Charity registration number 1188842 (England and Wales)
HEAR TOGETHER
ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
HEAR TOGETHER
LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
| Trustees | Nicholas Tedd (Chair) |
|---|---|
| Claire Page (Treasurer) | |
| Julie Mather | |
| Charity number (England and Wales) | 1188842 |
| Principal address | Martin Cottage |
| The Woolrooms | |
| Coleorton | |
| Leicestershire | |
| LE67 8JN | |
| Accountants | Rogers Spencer |
| Newstead House | |
| Pelham Road | |
| Nottingham | |
| NG5 1AP | |
| Bankers | CAF Bank |
| 25 Kings Hill Avenue | |
| Kings Hill | |
| West Malling | |
| Kent | |
| ME1 9TQ |
HEAR TOGETHER
CONTENTS
| Page | |
|---|---|
| Trustees' report | 1 - 3 |
| Statement of trustees' responsibilities | 4 |
| Accountants' report | 5 |
| Statement of financial activities | 6 |
| Balance sheet | 7 |
| Notes to the financial statements | 8 - 12 |
HEAR TOGETHER
TRUSTEES' REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's Constitution, the Charities Act 2011 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: 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) (effective 1 January 2019)".
Objectives and activities
Since 2020, Hear Together has worked with Deaf children, teenagers and adults across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.
Our aim is to help people live well with hearing loss. We believe that connecting and communicating with other people is fundamental to living well, so our services bring people and community together.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
Trustees & Governance
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The Board of Trustees met quarterly with Sarah Allen, Co-ordinator, and other team members regularly attended to keep Trustees informed and engaged. The current terms of office for the appointed Trustees are until 2026 providing additional stability and continuity for the charity.
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Hear Together continued to meet the recommended standards required for accreditation by the Charity Excellence Framework for robust organisation and governance.
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Our annual service plan ensured focus on our objectives and monitored our progress transparently.
Achievements and performance
Significant activities and achievements against objectives Please see our Impact 2024 infographic.
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HEAR TOGETHER
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
Financial review
The national and local fundraising and grant making landscape have remained challenging. Local Health and Education Services have continued to have severely limited budgets for staff training, competitor organisations are providing their training with no cost and in order to be inclusive, we have continued to provide events and services at a loss.
It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level equivalent to between three and six month’s expenditure.
In late 2024, our financial forecast indicated without additional income, the minimum reserves needed to close the charity would be reached before the end of 2025. Following unsuccessful grant applications in January 2025, the charity considered substantial reduction in services or closure.
In March 2025, Hear Together was a designated recipient of a bequest following the settlement of an estate. It is anticipated that the final sum will be received in June 2025 and will provide the financial opportunity to continue operations without closing the charity.
The Reserves Policy will continue to be maintained at the level to ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised.
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
Structure, governance and management
The charity is a company limited by guarantee. Organisations need structure, processes and systems, which also require review. While Hear Together has covered basic requirements, the Charity Excellence Framework identifies areas of improvement which would make it more robust.
Hear Together Team Sarah Allen (Appointed 1 April 2020) Diana Harbor (Appointed 1 April 2020) Rachel Lightfoot (Appointed 1 April 2022) Dianne Crisp (Appointed 1 September 2022) Melissa Koc (Appointed 1 September 2022) Lisa Grzeskowiak (Appointed 1 September 2023)
The trustees who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were: Nicholas Tedd (Chair)
Claire Page (Treasurer) Julie Mather
Recruitment and appointment of trustees
None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
The company's current policy concerning the payment of trade creditors is to follow the CBI's Prompt Payers Code (copies are available from the CBI, Centre Point, 103 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1DU).
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The company's current policy concerning the payment of trade creditors is to:
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settle the terms of payment with suppliers when agreeing the terms of each transaction;
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ensure that suppliers are made aware of the terms of payment by inclusion of the relevant terms in contracts; and
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pay in accordance with the company's contractual and other legal obligations.
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HEAR TOGETHER
TRUSTEES' REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
Organisational structure
Hear Together is a well-managed organisation with robust governance, which meets the standards required by the Charity Excellence Framework.
The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
..............................
Nicholas Tedd (Chair)
Trustee
Date: ...............03/11/2025..............................
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HEAR TOGETHER
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the charity for that year.
In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping sufficient accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
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HEAR TOGETHER
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS' REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES ON THE PREPARATION OF THE UNAUDITED STATUTORY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF HEAR TOGETHER FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
In order to assist you to fulfil your duties under the Charities Act 2011, we have prepared for your approval the financial statements of Hear Together for the year ended 31 March 2025, which comprise the statement of financial activities and the related notes from the charity’s accounting records and from information and explanations you have given us.
As a practising member firm of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, we are subject to its ethical and other professional requirements which are detailed at https://www.icaew.com/regulation.
This report is made to the charity's trustees, as a body, in accordance with the terms of our engagement letter dated 26 November 2024. Our work has been undertaken solely to prepare for your approval the financial statements of Hear Together and state those matters that we have agreed to state to the charity's trustees, as a body, in this report in accordance with ICAEW Technical Release 07/16 AAF. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than Hear Together and the charity's trustees as a body, for our work or for this report.
