**CHARITY NUMBER: 1197067**
**TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **THE MEMORY BOX FOUNDATION TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT - YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **Introduction**
The Trustees present their report and unaudited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
The legal and administrative information set out on below forms part of this report. The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the CIO’s governing constitution, the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 and the Charities SORP (FRS 102).
## **Reference and Administrative Details**
The CIO registered with the Charity Commission in England and Wales on 13[th] December 2021 and commenced operation on 1 March 2022.
The CIO was established under a governing constitution, which established the objects and powers of the CIO.
**Registered Charity Number** 1197067 **Principal / Registered Address** Unit 310 Solent Business Centre 343 Millbrook Road West Southampton Hampshire SO15 0HW **Trustees during the year and to date** Mr Michael C Hodson (Chair) Ms Tracey Cotterill (Safeguarding Lead) Mrs Della Osborne **Bankers** Metro Bank Southampton City Branch Above Bar Street City Centre Southampton SO15 1QD **Accountants** Vivien White Rowles Accountancy Services Ltd Unit 104 Solent Business Centre 343 Millbrook Road West Southampton Hampshire SO15 0HW
## **THE MEMORY BOX FOUNDATION TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT - YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **1. Structure Governance and Management Appointment**
## **1.1 Background**
The Memory Box Foundation was established as an independent, not-for-profit CIO in December 2021 as a legacy charity of The Wessex Heritage Trust (1015271), with the operation of its flagship project, The Memory Box for People Living with Dementia, being transferred in March 2022. At March 2024 we had 1.8 full time paid member of staff, which reduced to 1.0 staff member in October 2024. Our Head of Charity Services has a background in education, museums and reminiscence projects, whilst our Project Co-ordinator had 20+ years’ experience of working with the elderly and vulnerable.
We have a Board of three Trustees who meet a minimum of three times a year, and bring the following supportive skills:
- 25 years’ experience of working with our priority groups,
- business management and development,
- previous trustee experience.
All trustees are expected to complete Safeguard training as part of their induction.
## **1.2 Retirement and Training of the Trustees**
We have experienced one Trustee appointment this year, Mrs Della Osborne, following the resignation of Mr Philip Grant due to personal commitments. We are currently stable with our minimum of three trustees and hope to recruit one new trustee in the future.
## **1.3 Risk management**
The Trustees are currently establishing a process for reviewing the key risks facing the charity and for ensuring that actions are taken to manage those risks. The Trustees have considered the major risks to which the charity is exposed, as set out in these reports, and are satisfied that systems and procedures are in place to manage those risks or that action is being taken to establish such systems and procedures.
## **1.4 Governance of the Charity**
A two-year strategic plan has been drawn up and includes short term objectives.
## **2. Objectives of the Charity**
## **2.1 Our Charitable Aims**
For the public benefit of persons located in the UK, but primarily in Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire, to advance the education and assist in the relief and improvement of health of those with mental health issues, dementia, or experiencing isolation or loneliness.
The Trustees have all been informed of the guidance issued by the Charities Commission on public benefit.
**THE MEMORY BOX FOUNDATION TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT - YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **2.2 Our Objective**
To improve the wellbeing of the Foundation’s beneficiaries and supporting them to live and age well through innovative projects involving social and local heritage interactions.
## **2.3 Our Vision**
Together, we will support individuals and their communities to bring memories home by providing:
- courses, activities, and projects utilising historical and heritage related themes.
- intergenerational opportunities for young people to learn from older people and develop new skills.
- education and training for carers and volunteers who work with older people and/or those with mental health issues on reminiscence therapy.
## **3. Achievements and Performance**
The main activities that the Foundation provides in relation to those purposes for the public benefit are:
- **The Memory Box Project** reminiscence loan box service for people living with dementia.
- **The Memory Box Education Programme** which provides training in dementia awareness and facilitating reminiscence sessions.
- **Pathways to Memories** is a weekly social group for residents in Christchurch, Dorset, who are experiencing loneliness or social isolation. Activities have a different reminiscence theme on a weekly basis. c
- **The Memory Box Activity Magazine**
- **The Memories, Tea & Me Project** which provides reminiscence for over 50s who experience loneliness, social isolation, or mental health issues.
