Trustees’ Annual Report for the period:
1[st] April 2022 to 31[st] March 2023 Charity name: Little Sparks Enfield Charity registration number: 1195845
Objectives and Activities
The objectives of Little Sparks Enfield are to provide therapeutic activities and events for children with terminal and life-threatening conditions and their families, working closely with the families, hospitals, community clinicians and schools.
Little Sparks Enfield provides fun events for the public, aimed at individual families and events open to wider groups. We offer our support for families through bereavement, be that a sibling or close family member and we help families deal with their child’s sickness and bereavement, helping to leave them with long lasting positive memories.
As Covid 19 restrictions were lifted we were able to carry out more face to face activities this year. These included bereavement groups, parent groups, Easter egg delivery, outings, Christmas party and Christmas present deliveries. Overall we worked with over 50 children from 29 families.
When planning our activities for the year, the Trustees have considered the Charities Commission’s guidance on public benefit. In particular, we have considered the section of the public that our activities are aimed at and who may benefit from our activities. Little Sparks Enfield exists for the sole charitable purposes to enhance the experiences of the public and, whilst the activities would benefit a specific section of the local community, any member of the public is able to contact us for assistance.
Achievements and Performance
This year we have carried out the following charitable activities.
Bereavement Groups
Our bereavement work is vital for families throughout their grief journey. This is why the bereavement lead offers one-to-one work with children and young adults between the ages of 5-16, from the London Borough of Enfield, who have been bereaved of a sibling or a parent and have been referred to us. Groups for children and young adults are run during the school holidays which allows the bereaved children to share their experiences of their grief journey with their peers in a safe and nurturing environment. Activities may include crafts or physical activities.
It has been well documented that, without support, a bereavement of a close family member can lead to risk taking and crime related behaviours in children and young adults. Helping prevent this and mental health issues at later stages in life benefits wider society.
Our bereavement lead also offers one-to-one work with parents who have experienced a loss of their child, making sure they are emotionally supported within their grief journey. Parents also have access to our Bereaved
Parents’ Group which allows them to talk with other parents who have lost a child. A child bereavement is a very lonely experience, and these groups can help to ease that loneliness.
Play Sessions
Little Sparks works with children in Enfield who have complex medical conditions, or who are deemed as having a short life expectancy. Their access to activities can usually be very limited; something that other children may take for granted. Siblings of these children can also feel isolated. Little Sparks offers a safe place for them to talk, feel included and express themselves through play and craft activities, supported by specially trained volunteers.
We provide support for children and their families who have a life limiting, life threatening, or an end of life condition. We co-work closely with hospitals, community clinicians, schools and other voluntary organisations, and host specialised events, tailor made for children and families to meet their individual needs. It is important to provide inclusive, fun events that can be accessed by children and their families, regardless of age or ability. The aim is always to provide therapeutic one-to-one play sessions, with the child, with or without siblings, to help them to understand their illness and allow them to express themselves through play to relieve anxiety.
Memory Making
Any family from Enfield that has been bereaved of a close family member is invited to join us for our annual Memory Day. We bring together parents who have had a child die, to celebrate the child’s life through poems and singing, allowing time to reflect and remember every one of their children.
We also held other memory making activities, supporting the family to make lasting positive memories through crafts or photos from one of our parties or outings.
Christmas & Easter
We make sure all the families have fun at Christmas time; we supply food, a present, games and meet and greets with Father Christmas, all free of charge to families who are not able go to a traditional grotto due to their condition. We also deliver presents to the doorsteps of families that are isolating. At Easter we doorstep deliver eggs that this year were donated by Tesco Enfield.
Child’s Birthday
As with the Christmas Party, we organise birthday celebrations for the child and their siblings, to make positive memories. The child is able to choose where they like to go like for food or park or crazy golf; giving the child at the end of their life important time together with their siblings.
Financial Review
This Annual Report is the second as a registered charity. There was a carried forward balance of £12,959.12. The Charity received funds by way of donations and fundraising. The donations of £1,853.82 came from regular monthly donations as well as corporate donations. The fundraising means were by third party activities from supporters and from platforms such as Easy Fundraising, Amazon Smile and Just Giving. There are costs associated with these platforms giving a total net fundraising revenue of £4,363.83.
