## **Windmills - Acute Bereavement Support For Children & Young People in Staffordshire** (Registered charity, number 1187408) **Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2023** |**Page**|**Contents**| |---|---| |2 - 5|Trustees’ annual report| |6|Independent examiner’s report| |7|Receipts & Payments Account| |8|Statement of Assets & Liabilities| |9|Notes to the Accounts| # **Windmills - Acute Bereavement Support For Children & Young People in Staffordshire** # **Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2023** **Full name** Windmills - Acute Bereavement Support For Children & Young People in Staffordshire **Registered charity number** 1187408 ## **Principal address** 62, Windermere Road, Clayton, Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Staffordshire. STS 3HN ## **Trustees** Lindsey Wilmer Scott Buckley Helen McNicol Buckley Nicola Wrench Emma Hine (resigned June 2023) (resigned June 2023) (appointed July 2023) **Bankers** CAF ## **Independent examiner** Daryl Denson ACMA VAST The Dudson Centre Hope Street Hanley Stoke on Trent ST1 5DD ## **Governance and management** The charity is a CIO and operated under the rules of its constitution adopted 16[th] January 2020. ## **Aims and objectives** To preserve and protect the physical and mental health of children and young people when someone significant in their life is dying or has died by providing bespoke, focused and supportive acute bereavement care. ## **Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit** Windmills is a registered charity that provides direct specialist bereavement care and support for children and young people who are experiencing severe emotional distress at the impending death of a loved-one, or someone very close, or who are struggling to understand or manage their grieving after such a death. This might be the sudden, often unexpected death of a sibling, parent, or friend, or of a limited-life diagnosis of a loved-one due to a terminal illness. There are no other specialist acute bereavement services available in the Staffordshire region (either charity or NHS) that provide the direct caring service and memory making therapies that are unique to Windmills. Families can often feel uncomfortable talking about death with their children and the subject can become taboo, leaving the child even more confused and uninformed. This lack of communication with the child can be the opposite of what's best for them, not talking about important issues and events can be more harmful than talking about them. For sensitive, vulnerable, and confused children the impacts and emotional response to death can become even more devastating because of this lack of information, understanding and preparation. 2 ## **Windmills - Acute Bereavement Support For Children & Young People in Staffordshire Trustees’ Annual Report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2023** When children are excluded from such difficult conversations they will begin to shape and imagine all manner of misinterpretations and unfounded thoughts as to why the death occurred or why it is happening - often these misconceptions can result in the child thinking that it was their fault because "they were" bad. Facing the sudden reality or news of the death of such a loved one can be deeply traumatic and disorientating for the surviving child. Often the response is a cauldron of confusions and emotions; anger, disbelief, guilt, anguish, withdrawal, detachment and numbing fears for all that is yet to come. Without expert and trusted care and support such responses can irrevocably scar and derail a young person's life and outlook and negatively shape their relationships, not only with death itself, but with life and living, themselves, their family, and their friends and the wider community. ## **Public Benefit** The trustees of the Charity are aware of the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit and have had regard to it in their administration of the Charity. ## **Summary of the main achievements during the year** Since it started, demand for Windmills services has grown dramatically. In 2021 we supported 28 children, in 2022, 121 and by Dec 2023 we have already received 290 referrals. The locaneed for our unique service is demonstrated by ever increasing referral numbers from professionals recognising the value of our work. The impact of the Windmills service and care will not negat death's devastation in the lives and minds of those children who become victim to it, but it can manage and calm and, through building strong new memories, begin to pave the positive, fond pathway away from it. Our founding nurses see the impact of their work and approach with so many of their young, distressed charges. The gradual change from grieving despair to a new and managed fond remembrance and resilience of heart. It is a service of care that changes young lives It also has a profound impact on the families of our young beneficiaries. As a father said, _'Windmills were there for Sienna and I at the most vulnerable time any parent or child of 4 can imagine. Windmills are the 'bridge'. They can't numb the pain; they can’t make things 'go away'. They can't help with what has happened and they can't help you with the rest of your life and how to navigate being the author of what happens next. What they can do is offer someone at their most desperate time, alittle bridge between the two. A way to step from despair to having a little structure back in your life to enable you to start the process to rebuild."_ ## **Case Study** Lily, Bobbie and Louis were introduced to Windmills following a referral from a local hospice. Their Mummy, Sarah, had recently received a terminal diagnosis of stage 4 metastatic cancer. Sarah's diagnosis came 21 weeks into her pregnancy with baby Louis. She managed to get to 30 weeks' gestation and then had to deliver Louis in order to start treatment. Sarah underwent both chemo and radiotherapy and then received the good news that she was cancer-free. Buall came crashing down when it was soon discovered her cancer had not gone away and had in fact spread. The family faced the painful task of telling Lily (8) and Bobbie (10) that Mummy was going to die. Windmills Charity stepped in to support the family and help the children understand what was happening around them. Bobbie began to display anger towards Mum, hitting out and saying mean things to her. Both Lily and Bobbie were also shying away from Mum and were spending more and more time in their bedrooms. Their lives had changed so much and so quickly. Sarah moved back in with her mum -who was her main carer-and the children stayed with their stepdad at home. This left the children feeling resentful, sad, angry and confused. They