Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From Period start date To 1[st] April 2024 Period end date 31[st] March 2025
Charity name: Sophie’s Stars
Charity registration number: 1192369
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | To relieve the needs of those who have been diagnosed with cancer and their families through the provision, in particular but not exclusively of advice, support, guidance and a peer-to-peer forum. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
Sophie's Stars continues to provided peer to peer support to families and friends of those with cancer. We do this via online support on an individual basis. The Sophie’s Smiles box launched in January 2024, and this has become our flagship activity. This is a small box of items that are gifted as a care package to family and loved ones of those with a cancer diagnosis. During this reporting period we have grown the number of boxes gifts to families. We have done this through social media campaigns and building targeted relationships with hospitals. We have planned the launch of a cancer rehabilitation exercise class as a new activity for the charity, securing a small amount of funding to enable the class to operate. Our focus has been on building referral pathways and operating procedures to enable launching the class in Spring 2026. The class will be in person in a local community leisure centre. We have plans to increase the number of classes offered as we are able to support this. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | Yes trustees are aware of the guidance on public benefit and charity operations follow this. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference Para 1.38 Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers Other
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | Sophie's Stars flagship service in this reporting period has been the Sophie’s Smile box. We are using the website as the main mechanism to request a box, and members of the public or healthcare professionals can refer into the service. To enable growth we are building relationships with NHS trusts, GP practices and local councils which is broadening our target audience and providing new opportunities to benefit the public. As a small charity this awareness and engagement work is vital and allows us to better serve our users. We have found that close relationships with the cancer nurse specialist teams is the best way to grow the service, and we have been working to increase our contacts here. We have received some excellent feedback about the boxes, which are being gifted from people with cancer to their family and loved ones. The charity has always aimed to recognise the contribution from family in a cancer diagnosis and this service does exactly that. The Sophie’s Smiles box benefits the public by recognising the input of family and friends during a cancer |
diagnosis.
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | The charity receives income through cash donations, fundraising activities and small grants. We are able to support our services through this mechanism at our current operating level. Our income for this period was £10,842 and payments £4,941. Closing general reserves were £19,764. In addition restricted reserves of £1,580 were held in respect of the cancer rehabilitation exercise class. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | Sophie's Stars has an active reserves policy where we will always hold at least £2,500 in cash to ensure that we are able to fully deliver our services and cover any operating costs. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £2,500 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | NA |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | NA |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | No concerns to report |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Foundation model constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | Foundation model constitution |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Election to post and interview with trustee members |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 |
|
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Sophie’s Stars |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | NA |
| Registered charity number | 1192369 |
| Charity’s principal address | 2 Rybrook Drive Walton on Thames Surrey KT12 3DZ |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leanne Griffiths | ||||
| Richard Allam | ||||
| Martin Highe | ||||
| Lesleigh Bounds | ||||
– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets held in this capacity
Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects
Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of Name Address adviser
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s)
Full name(s) Leanne Marie Griffiths
Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc)
Date
22/01/2016
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WAIES SOPHIE'S STARS 1192369 Receipts and payments accounts CC16a For th• perlod To 01m4r2024 3110312025 Section A Receipts and payments Unmtrlctsd nd• Restrlcted fund• Endowment Total funds Last y•4r to tytt* bi•w•it£ toth• n•w••t£ toth• nur••¢ e A1 R•¢•lpts DONATIONS FUND RAISING ACTMTIES BANK INTEREST GRANTS Sub tot•l(Gmss income lor AR) A2 Aowt and Inv••tm•nt •alM. l•w tsbl•l. ¢042 10.142 Sub ¢otsl 8.842 10.842 7,963 m•nts COST OF FUNDRSING WE8SITEI INTEFINET MARKETING INSURANCE MISCELLMEOVS CHARITA8LE ACTMTIES 1,181 37 1.882 592 317 137 1.272 Sub lof•l 3.745 A4 A88•t and InvMtm•nt urch41••, 80• tsblfr 1.110 Sub total 1,116 4.SZ1 4x1 3,861 N•¢ of rnc•lpt(P?yMrt$) AS Tr•n#f•r• b•twwn fund• A6 Cash funds last y•ai •nd C•sh funds th1$ y••r ené 4.321 4,102 15.443 19.7 1&443 21,344 11.341 15.443 CCXX R1 accourts ISSI 261025
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrgstrictet1 Restricted fund¥ to nMre¥l£ Endowment funds Categories Details to nearest £ 81 Cash fund8 lo.9 Totsl ¢h funds 19,764 •)} Unr••trlthd fund• Re•tslet•d fund Endowm•nt lund• to baMt È Fund towhkh ¢urrgnt v•1 Dotalls 83 Inv••tm•nt •u•ts Fund towhlch Curygnlv•lu• 84 A•••ts r•t•ln•d for th• ¢h•rfty'• own u Ftsnd towhkh Amount d Wh•n tlonll Detsils 86 Llablllti Za#l SKJn•d by one or Iru$le b8haW of all thè trustees nabjre Prwrt N8m• Date of rov81 RJ ALLAM CCXX R2 accounts ISSI 2W112028