cele
Annual Report and Accounts
Year ended 31 December 2024
www.usherkidsuk.org
Charity Registration Number: 1200796
Contents
Usher Kids UK annual report and accounts for financial period 01 January to 31 December 2024
| Trustee Report | 2 |
|---|---|
| Objectives and Activities | 2 |
| Highlights of 2024 | 4 |
| Governance | 7 |
| Administrative Details | 8 |
| Financial Review | 9 |
| Independent Examiner’s | 11 |
| Report | |
| Statement of Financial | |
| 12 | |
| Activities | |
| Statement of Assets and | |
| 13 | |
| Liabilities | |
| Notes to the Accounts | 14 |
Usher Kids UK
1
Contents
Welcome
This annual review celebrates the progress we've made in 2024, empowering children, young people and families living with Usher syndrome, while ensuring effective use of our resources.
Our heartfelt gratitude goes to our supporters and partners, whose generosity and collaboration have been integral to our successes. Your kindness truly makes a difference to our community. Thank you.
Vision:
Our vision is a world where every child and young person with Usher syndrome can thrive.
Mission:
Our mission is to empower children, young people and their families living with Usher syndrome in the UK, through the provision of support, information, connections and advocacy.
Charity’s objects:
The object of the charity - as set out in our constitution - is to relieve the needs of children and young people (aged 0- 25yrs) and their families living with Usher syndrome in the UK, through the provision of support, information, connections and advocacy.
Usher Kids UK
Objectives and Activities
2
Activities
Support:
Usher Kids UK is dedicated to supporting families living with Usher syndrome from the moment of diagnosis onwards. “Wherever you are in your journey, we are here with support for you and your family.”
Information:
We create trusted resources through collaboration with experts, tailored for our community of families and professionals.
Connections:
We create opportunities for our community to share experiences, and meet with others who understand.
Advocacy:
We harness insight from our community to amplify their voice, champion their priorities and improve outcomes.
Usher Kids UK
Objectives and Activities
3
Highlights of 2024
USHthis residential summer camp
This year, we're proud to have delivered our third annual residential camp, tailored for individuals aged 11 to 25 living with Usher syndrome. 25 young people connected with peers and role models, and developed skills and strategies that will equip them for their future journeys.
A 25 year old participant told us afterwards “I feel like I have found my
community of people who understand, and I feel like I have something to offer the next generation with Usher syndrome.”
We welcomed professionals from the sector as volunteers, contributing to the camp's success. They returned to their workplaces enriched with insight into the lived experiences of young people to enhance their services and share across their professional networks.
Calendar of events
We successfully hosted two in-person events, engaging 250 participants. Our Spring Social offered a safe and supportive environment for fun and meaningful connections, while our Autumn Information Day delivered a wealth of valuable information for families and professionals alike.
"[These events] give us space as a family to belong, with the wider USH family… not in a
deaf world explaining sight loss, [or] a sight loss world explaining deafness, or a dual sensory loss world explaining Usher syndrome… we can just be…" Parent attendee
Highlights of 2024
Usher Kids UK
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Highlights of 2024
In addition, we held monthly virtual peer support sessions for parents, fostering emotional support, practical assistance, and the opportunity to exchange knowledge between up to 60 parent carers.
Information publishing
In 2024, we've launched the UK’s only Usherspecific educational toolkit, with strategies to address a wide range of considerations, from environmental adjustments, to skills which can be developed in anticipation of changes to vision. These resources provide practical advice for professionals working alongside families, and also can be used directly by the families to help them make informed choices and advocate on behalf of their child.
Developing the sector
We’ve had the privilege of training over 800 professionals from health, education, and disability sectors in 2024, including the new intake of Genetic Counsellors and Multi-
Sensory Impairment teachers. We've shared insights into the impact of Usher syndrome on children, young people, and their families, and how services can better address their
needs, in order to equip our community with tools and strategies to thrive.