had suddenly been thrown into a world of adult emotions yet only had the cognitive ability of children their age to process these thoughts and feelings. Leeanne and Zara from Windmills 3 ## **Windmills - Acute Bereavement Support For Children & Young People in Staffordshire Trustees’ Annual Report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2023** began weekly sessions with Lily and Bobbie, building trust and getting to know each other. They explored their feelings and were able to break down why Mum was dying, what this meant or them and what was making them so angry at Mum. Windmills helped the children make galaxy glitter bottles to help them sleep at night and stress balls to use when they were angry. They had great fun doing this and made a big mess which the kiddies loved!! After only 2-3 weeks Bobbie settled down and stopped hitting out at Mum. Leeanne and Zara had worked hard to help him make sense of Sarah's illness and to reassure him it wasn't his fault or his mum's fault (which is what he initially thought). It was lovely to see him happier and more confident around his mum too. The sessions were fun, interactive but short as Bobbie would get very easily distracted. We revisited themes regularly and positively reinforced how special the time they had left was going to be and we helped them make the most of that time building memories with Mum and the whole family. Towards the end of Sarah's illness, Leeanne and Zara would spend time with the children around her bed, playing board games, top trumps and painting -such simple things but so heart-warming to see the smiles and h ear the laughter of them altogether. Sarah was very confused at times and came out with some random comments which had the kids in hysterics! Previously they had been scared of her outbursts but with our help they realised that this was "just Mum" now and it was nothing to be frightened about. The week before Sarah died, Bobbie told us he was "ready for Mum to die now". He had made sense of things and could see she was suffering and in pain. Even though he was going to be heartbroken when Mum eventually passed away, this showed just how important it is to prepare children prior to death, helping them process information and emotions and allowing them to enjoy the time they get to spend with their loved one right up until the end. ## **The charities structure** Windmills Charity was founded by nurses Leeanne Clay and Zara Toussaint who currently provide services to children and families on a voluntary part-time basis as Acute Bereavement Practitioners. Both continue to work as nurses currently and it is their vision to transition fulltime to the work of Windmills Charity in order to provide a 24-hour service as death does not occur within the confines of normal working hours. Both are members of Support Staffordshire and The Childhood Bereavement Network and regulated through the Nursing and Midwifery Council. Leeanne and Zara are supported by a part-time administrator responsible for managing requests for support, scheduling bereavement support sessions, assisting with fundraising efforts and daily administrative tasks. This role is PAYE at national minimum wage and invaluable during the days where both co founders/ bereavement practitioners are unavailable due to fulfilling their employed nursing roles. Most decisions are agreed by both founders and trustees, however some service delivery decisions are made by both co-founders only on a day to day basis as they arise. This is always explained and justified to all trustees though messaging platforms, verbally or at regularly planned meetings, either at the time or in retrospect. ## **Review of the financial position** Restricted funds used within time frame and for the purpose that it was granted. Use of unrestricted funds has directly benefited the service user for the purpose that which the charity was founded. 4 ## **Windmills - Acute Bereavement Support For Children & Young People in Staffordshire Trustees’ Annual Report (continued) for the year ended 31 March 2023** ## **The charity’s policy on reserves** Formal policy details yet to be finalised however a reserve amount would benefit the community in that service provision can continue given the unique support which Windmills provides. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees: Jan 26, 2024 Signed _____________________________________________ Date __________ Z Toussaint (Jan 26, 2024 17:13 GMT) 5 ## **Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Windmills - Acute Bereavement Support For Children & Young People in Staffordshire for the year ended 31 March 2023** I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the period ended 31 March 2023 which are set out on pages 7 to 9. ## **Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner** As the charity’s trustees of Windmills - Acute Bereavement Support For Children & Young People in Staffordshire, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act). I report in respect of my examination of Windmills - Acute Bereavement Support For Children & Young People in Staffordshire 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 section 145(5)(b) of the Act. ## **Independent examiner’s statement** I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect: 1. Accounting records were not kept in respect of Windmills - Acute Bereavement Support For Children & Young People in Staffordshire as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or 3. the accounts to not comply with the accounting requirements 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 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 of the accounts to be reached. Jan 26, 2024 Signed _________________________ Date ______________________ Daryl Denson ACMA VAST 6 ## **Windmills - Acute Bereavement Support For Children & Young People in Staffordshire Receipts & Payments Account for the year ended 31 March 2023** |**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**£**
**Receipts**
Donations
12,677
Fundraising
14,653
Grant
12,500
Bank Interest
40
**Total receipts**
39,870
**Payments**
Accountancy
612
Bank fees
126
Car/Travel
12,285
Craft Supplies
259
Days Out Memory making
917
Fundraising
512
Insurance
350
Licences and memberships
120
Office costs
1,475
Phone & Internet
547
Professional costs
4,463
Promotion
332
Refreshments
219
Rent
5,100
Repayment
854
Sundries
193
Trustee meeting
98
Utilities
380
Volunteer costs
672
Wages
39,546
**Total payments**
**4**
69,060
**Net receipts/(payments)**
**(29,190)**
Cash funds at start of this period
29,274
**Cash funds at end of this period**
84|**Restricted**
**Funds**
**£**
1,000
5,959
17,750
-
24,709
-
-
-
1,209
3,554
14,506
-
-
603
-
-
-
-
-
-
29
-
-
-
-
19,900
**4,809**
3,220