It is your duty to ensure that Hear Together has kept adequate accounting records and to prepare statutory financial statements that give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and deficit of Hear Together. You consider that Hear Together is exempt from the statutory audit requirement for the year, and is not required to obtain an independent examiner's report.
We have not been instructed to carry out an audit or a review of the financial statements of Hear Together. For this reason, we have not verified the accuracy or completeness of the accounting records or information and explanations you have given to us and we do not, therefore, express any opinion on the statutory ffinancial statements.
Rogers Spencer Chartered Accountants Newstead House Pelham Road Nottingham NG5 1AP Date: ..10/10/2025..........................
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HEAR TOGETHER
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | ||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| Notes | £ | £ | |
| Income and endowments from: | |||
| Donations and legacies | 2 | 22,004 | 32,361 |
| Investments | 3 | 1,085 | 1,360 |
| Other income | 4 | 4,250 | - |
| Total income | 27,339 | 33,721 | |
| Expenditure on: | |||
| Charitable activities | 5 | 51,728 | 46,177 |
| Total expenditure | 51,728 | 46,177 | |
| Net expenditure and movement in funds | (24,389) | (12,456) | |
| Reconciliation of funds: | |||
| Fund balances at 1 April 2024 | 52,274 | 64,730 | |
| Fund balances at 31 March 2025 | 27,885 | 52,274 |
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
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HEAR TOGETHER
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 MARCH 2025
| Notes Current assets Debtors 9 Cash at bank and in hand Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 10 Net current assets The funds of the charity Unrestricted funds 11 |
2025 £ 612 33,426 34,038 (6,153) |
£ 27,885 27,885 27,885 |
2024 £ 407 53,373 53,780 (1,506) |
£ 52,274 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52,274 | ||||
| 52,274 |
The financial statements were approved by the trustees on .......15/10/25..................
..............................
Nicholas Tedd (Chair) Trustee
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HEAR TOGETHER
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
1 Accounting policies
Charity information
Hear Together is a charitable incorporated organisation registered with the Charity Commission in England and Wales. The charity's principal office address is Martin Cottage, The Woolrooms, Coleorton, Leicestershire, LE67 8JN.
1.1 Accounting convention
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Charities Act 2011 and "Accounting and Reporting by Charities: 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) (effective 1 January 2019)". The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities applying FRS 102 Update Bulletin 1 not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a true and fair view. This departure has involved following the Statement of Recommended Practice for charities applying FRS 102 rather than the version of the Statement of Recommended Practice which is referred to in the Regulations but which has since been withdrawn.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
1.2 Going concern
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
1.3 Charitable funds
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
1.4 Incoming resources
Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset.
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HEAR TOGETHER
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
1 Accounting policies
(Continued)
1.5 Resources expended
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of the resources.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:
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Costs of raising funds comprise the promotional costs to the charity.
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Expenditure on charitable activities includes all costs undertaken to further the purposes of the charity and their associated support costs, including costs of governance.
1.6 Employee benefits
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
2 Income from donations and legacies
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | |
|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | |
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Donations and gifts | 14,504 | 32,361 |
| Legacies | 7,500 | - |
| 22,004 | 32,361 |
3 Income from investments
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | |
|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | |
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Interest receivable | 1,085 | 1,360 |
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HEAR TOGETHER
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
4 Other income
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | |
|---|---|---|
| funds | funds | |
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Other income | 4,250 | - |
5 Expenditure on charitable activities
| Charitable | Charitable | |
|---|---|---|
| Activities | Activities | |
| 2025 | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Direct costs | ||
| Staff costs | 36,502 | 27,651 |
| Advertising and marketing | 413 | 161 |
| Staff training | 339 | - |
| Computer costs | 1,645 | 2,503 |
| Legal and professional fees | 4,693 | 3,359 |
| Bank charges | 187 | 62 |
| Fundraising events | 3,681 | 7,485 |
| Subscriptions | - | 1,028 |
| Sundry expenses | 4,268 | 3,928 |
| 51,728 | 46,177 | |
| Analysis by fund | ||
| Unrestricted funds | 51,728 | 46,177 |
6 Trustees
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year.
7 Employees
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number | Number | |
| Employees | 6 | 5 |
| Employment costs | 2025 | 2024 |
| £ | £ | |
| Wages and salaries | 36,502 | 27,651 |
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HEAR TOGETHER
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
7 Employees
(Continued)
There were no employees whose annual remuneration was more than £60,000.
Remuneration of key management personnel
The remuneration of key management personnel was as follows:
8 Taxation
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
9 Debtors
| Debtors | ||
|---|---|---|
| Amounts falling due within one year: Trade debtors Other debtors Prepayments and accrued income |
2025 £ - - 612 612 |
2024 £ 100 307 - |
| 407 |
10 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Other taxation and social security Trade creditors Other creditors Accruals and deferred income |
2025 £ 237 4,664 355 897 6,153 |
2024 £ - 862 - 644 |
| 1,506 |
11 Unrestricted funds
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
| At General funds Previous year: At General funds |
1 April 2024 Incoming resources Resources expended At 31 March 2025 £ £ £ £ 52,274 27,339 (51,728) 27,885 1 April 2023 Incoming resources Resources expended At 31 March 2024 £ £ £ £ 64,730 33,721 (46,177) 52,274 |
|---|---|
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HEAR TOGETHER
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025
12 Related party transactions
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year.
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