Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 06-10-2022 Period start date To 31-03-2024 Period end date
Charity name: Sign Along With Us Foundation
Charity registration number: 1200591
Objectives and Activities
For the public benefit, the relief and assistance of people with complex medical needs who are registered disabled throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland by providing them with respite accommodation which is inclusive and accessible.
There are 250,000+ people in the UK with complex medical needs who require specialist equipment such as hoists and profiling beds. Along with 1.9% of the UK population who will use a wheelchair at some point in their lives, there are at least 1.5 million people in the UK who would benefit from our charity.
At the Sign Along With Us Foundation we provide free holidays for children and families with complex medical needs in our fully adapted accessible caravan complete with Wet room, Profiling Bed, Mobile hoist and lowered kitchen, which is situated on the Haven Cala Gran Holiday Park in Fleetwood, United Kingdom.
We are able to grant up to two stays a week Monday to Friday and Friday to Monday between the months of March and October each year.
We the trustees have regard for the Charity Commissions guidance on public benefit
Achievements and Performance
Within this reporting period we managed to offer places to 62 families and were able to successful place 34 families with the dates we had available throughout the year and owing to their circumstances, some families had to cancel at short notice given medical reasons.
We noted there was significant demand for term time holidays of which we are very limited to the weeks those are available, and the trustees have started to look at how we can begin fundraising for a second adapted caravan to support the high demand we have for those periods.
Given this is our first full year, we expanded the team of volunteers who help run the charity from 3 trustees to a small team of 7 individuals. Each of us responsible for our own areas and we have seen a significant increase in the level of service we can provide to the families who use our service.
We have received some amazing feedback from our guests but Megs Story was such a beautiful one to read and we would love to share that here,
To everyone at SAWU
Thank you so much for an absolutely brilliant holiday. I’ve seen charities that help with holidays before, and always thought it was for ‘poorly’ kids, we don’t see Meg like that, she’s a little person who happens to have a disability. But I’m so glad we went for it, it’s definitely just right for families like ours too.
There was literally everything we needed to have a comfy, safe and stress free holiday. No faffing about asking friends to drive up with our hoist cause it won’t fit in the van at the same time as us! Everything has been thought of, even tiny things like a blender and a measuring jug.
The caravan was beautiful, spotlessly clean and in a gorgeous quiet location. We enjoyed spending time chilling on site, and Meg loved the kids disco. We left her van where it was and explored the area walking and using the trams, so didn’t have to think about finding our way round and find places to park.
People in the area are friendly and we found loads of accessible places and activities to do (the beach wheelchairs are fabulous) and Meg adored the Peter Rabbit experience, which even has a hoist.
Loads of long walks by the sea, in the wind, with Meg roaring with laughter, sticking her tongue out and flapping her hands with joy. We can’t say the word ‘Cleveleys’, we have to spell it, cause she grins every time she hears it and thinks we are going back now!
Meg is fabulous, she’s no trouble at all, but with a disability things take longer, need more planning and often cost a lot more. But, the support from SAWU takes away so much of the extra stress, so we could just be a family, having a lovely break together and recharging our batteries. Which is exactly what we needed. Thank you so much.
Financial Review
Our financial position is very healthy which has given us confidence to begin fundraising for a new adapted caravan so we can handle the demand we have been receiving.
We have reduced our costs moving into the next financial year by not automatically giving out play passes to guests which is 50% of our running costs. We have tried to work with Haven to see if we are able to source these for free with a typical families stay costing us between £180 and £270 per stay.
We have worked hard to travel the local area and create a page on our website and on all communications to the guests on the accessible activities that are available around our caravan. We have partnered with Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs to offer each others services on both of our websites as an example.
The charity closed the financial period with a cash balance of £33,538.
Of that cash balance we hold £22,000 in reserve which is to ensure we always have two years’ worth of running costs based within our accounts. The surplus funds are being put towards our target fundraising of £70,000 to purchase and let out a second adapted caravan in another part of the UK.
We currently have no going concern that we are materially worried about.
