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2024-03-31-accounts

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1201433

Report of the Trustees

and Unaudited Financial Statements

for the Period Ended 31 March 2024 for Dorset ME Support Group

Dorset ME Support Group

Contents of the Financial Statements for the Period Ended 31 March 2024

Page
Report of the Trustees 3 to 6
Independent Examiner's Report 7
Receipts and Payments Account 8
Statement of Assets and Liabilities 8
Notes to the Financial Statements 9 to 1 0

Dorset ME Support Group

Report of the Trustees for the Period Ended 31 March 2024

INTRODUCTION

The Trustees present their Report with the financial statements of the Charity for the Period ended 31 March 2024. In accordance with section 133 of the Charities Act 2011 receipts and payments accounts have been prepared.

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

The charitable aim of Dorset ME Support Group is to support those suffering from the illness variously known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.). Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) or Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome (PVFS). Educate the general public through the promotion and dissemination of knowledge about M.E./CFS/PVFS. Support research into the cause and cure of M.E./CFS/PVFS and publish such research.

Activities Employed to Achieve the Charity’s Objectives

Charity Review

Throughout 2022 the Trustees conducted a review of the charity with the expert guidance of Community Action Network (CAN) – a charitable organisation that specialises in supporting and informing local charities. This exercise included examination of the structure, organisation, Constitution, policies and procedures of the charity and covered all aspects including costs, procedures and legal status of the charity.

Following the 2022 review (and guidance from CAN), the Trustees agreed to take the necessary steps to change the status of DMESG from its existing position as an ‘unincorporated institution’ to the more appropriate legal entity of a ‘Charitable Incorporated Organisation’ (CIO). Becoming a CIO helps protect the liability of the DMESG trustees and makes it easier for the charity to enter contracts of employment and for services in order to support the day to day working of DMESG for the benefit of our members. A special meeting was held in 2023 for all members to vote and approve this change with opportunities for members to vote electronically or by proxy and the proposal was approved.

There has been much work behind the scenes this year to move the charity to a CIO and this was completed on 15[th] December 2023. The only change members might notice will be the charity number as we effectively became a new charity as far as the Charities Commission is concerned but the charity will continue and operate just as before.

Staffing and Group Administration

The charity employs 2 members of staff – a part-time Group Administrator and Membership Secretary and a full-time SelfCare Coordinator.

The Website

The website is updated periodically and provides useful information about the Group, links to other organisations and sources of useful information. Information regarding relevant TV or radio programmes is also added to the website whenever possible but, as a Group, we recognised that the website (and social media in general) was an area for improvement (see future plans).

Links with the NHS

Our group continues to maintain a link with Dorset Healthcare NHS clinic at Wareham. The dedicated, adult CFS/ME service at the NHS Wareham Hospital provides a much-needed service.

Our Self Care Co-ordinator maintains a link with the Occupational Therapists to enable contact with new sufferers and members of the Group.

Services to Members

Page 3

Dorset ME Support Group

Report of the Trustees

for the Period Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)

Services to Members (continued)

The Charity provides Benefits information and signposting via our website and through our staff and we have a quantity of useful reference material regarding benefits that can be lent to Members.

ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE

Charitable Activities

Organisational Activities

FUTURE ACTIVITIES AND PLANS

Following on from the charity review completed early 2023, the Charity will be addressing the following:

PUBLIC BENEFIT

The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in Section 17(5) of the 2011 Charities Act to have due regard to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing the Charity’s aim and objectives.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The CIO was registered with the Charity Commission on 21 December 2022 as a CIO - ASSOCIATION.

The Trustees who were previously Trustees of The Dorset ME Support Group (Charity Number - 1087393) were all appointed on the date of incorporation.

Donations were received in the CIO from the unincorporated charity in between December 2023 and April 2024 which represented the closing assets of the unincorporated charity. The unincorporated charity closed on 19 April 2024 and was recorded on the register of mergers with the Charity Commission on that date.

Recruitment and appointment of new Trustees

The recruitment of Trustees is the responsibility of Board Members. Before being formerly proposed to the Board, potential Trustees are interviewed and briefed by the Chairman and provided information regarding the roles and responsibilities of a Charity Trustee by the Group Administrator.

Meetings

The Trustees are scheduled to meet in person 4 times in the year with action items and queries and questions dealt with as they occur electronically or by telephone.

Page 4

Dorset ME Support Group

Report of the Trustees

for the Period Ended 31 March 2024 (continued)

Staff

Our Group Administrator and Membership Secretary, Carol Dadds, continues to keep the Group running efficiently dealing with all membership matters, queries, mailouts and newsletters. She is the first point of contact for most of our Members and any nonMembers. She is a vital and highly valued link between staff, Trustees and Members and she always provides a calm, helpful and professional service.

Our Self-Care Coordinator, Wendy Rideout, funded by the NHS, continues to deliver a much-appreciated service to our Members and delivers support to those most in need. Wendy delivers support via telephone and email as well as in person.

