, companies, schools, church groups,
faith groups, and individuals who have made it possible to maintain and grow
our ‘core’ activity.
All 6 existing EE locations have continued to operate during this reporting
year and have been joined by a 7thlocation in Wigan.
In this reporting year the numbers of baskets provided was 953 across the 7
locations, which is an 11.5% increase on the previous 12 months total of 855.
LOCATIONBaskets THIS YEAR Total since starting – start date
EE Manchester – 601(+66)2,706 March 2015
EE Stockport – 124(+15)1,043 July 2015
EE Warrington – 95(+4)417 March 2016
EE Peterborough – 75(-13)357 March 2017
EE Whitby - 10(-1)42 February 2021
EE Ballymoney – 10(-11)68 April 2021
Sub-TOTALS:915 (+68)4,633
EE Wigan - 38 38 June 2024
TOTALS:953(+98) 4,671
(Number in (xx) brackets shows the change compared to previous 12 months)
Wigan started receiving referrals and providing Moses baskets in June. See
‘further details’ in Section E below for Wigan’s financial reporting.

EARLY ESSENTIALS UK - TAR – 2023 to 2024 approved 22nd July 2025

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The number of baskets/starter packs provided since EE started 9 years ago in March 2015 totals 4,671, which we find both humbling and sad. It highlights a tremendous need which we prefer did not exist, but we are privileged to make a difference this year for 953 babies and their mums.

EE functions with a heart to show unconditional love through a free gift to Mums in difficult circumstances, based on the Bible verse “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.” [John 3:16 GNB] . We thank God for his continued provision of resources this year and since we started.

We give heartfelt thanks to all those who, during the year, donated goods and supplies that together make up a full Moses Basket. You are an essential and appreciated part of the work we do, and we thank you for joining us in meeting the needs of so many needy Mums. There are too many individuals to name, but thank you to each of you for giving so generously of new and ‘as-new’ used items.

We also wish to thank the many community groups, churches and church groups, faith groups, schools, businesses and shops who give so generously or make/knit/crochet baby-items:- including

Asda Eastlands, Baby Bank Alliance, Bare Necessities Toiletry Bank, Bicester Outlet, Bright Horizons Nursery, Burnage Foodbank, Byotrol, The Charity Service, Chelwood Foodbank, Childs Farm, Clair de Lune, Connect Centre, Crumpsall Lane Primary School, Crumpsall Lane Primary, Crab Lane Primary, Didsbury Brownies, E-ACT Blackley Academy, Elmwood Church, Ethan & Co Expeditors, Gatley Knitwits, Happy Dots, The Height Methodist Church Girl Guides, Helping Hands, In Kind Direct, Ivy Cafe Ladybridge Connect, Ivy Church, John Lewis Cheadle, Knit and Natter, Lime Sustainable Supplies, Little Green Sock Project, Little Lighthouse Baby Bank, Lok n Store, Love Creative, Mcr Central Foodbank, Message Trust, Message Community Hub, Mid Cheshire Foodbank, Morrisons Cheadle Heath, Mosaic Justice, Moston Fields Primary School, Munchkin, National Energy Action, Neighbourhood Charity Crafters, Nicole Schofield - UK’s National Ms, Pear Tree Nursery, Read Mcr, RGF Staffing, Ridge and Partners, Royal College of Midwives, Shrimah Rajchandra, The Social, St Chads Primary, St Nicholas Church, Soroptimist International – Manchester, Stretford Foodbank, Soroptimist International – Peterborough, Tesco East Didsbury, Thales, Trafford Little Bundles, With Love Steph, Women’s Weekly, Wythenshawe Community Connectors, Wythenshawe Hosp Midwives, ….. and more…. We are sorry if we have missed your name or church or organisation!

The trustees thank the many individuals who have joined one of our location teams in sorting items and packing baskets, both regularly or just for a few hours. Around 38 individuals assist as volunteers across the 7 locations.

We also give heartfelt thanks to individuals, groups, churches and companies who have so generously supported us financially this year. (See also the financial review at section E below).

