Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025
Charity name: British Association of Clinicians in ME/CFS (BACME)
Charity registration number: 1193035
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference |
||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | The relief of sickness for public beneft by: 3.1 Championing clinically efectve practce in treatng ME/CFS and other primary fatgue conditons 3.2 Disseminatng recent evidence and practce to clinical practtoners 3.3 Providing educaton and training for members using up-to-date evidence and best shared practce 3.4 Advocatng for equity of access and excellence in the provision of services 3.5 Facilitatng networking amongst clinicians, researchers and patents 3.6 Advocatng for and promotng relevant research and to publish all useful results arising from any research supported |
| Summary of the main actvites in relaton to those purposes for the public beneft, in partcular, the actvites, projects or services identfed in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
BACME carried out its purposes for the public beneft and the relief of sickness through Board meetngs, peer supervision and educatonal webinars, maintaining an up to date website, an annual conference, regular newsleters and collaboraton with relevant organisatons and patent groups. BACME membership is open to clinical professionals actvely involved in providing care topeople livingwith ME/CFS or working |
| in services which provide healthcare to members of the public living with ME/CFS. BACME training events are primarily tailored for members. Conference is open to non- members who are professionals working in the feld of ME/CFS. BACME provides a clear public beneft, the relief of sickness by supportng BACME members to deliver up to date, clinically efectve treatment in the feld of ME/CFS which reduces sickness by improving outcomes, quality of life and experiences for this patent group. All trustees have signed the statutory declaraton regarding guidance issued by the charity commission on public beneft. |
||
|---|---|---|
| Statement confrming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission onpublic beneft |
Para 1.18 | Each trustee atended training on the role of the trustee. This training is aligned with guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public beneft. |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| SORP reference |
||
|---|---|---|
| Policyongrant making | Para 1.38 | |
| Policy on social investment including program related investment |
Para 1.38 | |
| Contributon made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | All members of BACME Board are volunteers. |
| Other |
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference |
||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identfying the diference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its benefciaries and any wider benefts to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | Summary of BACME key achievements and performance relatng to BACME objectves in the relief of sickness for the public beneft. 1. Championing clinically efectve practce - BACME delivered regular training events to members including peer supervision webinars (4 per year) and training webinars on topics (6 per year). - BACME Board members took part in agreeing the fnal DHSC delivery plan for ME/CFS, which was published in 2025. BACME were also involved in disseminaton and delivery of services in accordance with the plan. - BACME Chair was involved in heightening awareness of ME/CFS in natonal media on 3 occasions, including natonal television and radio. - BACME Board members, with other organisatons, contnued to provide feedback to NHS on the new e-learning modules on ME/CFS. 2. Disseminaton of recent evidence & practce - Peer Supervision & topic based webinars - Newsleters & Communicatons with BACME members - Annual conference (online) in May 2024, focused on the NICE guidelines for ME/CFS 3. Provision of educaton & training - Peer review & topic based webinars and journal clubs - Newsleters & communicatons - Annual conference (online) in May 2024, focused on the NICE guidelines for ME/CFS 4. Advocatng for equity & excellence - All BACME actvites |
| - Operatng as a Charitable Incorporated Organisaton - Natonal Services Survey - Media presence 5. Facilitatng networking - Webinars - Conference - Inital networking with Clinical Post Covid Society with a view to closer working 6. Advocate, promote and disseminate research - Newsleters & Communicatons - Conference The Annual General Report delivered in February 2025 shares BACME Board and Executve Team’s key achievements for 2024. At the AGM in February 2025, Chair Anna Gregorowski thanked those on Board for their contnued dedicaton, hard work, and passion and other members for their contributon to the successful and challenging journey this past year. BACME Chair’s Report February 2025: It is again a great privilege to deliver the BACME Chair’s report highlightng the key outcomes of work undertaken by BACME Board and members over the past year. So much has been achieved be done to relieve sufering in people living with ME/CFS. This has been a very full year with key developments and much spotlight on ME/CFS partcularly in the later part of 2024 with the inquest into the death of Maeve Boothby O ‘Neill and the report and recommendatons that followed. Those working in specialist services are acutely aware of the increase in the complexity of the needs of those living with ME/CFS and the many challenges that are present in ensuring that appropriate care and support is in place for those who are severely and very severely afected. There is much work yet to be done. Board members, all of whom work as clinicians in the feld of ME/CFS and PPI members have worked extremely hard to deliver all that BACME has achieved this past year. Thank you to all who contributed to workstreams and to conference thispastyear. It is appreciated that |
||
|---|---|---|
you have worked together, with many on Board collaborating with ME/CFS charities and national groups, to move towards our shared aim of improving the lives of those living with ME/CFS and the lives of their parents, partners and carers. Those on Board have given much time, expertise and so much of themselves to deliver in key areas. Many members too have joined in projects, attended webinars and thought together how best to take forward key areas of work. Thank you for the part you have played. The PPI group has continued to work collaboratively, creatively and constructively to contribute their expertise at all Board and other meetings. They meet regularly as a group to work on specific areas that need addressing. The PPI group ensures that people living with ME/CFS are kept at the heart of all that BACME undertakes. This workstream is expertly led by Ceri Rutter who is handing over the lead role to Les Parry, with a transition over the next 6 months. Each of the four PPI trustees bring their lived experience, expertise and commitment to each BACME activity, in this way guiding the work of our charity and enhancing the work and effectiveness of BACME clinicians. Charlie Adler has continued to lead the Education and Training workstream expertly and efficiently to deliver an impressive 10 BACME training events over the past year, a great achievement. A key Education and Training event was a fully subscribed virtual conference in May 2024. This event focused on delivering NICE compliant care and support to people living with ME/CFS. The day was very well organised by outgoing deputy chair Christine Oliver and proved a great success with attendees benefitting from all on offer including an opportunity to network. Fiona McKechnie has taken on an Editorial Lead role for BACME and helped us to think more about the role of social media. E now have a BACME Linked In profile and a small working group to think about the ways that we communicate. Fiona has been leading on collating and delivering BACME Bulletins, each of which prove rich in information and include very helpful signposting. Dr David Vickers ensures BACME’s finances are in order and that BACME can meet its aims as a
