East of England Asbestos Patient Support Group CIO
(EEA PSG)
Registered Charity Number: 1198256
Report of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements for the Period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025
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East of England Asbestos Patient Support Group CIO
Report of the Trustees
for the Period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025
The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025. The trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
The objectives of the CIO are;
- to relieve sickness and to preserve and protect good health for the public benefit, by supporting mesothelioma cancer patients, through such means as the trustees deem appropriate, in particular but not limited to funding a specialist mesothelioma cancer nurse specialist to work in the Norfolk and Suffolk region.
- to campaign for the awareness in respect to the dangers of asbestos exposure, and;
- to promote patient care and signpost to Mesothelioma UK, in order to explore all current medical treatment options and clinical trials available.
In setting objectives and planning for activities, the Trustees have given due consideration to general guidance published by the Charity Commission relating to public benefit, including guidance "Public benefit: running a charity (PB2).
Significant activities
During this period the charity teamed up with local business Plumbase, who made East of England Asbestos Patient Support Group their charity of the year. Plumbase held various fundraising events over the year and in March 2025 they presented the charity with a cheque for £1,602. This represents the largest single donation the charity has received since its incorporation.
Public benefit
The Trustees have given consideration to the question of the Charity's status, with special regard to the benefit of the community beyond its own membership. They have referred to the guidelines on the Charity Commission website and are satisfied that both its activities and its use of funds fully justify its charitable status.
They have also given regard to the Charity Commission Guidelines on public benefit in forming the objectives and activities of the charity.
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East of England Asbestos Patient Support Group CIO
Report of the Trustees
for the Period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025
FOREWORD
This year saw the retirement of the charity’s founder Brian Wallis. In March 2024 Brian celebrated his 80[th] Birthday and later in the year he married fellow trustee Eileen McConnell who also stepped down from her role. The charity want to thank them both for all their incredible hard work and commitment to the charity and support group over the years and wish them a very happy retirement together.
The charity welcomes two new trustees who were appointed during this year, Christine Brown and Clare Bladen.
ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE
Charitable activities
In every area of development, the charity ensures that all activities are aligned with its charitable objectives.
The charity continued to hold regular monthly meetings at the Southgate Centre, Bury St Edmunds and at Coastal Wellbeing, Wells next the Sea North Norfolk. The groups focus on providing holistic support to patients and their families. They welcome patients, families and carers affected by asbestos related health conditions.
During this period the charity welcomed various guest speakers to give talks at the monthly meetings. Mesothelioma UK specialist nurse Kate Slaven gave a talk on fatigue and breathlessness and Elizabeth Storer from Healthwatch Suffolk gave a presentation on how they help make positive changes to the NHS through patient feedback.
In January 2025 West Suffolk physiotherapist and Macmillan nurse Angela Jiggins led the group in a light exercise class to show the benefits of doing a small amount of fitness from your chair everyday at home.
The charity’s team have been very proactive at raising the profile of the charity and mesothelioma / asbestos related health conditions in general using social media and by distributing flyers and printed materials in the East of England. The website and social media channels are kept up to date by Phoebe Osborne, including Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn with growing numbers and engagement each year.
Awareness stands continued to be held at Duxford Community Centre (Café 19) throughout the summer for the Battle of Britain Air Shows.
In July 2024 the charity organised a summer outing for the support group to the Suffolk Owl Sanctuary at Stonham Barns. This years Christmas lunch was once again held at Ravenwood Hall in Bury St Edmunds with over 30 people attending.
Fundraising activities
Usual fundraising activities continued throughout the year with donations being collected at awareness events. This year also saw the charity embarking on a new venture by teaming up with local business Plumbase to help raise funds for its causes. A very successful raffle and auction were also held at the charity’s Christmas lunch at Ravenwood Hall.
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East of England Asbestos Patient Support Group CIO Report of the Trustees for the Period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Financial Position
The period to 31 March 2025 represents the third incorporated period for the charity.
The charity continues to raise funds at awareness events and through the kind donations of the general public.