EARLY ESSENTIALS UK - TAR – 2023 to 2024 approved 22nd July 2025

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Section E Financial review

Please refer to our Annual Accounts, published together with this Annual Brief statement Report. We started the year with £12,593. Our Receipts were £92,259 which of the charity’s was considerably more (£46,200) than our budget but included a generous policy on donation of £12,040 with the stated desire that this be used to establish a reserves financial reserve. Our Payments were £52,091 which was £2,270 less than our budget. Our end of year balance is £52,761. The trustees agreed that a reserve be deposited in a 35-day notice Liquidity Manager Account (35dLM) to best use the funds and earn interest. All interest earned in this account is added to EE’s reserves and not to operations monies. At the end of the year the reserves stand at £12,584. The 35dLM Account at the end of the year also holds £28,000 operations monies. The increase in payments of £8,173 since last year is spread over most of our operational costs and reflects the resources required to provide 915 baskets/starter packs. Payments on supplies for starter packs have increased £5,993; lease of premises at Warrington and Manchester is up by £887; payroll costs have increased by £1,645. Reductions is payments have been in promotion and website development and miscellaneous items. Each starter pack we provide to a needy Mum would cost an estimated £350 if the Moses Basket, mattress, and contents were purchased from ‘low price’ supermarkets and suppliers. However, many of these items have been donated by individuals, groups, organisations or companies (see section D above), leaving us to need to purchase only items that must be new or are needed to make good any shortfalls in the donated goods and supplies. This means we are able to give away far more in value than we pay for. This year, we have given out 915 starter packs with a value of around £320,000 for an expenditure of £51,995 (excluding the costs of ‘assets’ such as storage boxes). This represents a remarkable uplift/added value in financial terms, with each starter pack worth around £350 costing Early Essentials less than £57 to provide. The trustees applaud the team leaders for each location in their efficient use of monies whilst embracing the ongoing increase in referrals. Overall expenditure per basket this financial year has remained the same as last year. The trustees’ written and agreed Reserves Policy at the end of this financial year is to hold 4 months value of ‘core costs’ in reserves and have budgeted to increase this to 5 months by the end of the next financial year, September 2025. Payroll and lease of premises are identified as outgoings necessary for EE’s ‘core activity’. The trustees are pleased to report that, as of October 2024 with over £50,000 held for the various Early Essential locations in the two Manchester bank accounts and the Stockport account, the finances are in a very healthy position, and with which the trustees are very satisfied and thankful.

EARLY ESSENTIALS UK - TAR – 2023 to 2024 approved 22nd July 2025

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Disclosure about related party transactions in this reporting period:

Details of any funds materially in deficit

There are no funds materially in deficit.

Further financial review details (Optional information)

Youmay choose
to include
additional
information,
where relevant
about:
the charity’s
principal
sources of
funds (including
any
fundraising);
how
expenditure has
supported the
key objectives
of the charity;
 investment
policy and
objectives
including any
ethical
investment
policy adopted.		 We do not have monies to invest and the trustees have no plans to do so. If
and when we do, we shall prepare an investment policy.
Of the £92,259 receipts in the year, we received £51,882 in grants and funds.
£29,455 of this funding is restricted spending, either on the starter packs
(Moses Baskets, mattresses and basket contents), on lease, on payroll, on
locations (for example, Greater Manchester, or Wythenshawe post codes only),
or on the time it is spent (from 1stOctober 2024), and therefore shown as
restricted funds in the accounts.
All of this except £15,570 has been spent by the end of September 2024.
We have received financial support as follows: -
£37,558 in donations from:
(a) generous individuals or couples who give either regularly all year (4
individuals – THANK YOU), or by ‘one-off’ donations (6 individuals or couples –
THANK YOU); thank you also to those 3 individuals who have given
anonymously through Charities Aid Foundation and Charitable Giving;
(b) churches, Christian centres, and schools. Thank you especially to Burnage
Family Church (who give monthly throughout the year), to Ivy Church
Manchester, Bramhall Baptist Church, and to Elmwood Church;
(c) The Royal College of Midwives, St. Mary’s Hospital; Soroptimist
International in Peterborough and in Manchester; and Trafford Little Buds;
(d) MGPS sponsorship, who have faithfully given monthly all year; and from
Stockport Council staff with monies ‘from Covid times’;
(e) through the EE Stewardship online giving pages. Many individuals and
couples donate to us by this method, and we are extremely grateful to each of
you that do. 8 named individuals donate monthly–THANK YOU, and around

EARLY ESSENTIALS UK - TAR – 2023 to 2024 approved 22nd July 2025

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30 individuals have given one off gifts. Again, THANK YOU. We do not pay any subscription nor ‘platform fee’ for this service. Stewardship transfers to EE the donation plus any gift-aid tax relief, less a small percentage service fee. (Currently 3.5%)

(f) £2,000 from a sponsored 3 peaks challenge by staff at Love Creative; And (g) £269 in HMRC tax relief on individual’s Gift-Aid donations; Individuals have given to EE UK for the work of EE Manchester and EE UK, or for a specific EE satellite location.

The Trustees and Executive Officer are also thankful to the families, organisations, Trusts, and other groups who have provided the £51,882 in grants or funds: thank you to: The Albert Hunt Trust, The Garfield Weston Foundation, The Charity Service, The Leathersellers Foundation, Magic Little Grants, Save the Children, The National Lottery Community Fund, and The Stephanie Jeanne Glynn Foundation – With Love Steph.

