Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 29 September 2024 To 28 September 2025
Charity name: Optigene Foundation Charity registration number: 1200710
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | The Objects of the Charity are for the public benefit to further such exclusively charitable purposes according to the law of England and Wales in any part of the world (Objects) as the Trustees may in their discretion think fit. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
The Trustees must use the income and at their discretion may use all or part of the capital of the Charity in promoting the Objects but no part of the property and funds of the Charity may be used for the benefit of (a) either or both of the Settlors or (b) any spouse or civil partner of with of the Settlors. |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | In determining the charity’s activities, the trustees have had regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit. |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Policy on social investment Para 1.38 including program related investment Contribution made by Para 1.38 volunteers Other
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | During the year under review the charity made grants totalling £238,182 to the following charities: Cure Parkinsons MS Together Loxwood Sports Association University of Sussex University of Surrey UNICEF UK Horsham Matters Cancer Research UK St Barnabas Hospices Sussex Ltd Guide Dogs for the Blind Association Royal Commonwealth Society for Blind Momentum Childrens Charity Shooting Star Children Hospices Sussex Community Foundation Insititute of Engineering and Technology YMCA Downslink Group Turning Tides Homelessness Olive Tree Cancer Support Group Men's Sheds Association Dementia Support Breast Cancer Now University of Central Lancashire Found Dementia Support - Double UpAppeal |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: Achievements against Para 1.41 objectives set Performance of fundraising Para 1.41 activities against objectives set Investment performance Para 1.41 against objectives Other
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | In addition to the free reserves the charity has bank balances of £280,388 (2024: £308,300) and investments valued at £1,581,931 within the expendable endowment fund which can be released to support the activities of the charity. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | The Trustees pursue a policy of maintaining a free reserve available to be spent in the furtherance of the charity’s objectives as well as covering future needs, opportunities, contingencies and risks. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | At the end of the reporting period the charity had free reserves of £513 (2024: £19,529). |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | N/A |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | No funds in deficit |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | N/A |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: The charity’s principal Para 1.47 sources of funds (including any fundraising) Investment policy and Para 1.46 objectives including any social investment policy adopted A description of the principal Para 1.46 risks facing the charity Expendable endowment funds are those which are required to be invested to produce Other income, but which may be transferred to unrestricted funds at the discretion of the trustees in order that they may be expended in furtherance of the charity’s objectives. Unrestricted income funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
||
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document | Para 1.25 | Trust deed dated 29 September 2022 |
| How is the charity constituted? |
Para 1.25 | Trust |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Trustees are appointed by the existing trustees. |
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
|---|---|---|
| Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 | |
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | No trustee received any remuneration or was reimbursed any expenses in the year under review. Ludlow Trust Company Limited was paid £11,767 (2024: £12,136) for trust administration services and for cash management services during the year under review. These fees are authorised under clause 9 of the trust deed. |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Optigene Foundation |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | None |
| Registered charity number | 1200710 |
| Charity’s principal address | Ludlow Trust Company Ltd Tower Wharf Cheese Lane Bristol BS2 0JJ |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ludlow Trust CompanyLimited |
||||||
| Michael Paul Andreou | ||||||
| Duncan RoyClark | ||||||
| Corporate trustees– names of the directors at the date the | report was approved | |||||
| Director name | ||||||
| Gary Collins | ||||||
| Walter Coxon | ||||||
| Ali Sarikhani | ||||||
| Ziba Sarikhani | ||||||
| Christopher Thurlow | ||||||
| Matthew Wickers | ||||||
| John Stephen Dennis | Resigned 25 October 2024 |
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
| Description of the assets held in this capacity |
N/A |
|---|---|
| Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects |
N/A |
| Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets |
N/A |
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
| Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) | Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) |
|---|---|---|
| Type of adviser Name Address |
||
| Investment Managers | Coutts & Co | 440 Strand, London, WC2R 0QS |
| Bankers | Coutts & Co | 440 Strand, London, WC2R 0QS |
| Accountants | Charter Tax Consulting Limited |
8thFloor, 1 Southampton Street, London, WC2R 0LR |
| Independent examiner | James O’Rourke | Blue Spire Limited, Cawley Priory, South Pallant, Chichester, PO19 1SY |
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Full name(s) Yana Davies Position (eg Secretary, On behalf of Ludlow Trust Chair, etc) Company Limited (Trustee) Date 26 March 2026
Optigene Foundation 1200710 Receipts and payments accounts
CC16a
For the period Period start date Period end date To from 29.09.2024 28.09.2025
Section A Receipts and payments
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 22,754 8,630 - - - - - - 31,384 - - - 31,384 238,182 - 11,692 75 - - - 249,949 - - - 249,949 - 218,565 199,549 19,529 513 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ 53,774 - - - - - - - 53,774 500,561 - 500,561 554,335 - 562 - - - - - 562 382,136 382,136 382,698 171,637 - 199,549 308,300 280,388 |
Total funds to the nearest £ 76,528 8,630 - - - - - - 85,158 500,561 - 500,561 585,719 238,182 562 11,692 75 - - - 250,511 382,136 - 382,136 632,647 - 46,928 - 327,829 280,901 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Income from investments | 22,754 | 14,609 | |||
| Interest received | 8,630 | 23,264 | |||
| - | - | ||||
| - | - | ||||
| - | - | ||||
| - | - | ||||
| - | - | ||||
| - | - | ||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
31,384 | 37,873 | |||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
|||||
| Sale of investments | - | 7,612 | |||
| - | - | ||||
| Sub total | - | 7,612 | |||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
|||||
| 45,485 | |||||
| Grants awarded | 238,182 | 127,500 | |||
| Investment manager fees (Including VAT) | - | 519 | |||
| Trust Administration fees (including VAT) | 11,692 | 11,876 | |||
| Cash management fees | 75 | 260 | |||
| - | - | ||||
| - | - | ||||
| - | - | ||||
| **Sub total ** | 249,949 | 140,155 | |||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
|||||
| Investmentpurchases | - | - | |||
| - | |||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | |||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
|||||
| 140,155 | |||||
| - 218,565 | - | 171,637 | - 46,928 | - 94,670 | |
| 199,549 | - 199,549 | - | - | ||
| 19,529 | 308,300 | 327,829 | 422,499 | ||
| 513 | - | 280,388 | 280,901 | 327,829 |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
26/03/2026
1
| 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 | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Categories B1 Cash funds B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets |
Capital account Income account Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Money Manager Details Details Investment portfolio Details Details |
Unrestricted funds to nearest £ - 513 - 513 OK Unrestricted funds to nearest £ - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Endowment Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which liability relates |
Restricted funds to nearest £ - - - - OK Restricted funds to nearest £ - - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Amount due (optional) - - - - |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
| 280,388 | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| 280,388 | ||||
| OK | ||||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
||||
| 385,093 | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| Current value (optional) |
||||
| 1,196,838 | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| Current value (optional) |
||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| When due (optional) |
||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - |
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees
Signature
Date of Print Name approval Yana Davies on behalf of Ludlow Trust 26 March 2026 Company Limited (Trustee)
CCXX R2 accounts (SS)
26/03/2026
2
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Optigene Foundation
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charity for the year ended 28 September 2025
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the Act’).
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 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.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
James O’Rourke FCA Blue Spire Limited Cawley Priory South Pallant Chichester West Sussex PO19 1SY
Date
27 March 2026