Risk Management

The Trustees actively review the major risks which the Charity faces on a regular basis and believe that maintaining reserves at current levels, combined with an annual review of the controls over key financial systems, will provide enough resources in the event of adverse conditions. The Trustees have also examined other operational and business risks faced by the Charity and confirm that they have established systems to mitigate any risks.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Financial position

The financial position of the Charity at the balance sheet date was secure. The assets of the Charity comprise a Lloyds Bank Treasurers Account and cash floats.

Reserves policy

Trustees' policy is to maintain throughout the year unrestricted funds of approx. £30,000 in the bank account. This equates to approximately 12 months expenditure to cover all costs should grant funding not be received.

Page 5

Dorset ME Support Group

Report of the Trustees for the Period Ended 31 March 2024

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS Registered Charity number 1201433

Principal address

25 MARINERS WAY CHICKERELL WEYMOUTH DT3 4LS

Trustees

PJ Bennett , Chairman APPOINTED 21 December 2022 LM Melhuish APPOINTED 21 December 2022 AL Caygill APPOINTED 21 December 2022 RA Gale APPOINTED 21 December 2022 PA Jones APPOINTED 21 December 2022 AR Bennett APPOINTED 21 December 2022 HM Smith APPOINTED 21 December 2022

Independent Examiner

JA Richardson FCA FCCA DCHA 32 Award Road Wimborne BH21 7NT

Approved by order of the board of trustees on …… 25[th] January 2025 …… and signed on its behalf by:

… …………………………………….. AL Caygill (Chair of Trustees)

Page 6

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of

Dorset ME Support Group

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of Dorset ME Support Group (the Charity) for the period ended 31 March 2024.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees of the Charity 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 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:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

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.

JA Richardson FCA FCCA DChA 32 Award Road Wimborne BH21 7NT

Date: …26[t h] January 2025…………………………………

Page 7

Dorset ME Support Group

Receipts and Payments Account for the Period Ended 31 March 2024

Receipts
Subscriptions
Donations
Fundraising
Other Income
Total Receipts
Payments
Salaries
Admin Costs
Travelling
Outings etc.
Other Expenditure
Total Payments
Net of Receipts and Payments
Transfers between Funds
Total Movement in Cash Funds		 31 March 2024
Unrestricted
Funds
£
480
36,647
187
-
37,314
2,130
-
-
-
608
2,738
34,576
-
34,576		 31 March 2024
Restricted
Funds
£
-
34,000
-
-
34,000
5,713
681
484
485
2
7,365
26,635
26,635		 31 March 2024
Total Funds
£
480
70,647
187
-
71,314
7,843
681
484
485
610
10,103
61,211
61,211

Statement of Assets and Liabilities for the Period Ended 31 March 2024

Cash Funds
Cash
Bank
Current Liabilities
Total Funds		 31 March 2024
Unrestricted
Funds
-
35,438
(862)
34,576		 31 March 2024
31 March 2024
Restricted
Funds
Total Funds
-
-
26,635
62,073
-
(862)
26,635
61,211

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on ...25[th] January 2025. and were signed on its behalf by:

………………………………………………..

AL Caygill (Chair of Trustees)

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 8

Dorset ME Support Group

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Period Ended 31 March 2024

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charity have been prepared as receipts and payments accounts under section 133 of the Charities Act 2011.

Donations

Donations are included within the financial statements as soon as the income is received

Grants receivable

Grants are accounted for on a cash basis.

Direct charitable expenditure

Direct charitable expenditure includes all expenditure directly related to aims of the Charity. Expenditure is accounted for when paid.

Management and administration of the Charity

Management and administration costs represent expenditure incurred in the management and administration of the Charity's assets, organisational administration and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.

Taxation

The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting

The charity maintains the following types of fund:

Unrestricted funds

General unrestricted funds represent funds which are expendable at the discretion of the Trustees in the furtherance of the objects of the Charity.

Restricted funds

Restricted for specific purpose by the donor or grant funder. The only restricted fund held is in respect of the grant funding for the NHS Self Care Co-ordinator.

Cash at Bank and in hand

Cash at bank includes the Lloyds Bank Account.

2. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the period ended 31 March 2024.

Trustees' expenses

Trustees received reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses during the Period ended 31 March 2024 totalling £135.

Page 9

Dorset ME Support Group

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Period Ended 31 March 2024

3. STAFF COSTS

Wages and salaries 2023
£
7,842
7,842

The wages for the two staff members includes payments for the final three months of the period as previously wages were paid through The Dorset ME Support Group (Charity Number – 1087393).

The average monthly number of employees during the period was as follows:

Head Count 2023
2

No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.

4.

MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

OVEMENT IN FUNDS
At Net movement Transfers At
1.1.23 in funds between funds 31.03.24
£ £ £ £
Unrestricted fund - 34,576 - 34,576
Restricted fund - 26,635 - 26,635
TOTAL FUNDS 61,211 61,211

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Unrestricted fund
Restricted fund
TOTAL FUNDS		 Incoming
resources
£
37,314
34,000
71,314		 Resources
expended
£
2,738
7,365
10,103		 Movement in
funds
£
34,576
26,634
61,211

Restricted fund

The NHS grant funds the salary of the Self Care Co-ordinator delivering support to members in person and via telephone and email.

5. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

There were no related party transactions for the period ended 31 March 2024.

Page 10