Registered Charity Number : 1203031 Companies House Number : 14221678
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
FOR
THE BATON OF HOPE UK (CHARITABLE COMPANY)
| CONTENTS CHARITY INFORMATION TRUSTEES' REPORT INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES BALANCE SHEET NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
PAGE NO. |
|---|---|
| 3 4 - 5 6 7 8 9 - 11 |
2
THE BATON OF HOPE UK
CHARITY INFORMATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
TRUSTEES:
Appointment Date Resignation Date
Name
Michael McCarthy 07-Jul-22 Andrea Louise Craig 07-Jul-22 01-Jan-26 Juthika Bhayani 01-Jan-24 01-Jan-26 Ben Wilson 01-Jan-24 01-Jan-26 Tanya Marwaha 27-Feb-24 01-Jan-26 Geoff McDonald 27-Feb-24 01-Jan-26 Charlotte Amelia Rush 27-Aug-24 01-Jan-26 Abbi Thomas 27-Aug-24 01-Jan-26 Victoria Musson 27-Aug-24 Andrea Balmer 01-Jan-26 Norson Boyd Harris 01-Jan-26 Jayne Walsham 01-Jan-26
CHARITY'S PRINCIPAL ADDRESS: The Baton of Hope The Circle 33 Rockingham Lane Sheffield S1 4FW REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER : 1203031 COMPANIES HOUSE NUMBER : 14221678 INDEPENDENT EXAMINER : Severn Accounting Shaw Mews 1 Shaw Street Worcester WR1 3QQ
3
THE BATON OF HOPE UK
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2025
The trustees, for the purposes of the Charity Act, present their annual report and independently reviewed Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] July 2025.
SUMMARY OF CHARITY OBJECTIVES
To promote and protect health for the public benefit by liaising and collaborating with charities and other organisations working in suicide prevention in order to (a) provide a forum to identify gaps in the range of charitable services available to those they serve; (b) provide advice, information and support to those working in this field; (c) representing the views of the forum to policy makers and funders; (d) promoting and supporting charities, initiatives and organisations working to prevent or raise awareness of suicide. To preserve and protect the mental health of those struggling with suicidal ideations in particular but not exclusively by funding, signposting and/or improving access to [a range of services]. To advance the education of the public into the causes, effects and prevention of suicide. To relieve the needs of persons at risk of suicide and their families.
OUR ACTIVITIES
The Baton of Hope UK seeks to help set the nation on course for a zero-suicide society through practical action and greater awareness of suicide prevention. It acts to eradicate stigma and normalise intelligent and informed conversation about suicide. It seeks to improve understanding, services and legislation as a forum to bring about change and hope. It is a catalyst for the above through initiatives such as UK-wide biennial tours and the Workplace Pledge which is a charter for best practise relating to suicide prevention in the workplace.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
The trustees have had due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit in determining that these activities are for the public good.
Tour25. Much of the year in question, following an inaugural and extraordinarily successful national tour in 2023, focussed on assessing the event and planning for the next. The board approved a biennial pattern with plans for a follow-up tour in Autumn 2025 which will be covered in next year’s report. It was agreed, given the level of public support and interest, to expand the reach of the tour and increase the number of locations from 12 in 2023 to 20 in 2025. This tour took place in September/October 2025 and will therefore be covered in next year’s report.
Workplace Pledge. This practical support for employers is central to our purpose. The suicide prevention training programme is wholly designed by the Baton of Hope charity and is delivered by professionally qualified and accredited individuals. TheWorkplace Pledge is backed by CPD and Royal Society for Public Health accreditation. It is delivered in partnership with Gravitas Medical Solutions recognised globally as experts in workplace psychological safety and wellbeing
The Workplace Pledge launch was received with enthusiasm and among the groups signing up for the courses were companies large and small including the Royal Mail, Alstom Transport and Westfield Health.
A trading subsidiary, Baton of Hope Enterprises Ltd., was established in January 2025 to handle financial activity covering the charity’s training programmes.
We started work on the development of a mental health app to accompany the Workplace Pledge
Development Programmes. Many additional suicide prevention awareness days and presentations were delivered by the Baton of Hope in schools, factories, offices, colleges and prisons.