8,029|**2022**
**Total**
**£**
13,677
20,612
30,250
40
64,579
612
126
12,285
1,468
4,471
15,018
350
120
2,077
547

4,463
332
219

5,100
854
222

98
380
672

39,546
88,960
**(24,381)**
32,494
8,113|**2022**
**Total**
**£**
22,933
4,345
-
-| |---|---|---|---| ||||27,278| ||||70
131
-
709
2,914
1,443
-
-
657
-
2,818
-
-
4,200
670
-
-
635
-
-| ||||14,247| ||||**13,031**
-| ||||13,031| 7 ## **Windmills - Acute Bereavement Support For Children & Young People in Staffordshire Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31 March 2023** |**Cash Assets**
Bank accounts|**2023**
**2022**
**£**
**£**
8,113
32,494
8,113
32,494| |---|---| These financial statements are accepted on behalf of the charity by: Jan 26, 2024 Dated ___________ Signed ___________________________________ Z Toussaint (Jan 26, 2024 17:13 GMT) 8 ## **Windmills - Acute Bereavement Support For Children & Young People in Staffordshire Notes to the Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023** ## **1. Receipts & payments accounts** Receipts and payments accounts are statements that summarise the movement of cash into and out of the charity during the financial year. In this context “cash” includes cash equivalents, for example, bank accounts where cash can be readily withdrawn to pay for debts as they become due. For the purposes of understanding a statement of assets and liabilities at the year-end has been included. ## **2. Trustees’ remuneration** Trustees received no expenses, remuneration or benefits in this year. 9 2024-01-26 ## Windmills Accounts 2023 Final Audit Report Created: 2024-01-26 By: VAST Accounts (accounts@vast.org.uk) Status: Signed Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAAYoPdkMK4v9_r4poHmUac5sNBzcQ39dX- ## "Windmills Accounts 2023" History Document created by VAST Accounts (accounts@vast.org.uk) 2024-01-26 - 16:43:43 GMT- IP address: 82.31.1.14 Document emailed to windmills2019@gmail.com for signature 2024-01-26 - 16:44:21 GMT Email viewed by windmills2019@gmail.com 2024-01-26 - 17:07:30 GMT- IP address: 142.250.32.6 Signer windmills2019@gmail.com entered name at signing as Z Toussaint 2024-01-26 - 17:13:34 GMT- IP address: 89.240.215.223 ## Document e-signed by Z Toussaint (windmills2019@gmail.com) Signature Date: 2024-01-26 - 17:13:36 GMT - Time Source: server- IP address: 89.240.215.223 Document emailed to Daryl Denson (daryl.denson@vast.org.uk) for signature 2024-01-26 - 17:13:38 GMT Email viewed by Daryl Denson (daryl.denson@vast.org.uk) 2024-01-26 - 17:19:29 GMT- IP address: 82.31.1.14 Document e-signed by Daryl Denson (daryl.denson@vast.org.uk) Signature Date: 2024-01-26 - 17:24:21 GMT - Time Source: server- IP address: 82.31.1.14 Agreement completed. 2024-01-26 - 17:24:21 GMT