## **Trustees’ Annual Report for the period** **From 24 March 2025 to 31 December 2025** **Charity name: The Little Links Trust** **Charity registration number: 1212660** ## **Objectives and Activities** ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document|Para 1.17|1. The object of the CIO is to relieve
the needs of children and young
people who are receiving treatment
for cancer or other serious
conditions or palliative care and the
needs of their siblings:
1. (a) by providing
opportunities to strengthen
their relationships through
the provision of gifts and
accompanying messages to
their siblings so that families
remain connected at a time
when opportunities for direct
contact may be limited by
treatment and when the
focus of parents or guardians
will be on the child or young
person receiving treatment;
and
2. (b) by making grants to
other charitable
organisations that are
established for the relief of
sickness.
Nothing in this constitution shall
authorise an application of the
property of the CIO for the purposes
which are not charitable in
accordance with section 7 of the
Charities and Trustee Investment
(Scotland) Act 2005 and section 2 of
the Charities Act (Northern Ireland)
2008| |Summary of the main
activities in relation to those
purposesfor the public|Para 1.17 and
1.19|The main activities once launched in 2026
will comprise the following| |benefit, in particular, the
activities, projects or
services identified in the
accounts.||-
Working alongside hospice teams and
charities working within NHS Trusts as
appropriate to provide (through our
website) the provision of gifts for
siblings of those sick children and
young adults. Where there are four or
less siblings these will be individual
gifts – where there five or more siblings
this will be by way of a family gift. The
sick child or young adult will also be
able to include a message to each of
their siblings.| |---|---|---| |Statement confirming
whether the trustees have
had regard to the guidance
issued by the Charity
Commission on public
benefit|Para 1.18|The Trustees can confirm that they have
had regard to the Charity Commission’s
public benefit guidance. The Little Links
Trust was established solely for charitable
purposes (intending to support the siblings
of children/young adults who are sick) and
its objects are drafted to provide a public
benefit to an element of society. Providing
keepsake gifts to siblings at no cost to
those families is the key object of the
charity.
The Trustees believe that The Little Links
Trust’s object benefits a section of the
public but that section is appropriate in
relation to the same. There is an
opportunity, given the simple nature of its
structure, for the charity to expand to other
hospices or working within other hospital
trusts to increase a larger section of the
public in the future, when resources permit.
Furthermore, it is the Trustees’ opinion that
The Little Links Trust addresses the
particular needs of a group of people with a
particular need| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: ||SORP reference|| |---|---|---| |Policy on grant making|Para 1.38|It is the stated intention within the objects of
The Little Links Trust to provide donations
to charities working within hospital trusts or
to children’s hospices who support delivery
of the charity’s objects. This will be limited
to 5% of net income with a cap of £5,000
and subject to Trustee approval. The
Trustees will not make payments until the
end of the first full financial year (1 January
– 31 December 2026). No payments have
been made therefore in the first (part) year
of The Little Links Trust.| |Policy on social investment
including program related
investment|Para 1.38|For the financial year ending 31 December
2025 The Little Links Trust has not made
any social investments.| |Contribution made by
volunteers|Para 1.38|The Little Links Trust had seven Trustees
at the point of registration. In the CIO,
provision is made to allow the charity to
increase this number as required. No
further appointments have been made in
the financial year ending 31 December
2025.
These Trustees for the financial year were:-
Ms N Carrick – Chair
Mrs A Mullins
Mrs B Joshi
Miss L Zneimer
Mr T Thorpe
Mrs T Wilson
Mrs H Snooks
The Trustees have determined specific
roles within the charity dependent upon
their expertise. Given the size of the
charity, however, currently it is accepted
that it is the responsibility of all Trustees to
seek to identify potential funding sources.
Sub committees have been created within a
minimum of two Trustees for the following:-
•
Finances and accounting
•
Fundraising
•
Merchandising
•
Retailer liaison
•
Charities working within hospitals
and appropriate hospice contacts
The contribution of the Trustees is greatly
appreciated and has led to securing both
our first corporate sponsor and our first
grant funding payment.
Beyond that certain artists, who are known
to Trustees, have been contacted to create
bespoke artwork, which it is intended will be
converted into merchandise during the
course of 2026. Draft artwork for certain
pieces is prepared.