Research began aimed at creating material suitable for a suicide prevention curriculum in schools. More detail will be presented in next year’s report.
Awareness and Fundraising. The charity held screenings of its documentary ‘Raising the Baton: A Manifesto for Hope’ covering our inaugural national tour of 2023. Other awareness/fundraising events included a Bollywood ball.
Collaboration. This is a core principle for us. Our activities are based largely around collaboration with other suicide prevention charities or CICs including OVOH (One Voice One Hope.)
The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International honoured the work of our chair and co-founder Mike McCarthy by making him a Paul Harris Fellow “in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world.”
4
THE BATON OF HOPE UK
REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JULY 2024 (Continued)
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
The board of trustees oversees the governance and management of the Baton of Hope UK and are responsible ensuring alignment with our mission and values. The principals of good governance are set out in a Policies and Procedures document shaped in part by independent legal and management specialists working pro bono. Regular conversations have taken place to shape effective and compliant strategies to deal with current and future initiatives. There is close collaboration with a core team of volunteers who provide practical support to further the plans and ambitions of the board thus strengthening our ties with UK communities.
TRUSTEE'S RESPONSIBILITIES
The trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements under applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
The law applicable to charities in England & Wales requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the CIO and of the incoming resources and application of resources of the CIO for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:
-
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently.
-
observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP 2015 (FRS 102).
-
make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent. state whether 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 operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the CIO and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, and the provisions of the constitution. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the CIO and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The Trustees are satisfied that they have complied with the above responsibilities
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Baton of Hope UK's main funding source to sustain its operations for the year ended 31st July 2024 was donations. Public donations and fundraising efforts following the Baton of Hope UK tour constituted a substantial portion of our funding, providing essential support for our initiatives. Going forward, the charity is diversifying its income to provide accredited suicide prevention training to further enhance its financial resources and ensure its long-term sustainability.
Transparent financial practices ensure the responsible allocation of funds to various projects, covering operational costs and facilitating the expansion of our charitable activities
The trustees propose to maintain the charity's reserves at a level which is at least equivalent to six months operational expenditure, and this is reviewed on a quarterly basis to ensure they are adequate to fulfil the charity's continuing obligations.
The charity has raised total funds to the amount of £181,498 in the period under review (2024: £153,619) of which £59,713 was spent (2024: £107,418) in the activities of the charity.
APPROVAL
This report was approved by the trustees on 20 May 2026
and signed on their behalf by: ……………………………….……………………..
5
REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT EXAMINER TO THE TRUSTEES OF
THE BATON OF HOPE UK
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31st July 2025, which are set out on pages 3-5 and 7-11
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 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 examiner's statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination 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.
----- Start of picture text -----
Severn Accounting
Shaw Mews
1 Shaw Street
Worcester
WR1 3QQ Date : 20/05/2026
----- End of picture text -----
6
THE BATON OF HOPE UK
Statement of Financial Activities ( incorporating an Income and Expenditure Account)
for the year ended 31st July 2025
| INCOME FROM: Notes Donations & legacies 2 Charitable activities 3 TOTAL INCOME EXPENDITURE ON: Raising funds Charitable Activities 4 TOTAL EXPENDITURE NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) before transfers Transfers between funds Net Incoming/(Outgoing) resources RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS Total funds bought forward Prior year adjustment TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD |
2025 2024 Unrestricted Restricted Total Total Funds Funds Funds Funds |
|---|---|
| 178,867 - 178,867 150,607 2,631 - 2,631 3,012 |
|
| 181,498 - 181,498 153,619 |
|
| 58,179 - 58,179 107,418 |
|
| 58,179 - 58,179 107,418 |
|
| 123,319 - 123,319 46,201 - |
|
| 123,319 - 123,319 46,201 |
|
| 44,549 - 44,549 (1,652) (2,600) - (2,600) 0 |
|
| 165,268 - 165,268 44,549 |
There are no recognised gains or losses other than those passing through the income and expenditure account.
