**UK Registered Charity:1197965**
## **The Abilities in Me Foundation**
**Trustees’ Annual Report and Financial Statements For the period 1st April 2024 - 31st March 2025**
**UK Registered Charity:1197965**
## **Table of Contents**
Legal and Administrative details p. 2 Trustees’ Report p. 3-6 Independent Examiner Report p. 7 Trustees Finance report p. 8-9 Statement of Financial Activities p. 10 Balance Sheet p. 11 Notes p. 12-21
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**UK Registered Charity:1197965**
## **Legal and Administrative Details**
Charity number: 1197965
Registered Address: 23 Cromwell Road, Stevenage, Herts, SG2 9HT. Bank: Lloyds Bank PLC, 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN
Trustees: Treasurer: Melanie Lusty (appointed 31/05/2021) Secretary: Emma Lusty (appointed 31/05/2021) Chairman: Max Keir (appointed 31/05/2021)
Myles Bellott (appointed 10/03 2023) Zoe Hawkins (appointed 31st August 2023)
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**UK Registered Charity:1197965**
## **Trustees’ Report**
## **For the period: 1st April 2024 - 31st March 2025**
The Trustees have pleasure in presenting their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the period ending March 31st 2025.
## **Structure, Governance and Management**
The Charity was formed on 17th February 2022 and is a Registered Charity, Number 1197965.The Charity is managed by the Trustees in accordance with its constitution. None of the Trustees receives remuneration from the Charity.
## **Objectives and Activities**
The Abilities in Me Foundation aims to raise awareness of special educational needs and conditions that children may encounter. The objectives of our CIO are:
1. _Advancing education for the public benefit of children in all areas relating to disabilities and inclusion through ‘The abilities inclusive workshop training’ and ‘school visits’._
2. _Relieving the needs of children with a disability and special educational needs by creating an inclusive ‘safe space’ through the provision of sensory items, equipment, sensory room makeovers to mainstream educational environments._
3. _To promote and protect the physical and mental health of children with disabilities by providing support, education and_
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**UK Registered Charity:1197965**
_practical advice to help them understand their condition or diagnosis and assisting families with support networks._
4. _To advance such charitable purposes (according to the law of England and Wales) as the trustees see fit from time to time, including raising funds, providing grants, donating books into hospital settings and providing specialist equipment and family_ .
_fun days for families in need_
## **Achievements and Performance**
The Abilities in Me Foundation is a Hertfordshire based charity and our goals are to work with schools by providing inclusive workshops, to donate books to hospitals, and to support families who have children with needs by building an Abilities community through activities and online events. The charity was formed following the success of The Abilities in Me Book Series and with the passion to support families with children of all abilities.
The families we support have young children with a range of needs and conditions but we also welcome all families to attend our events
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**UK Registered Charity:1197965**
and activities where possible to help break down the barriers and keep building a positive message around inclusion. We also help to support families around the globe by providing a much needed space for families to connect through our online social media platforms.
## **Year Three Update**
In our third year of activity, we have continued to build on the community aspect of the foundation and further developed the Abilities in Me Choir Club which resulted in fundraisers and performances by our children supporting and entertaining the local community.
We also supported the creation of more Abilities books increasing the range of titles to 26 and providing recognition and raising awareness of even more conditions.
We remain incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported us this year, including our fabulous patron Denise Welch, whose advocacy and encouragement has further amplified our voice. With our supporters ongoing help, we will continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children with additional needs.
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**UK Registered Charity:1197965**
Signed,
## **The Trustees**
The Abilities in Me Foundation
6
Foundation
VK Re9istrered CFwity:1197965
Independent examlnerfs Report To The TSte¢S Of
The Abilltles In Me Foundatlon - Charlty Number 1197965
On The Arts For The P¢riod End¢d 31 March 2025
I report to the tnjstees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity l-the Trust-l for
the periixj ended 31 March 2025.
Respertfve ResponbIlItIeS •nd 8*$1$ of Report
As the chanty's twstees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordan
with the reouirernents of the Charities Act 2011 {"the Act-l.
I report in respect of rny examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under secbon 145 of
the 2011 Art 6nd in carrying out rny exartbination. I have followed all the applicable Dirertion5
given by the Charity Commission under sertion 14515llb) of the Act.
Basls of Zndependent Examlners Statement
My examination ha5 been carried out in accordance with the general Direction5 given by the
Charity Commission. An examination indudes a wiew of the accounting cOrdS kept by the
charity and a comparison of the accounts psented with those records. It also includes
consideration of any unusual items or disdosures in the accounts and seekin9 explanations from
the trustees concerning any sLh matters. The procedure5 undertaken do not provide all the
evidence that would be required in an audit. and consequently no opinion is given as to whether
the occounts present o 'true and fairf the report is limiteil to those matter5 Set out in
the statement below.
Independent Exanplnerfs Statejnent
I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material matters have come to my attention
in connection the examination whi(h gives me cause to bdieve that in, any material respett..
the occounting records were not kept in Cordan with section 130 of the Charities ALt,'
or
the accounts did not accord with the accounting records.. or
the accounts dld not comply with the applicable requirements concernlng the fomi and
content of 6ccounts set out in the Charities {A(cwnts and Report5} Regulations 2008
other than aTry requirement that the accounts 9ive a 'true and fair. view which 15 not 6
matter considered a5 Part of an independent examinaiion.
