|**Month**|**Opening Balance(£)**|**Total Money In(£)**|**Total Money Out(£)**|**Closing Balance(£)**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|January
5546.31
100
227.61
5418.7|||||
|February
5418.7
720.02
69.68
6069.04|||||
|March
6069.04
1274.61
214.32
7129.33|||||
|April
7129.33
300.5
837.52
6592.31|||||
|May
6592.31
100
339.93
6352.38|||||
|June
6352.38
2793.02
1126.21
8019.19|||||
|July
8019.19
77.68
373.8
7723.07|||||
|August
7723.07
1155.15
400.85
8477.37|||||
|October
8419.17
0
422.29
7996.88|||||
|November
7996.88
552.5
89.51
8459.87|||||
|December
8459.87
94
71.86
8482.01|||||
||||||
|**Net Change (£)**|**Fees & Charges(£)**|
|---|---|
|-127.61
0||
|650.34
0||
|1060.29
0||
|-537.02
0||
|-239.93
0||
|1666.81
0||
|-296.12
0||
|754.3
0||
|-422.29
0||
|462.99
0||
|22.14
3||
|||
|**Metric**|**Amount(£)**|
|---|---|
|Year Start Balance
5546.31||
|Total MoneyIn
7167.48||
|Total MoneyOut
4173.58||
|Net Change
2935.7||
|Year End Balance
8482.01||
|Total Fees & Charges
3||
Annual Totals: Money In vs Money Out vs Fees 1£)
Total Money Out
37.1%
62.9%
Total Money In
## Ask Danny – Annual Report 2025 Registered Charity No. 128783
## About Us
Ask Danny was founded in 2024 by Maria Lynch in loving memory of her son, Danny Lynch.
We are a not-for-profit organisation run entirely by volunteers, and 100% of funds raised go directly back into supporting our beneficiaries.
Our mission is to support adults with learning disabilities who are in hospital or preparing for a hospital stay. Hospital environments can be overwhelming, frightening, and unfamiliar — we aim to provide comfort, reassurance, and dignity through thoughtfully designed resources.
## What We Provide
We work closely with Learning Disability (LD) nurses at Great Western Hospital (GWH), who distribute our resources directly to patients.
- Fidget and sensory toys to reduce anxiety and provide comfort
- Arts and crafts activities to support emotional regulation and engagement
- Comfort bears — each unique, wearing a signature blue Ask Danny t-shirt
- Bedside blue t-shirt signs to help staff recognise additional support needs
- “Danny’s Wallet” — a request form enabling patients to access small personal comforts such as toiletries, coffee vouchers, or parking support
## Our Impact in 2025
During 2025, Ask Danny expanded its support within Great Western Hospital and strengthened its presence across multiple wards.
- Delivered 4 trolleys of bespoke resources to Learning Disability nurses
- Supplied 20 hospital wards with resource boxes
- Provided 20 comfort bears to hospital teams
- Supplied 20 blue bedside t-shirt signs
- Delivered 6 awareness sessions
We operate a restocking system based on direct hospital requests.
One example of our impact involved a patient who was distressed about wearing an oxygen mask. Using a familiar and comforting item provided through Ask Danny, staff were able to help her feel safe enough to accept the treatment she needed.
## Our Volunteers
Ask Danny is powered entirely by volunteers. We currently have 12 regular adult volunteers and 10 volunteers under 18.
- Event setup and coordination
- First aid responders
- Safeguarding roles
- Health and safety support
- Shopping and collecting supplies
- Assembling hospital resource packs
## Our Trustees
The charity is governed by a board of trustees who oversee compliance, safeguarding, financial responsibility, and strategic direction.
## Chair’s Report
Ask Danny is more than a charity to me — it is what keeps me going. After losing Danny, I had to find a way to channel my grief, and this charity has become that way. It allows me to turn a deeply traumatic life event into something positive, while keeping Danny’s name, spirit, and kindness alive through helping others at some of their most vulnerable moments.
I have been truly overwhelmed by the support from family and friends, and by the new friendships formed through this journey. The community that has grown around Ask Danny is something I never expected, and I am incredibly grateful for every single person who gives their time, energy, and compassion.
One of the most meaningful moments for me this year came from a Learning Disability patient in hospital who was struggling to tolerate wearing an oxygen mask and was becoming distressed. We learned that she loved Barbie dolls, so Ask Danny provided a Barbie hairdressing mannequin head. The healthcare team used this to help her practise putting the oxygen mask on the Barbie first. Through play, she became comfortable enough to wear the mask herself, allowing her to receive the medical treatment she needed. Moments like this show how small, thoughtful gestures can have a life-changing impact.
This year has not been without challenges. We have faced difficulties arranging meetings and receiving feedback from Learning Disability nurses. Currently, there are only two LD nurses covering the entire hospital, working part-time Monday to Friday, with no LD nursing cover at weekends. This highlights a wider gap in support for adults with learning disabilities, particularly in the evenings and at weekends.
My dream for the future is to help provide more healthcare assistants specifically trained to support patients with learning disabilities, especially after 9pm and at weekends, when
support is most limited.
We currently operate on a restocking system, responding when the hospital requests items. However, I am reflecting on whether this approach reaches all patients who may benefit, and exploring new ways to ensure no one is missed.
Ask Danny remains entirely volunteer-run, with no paid staff. We are incredibly fortunate to receive many donated items such as teddy bears and arts and crafts supplies, which help us stretch every pound even further.
I am so proud of what we have achieved together, and I know Danny would be too.
## Finances & Sustainability
Ask Danny has no paid staff. Main spending is on patient resources.
- Card machine fees
- Insurance
- Training where required
We receive many donated items which help keep costs low. Financial reports are provided separately.
## A Final Thank You
Ask Danny exists because of the compassion of our community. Together, we are making hospital experiences kinder and more supportive for adults with learning disabilities.