The Charity also held their own bi-annual major fund-raising event. The Ball raised money through ticket sales of £7,690, raffle collection of £386, an auction of £4,171 and other income of £2,464. Little Sparks incurred expenses of £5,280 on food, £650 on the entertainment, £75 toward the auction prizes and £253.86 on miscellaneous costs. The net amount raised was £8,452.14
Little Sparks used the income to carry out the previously mentioned charitable activities. Christmas & Easter £1,474.48 Outings and birthdays £831.22 Memory Work £364.77 Play Sessions £83.35 Bereavement Work £463.16
We also made a medical equipment purchase of a “Cuddle Cot” of £6,891.99
Reserves Policy
Little Sparks Enfield does not currently have a policy to maintain a reserves balance. This is because the money received is directly spent on charitable activities only. Any remaining unrestricted funds at the end of any financial year is to be carried forward to the next financial year to be used for charitable activity that year.
The total funds carried forward to the next financial year totals £17,523
Next year, due to a change in bereavement lead and more time available from the incoming Chair, it is hoped that we will see an increase in face to face charitable activities.
Structure, governance and management
Governing Document
Little Sparks Enfield is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation - Foundation registered on 20[th] September 2021 with a Constitution governing document.
Trustees
Every charity trustee must be a natural person, over the age of 16 with at least one trustee being over the age of 18. There must be at least three charity trustees, with no maximum number that may be appointed to the CIO. Apart from the first charity trustees, every trustee must be appointed for a term of one year by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees. In selecting individuals for appointment as charity trustees, the charity trustees must have regard to the skills, knowledge and experience needed for the effective administration of the CIO.
Administrative information
The name of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation (“the CIO”) is: Little Sparks Enfield and is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales number 1195845.
The Charity’s principal address is: Cedar House, St Michaels PCC, Gater Drive, Enfield, EN2 0JB Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
Lisa Dodd Chair from 20[th] September 2021 Lisa Goodridge Trustee from 20[th] September 2021 Mark Cope Trustee from 20[th] September 2021 Names of advisers Yvonne Voegt Treasurer from 20[th] September 2021
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Print Name: Lisa Dodd Position: Chair Date: 16[th] July 2023
Little Sparks Charity No 1195845 Company No Annual accounts for the period Period end Period start date To Apr-22 date Mar-23
Section A Statement of financial activities (including summary income and expenditure account)
Recommended categories by activity
Restricted Unrestricted income Endowment Total Prior year funds funds funds funds funds £ £ £ £ £
Income
| Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies Charitable activities Other trading activities Investments/Grants Separate material item of income Other Total |
|
|---|---|
| 6,432 - - 6,432 8,283 |
|
| 14,711 - - 14,711 270 |
|
| - - - - - |
|
| - - - - |
|
| - - - - - |
|
| - - - - 6,591 |
|
| 21,143 - - 21,143 15,144 |
Expenditure
Expenditure on:
| Raising funds Charitable activities Separate material expense item Other Total Net income/(expenditure) before tax for the reporting period Tax payable Net income/(expenditure) after tax before investment gains/(losses) Net gains/(losses) on investments Net income/(expenditure) Extraordinary items Transfers between funds Other recognised gains/(losses): Gains and losses on revaluation of fixed assets for the charity’s own use |
6,259 | - | - | 6,259 | 72 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10,106 | - | - | 10,106 | 2,113 | |
| 215 | 215 | ||||
| - | - | - | - | ||
| 16,580 | - | - |
16,580 |
2,185 | |
| 4,564 | - | - | 4,564 | 12,959 | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| 4,564 | - | - | 4,564 | 12,959 | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| 4,564 | - | - | 4,564 | 12,959 | |
| - | - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Other gains/(losses) Net movement in funds Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees |
- - - - - 4,564 - - 4,564 12,959 12,959 - - 12,959 - 17,523 - - 17,523 12,959 Signature Print Name Date of approval Lisa Dodd 16th July 2023 |
|---|---|