charity from a financial perspective, his expertise is much appreciated. I am pleased to report that BACME is in a good financial position which allows much needed administrative support to continue. This support ensures we can function seamlessly, carry out our aims and objectives on a daily basis and be responsive to the many communications we receive. Many thanks to Rachel and Craig for your expert support. Work on the Therapies Guide has been diligently and quietly happening, in the background, with Dr Pete Gladwell expertly leading a small group of Board and other members to update the Therapies guide so it is fit for purpose and relevant for use in 2025 and beyond. Additionally, Pete has been working with Sarah Tyson on an outcome measures project, linking BACME with this important piece of work. Pete’s intelligence and knowledge of when and how to bring BACME in is much appreciated. Many thanks to Pete for all he has done and is doing. BACME Board members continued to attend the DHSC working group meetings which recently reached the task and finish stage. This work has proved significant, took much time and is leading to further pieces of work. Alongside this, BACME Board and other members have been helping develop the NHS England e -learning modules and providing feedback along the way and as this work nears completion. Two modules have been launched with one further to be developed and refined before it is ready to be launched. Most recently, Board members met to update BACME’s plan on a page, the 2025 to 2027 version will be shared soon. While we will continue to ensure we meet our four strategic priorities across financial growth and sustainability, marketing and visibility, training and education, and influence and innovation, there will be a focus on meeting the needs of children, young people and adults living with severe and very severe ME/CFS. Many thanks to all Board members who have worked tirelessly, often with significant competing priorities, to deliver all we have collectively achieved this past year. I would now like to thank three Board members as they move on from BACME Board: Many thanks to Christine Oliver, outgoing
deputy chair, who over many years in this role has led key projects, supported significant activities and transformed BACME, moving us to charity status and securing a lottery grant for a new website. Christine worked tirelessly and enthusiastically to achieve BACME’s aims, always providing excellent and thoughtful support for me in the chair role, for this I am hugely grateful. Her vision and drive helped BACME become the charity it is today. Many and heartfelt thanks from all on Board, Christine. Many thanks too to Dr Pete Gladwell, a BACME trustee for the past three years. Pete’s quiet leadership, deep intelligence and consistent and unassuming work led to an update of the Therapies Guide which is almost complete. Pete also contributed significantly to national work on ME/CFS outcomes, again work which is nearing completion. We are most fortunate to have benefitted from having Pete on Board and for the expert work he has carried out, many thanks, Pete. I am also going to thank Ceri Rutter, though she is not stepping down until July. Ceri has provided PPI leadership to BACME from the outset and developed a great PPI team. Ceri brought vision, expertise and a steady drive to the work of the PPI group and to the BACME Board. Ceri has given so much to BACME that it is hard to imagine BACME without you, Ceri.
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Achievements against objectves set |
Para 1.41 | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising actvites against objectves set |
Para 1.41 | |
| Investment performance against objectves |
Para 1.41 | |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Review of the charity’s fnancial positon at the end of theperiod |
Para 1.21 | The charity is dependent on membership income, and this has remained resilient. |
|---|---|---|
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves statng why they are held |
Para 1.22 | BACME holds £8000 in reserve for all eventualites and aims for the bank Balance to remain above £14000 which is the reserve plus forecast annual expenditure. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | As above |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | Not applicable |
| Details of fund materially in defcit |
Para 1.24 | None |
| Explanaton of any uncertaintes about the charity contnuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | None |
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 | BACME's principle source of funding is through membership fees and conference. BACME currently has around 200 professional members which generates an annual income in the region of £6000. BACME hold no materiel assets. BACME funds are used to pay for running costs of website, video conference platorms and self-employed BACME virtual administrators and on this occasion,a conference organiser. |
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectves including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | BACME does not have funds to invest in anything other than delivery of its objectves. |
| A descripton of the principal risks facingthe charity |
Para 1.46 | Loss of membership. Currently the Trustees do not consider this a signifcant risk. |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Descripton of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed,royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | BACME consttuton |
| How is the charity consttuted? (e.g unincorporated associaton,CIO) |
Para 1.25 | BACME is an associaton |
| Trustee selecton methods including details of any consttutonal provisions e.g. electon to post or name of any person or body enttled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Trustees are appointed by an electon process conducted at an AGM and in accordance with the BACME consttuton. The following conditons are cited at secton 12.2 of the BACME consttuton; Charity trustees must be a member of a professional body relevant to their professional role and deliver or support clinical care to people with ME/CFS. In the case of patent and carer representatves, trustees must have direct personal experience of the conditon, either as a patent or carer and be afliated with an ME/CFS service delivering care in line with BACME objects. Charity trustees agree to uphold and support the BACME consttuton. Charity Trustees must hold current BACME membership and have been a BACME member for a minimum of 6 months prior to becoming a trustee |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
| Policies and procedures adopted for the inducton and trainingof trustees |
Para 1.51 | Each new trustee atends BACME trustee training |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisatonal structure and any wider network with which the charityworks |
Para 1.51 | The Board has a Chair; Deputy Chair; PPI Lead; Educaton and Training Lead; Editorial Lead; and Treasurer. |
| Relatonship with any related partes |
Para 1.51 | BACME meets with patent charites on a regular basis; BACME atended monthly Forward ME(coaliton of ME/CFS charites) |
meetings in this time period.