We entered have also entered into a Charity Partnership with the JD Foundation which will see ourselves the beneficiary of an annual grant of £20,000 for 2024, 2025 and 2026.
Structure, Governance and Management
The Sign Along With Us Foundation is constituted as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) using the foundation model with 3 Trustees.
We have 4 Founding Coordinators who volunteer in all aspects of the Charity and we also have two Founding Ambassadors with specialisations in Health and Accessibility.
We believe that the skills and experience we have within the Charity enables us to serve our community and drive further value out of what we can offer.
Reference and Administrative details
Charity Name: Sign Along With Us Foundation Alternative Charity Name: SAWU Foundation Registered Charity Number: 1200591 Charity’s Principal Address: 11 Pinfold Avenue, Blackley, Manchester, M9 7DW
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
Daniel McGrath
Diana Kilduff
Jade Kilduff
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
We do not hold any funds as custodian trustees on behalf of others.
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Daniel McGrath
Full name(s) Daniel McGrath Position (eg Secretary, Trustee Chair, etc) Date 24/1/2025
| Sign Along With Us Foundation |
Sign Along With Us Foundation |
Sign Along With Us Foundation |
1200591 | CC16a | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For the period from |
10/6/2022 | To | 3/31/2024 | ||
| Section A Receipts and payments | |||||
| A1 Receipts Grants 30,803 Donations 2,983 FundraisingEvents 2,698 - - - - - 36,484 - - Sub total - Total receipts 36,484 A3 Payments Cost of FundraisingEvents 617 Room Hire 75 Repairs and Maintenance 15,460 Light and Heating 544 Water and Sewage 873 Insurance 305 Telephone,Internet and Postage 1,544 - Costs of Charitable Activities 3,619 Bank Internet and Charges 60 Sub total 23,097 Accessible Caravan - Sub total - Total payments 23,097 Net of receipts/(payments) 13,387 A5 Transfers between funds - A6 Cash funds last year end 20,151 Cash funds this year end 33,538 Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ Sub total(Gross income for AR) A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). Printing Postage, Stationery and Computer Supplies A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Restricted funds |
to the nearest £ Endowment funds |
Total funds to the nearest £ 30,803 2,983 2,698 - - - - - 36,484 - - - 36,484 617 75 15,460 544 873 305 1,544 - 3,619 60 23,097 - - - 23,097 13,387 - 20,151 33,538 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|
| - - - - - - - - - |
30,803 | 20,151 | |||
| 2,983 | - | ||||
| 2,698 | - | ||||
| - | - | ||||
| - | - | ||||
| - | - | ||||
| - | - | ||||
| - | - | ||||
| 36,484 | 20,151 | ||||
| - - - |
- | ||||
| - | - | ||||
| - | - | ||||
| - | 36,484 | 20,151 | |||
| - - - - - - - - - - |
617 | - | |||
| 75 | - | ||||
| 15,460 | - | ||||
| 544 | - | ||||
| 873 | - | ||||
| 305 | - | ||||
| 1,544 | - | ||||
| - | - | ||||
| 3,619 | |||||
| 60 | - | ||||
| 23,097 | - | ||||
| - - - |
- | ||||
| - | |||||
| - | - | ||||
| - | 23,097 | - | |||
| - | - - - - |
13,387 | 20,151 | ||
| - | - | - | |||
| - | 20,151 | - | |||
| - | 33,538 | 20,151 |
| 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 B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B3 Investment assets B5 Liabilities B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees |
Details Bank Account Details Details Details Accessible Caravan Details Signature Daniel McGrath Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) |
to nearest £ to nearest £ 33,538 - - - - - 33,538 - OK OK to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - Cost (optional) Other Assets 34,000 - - - - - - - - - - - - - Print Name Daniel McGrath Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Unrestricted funds Restricted funds Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) |