- **Reminisce with Me Dementia Awareness Training** is an intergenerational project that provide dementia awareness and reminiscence training for young people and forge links to residents in local care settings.
During this reporting period the Memory Box Foundation has provided 21 care settings with reminiscence resources on a monthly basis under the Memory Box Project. Facilitated public reminiscence sessions under the Memories, Tea and Me Project have taken place in 21 locations including public libraries, Dementia Support Groups, day care settings, residential care homes, church groups, the University Hospital Southampton, a community VE Day celebration on behalf of the Cardo Group and an intergenerational project on behalf of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.
We have trained 14 staff from care homes and day care providers, 8 students from the University of Winchester, 42 students from Queen Mary College, Basingstoke and 6 students from Thornden School, Otterbourne, in dementia awareness and reminiscence facilitation. The University students completed this as a placement for a module in professional development and communication skills; QMC students took part in the Basingstoke 50[th] Anniversary Project and Thorden School students took part in an Inside Out Garden Project at Brendoncare Otterbourne Hill Care Home. Our partnerships with both the University of Winchester and Queen Mary College are ongoing and we will be engaging with new cohorts in early 2026, funded by the University and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council respectively.
One hundred and twenty activity magazines written by the staff have been distributed each month. This is a lower number than previous years due to printing costs. However, each of our loan boxes now contain a related magazine to supplement the reminiscence resources we provide.
**THE MEMORY BOX FOUNDATION TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT - YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
The Foundation has engaged with 20 pre-school children aged 3 and 4 years old through the Dementia Picture Pals project. This was carried out at Bright Horizons Nursery, North Baddesley to support their desire to become a greater part of the local community and linked them up with Knights Grove Care Home. The children now visit the Home twice a week and also welcome the Home residents to their setting.
The Reminisce with Me project trained 16 Squirrel Scouts, 4 Explorer Scouts and 3 Adult Scout Leaders, culminating a reminiscence session held at Wilton Manor Care Home in Southampton.
Throughout the year the following working partnerships have been established or maintained:
- Romsey Dementia Action Group
- Caraway
- Dementia Friendly Hampshire
- BCP Libraries
- Hampshire Libraries
- Hampshire Cultural Trust
- Tricuro
- Queen Mary College, Basingstoke
- Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council
- • University of Winchester
## **4. Financial Review**
**4.1** The Charity has grown substantially during the year, but still requires more external funding to be selfsustaining. This poses the principal risk for the Charity as funding from the charitable funding sector is become more difficult to obtain. Fundraising activities at a local level have not been a major focus for the Charity, and therefore greater application needs to be made on creating income from a more diverse range of local funding sources and activities, together with working in partnership with other organisations.
The charity’s principal sources of funds are:
- Grants from local authorities
- Grants from charitable organisations
- Private individual donors
- Corporate donors
- Work Placement Agreement with the University of Winchester
- Training & Supervision Agreement with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council
## **4.2 Reserves Policy**
The Charity has been substantially supported by an individual philanthropic supporter. One month of reserves are held at present and the trustees hope to see this continue to grow in the coming year.
## **THE MEMORY BOX FOUNDATION TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT - YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023**
## **4.3 Statement of Responsibilities of the Trustees**
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with the applicable law and the United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (UK GAAP).
The Charities Act 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 at the end of the year and of the surplus or deficiency for the year then ended.
In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently
• make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent
• state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
• 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 proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. The Trustees 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.
Approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by
Michael C Hodson
Chair of Trustees
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
(Including Income and Expenditure Account)
||Unrestricted|Restricted|Total|
|---|---|---|---|
||Funds|Funds|2025|
||£|£|£|
|**INCOME**||||
|Donations and legacies|35,797|2,044|37,841|
|Charitable activities|0|200|200|
|TOTAL INCOME|35,797|2,244|38,041|
|**EXPENDITURE**||||
|Direct Charitable Expenditure|496|1,835|2,331|
|Employee Costs|22,838|22,838|45,676|
|Premises Costs|6,307|0|6,307|
|Admin Costs|7,994|0|7,994|
|Professional Fees|420|0|420|
|TOTAL EXPENDITURE|38,055|24,673|62,728|
|||||
|**NET INCOME FOR THE YEAR**|-2,258|-22,429|-24,687|
The Statement of Financial Activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
## **Declarations**
**The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.**
**Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees**
|**Signature**
**Full name**
**Position**
**Date**||
|---|---|
||Michael C Hodson|
||Chair of Trustees|
|||
||05 January 2026|
CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Receipts and payments accounts
CC16a
For the period
from
To
01ffj412024
3110312025
Section A Receipts and payments
Unrest¥icted
funds
Restri¢ied
funds
Endowment
funds
Total funds
Last year
the n&arost
to the néarè8t £
to the neAf@$t £
to the nearest £
ttslhg nqar¢sl t
A1 Receipts
35.797
2,044
2DO
37,841
200
100,826
Sub total fGross income for
ARJ
35.797
2,244
38,041
100A26
A2 A$$et and investment $ale$,
(see tablel.
Sub total
Total receipts
35,797
2,244
31,041
100,828
A3 Paymonts
Oireci Ch3fil8Ole Exp¥ndilur9
Employèe Costs
Premisp.s Costs
Adrnin Cosis
Professional lees
496
22,838
6,307
1.83$
22.838
2,331
45.676
6.307
7,994
420
1,644
57,290
6.375
7.486
420
420
Sub total
38.055
24673
62,728
73,215
A4 Asset and investment
purchases, (see tablel
Sub total
Total payments
38,055
24,673
62.728
73,215
Net of receipts/(paymentsJ
AS Transfers between funds
A6 Cash funds last year end
Cash funds this year end
2,258
19,511
24.693
2,924
22,429
19,511
2,918
24,687
27,611
27.61 t
2,924
27,611
CCXX Rl accounts ISSI
0510112026
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
Unrestrlcled
funds
to n•artsi£
Restricte
funds
to n•aresl£
Endowment
fund$
Categories
Details
to nearest E
81 Cash funds
8ank
2,924
Total ¢ash funds
2,924
b•larrA¥wih rpts paym8Trt5
011%}
Unrestricl8d
funds
to ne3r¢5t£
Restricted
fund5
to neares1£
Endowment
funds
to neare8t£
Details
Fund to whlch
Issel bolo
Curr•nt ¥alue
Details
Cost loptionall
B3 Inve$tm8nt assets
Fund to which
asset belon
Currqnt valu¢
Detalls
Costl¢ptyonall
84 A5set$ retained for the
charity's own use
Fvnij to %Yhlch
i•la¢•$
Amouni due
Whèn due
Oetails
PAVE
B5 Liabilities
724
P8nsion
157
Signe(I by onÈ or two trustee5 on
behalf of all th8 trustees
Dale ol
roval
Si9naiure
Print Name
CCXX R2 accovnt51551
0510112026
CHARITY COMMISSION
FOR ENGLAND AND WALES
Independent examiner's report on the
accounts
Section A
Independent Examiner's Report
Raport to the trustees
Chanlv N.-
Th8 Memory Box Foundation
On accounls for the year
ended
31st March 25
Charity no
(if any)
1197067
Sot out on pages
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above
charity for the yèar 8nd8d 3110312025.
Responslbilities and
basls of report
As the charitys trustees, you ar8 responsible for the preparation of the
accounts in accordanc4 with the requirem8nts of the Charities Act 2011.
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts ¢8rried out
under sedion 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.
Indepondent I have completed my examination. I confinn that no material matters have
oxamlner's statement ¢om8 to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me
cause to b81i8ve thal in. any materhal r8spect:
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connedion
with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in
order lo enable a proper understanding of lh8 accounts to be raach8d.
Slgned:
Date:
*lilzr
Name:
its) LoJE-t ir£
Relevant professlonal
qualificallon(s) or body
(if any)".
, mAir
Address:
IS Ot*KJ.
Section B
Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern
(see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts". dir6ctions and
guidance for examiners).