Other
Reference and Administrative details
| Charityname | Britsh Associaton of Clinicians in ME/CFS |
|---|---|
| Other name the charityuses | BACME |
| Registered charitynumber | 1193035 |
| Charity’s principal address | Paediatric and Adolescent Division 6thfoor central 250 Euston Road London NW12PG |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 11 12 13 14 16 17 |
Trustee name | Ofce (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) enttled to appoint trustee (if any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karen Anna Gregorowski |
Chair | BACME AGM | ||
| Christne Mary Oliver | Deputy Chair | Untl 3 February 2025 |
BACME AGM | |
| Marina Townend | Deputy Chair | From 3 February 2025 |
BACME AGM | |
| David Vickers | Treasurer | BACME AGM | ||
| Ceridwen Ruter | Patent & Public Involvement Executve Lead |
Untl 3 February 2025 |
BACME AGM | |
| Les Parry | Patent & Public Involvement Executve lead |
From 3 February 2025 |
||
| Charlote Joanna Adler | Training & Educaton Executve |
BACME AGM | ||
| Fiona McKechnie | Editorial Lead | BACME AGM | ||
| Marta Prytys | Non-executve Trustee | BACME AGM | ||
| Peter Gladwell | Non-executve Trustee | Untl 3 February 2025 |
BACME AGM | |
| Selwyn Richards | Non-executve Trustee | Untl 3 February 2025 |
BACME AGM | |
| Louise Humphrey | Non-executve Trustee | BACME AGM | ||
| Sheila Miller | Non-executve Trustee (PPI) | BACME AGM | ||
| Charley Wrey | Non-executve Trustee (PPI) | BACME AGM | ||
| Melissa Sargaison | Non-executve trustee | BACME AGM | ||
| Nigel Lewis-Carpenter | Non-executve Trustee (PPI) | From 3 February 2025 |
BACME AGM |
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 | Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others |
|---|---|
| Descripton of the assets held in this capacity |
None |
| Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects |
Not applicable |
| Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregaton of such assets from the charity’s own assets |
Not applicable |
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Names and addresses of advisers (Optonal informaton) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type of adviser | Nam e Addres s |
|
| Name of chief executve or names of senior staf members (Optonal informaton) |
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. | The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. | The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. |
|---|---|---|
| Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees | ||
| Signature(s) | ||
| Full name(s) | Anna Gregorowski | |
| Positon (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) |
Chair | |
| Date | 29/01/2026 |
----- Start of picture text -----
British Association for Clinicians in ME/CFS (BACME) 1193035
Receipts and payments accounts CC16a
For the period Period start date Period end date
To
from 01/04/2024 31/03/2025
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrestricted Restricted Endowment
Total funds Last year
funds funds funds
to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £ to the nearest £
A1 Receipts
Balance forward 23,805 - - 23,805 -
- - - - -
Membership and course fees 13,243 - - 13,243 -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total (Gross income for
AR) [ 37,048 ] - - 37,048 -
A2 Asset and investment sales,
(see table).
- - - -
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts 37,048 - - 37,048 -
A3 Payments
Administration 3,497 - - 3,497 -
Licences and fees 591 - - 591 -
Conference expenditure 2,417 - - 2,417 -
Website 3,370 - - 3,370 -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total [ 9,875 ] - - 9,875 -
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see table)
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total [ - ] - - - -
Total payments [ 9,875 ] - - 9,875 -
Net of receipts/(payments) - - -
A5 Transfers between funds - - - - -
A6 Cash funds last year end - - - - -
Cash funds this year end 27,137 - - -
----- End of picture text -----
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
29/01/2026
1
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets |
Signature david vickers none Details Details 27,137 Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - 27,137 - OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name david vickers |
Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - |
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ - - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - Current value (optional) - - - - - - - - - When due (optional) Date of approval 21/01/2026 |
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
29/01/2026
2