
## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** 

## **From  31/03/2023                To   31/03/2024** 

## **Charity name: Cure DHDDS** 

## **Charity registration number: 1202643** 

## **Objectives and Activities** 

||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the purposes of<br>the charity as set out in its<br>governing document|Para 1.17|The objects of the CIO are to relieve the needs<br>of those affected by DHDDS Disease to support<br>families affected by DHDDS mutations and<br>drive research into them|
|Summary of the main<br>activities in relation to those<br>purposes for the public<br>benefit, in particular, the<br>activities, projects or<br>services identified in the<br>accounts.|Para 1.17 and<br>1.19|**Families Support/Information Services**<br>The charity provides a support group for<br>individuals and families affected by the<br>condition. We aim to provide the latest<br>information on the condition to families and<br>health professionals via our website, e-news<br>and social media.<br>**Educational Activities**<br>We continue to work on raising both public<br>awareness and education amongst key<br>medical professionals throughout the world<br>so they can relate to the signs, symptoms<br>and medical diagnosis of a DHDDS gene<br>mutation.<br>Speaking at and/or hosting exhibition<br>stands (in-person or virtually) at medical<br>and scientific conferences provides<br>opportunities to fulfil our aims and<br>objectives whilst developing strategic<br>partnerships with research facilities,<br>medical and pharmaceutical institutions,<br>and like- minded charitable bodies.<br>**Research**<br>The charity has raised funds to pay for<br>research to be undertaken by Perlara, Sainte<br>Justine Hospital, UCL and new research with<br>Cardiff and Aston University’s is agreed with<br>the intention of funding the research in<br>2024/25..|
|Statement confirming<br>whether the trustees have|Para 1.18|The Trustees consider the charity’s activities|





had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit 

are wholly in the public interest and designed to benefit all those who suffer from DHDDS, their families and medical professionals dealing with this debilitating condition, in line with the Charity’s Commission guidance on ‘public benefit’. 

## **Achievements and Performance** 

||SORP reference||
|---|---|---|
|Summary of the main<br>achievements of the charity,<br>identifying the difference the<br>charity’s work has made to<br>the circumstances of its<br>beneficiaries and any wider<br>benefits to society as a<br>whole.|Para 1.20|In the first year since the charity was formed<br>several aims were achieved:<br>Funding/Fundraising<br>We have been overwhelmed by the<br>generosity that we have received from<br>donors in the first year.<br>Notable member fundraising events<br>included the 50km walk from Windsor to<br>Mortlake, Will Gore’s Royal Park run, London<br>Scottish bucket shake, Zoe Dyer’s lunch in<br>Marbella, Susie Braam’s coffee morning plus<br>several independent fundraisers across the<br>globe.<br>**Research**<br>Perlara, San Francisco – We funded a drug<br>repurposing screen undertaken by Perlara. The<br>Z prime experiment was successfully<br>completed, and we have drug hits due to be<br>tested in brain organoids at Mount Sinai<br>Hospital.<br>Sainte Justine Hospital, Montreal – We funded<br>Mouse model research with Alexey Pchejetski.<br>University College London (UCL) – We funded<br>preliminary research into an RNA therapy and<br>subsequently Dr Raj Karda and Dr Ozge Cetin<br>have applied for a grant to undertake AI-Based<br>Preclinical Studies UtilizingAAV9-Mediated|





DHDDS-Specific Gene Therapy for Ultra-Rare DHHDS Disease. Cardiff University - Prof. Emyr Lloyd Evans and Dr Hannah Best – we have agreed to fund a 19 month research program focused on small molecule testing and NPC2 protein work. At a cost of £55,000 Conferences/Events attended + speaker opportunities: We have hosted two incredibly successful Cure DHDDS conferences in conjunction with Costello Medical. The first of which has been nominated for The Communique Awards 2024. There were 30 attendees at the first Conference in September 2023 and then 18 at the second smaller roundtable meeting held in April 2024. Mel has presented at a number of events to raise the awareness of Cure DHDDS and the research we are undertaking, including: Beacon CAM Rare Festival of Genomics Orphan Drugs Congress 2024 Europe UPNAT symposium Genomics England Research Summit Cure DHDDS has set up a patient registry with Cords at Sanford We have also worked closely with Cure DHDDS USA on current and future research projects in the US including the development of Brain Organoids at Mount Sinai Hospital and novel IPSC cell line experiments at The Ready Centre UCSF. Cure DHDDS benefits from services provided by Beacon for rare diseases, CamRARE including mentoring, training, and networking opportunities. 