It is the intention of the Trustees to review
the potential need for additional Trustees
for the financial year 2026 as required.| |---|---|---| |Other||| ## **Achievements and Performance** SORP reference ||Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a
whole.|Para 1.20|To date the charity has not formally
launched but has been fundraising in order
to
•
Complete necessary policy
documentation – this is in place and
will be reviewed not less than
annually. In respect of privacy
policies and GDPR ahead of launch
these will be reviewed by Moore
Barlow once the website is in place
and these policies can adequately
reflect the structure of the same,
including platforms used to deliver
the charity’s objects ie Hubspot etc.
•
Arrange registration with HMRC and
obtain Gift Aid approval on
donations – this has been
completed.
•
Instruct a company to be able to
create and run the website as
delivery of our objects is primarily
achieved through the same – a
company has been selected
following a tender process & will be
instructed in Q1 2026 as part of the
preparations to launch.
•
Agree terms for a company to
provide a cloud based system for
the charity including appropriate
security, storage and a CRM system
link to the website – a company has
been selected & will be instructed in
Q1 2026 as part of the preparations
to launch.
•
Arrange appropriate insurance
including cyber insurance – this is in
place following a tender process.
•
Work with retailers to obtain consent
to use their imagery on the charity’s
website – this work is ongoing.
•
Commence fund raising to cover
core charity costs – to date
(31/12/2025) , this has delivered
one corporate donation, with four
other discussions ongoing.
•
Commence grant funding
applications – to date (31/12/2025)
one grant application has been
made and this has been successful
It is intended that The Little Links Trust will
be formally launched in April/May 2026 at
which point services will be provided to
children and young adults receiving
treatment or palliative care for cancer or
other life limiting illnesses.| |---|---|---|---| As noted above The Little Links Trust has yet to launch and commence seeking individual donations etc., which in turn would enable the charity to commence providing its service to the siblings of sick children and young adults. The Trustees are delighted and grateful, however, to have secured funding from Hammerson plc to assist with the creation of the website and discussions are ongoing with other potential sponsors. Beyond that the Trustees have accepted an interest free loan from a Trustee - designed to assist with the charity’s set up of website, legal and accountancy costs etc. and this is not repayable until certain financial milestones are met for a period of time, thereby ensuring that the financial stability of the charity is not prejudiced by repayment of the same. ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |||| |---|---|---| |Achievements against
objectives set|Para 1.41|| |Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set|Para 1.41|To date The Little Links Trust has
approached or been approached by 7
potential corporate sponsors. Of these, as
at 31 December 2025 one has confirmed
and provided a donation to the charity and
discussions continue.
Beyond that, the charity has been
researching alternative sources of funding
in terms of grants available. Of the shortlist
contact has been made with a number and
the application submitted to M&G plc
Community Fund was successful. This
work will continue into 2026.| |Investment performance
against objectives|Para 1.41|| |Other||| ## **Financial Review** |**Financial Review**||| |---|---|---| |Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end
of the period|Para 1.21|Financial statement completed by Nunn
Hayward LLP| |Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held|Para 1.22|The Little Links Trust has a stated policy
whereby it intends in Years 1 & 2 following
launch to seek to build up a reserve fund of
approximately £64,000. It is believed that
this sum would allow the charity the
opportunity to run and provide its services
for a period of time should funding
substantially reduce.| |Amount of reserves held|Para 1.22|£0| |Reasons for holding zero
reserves|Para 1.22|At present funding is being sought for the
basic costs to allow the launch of the
charity. Once this is completed and there
are funds over and above nine months of
the running costs and the charity has
commenced repayment of the interest free
loan, it is the intention to include this
overage in an account the function of which
is the necessary reserve fund.| |Details of fund materially in
deficit|Para 1.24|The charity will not launch until it has
sufficient funds to pay for its set up and
deliver on gifts for those children and young
adults who wish to use The Little Links
Trust. It is the Trustees’ belief that
launching without the website, the cloud
based system for the CRM and other core
function and sufficient funds to deliver on
the initial demand for gifts would be poor
governance.| |Explanation of any
uncertainties about the
charity continuing as a going
concern|Para 1.23|| ## **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |The charity’s principal
sources of funds (including
any fundraising)|Para 1.47|| |---|---|---| |Investment policy and
objectives including any