I have no concerns and have corne across no other matters in connection with the examination
to which attention should be drnwn in this rep)rt in order to enable a proper understanding of
the accounts to be wched.
Slgnell:
Name:
Ketan Shah Bsc., MBA. FCA
The Bk Monitor Ltd
121 London Road
Knebworth
Herts.. SG3 6EX
3151 January 2025
Address:
D•te:
**UK Registered Charity:1197965**
## **Trustees’ Report for the period 7th April 2023 -31st March 2024 continued**
## **Financial review**
The Financial results for the year are detailed in the financial statements. The Charity is trying to maintain reserves so we can extend the reach and scope of the work that the charity does for its beneficiaries.
## **Statement of Trustees Responsibilities**
The law applicable to charities in England & 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 period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
a) Select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;
b) Observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP; c) Make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
d) State whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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**UK Registered Charity:1197965**
e) Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the CIO will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the CIO's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the CIO 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 constitution. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of Ihe CIO and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporation and financial information included on the CIO's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
Emma Lusty - Secretary Melanie Lusty - Treasurer
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**UK Registered Charity:1197965**
**Statement of Financial Activities For the period of 1st April 2024 - 31st March 2025**
|||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**2024/25**
**total**|**2023/2024**
**total**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**Not**
**e**|**£**|**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Income and**
**endowments from:**||||||
|Donations and grants|2|15,245.76|-|15,245.76|29,525.01|
|Trading activities|3|12,026.14|-|12,026.14|48,913.45|
|**Total income**||**27,271.90**|**-**|**27,271.90**|**78,438.46**|
|**Expenditure on:**||||||
|Raising funds|4|10,500.84|-|15,517.11|15,517.11|
|Charitable activities|5-11
,18|18,230.15|-|47,940.36|47,940.36|
|Running costs|12,1
8|6,961,28||9,392.49|9,392.49|
|**Total expenditure:**||**35,692.27**||**35,692.27**|**72,849.96**|
|Net income for the
year||-8,420.37|-|-8,420.37|5,588.50|
|Net movement in funds||-8,420.37|-|-8,420.37|5,588.50|
|**Reconcilliation of**
**funds**||||||
|Total funds brought
forward||**14,786.83**|**-**|**-**|**9,198.33**|
|**Total funds carried**
**forward**||**6,366.46**|**-**|**-**|**14,786.83**|
All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other gains or losses other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disclosed in note 14 to the financial statements. The notes set out on pages 12 to 21 form part of these accounts.
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**UK Registered Charity:1197965**
## **Balance Sheet -** As at 31st March 2025
|||**Apr 2024 - Mar 2025**
**Total**|**Apr 2023 - Mar 2024**
**Total**|
|---|---|---|---|
||**Note**|||
|Fixed Assets||**0**|**0**|
|**Current Assets**||||
|Cash at bank and in hand||**6,366.46**|**14,786.83**|
|Debtors||**0**|**0**|
|||||
|Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year||**2,000**|**(4,611.66)**|
|Net current assets||**6,366.46**|**14,786.83**|
|Total assets less current
liabilities||**4,366.46**|**14,786.83**|
|Net assets||||
|**The funds of the charity**||||
|Restricted income funds||**0**|**0**|
|Unrestricted income funds||**4,366.46**|**14,786.83**|
|**TOTAL FUNDS**||**4,366.46**|**14,786.83**|
The financial statements were approved and authorised by issue by the Board on 30th January 2026. Signed on behalf of the Board of the Trustees:
**Emma Lusty Secretary Melanie Lusty Treasurer**
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**UK Registered Charity:1197965**
## **Notes to the Financial Statements for the period ended 6th April 2023.**
## **1. Accounting Policies**
## **a) Basis of reparation**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable United Kingdom accounting standards. The requirements of the Statement of Recommended Practice, ‘accounting and reporting by charities’ (SORP 2015), in accordance with the financial reporting standard applicable in the UK (FRS 102) applicable to smaller entities and the Charities Act 2011. The presentational currency of the financial statements is pound sterling (£).
The charity is a Charitable Incorporation Organisation (CIO) registered with the Charity Commission. The registered office address is given in the charity information page.
Assets, and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value, unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy or note.
## **b) Public Benefit Entity**
The CIO meets the definition of a public entity under FRS 102.
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**UK Registered Charity:1197965**
## **c) Going Concern**
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the CIO’s ability to continue as a going concern. Further details are provided in the Trustees’ report.
The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period.
## **d) Income**
Income is received by way of donations and fundraising is also generated through trading activities. Income is included in full in the Statement of Financial Activities, recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received, and that the amount can be measured reliably.
## **e) Expenditure and allocation of support costs**
Resources expended are recognised in the period in which they are incurred resources. Expended include attributable VAT, which cannot be recovered.