## **Financial Review** 

|Review of the<br>charity’s<br>financial<br>position at the<br>end of the<br>period|Para<br>1.21|The charity is in a very fortunate position at the end of the first<br>financial year as a result of the generosity of many individuals and<br>companies.<br>To the year end (31stMarch 2023) the charity had receipts of<br>£236,221.<br>We have made three grants thus far as detailed under research, with<br>significant future commitments to Cardiff, Dr Felix Chan and Sainte<br>Justine as detailed below:<br>-<br>5,000<br>10,000<br>15,000<br>20,000<br>25,000<br>30,000<br>35,000<br>Grants and Costs 23/24<br>£0.00<br>£10,000.00<br>£20,000.00<br>£30,000.00<br>£40,000.00<br>£50,000.00<br>£60,000.00<br>Sainte Justine<br>Cardiff University<br>Felix Chan's Studies<br>2024/25 Research Grants|
|---|---|---|
|Statement<br>explaining the<br>policy for<br>holding<br>reserves<br>stating why<br>they are held|Para<br>1.22|The purpose of the reserves is:<br> To fund working capital and time lags in the receipt of<br>promised funds<br> To fund unexpected expenditure, e.g., when projects<br>overrun, or unplanned events occur<br> Manage economic or regulatory changes which may<br>have unforeseen financial consequences<br>We assess the level of general reserve needed by looking forward<br>and considering the risks to our funding balanced against our<br>expenditure commitments. To ensure we can continue to operate<br>in accordance with our plans, we would look to hold a general<br>reserve in the range £10,000 - £12,000 to cover unfunded<br>committed costs for the next 6 months.|





||||
|---|---|---|
|Amount of<br>reserves held|Para<br>1.22|Our reserves as of 31 March 2024 were £159,738|
|Reasons for<br>holding zero<br>reserves|Para<br>1.22||
|Details of fund<br>materially in<br>deficit|Para<br>1.24||
|Explanation of<br>any<br>uncertainties<br>about the<br>charity<br>continuing as a<br>going concern|Para<br>1.23||



**Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
Receipts through 2023/24<br>The charity’s<br>principal sources  Para 1.47<br>of funds (including  £200,000.00<br>any fundraising)   £150,000.00<br>£100,000.00<br>£50,000.00<br>£0.00<br>Corporate Individual Bank Interest<br>Donations Donations<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>




## **Structure, Governance and Management** 

|Description of charity’s<br>trusts:|||
|---|---|---|
|Type of governing document<br>(trust deed, royal charter)|<br>Para 1.25|CIO association constitution|
|How is the charity<br>constituted?<br>(e.g unincorporated<br>association, CIO)|Para 1.25|CIO association constitution (formed 06 April<br>2023)|
|Trustee selection methods<br>including details of any<br>constitutional provisions e.g.<br>election to post or name of<br>any person or body entitled<br>to appoint one or more<br>trustees|Para 1.25|By appointment of registered members at<br>general meetings and by Trustees|



## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: 

|Policies and procedures<br>adopted for the induction<br>and training of trustees|Para 1.51|New trustees are asked to abide by a<br>Code of Conduct and are issued with<br>Essential Information for Trustees from<br>the Charities Commission, sign a Trustee<br>Declaration and complete a Fit and<br>Proper persons form.|
|---|---|---|
|The charity’s organisational<br>structure and any wider<br>network with which the<br>charity works|Para 1.51|Cure DHDDS is run on a voluntary basis.<br>Trustees consult on all significant matters<br>of policy formulation, family support and<br>methods of communication about Cure<br>DHDDS information services to medical<br>professionals.<br>The Scientific Advisory Board remains in<br>place with 10 leading scientific advisors<br>helping us understand the research and<br>determine the most relevant use of<br>funding.<br>The charity operates the following<br>policies: child protection, data privacy,<br>risk management and volunteer<br>management, published on our website.|
|Relationship with any<br>related parties|Para 1.51|**The charity is a member of:**<br>Cure DHDDS and NUS 1<br>Community<br>Genetic Alliance UK (GAUK)<br>Rare X<br>UK Rare Epilepsies Together<br>network (UKRET)<br>CDG Global Alliance<br>CDG UK<br>• The Charity works closely with Cure<br>DHDDS USA|





Other 

## **Reference and Administrative details** 

|Charity name|Cure DHDDS|
|---|---|
|Other name the charity uses||
|Registered charitynumber|**1202643**|
|Charity’s principal address|6 Park Avenue<br>London<br>SW14 8AT|
|||





## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** 

|1<br>2<br>3<br>4<br>5<br>6<br>7<br>8<br>9<br>10<br>11<br>12<br>13<br>14<br>15<br>16<br>17<br>18<br>19<br>20|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole**<br>**year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled**<br>**to appoint trustee(if any)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Melanie Dixon||||
||Charles Dixon||||
||Victoria Allan||||
||PennyBrogan||||
||Louise Townley||||
||Katie McCombe||||
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## – Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved 

**Director name** 

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 

Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets 

## **Additional information (optional)** 

## **Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)** 

|**Type of**|**Name**|**Address**|
|---|---|---|
|**adviser**|||



**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** 

The Cure DHDDS Trustees would like to thank all their donors and volunteers for their support throughout the year. 

Special mention should go to our DHDDS fundraising heroes during the period: 

Freddie Tidbury 

Sophie Clegg 

Will Gore 

Zoe Dyer 

Susie Braam 



## **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) Position (eg Secretary, Chair, etc) Date** 



||**Charity Name**<br> <br>**Cure DHDDS**<br>|**Charity Name**<br> <br>**Cure DHDDS**<br>|**Charity Name**<br> <br>**Cure DHDDS**<br>|**No (if any)**<br>**1202643**|**CC16a**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||**For the period**<br>**from**|Period start date<br>4/1/2023|**To**|Period end date<br>3/31/2024||
|||||||
|**Section A Receipts and payments**||||||
|**A1 Receipts**<br>Donations & Fundraisingactivties<br>**235,972**<br>Bank Interest<br>**249**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**236,221**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**_Sub total_                              -**<br>**_Total receipts_                236,221**<br>**A3 Payments**<br>Bank fees<br>**50**<br>Sainte Justine<br>**28,620**<br>PERLARA<br>**30,570**<br>FX Charges<br>**175**<br>UCL<br>**16,000**<br>Office,Subscriptions and Events<br>**1,568**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**_Sub total_                     76,983**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**_Sub total_                               -**<br>**_Total payments_                 76,983**<br>**_Net of receipts/(payments)_                159,238**<br>**A5 Transfers between funds**<br>**-**<br>**A6 Cash funds last year end**<br>**-**<br>**_Cash funds this year end_                159,238**<br>**Unrestricted**<br>**funds**<br>**to the nearest      £**<br>**_Sub total_**_(Gross income for AR)_<br>**A2 Asset and investment sales,**<br>**(see table).**<br>**A4 Asset and investment**<br>**purchases, (see table)**||**to the nearest £**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**Restricted**<br>**funds**|**to the nearest £**<br>**Endowment**<br>**funds**|**Total funds**<br>**to the nearest £**<br>**235,972**<br>**249**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**236,221**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**236,221**<br>**50**<br>**28,620**<br>**30,570**<br>**175**<br>**16,000**<br>**1,568**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**76,983**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**76,983**<br>**159,238**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**159,238**|**Last year**<br>**to the nearest £**|
||||**-**|**235,972**|**-**|
||||**-**|**249**|**-**|
||||**-**|**-**|**-**|
||||**-**|**-**|**-**|
||||**-**|**-**|**-**|
||||**-**|**-**|**-**|
||||**-**|**-**|**-**|
||||**-**|**-**|**-**|
||||**-**|**236,221**|**-**|
|||||||
||||**-**|**-**||
||||**-**|**-**|**-**|
||||**-**|**-**|**-**|
|||||||
||||**-**|**236,221**|**-**|
|||||||
||||**-**|**50**|**-**|
||||**-**|**28,620**|**-**|
||||**-**|**30,570**|**-**|
||||**-**|**175**|**-**|
||||**-**|**16,000**|**-**|
||||**-**|**1,568**|**-**|
||||**-**|**-**|**-**|
||||**-**|**-**|**-**|
||||**-**|**-**|**-**|
||||**-**|**76,983**|**-**|
|||||||
||||**-**|**-**||
||||**-**|**-**||
||||**-**|**-**|**-**|
|||||||
||||**-**|**76,983**|**-**|
|||||||
|||**-**|**-**|**159,238**|**-**|
|||**-**|**-**|**-**|**-**|
|||**-**|**-**|**-**|**-**|
|||**-**|**-**|**159,238**|**-**|