Hugh James solicitors have kindly continued to sponsor the annual cost of the venue hire, refreshments and all printing costs as well as contributing towards the cost of the Christmas lunch. The charity received a further corporate donation of £500 from Leigh Day solicitors who made charitable donations to all asbestos support groups operating in the UK.
Local business Plumbase raised £1,602 for the charity through fundraising events it held throughout the year.
The charity’s Christmas raffle and auction raised £365.
A large payment of £2,106 from the charity’s reserves was paid out to Knight’s Lowe Accountancy for its services preparing the charity’s accounts in its first year of incorporation between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023. In accordance with the Charity SORP, the charity’s accounts are not eligible to be independently examined due to its income being less than £25,000 and therefore the charity will be preparing it’s own accounts moving forward and will not need to incur such a large cost again for these services in the foreseeable future.
At the end of the period, reserves held were £7,024.
FUTURE PLANS
The charity is planning to use the £1,602 raised by Plumbase to purchase some East of England Asbestos Patient Support Group branded electric hand fans, which have shown to help patients suffering from breathlessness. The charity plans to distribute these to some of the local hospitals to help provide relief to patients struggling with breathlessness as well as promoting the charity and support group. The rest of the money will be used to pay for a summer boat trip on The Lady Orwell for attendee’s of the support group and others affected by asbestos diseases.
Due to a lessening need for regular meetings at Wells next the Sea, it has been decided that the charity will stop regular meetings at Coastal Wellbeing on the North Norfolk coast and only offer meetings there on an ad hoc basis as the need arises. Instead, the charity will concentrate its effort primarily on its monthly meetings at the Southgate Centre, Bury St Edmunds, which continues to go from strength to strength and now regularly sees attendance of up to 20 people each month. The charity aims to make this its central location where it will aim to provide services from to the wider East of England area.
Fundraising will continue and the charity will look at new ways to support those affected by asbestos related diseases.
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East of England Asbestos Patient Support Group CIO
Report of the Trustees
for the Period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust and constitutes an incorporated charity. These accounts present the results for the third year of trading.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out herein and comply with Accounting and Reporting by Charities Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP 2015).
Charity constitution
East of England Asbestos Patient Support Group became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) with a UK registered charity number 1198256 in March 2022. It is governed by its Constitution, which was amended 28 February 2022.
Recruitment and appointment of new trustees
The initial trustee's were selected to provide a range of expertise to ensure successful establishment of the charity and cover the knowledge needed in the legal and accounting aspects of governance. Appointments were made on an initial two year term, with the exception of those identified below.
Trustees who served during the year were:
P Osborne (four year appointment)
P Chung
S Green
E McConnell
P Layland
R Green (three year appointment)
B Chamen-Wallis (for life or until retirement)
T Boddy
C Brown
C Bladen
Apart from the first charity trustees, every trustee must be appointed for a term of three years by a resolution passed at a properly convened meeting of the charity trustees.
As set out in the Constitution the Board of Trustees must comprise at least three individuals.
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East of England Asbestos Patient Support Group CIO
Report of the Trustees
for the Period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025
Organisational structure
The board of trustees consists of eight persons, whom administer the CIO. Volunteers support the board, who number between a single person support or group support, depending on the fundraising, awareness and/or patient support required at a variety of events.
Decision making
The board of trustees is the principle decision making body of the charity. Any decisions taken by the trustees in the running of the charity are done so in regular meetings of the trustee board.
Induction and training of new trustees
There is an informal induction process for new trustees, each one meeting with the Chair of the Board prior to attending their first full board meeting. Copies of the Constitution, the latest Trustees' Annual Report and statement of accounts are made available to the new Trustee.
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East of England Asbestos Patient Support Group CIO Report of the Trustees for the Period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
Registered Charity number 1198256
Principal address 50 Princes Street IPSWICH Suffolk IP1 1RJ
Trustees
P Osborne - Chairman P Chung - Trustee S F P Green - Trustee C Bladen - Trustee P R Layland - Trustee R Green - Trustee C Brown - Trustee T W Boddy – Trustee and Treasurer
STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES' RESPONSIBILITIES
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England and Wales, the Charities Act 2011, Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed 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, including the income and expenditure, of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
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 Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They 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 order of the board of trustees on 21 January 2026 and signed on its behalf by:
P V Osborne – Trustee
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East of England Asbestos Patient Support Group CIO
Unaudited Financial Statements
for the Period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025
Independent Examination
In accordance with the Charity SORP, the charity’s accounts are not eligible to be independently examined due to its income being less than £25,000.