The attached accounts are for the 6 existing (at start of October 2023 through to end September 2024) Early Essentials locations combined. Wigan is operating its premises and handling its payments and receipts under the umbrella of ‘The Way’, a church located at The Edge. As ‘The Way’ accounts will include the receipts and payments they handle for the Wigan operations, it is not necessary, nor would it be correct, for the EE accounts to include the same monies.

We could not continue as a charitable service without the very generous financial support of all the above, and those we have not mentioned by name, we thank you with grateful hearts.

Payments this year, rounded to the nearest whole %, and only listing line items greater than 1% (with the previous year’s % shown in brackets), are identified as follows:

46% (40%) (a) supplies for Moses Baskets where either we do not have donations or we must buy new, including mattresses and sometimes Moses Baskets themselves

1% (2%) (b) promotion including website development 0.5% (2%) (c) miscellaneous items, including training 18% (19%) (d) rent of premises for storage/sorting/packing 0.5% (1%) (e) insurances 32% (34%) (f) salary and payroll costs 0% (1%) (g) fundraising 0% (1%) (h) Printer/shelving and racking etc: assets 2% (0%) (h) Printing

Each of these ‘line items’ support the key objectives of EE – to provide Moses Baskets pack full of essentials for a needy Mum and her new-born baby.

EARLY ESSENTIALS UK - TAR – 2023 to 2024 approved 22nd July 2025

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Section F Other optional information

Full details of the work of EE including: details of what we pack in baskets; a video showing what we do; contact details of all locations; testimonials from referring agency staff and mums who have received the baskets – and more – can be found on our website – http://earlyessentials.org.uk

The website also provides links to Facebook and other social media pages run by each location (except Wigan), or you can search Facebook for Early Essentials ‘location’ and insert the name of the location in which you are interested.

Section G Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

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Signature(s)
Full name(s) GRAHAM PAUL LEECH NATALIE M HANDS
Position (e.g. Trustee Trustee
Secretary, Chair) & Chief Financial Officer
Date 22/07/2025
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EARLY ESSENTIALS UK - TAR – 2023 to 2024 approved 22nd July 2025

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CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENfjLAND AND WALES EARLY ESSENTIALS UK Recei tsand

1186657

ments accounts CC16a from 0111012023 To 3010912024 Section A Receipts and payments Unr••triti•d tunds Total fund8 Last ygor A1 Recel nations {vdunÈaryW) ifurxJ5 $￿scIst1P 25.229 12.024 31.882 b8nk Inty tsx rdief. Grf1￿ EE Cdher Income 185 AR) 29ASS 91259 etan see table . Total rncelpts riy Pa ents 5uFWies for Mres 6a8k8 17.052 n7 omobon IrKaudiry ￿tte m1w￿l￿rea￿S 8r¢ inod8n121 ctsts rwtor le￿Of wnises fvndraisirvJ ln 512 274 741 957 274 4914 1813 pAyrdl tr 1 p8rt.bff EYewb¥e Offi l136 16,702 15.057 335 Sub total 110 51.99S A4 Asset and Inv•stm•nt 21 193 Sub total 13.865 44,285 Net of receipt￿(PaymntsJ A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last y•ar •nd Cash funds this year end 15.slo 40.168 5.881 21 ,593 52,761 36.97 Is, 5,881 CC18a R1 ))Junts {SSI 21107r2025

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrè•trict•d fund R•th'cted fund8 Endowm•nt funds to n8aT881f Categorles Oetslls 81 Cash fund# 5.194 4782 11.0Tr) 210 Total cash fun(ts 36.979 15,782 •xt4rt(s}I Unrntrictsd R•S￿¢t¢d fund# funds Endewm•nt lund8 to ￿re6t£ Detai15 Futhj to which Curr8ntvalu8 Details C(t B3 Inve8tment assèts . z••• Cumint valu Details B4 A880ts rotain•d ft•r the charity'¥ own ule 1138 671 Fuhdtowlith Amount du• When Detslls None 85 Liabiliti88 SKJned by om ¢y ts¥o trust•èi i)n hafofal thè InA85 Date of rov81 2210712025 SJnatu Pn"nt Name IV. kl/¥lJTrS. F. LfrÉL 2210712026 CCXX R2 a￿Trty ISSI 2110712025

CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the trusteesl members of Early Essentials UK On accounts for the year ended 30 September 2024 Charity no (rf any) 1186657 Set out on pages 1to2 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above 30109 12024 charity ("the Trust") for the year ended EllIET￿,. Responslbilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report 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 carying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confinn that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below ") in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records Independent examinerfs statement I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply. Signed: Date: 23r712025 Name: Peter Bell Relevant professional qualification(s) or body (If any): ICAEW Address: 86, Bramhall Lane South, Bramhall, SK7 2EA

Section B Disclosure Only complete If the examiner needs to highlight matters of concem (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any ftems that the examlner wlshes to disclose. NIA