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**UK Registered Charity:1197965**
Resources expended are allocated to the particular activity where the cost relates directly to the activity. However, the cost of overall direction and administration on each activity comprising general office costs and other overheads is apportioned on a basis, which is estimated based on the proportion of each activity to the total cost of all activities.
## **f) Fund Accounting**
Unrestricted funds are donations and other incoming resources received or generated for the charitable purposes and are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objects of the CIO.
In the financial period of 7th April 2023 to 31st March 2024, there have been no restricted funds to report on.
## **g) Creditors**
Creditors and provision are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third-party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably
## **h) Financial Instruments**
The CIO has only basic financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.
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**UK Registered Charity:1197965**
## **2. Income from donations**
|**2. Income from**|**donations**|||
|---|---|---|---|
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**2023/2024 Total**|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Donations - cash**
**and online**|15,245,76|-|29,525.01|
|**Total:**|15,245,76|£ -|29,525.01|
## **3. Income from trading activities**
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**2023/2024 Total**|
|---|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Amazon Direct Book**
**sales**|12,026.14|-|34,514.76|
|**Total:**|12,026.14|£-|34,514.76|
## **4. Expenditure on raising funds**
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**2023/2024 Total**|
|---|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Supplier costs for**
**events**|314.88|-|1889.76|
|**Cost of books**
**bought to be sold**
**and donated**|9593.44|-|13,284.15|
|**Cost of merchandise**
**to sell**|592.52|-|343.20|
|**Total:**|£10,500.84|£-|£15,517.11|
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**UK Registered Charity:1197965**
## **5. Costs of charitable activity by type**
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**2023/2024 Total**|
|---|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Book donations**|1944.04|-|6,836.18|
|**Total:**|1944.04|£-|6,836.18|
## **6. Costs of charitable activity by type**
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**2023/2024 Total**|
|---|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Production of**
**Abilities Books**|11,834.96|-|28,527.22|
|**Total:**|£11,834.96|£-|£28,527.22|
## **7. Costs of charitable activity by type**
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**2023/2024 Total**|
|---|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Family Day Out -**
**Theme Park**|818.11|-|3,014.75|
|**Total:**|£818.11|£-|£3,014.75|
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**UK Registered Charity:1197965**
## **8. Costs of charitable activity by type**
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**2023/2024 Total**|
|---|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Provision of the**
**Christmas and**
**Halloween parties**|788.08|-|4,872.46|
|**Total:**|£788.08|£-|£4872.46|
## **9. Costs of charitable activity by type**
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**2023/2024 Total**|
|---|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Family grant for**
**personal reasons**|1500|-|300.00|
|**Total:**|£1500|£-|£300|
## **10. Costs of charitable activity by type**
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**2023/2024 Total**|
|---|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Sensory Station**|290.57|-|1,301.85|
|**Total:**|290.57|£-|£1,301.85|
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**UK Registered Charity:1197965**
## **11. Costs of charitable activity by type**
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**2023/2024 Total**|
|---|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Choir Club**|1054.39|-|0|
|**Total:**|1054.39|£-|0|
## **12. Analysis of support costs**
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**2023/2024 Total**|
|---|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Trustees/Volunteers**
**expenses**|155.88|-|163.98|
|**Office expenses**|2,493.21|-|3,459.75|
|**Insurance**|95|-|96.00|
|**Website/IT**|2,283.20|-|2,519.67|
|**Storage**|1,011.24|-|1.032.70|
|**Training**|-|-|-|
|**Travel**|734.06|-|-|
|**Volunteer party**|-|-|-|
|**Misc**|188.69|-|-|
|**Total:**|£6,961.28|£-|£ 7,272.10|
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**UK Registered Charity:1197965**
## **13. Fixed Assets -** Nothing purchased as a fixed asset in year 3.
## **14. Debtors -** Nothing to report
## **15. Creditors falling due within one year**
**Illustrator balance remaining £2000**
## **16. Analysis of net assets**
||**Tangible fixed**
**assets**|**Net current assets**|**2023/2024 Total**|
|---|---|---|---|
||**£**|**£**|**£**|
|**Restricted funds**|**-**|**-**|**-**|
|**Unrestricted funds**|**-**|**6,366.46**|**14,786.83**|
|**Total**|**-**|**6,366.46**|**14,786.83**|
## **17. Movement in funds**
||**Balance brought**
**forward**|**Income**|**Expenditure**|**Balance carried**
**forward at 1st**
**April 2024**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Restricted**
**funds**|**-**|**-**|**(-)**|**(-)**|
|**Unrestricted**|**6,366.46**|**27,271.90**|**35,692.27**|**£14,786.83**|
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|**UK Registered Charity:1197965**|**UK Registered Charity:1197965**|**UK Registered Charity:1197965**|**UK Registered Charity:1197965**|**UK Registered Charity:1197965**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**funds**|||||
|**Total:**|**6,366.46**|**27,271.90**|**35,692.27**|**£14,786.83**|
## **18. Related parties**
No Trustees received any remuneration during the period. 2 Trustees received expenses during the period, totalling £1212.44 Treasurer - Storage payments reimbursement £1011.24 and Secretary - £155.88 Zoom account reimbursement and £45.32 Chessington expenses)
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