“The Usher Kids UK presentation really got me thinking about the changes I can make to my practice as an Orthoptist, to address some of the issues you highlighted.” Professional attending training event
Highlights of 2024
Usher Kids UK
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Highlights of 2024
Developing our charity
2024 has marked a major milestone in our charity's journey. Thanks to secured funds, we have successfully transitioned from a volunteer-only organisation, to a charity with two dedicated, paid staff roles. This marks a step-change in our capacity to address demand for our services, and secure a sustainable and robust model to offer the tailored support, information, connections and advocacy which this community needs.
Highlights of 2024
Usher Kids UK
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Governance
Structure
Usher Kids UK is registered charity number 1200796, governed by the Charities Act 2006. The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered on 24 October 2022 (Foundation model). Its only voting members are its Trustees.
Usher Kids UK’s governance is described in its constitution. The policy and operating decisions of the charity lie with its Trustees, who are listed on page 7. Our current Trustees have been in role since Usher Kids UK was incorporated in October 2022.
New trustees are appointed by the serving trustees, considering the skills required by the board.
Public Benefit
The Trustees of the charity confirm they have complied with the duty in Section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity
Commission in determining the range of activities undertaken by the charity. The Trustees confirm that in planning the activities of the charity, that such activity is undertaken in the best interest of beneficiary groups and not at the detriment or exclusion of any beneficiaries.
Risk Management
The Trustees are aware of their duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.
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Usher Kids UK
Governance
Administrative Details
Name: Usher Kids UK
Registered Charity Number: 1200796
Registered Office:
16 Heathfield
Avenue Stockport
Cheshire SK4 4QJ
Trustees
Chloe Joyner (Chair)
Jon Holloway (Treasurer)
Clare Watson
Kathryn Atkinson
Laura Ross
Mariya Moosajee (resigned at end of
term, November 2024)
Independent Examiner:
Focal Business Group
Limited 4a Church Street
Market
Harborough
Leicestershire
LE16 7AA
Administrative Details
8
Usher Kids UK
Financial Review
The Trustees of Usher Kids UK present the financial statements of Usher Kids UK (the Charity) for the year ended 31 December 2024. The Trustees confirm the financial statements of the Charity comply with the current statutory requirements and the requirements of the Charity's governing document.
The Trustees confirm that the Charity has no deficit and no debts and has no uncertainty about the Charity continuing as a going concern.
Accounting Period
Reserves
At 31 December 2024, total assets stood at £71,242, of this, restricted funds total £43,916, leaving unrestricted reserves at £27,026.
Having reviewed our unrestricted reserves, the Trustees have agreed a designated fund of £20,000 to support its activities and ensure longterm stability. These designated funds meet our employer and other committed financial obligations for 3-4 months of staffing and operational costs.
In addition, £7,026 of ‘free reserves’ are available to be used at the discretion of the Board of Trustees, providing flexibility to respond to unexpected needs or opportunities. They also allow for our core event commitments to our families to be fulfilled for the full year ahead, should there be a shortfall in funding.
The reserves approach is documented in our Reserves Policy which is reviewed annually.
Trustees’ Responsibilities
The Trustees are required 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 surplus or deficit of the Charity for that
Usher Kids UK
Financial Review
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Financial Review
period. In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to:
-
Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently.
-
Make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent.
-
State whether the applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.
-
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. 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.
The Charity Trustees comply with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 with regard to the keeping of accounting records, to the preparation and scrutiny of statements of account, and to the preparation of annual reports and returns.
The annual report and financial statements were approved by the Trustees on 4th June 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:
Jonathan Holloway Treasurer
Chloe Joyner Chair of Trustees
Usher Kids UK
Financial Review
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF USHER KIDS UK
I report on the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2024 set out on pages 9 and 10.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
Having satisfied myself that the charity is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination , it is my responsibility to:
-
examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
-
to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
-
to state whether particular matters have come to my attention
Basis of the independent examiners report
My examination was carried out in accordance with general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair' view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
relevant accounting records were not kept; or
-
the accounts do not accord with such records.
I 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.