|**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**<br>**B1 Cash funds**<br>**B2 Other monetary assets**<br>**B3 Investment assets**<br>**B5 Liabilities**<br>**B4 Assets retained for the**<br>**charity’s own use**|**Details**<br>CAF account<br>**Details**<br>**Details**<br>**Details**<br>**Details**<br>**_Total cash funds_**<br>(agree balances with receipts and payments<br>account(s))|**to nearest £**<br>**159,738**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**159,738**<br>Agreement Error<br>**to nearest £**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**Unrestricted**<br>**funds**<br>**Unrestricted**<br>**funds**<br>**Fund to which**<br>**asset belongs**<br>**Fund to which**<br>**asset belongs**<br>**Fund to which**<br>**liability relates**|**to nearest £**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>OK<br>**to nearest £**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**Cost (optional)**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**Cost (optional)**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**Restricted**<br>**funds**<br>**Restricted**<br>**funds**<br>**Amount due**<br>**(optional)**|**to nearest £**<br>**Endowment**<br>**funds**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||OK|
|||||**to nearest £**<br>**Endowment**<br>**funds**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**Current value**<br>**(optional)**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**Current value**<br>**(optional)**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**-**|
|||||**When due**<br>**(optional)**|
||||**-**||
||||**-**||
||||**-**||
||||**-**||
||||**-**||



Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees 

Signature 

Print Name 

Date of approval 




## **Independent examiner's report on the accounts** 

**Section A Independent Examiner’s Report Report to the trustees** Charity Name CURE DHDDS **On accounts for the year Charity no** 31 March 2024 **ended (if any)** 1202643 **Set out on pages** (remember  to include the page numbers of additional sheets) I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended **DD / MM / YYYY** 31 03 2024 . **Responsibilities and** As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the **basis of report** accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”). 

I report in respect of my examination of  the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 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** [The charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to **examiner's statement** undertake the examination by being a qualified member of [insert name of applicable listed body]]. _Delete_ [ ] _if not applicable._ 

I have completed my examination.  I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination (other than that disclosed below *) which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect: 

- the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or 

- the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or 

- the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. 

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. 

* _Please delete the words in the brackets if they do not apply._ 

|**Signed:**<br>**Name:**<br>**Relevant professional**<br>**qualification(s) or body**|**Date:**||
|---|---|---|
|||23 August 2024|
||||
||Georgia Cragg||
||||
||ICAEW||



**Oct 2018** 

1 

**IER** 



## **(if any):** 

**Address:** Loughrigg, Sunnyside Close, Lancaster, LA1 5NH 

## **Section B                           Disclosure** 

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners). 

**Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose** . 

**Oct 2018** 

2 

**IER** 

