Trustee Annual report Period April 2023-end April 2024 Charity – Granting Wishes Registration number – 1201959 ## Background Information Our charity was set up in memory of Lesley Hudd’s (founder) brother John, who sadly passed away at 16, and Tom Mathison’s (Trustee) young daughter Darcie who also tragically passed away at just 8 years old. Both children fought so hard and both were given some happiness when they had wishes granted. For John it was a visit from his beloved football team Sheffield Wednesday and for Darcie a video call from Little Mix (during covid). It was the smiles on their faces that set the seed for Granting Wishes. ## Our Trustees Lesley Hudd (Founder) Tom Mathison Sonja Hughes ## Our Aims To raise money through charity events and our charity shop to enable us to grant wishes to children with life limiting illnesses/injuries in South Yorkshire. ## Our charity shop. Our charity shop opened in April 2023. It is run and managed by Lesley Hudd and part time volunteers. Our volunteers work anything from 3 hours a week to 3 days a week. We are based in a small village and almost all customers are local to the area. We have very little passing trade. The area is mainly low income and almost all customers are regular. We are based in a prominent position on a bus route, however there aren’t many other shops that draw people to the area; a few other charity shops, a supermarket, cafe, nail bar. The post office closed recently which has effected our custom as people no longer pass by on route to the post office. We are open 6 days a week, from 9am until 4pm. We did trial Sundays but found that it wasn’t viable (after electricity/travel costs). Our shop receives donations from the public such as bric a brac, toys, books and puzzles, clothing, household items and small pieces of furniture. We are the only local charity shop that collects from people’s homes giving us a slight advantage for those who can’t drop off. Our rent is high for the area, however, we are currently under a 3 years lease so not yet in a position to negotiate or move elsewhere. As with all shops, we have quieter periods and then busier periods throughout the year. We attract customers by offering reasonable prices ensuring we are not only raising money for our charity but also helping the community. We have sale events, regularly change stock and have a page where we have around 800 local followers which is updated a few times a week. We also offer delivery to ensure maximum sales. Every so often we have a fill a bog day where customers can fill a huge sack with any clothes and shoes for just £10. This helps both our charity and the community. Our rag man collects every fortnight and we used to receive around £90 for our rags but regionally it has reduced massively and we now only receive around £20 for the same amount. The fill a nag is usually stock that was almost near rag date so this is more beneficial. We hold raffles at Easter and Christmas and ask for donations to ensure maximum profit for the charity. ## Advertising We advertise our charity with leaflets that are distributed to local shops and other community areas such as libraries, and we also have a webpage and a facebook page which is updated regularly. We also hand leaflets out at local events such as car boot sales. ## Wishes granted So far we have granted 5 wishes. Our wishes are up to £700 and have been granted after ensuring candidates meet the criteria on our charity statement. Mainly that that live in South Yorkshire, have a life limiting illness or injury and are aged under 18. We have given money towards a wet room. We have given money for a family to stay overnight at Legoland. We have granted a wish for a family day at the zoo. We have paid for a laptop for a little boy who was having a bone marrow transplant and needed to be in isolation ensuring he could remain in contact with his family. We have granted a wish for a huge lego bundle for a young boy who wanted to share it with his youth club. All of the above contacted our charity either by phone or email. The trustees discussed what was possible financially (after the families provided medical evidence). We granted the wish within 2 weeks for all of the above wishes. The families then provided receipts after booking the trip or we used Amazon to purchase goods. ## Other events We have also held charity events where we have sold tickets (usually around 60) to a local organised event. We have had a disco where we served pie and peas and a raffle during an evening. All profits went to granting wishes. We also held a race night where we put on a buffet and disco also. The events are not only enjoyable and raise money for the charity but they are also informative as we are able to update on our achievements and also spread the word. ## Future plans Continue to raise awareness of our charity throughout South Yorkshire through leaflets, website and social media. Continue boosting shop profit by changing stock regularly, vibrant displays, sales, offers and providing good friendly service. Continue to have 2 events a year – ticket events. Hold car boot sales where possible – also to advertise our charity with large banner at the event. Negotiate rent as soon as possible so that it is in line with other businesses who currently pay half of what we pay and are like for like using same property company. Continue to use local businesses to help us when holding raffles and promoting our charity – in return promoting theirs. Accounts for Granting Wishes April 2023 to April 2024 ## Outgoings Octopus energy (Electricity)– £640.33 General * - £2212.68 Wishes granted - £2000 Delivery costs (diesel)- £150 Rent - £9807.91 Cleaning materials – 796.45 Total Outgoings £15,607.37 *shop fittings, solicitors fees, shop signage, web page domain, window display, window signs/decoration, paint, wall designs, letter headed paper, leaflets, printed t-shirts, pricing equipment, items for raffle – tickets etc, decorations for events, carrier bags for shop. Money raised April 2023 - £2225.24 May 2023 – £1235.40 June 2023 - £1388.78 July 2023 – £895.70 August 2023 - £986.50 Sept 2023 - £1419.01 Oct 2023 - £894.04 Nov 2023 - £1473.16 Dec 2023 -£1149.36 Jan 2024 - £1105.88 Feb 2024 - £1065.42 March 2024 - £822.40 April 2024 - £1002.26 Income total - £15,663.61 minus outgoings - £15,607.37 held - £56.24