Michael Osborne Focal Business Group Limited 4a Church Street, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, LE16 7AA
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USHER KIDS UK STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR 31 DECEMBER 2024
| Usher Kids UK |
Usher Kids UK |
Usher Kids UK |
1200796 | CC16a | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts andpayments accounts | |||||
| For the period from |
01/01/2024 | To | 31/12/2024 | ||
| Section A Receipts and payments | |||||
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
Total funds | Last year | |
| to the nearest £ |
to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | to the nearest £ | |
| A1 Receipts | |||||
| Donation Income | 11,266 | - | - | 11,266 | - |
| Grant Income | 5,952 | 51,970 | - | 57,922 | - |
| Other Income | 342 | - | - | 342 | - |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) | 17,560 | 51,970 | - | 69,530 | - |
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see **table). ** |
|||||
| - | - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| Sub total | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total receipts | 17,560 | 51,970 | - | 69,530 | - |
| A3 Payments | |||||
| Charitable Activities | 11,184 | 74,077 | - | 85,261 | - |
| FundraisingActivities | 216 | - | - | 216 | - |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| Sub total | 11,400 | 74,077 | - | 85,477 | - |
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
|||||
| - | - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | ||
| Sub total | - | - | - | - | - |
| Totalpayments | 11,400 | 74,077 | - | 85,477 | - |
| Net of receipts/(payments) | 6,160 | - 22,107 |
- | - 15,947 |
- |
| A5 Transfers between funds | - | - | - | - | - |
| A6 Cash funds lastyear end | 20,866 | 66,023 | - | 86,889 | - |
| Cash funds this year end | 27,026 | 43,916 | - | 70,942 | - |
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USHER KIDS UK
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2024
| 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 | 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 | Details | Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
|||
| to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | |||||
| B1 Cash funds | Natwest current account @ 31/12/2024 | 27,326 | 43,916 | - | |||
| - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | |||||
| Total cash funds | 27,326 | 43,916 | - | ||||
| (agree balances w ith receipts and payments account(s)) |
OK | ||||||
| OK | |||||||
| Unrestricted funds |
Restricted funds |
Endowment funds |
|||||
| Details | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | to nearest £ | ||||
| B2 Other monetary assets | - | - | - | ||||
| - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | |||||
| - | - | - | |||||
| Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost (optional) | Current value (optional) |
||||
| B3 Investment assets | - | - | |||||
| - | - | ||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| Details | Fund to which asset belongs |
Cost (optional) | Current value (optional) |
||||
| B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use |
- | - | |||||
| - | - | ||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| - | - | ||||||
| Details | Fund to which liability relates |
Amount due (optional) |
When due (optional) |
||||
| B5 Liabilities | Accountancy | Unrestricted | 300 | 30 April 2025 | |||
| - | |||||||
| - | |||||||
| - |
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Notes to the Accounts
for the Year Ended 31 December 2024
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Donated services and facilities
Where services are provided to the charity as a donation that would normally
be purchased from a supplier, this contribution is included in the financial statements at an estimate based on the value of the contribution to the charity.
2. TRUSTEES’ RENUMERATION AND BENEFITS
There were no trustees' renumeration or benefits paid for the year ended 31 December 2024.
3. ULTIMATE CONTROLLING PARTY
The Charity is under the joint control of the trustees.
4. TAXATION
The company is treated as a charity within the meaning of the Income tax
and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 and has been afforded exemptions from taxation under section 505 of that act.
5. STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
In accordance with the Charitable Incorporation Organisations (General) Regulations 2012, Part 10, Regulation 62, the Trustees provide the following
information by way of notes to the statements of assets and liabilities, that in the respect of the following requirements:
- a) Particulars of any guarantee given by the CIO, where any potential liability under the guarantee is outstanding at the date of statement, and
b) Particulars of any debt outstanding which is owned by the CIO and
which is secured by an express charge on any assets of the CIO.
That there are no such guarantees and no such debts outstanding at the date of this statement.
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Notes to the accounts
Usher Kids UK