7
THE BATON OF HOPE UK
Balance Sheet as at 31st July 2025
| Notes CURRENT ASSETS Cash at bank and in hand Stock Other debtors CREDITORS Amounts falling due within one year 6 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES CREDITORS Amounts falling due after more than one year NET ASSETS FUNDS Restricted funds 7 Unrestricted funds 7 TOTAL FUNDS |
At 31st March 2025 128,090 6,056 34,936 169,082 3,814 165,268 165,268 - 165,268 - 165,268 165,268 |
At 31st March 2024 40,302 4,522 - |
|---|---|---|
| 44,824 275 |
||
| 44,549 | ||
| 44,549 - |
||
| 44,549 | ||
| - 44,549 |
||
| 44,549 |
companies subject to the small companies regime.
The accounts were approved by the Trustees on 20 May 2026
and signed on their behalf by: …........................................................
The notes form part of the financial statements
8
THE BATON OF HOPE UK
Notes to the Financial statements for the year ended 31st July 2025
Note
1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Accounting Convention
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the requirements of the Statement of Recommended Practice, Accounting and Reporting by Charities (FRS 102)
Cashflow Statement
Exemption has been taken from preparing a cashflow statement on the grounds that the charity qualifies as a small charity.
Incoming Resources
All incoming resources are included on the Statement of Financial Activities when the charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. Voluntary donations and gifts are accounted for as received.
The charity receives help and support in the form of volunteer assistance in carrying out its objects. No entries are required to be included in the accounts for the financial value of such help.
Resources Expended
Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all the costs related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributable to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.
Taxation
The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities
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 the particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when the funds are raised for a particular restricted purpose.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.
9
THE BATON OF HOPE UK
Notes to the Financial statements
for the year ended 31st July 2025 (Continued)
| Note 2 INCOME FROM DONATIONS & LEGACIES Donations 3 INCOME FROM CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES Grants: Government grants Merchandise Income Other income Total income 4 EXPENDITURE Charitable Activities: Bank charges Advertising and PR Subscriptions Insurance Entertaining Rent and venue hire Office and general admin costs Travel, meal and accommodation Accountancy fees Other direct costs Regional Expenses Legal and professional fees Sundry expenses |
2025 2024 £ £ 178,867 150,607 |
|---|---|
| 178,867 150,607 |
|
| 2025 2024 £ £ - 0 2,395 1,598 236 1,414 |
|
| 2,631 3,012 |
|
| 181,498 153,619 |
|
| 2025 2024 £ £ 45 413 8,743 55,065 1,019 141 1,062 6,414 - 340 2,208 3,866 16,173 4,144 - 4,916 1,712 449 3,890 31,668 23,262 - 34 - 31 - |
|
| 58,179 107,418 |
5 STAFF COSTS, TRUSTEES REMUNERATION AND EXPENSES
During the year no remuneration for services as a trustee were payable, directly or indirectly, out of funds of the charity.
There were no employees whose annual emoluments were £60,000 or more
10
THE BATON OF HOPE UK
Notes to the Financial statements
for the year ended 31st July 2025 (Continued)
Note
| 6 | Creditors : amounts falling due within one year | Creditors : amounts falling due within one year | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||||
| Trade and other creditors | 3,814 | - | |||
| Accrued expenses | - | 275 | |||
| 3,814 | 275 | ||||
| 7 | Debtors : amounts falling due within one year | 2025 | 2024 | ||
| £ | £ | ||||
| Loan to Boton of Hope Enterprise | 22,637 | - | |||
| Intercompany debtors | 12,299 | - | |||
| 34,936 | - | ||||
| 8 | Analysis of net assets between funds | ||||
| 2025 | 2024 | ||||
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total | Total | ||
| Funds | Funds | Funds | Funds | ||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | ||
| Net Current Assets | 165,268 | - | 165,268 | 44,549 | |
| 165,268 | - | 165,268 | 44,549 |
9 Restricted funds
At 31 July 2025 the charity had no restricted funds
10 Commitments under operating leases
At 31 July 2025 the charity had no annual commitments under non-cancellable operating leases.
11 Related party transactions
There were no transactions with related parties during the year or previous year that require disclosure in these accounts.
12 Prior Year Adjustment
During the year to 31 July 2024, an expenditure of £2,600 relating to consulting fees for marketing was incurred but not recorded in the accounts. The prior year has therefore been adjusted to reflect the correct reserve balance.
| Opening reserves Adjust - consultancy fees Closing Reserves |
£ 44,549 (2,600) |
|---|---|
| 41,949 |
11