The charity continues to use receipts and payments method of accounting.
The charity’s accounts and financial statements have been prepared by
Thomas Boddy – Trustee and Treasurer.
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East of England Asbestos Patient Support Group CIO
Statement of Financial Activities
for the Period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025
| £ | |
|---|---|
| CE BROUGHT FORWARD | |
| Balance brought forward from year 2 | 7,204 |
| ______ | |
| 7,204 |
BALANCE BROUGHT FORWARD
The balance of the CAF Bank cash account shows £7,203.45 as of 1 April 2024
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS
| Donations and Legacies | |
|---|---|
| Unrestricted | 2,854 |
| Restricted (Sponsorship) | 2,105 |
| Investment income | |
| Deposit account interest | 12 |
| ______ | |
| 4,971 | |
| ______ | |
| Total incoming resources | 12,175 |
| EXPENDITURE | |
| Direct costs | |
| Room hire, lunch/refreshments for meetings | 1,142 |
| Charitable activities (project distributions) | 1,500 |
| ______ | |
| 2,642 | |
| Support costs | |
| Management | |
| Advertising, postage, stationery | 72 |
| Finance | |
| Bank charges and Just Giving fee’s | 187 |
| Governance costs | 2,250 |
| ______ | |
| 2,509 | |
| ______ | |
| Total resources expended | 5,151 |
| ______ | |
| Net income | 7,024 |
| ====== |
The balance of the CAF Bank cash account shows £7,024.20 as of 31 March 2024
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East of England Asbestos Patient Support Group CIO
Notes to the Financial Statements
for the Period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025
ACCOUNTING
The accounts and financial statements have been prepared using receipts and payments method of accounting and in accordance with the Charity SORP (FRS 102)
| DONATIONS AND LEGACIES | |
|---|---|
| £ | |
| All donations and legacies received constitute unrestricted funds | 2,854 |
| Only monies received from the charity’s sponsor constitute restricted funds | 2,105 |
| INVESTMENT INCOME | |
| £ | |
| Deposit account interest | 12 |
| CHARITABLE ACTIVITY COSTS | |
| Direct Costs | |
| £ | |
| Room hire, lunches and refreshments for patient support group (PSG) | 1,142 |
| Charitable activities/project distributions | |
| Summer outing to Stonham Barns for PSG | 199 |
| Christmas lunch at Ravenwood Hall for PSG | 1,016 |
| Deposit for summer outing 2025 on Orwell Lady for PSG | 285 |
| ______ | |
| Total | 2,642 |
| Support Costs | |
| £ | |
| Management | |
| Postage | 72 |
| Finance | |
| Bank charges |
61 |
| Just Giving fee | 126 |
| Governance | |
| Public Liability Insurance | 101 |
| Accountancy fee’s (Knights Lowe 2022-2023) | 2,106 |
| POS Registered Office fee | 43 |
| ______ | |
| Total | 2,509 |
| TOTAL | 5,151 |
| ====== |
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East of England Asbestos Patient Support Group CIO
Notes to the Financial Statements
for the Period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025
TRUSTEES’ REMUNERTION BENEFITS
There were no trustees’ remuneration or other benefits for the period ended 31 March 2024
Trustees’ expenses
During the year a total of £608 reimbursed expenses was paid to a single trustee
CREDITORS
The charity has moved to receipts and payment accounting and therefore there are no outstanding payments to creditors for this period ended 31 March 2025
MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
| Incoming | Resources | Movement | |
|---|---|---|---|
| resources | expended | in funds | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Unrestricted Funds | 10,070 | 3,045 | 7,025 |
| Restricted Funds (Sponsorship) | 2,105 | 2,105 | 0 |
| ___ | ___ | ___ | |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 12,175 | 5,150 | 7,025 |
| ========= | ========= | ========= |
RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
During the year a total of £608 reimbursed expenses was paid to a single trustee
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