to nearest £ Endowment funds |
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| to nearest £ Endowment funds |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| 22,000 | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
|||
| Date of approval |
|||
| Daniel McGrath | Daniel McGrath | 1/25/2025 | |
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Rèport to the trusteesl SI ALOKIG 1TH US FOUNIDATIDAJ On accounts for the year ended 31- 03 - ZOILk Charity no (rf any) 1200591 Set out on pages rcu I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (Ihe Trusf) for the year ended 31 03 tol14 Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust. you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 Dhe Acr). I report in resped of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below") in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. accounting records were not kept in ac¢ordan¢e with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not aord with the accounting records Independent examinerfs statement I have no COnM$ and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reathed. ' Please delete the w0S in the brnckets rfthey do not appty. Signed: 81-01-25 Name: MLS JLILIEf CA TFPE£ihEE wccDS Relevant professional qualification(sl or body (if any): Fo£MERLy tUALIFIE) MAfvJAGEMENIT ACcoLLNr ( c IMA) & ACLOLINITIN6 7 E(.$ C l CArtT) Address: 1% RoP CLO&E 6£ sr EfJMUtJE>S fUFFOLK . IP31 IL IER October 2018
Section B Disclosure Only Complete rf the examiner needs to highlight matters of concem (see CC32, Independent 8xamination of charity accounts: direciions and guidance for examiners). Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to dis¢10s0. O THÈ &cLoTiJf3 PEQiob 13 trLOM 06-10-Z2 qs THIS 15 IAJtIEKJ THE fouNbATUV RECEWED ,5 C Ily fi ATLJS. TrIS IS THE ri61ST SET ofr ACLOUNTS THE B1KLAfyJ £20 151 IHE EALAfvJCE OKI THE ACCOLIOJT AS 06-10-ii. fHE BALAhJC£ IS FIOM Afvjf) A GRANT FROM TME fouNDhTLTrM OF LtO,000 AT THE ASSET ACCF SS IBLE CA£AVAN WAS 60U&Hf TrlE LHALITY T£usrEES PEPSONKL COST aF 314, 000 EEN GIFTE7) TO TBE CittAe ITY AND CLAL£EN TLV A r EOOL OF 22,(KJo THEIE AeE NJO DfHEe MAITERS TO MOTE THEfE blts MA1fEeg DF C0CER1 IER October 2018
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND ANO WALES Receipts and payments accounts CC16a Forthe pwlod To Section A Receipts and payments UnTrstrict•d R¢stricted Endowment funds Totsl funds Laslyear NOTE A1 Re¢el Grants Donations Fundraising Ev 20.151 1983 2.698 169B Sub total(GffDSS income for AR) 20.151 A2 Assèt and Investsn sales. tablè). Sub total 20.151 A3Pa Cost of FuThJrai*ng E¥ts Rwm Hire Repaits Mathrtsr Light and Heabry Waierand Sewage Insurarfe Telephone, Intsmet8nd Posi Printiw Postag2. statiy arxl Compuw Suppl Co$tsofCharitabknbvth$ Bank Intempt Chatges 617 75 15.460 617 75 1$ B73 87J 3,619 4619 Sub total 23.097 A4 A$8et and Investment urchases,18eg tsble ¥¥iblg Caravan Sub totsl 23,097 23,097 Net of rncelpW{payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 C4sh fund¥ last year gnd Cash funds this year ond 13.387 13.387 20.151 20.151 20,151 33,538 20,1S1 CCXX R1 accounts ISS} 30K1112025
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestricted funds rest£ Restricted funds to nèarèst£ Endowment funds t( neare¥t£ Categories Details Bl Cash fvnds TO ush funds ) funds fund¥ to nthrptst£ funds to Ir$st£ Dètails Fund towhl¢h ost lopth)naD CuNontvaluo Detsils Fund towl*h WOFE Cotstlwionall Current lué 01 Details 84 Assgts rgtalnod for tho charlty'8 own use FEVKI IDwhi¢h ount dK wnd Details BS LiabllltlvJ Slgned by on8 Orts Inthes i)n behaW of all the trustees SvJnatuw Name Date of roval Dan¢1 M(Grnth Dartd McGrath 2510112025 CCXX R2 aoxunts ISSI 3W112025