social investment policy
adopted|Para 1.46|| |A description of the principal
risks facing the charity|Para 1.46|A risk policy has been approved by the
Trustees which identifies preventable,
optional and external risks. These are to be
revewed annually but in the first year these
risks may be defined in the following
categories:-| |Preventable Risks| |---| |1. Strategic Risk – a failure to define| |clearly TLLT’s strategy, Objects and| |annual goals.| |2. Insurance – it is critical that prior to| |launch TLLT takes out appropriate| |charity insurance.| |3. Income and Sustainability – it is| |important to ensure that sufficient| |reserves are in place within the first| |two years from launch.| |4. Investment risk – the choice of| |investment vehicles for both reserve| |funds and income is critical.| |5. Accounting
and
financial| |management – it is critical that the| |Fund
shows
good
governance| |through
the
application
of| |appropriate accounting methods.| |6. Rising Costs – inflationary pressures| |demand
an
agreed
level
of| |inflationary rises on key costs when| |completing annual budgeting.| |7. Fraud – Measures will be arranged| |with the charities assisting with| |delivery of the objects to ensure that| |gifts are supplied to siblings and that| |donations
are
therefore| |appropriately used.| |8. Governance and Management –| |including regular meetings, reporting| |and policies.| |9. Fundraising Risks| |10. Cybersecurity – the need for cyber| |risk to be designed into the website| |and associated systems including| |CRM.| |11. IT Corruption – it is intended that a| |computer/s is/are acquired to solely| |be used for the handling of orders| |made to TLLT and financial affairs| |with appropriate levels of online| |protection to minimise the risk of| |hacking.| |12. Safeguarding & GDPR| |13. Reputational Risk – it is critical in the| |choice of Trustees and Patrons that| |we seek to minimise the potential for| |reputational risk.| |14. Stock Control| |15. Trustee Skill Set and Gaps and| |DepartureRisks – it is intended that| |the skill set of the Trustees will be| |reviewed annually.| |16. Volunteer Risk| |17. Change in/ removal of support at| |particular hospitals or hospices –| |flexibility is designed into the model| |||to allow delivery at alternative sites
should support change in intended
initial sites.
Optional Risk
18. Expansion Risk
19. Patrons
External Risk
20. As the pandemic showed, it is not
possible to control all risks but
scenario planning reduces risks
associated with external unplanned
events.
21. Replication of the Charity – whilst
TLLT is offering a service which is
not currently provided to hospitals
and
hospices
potentially,
if
successful, the model could be
replicated and this could be through
an existing much larger charity with a
greater
reach
to
potential
beneficiaries.
22. Changes
in
government
policy,
economic downturns or shifts in
public opinion on charitable giving
may impact TLLT’s ability to continue
in its current format. These changes
can only be fully addressed at the
point of change.| |---|---|---| |Other||| ## **Structure, Governance and Management** |Description of charity’s
trusts:||| |---|---|---| |Type of governing document
(trust deed, royal charter)|Para 1.25|Trustee Governance Document| |How is the charity
constituted?
(e.g unincorporated
association, CIO)|Para 1.25|The Little Links Trust is constituted as a
CIO| |Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of
any person or body entitled
to appoint one or more
trustees|Para 1.25|Further Trustees to be elected following
identification of specific role requirements
an invitation to be considered for the same.
To be determined by quorate board
meeting.| **Additional information (optional)** You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction
and training of trustees|Para 1.51|| |---|---|---| |The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the
charity works|Para 1.51|| |Relationship with any related
parties|Para 1.51|| |Other||| ## **Reference and Administrative details** |Charity name|The Little Links Trust| |---|---| |Other name the charity uses|| |Registered charity number|1212660| |Charity’s principal address|c/o Nunn Hayward
2-4 Packhorse Road
Gerrards Cross
Buckinghamshire
SL9 7QE| ||| ## **Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity** |1
2
3
4
5
6
7|**Trustee name**|**Office (if any)**|**Dates acted if not for whole year**|**Name of person (or body) entitled**
**to appoint trustee (if any)**| |---|---|---|---|---| ||Ms N Carrick|Chair|24 03 2025 - 31 12 2025|Trustee Board| ||Mrs A Mullins||“|| ||Miss L Zneimer||“|| ||Mrs T Wilson||“|| ||Mr T Thorpe||“|| ||Mrs B Joshi||“|| ||Mrs H Snooks||“|| – Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved **Director name** None Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity |**Trustee name**|**Dates acted if not for whole year**|| |---|---|---| |None||| |||| |||| |||| |||| |||| ## **Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others** |Description of the assets
held in this capacity|None| |---|---| |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)** |**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**|**Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)**| |---|---|---| |**Type of**
**adviser**
**Name**
**Address**||| |**Lawyer**|Moore Barlow|Sydenham Road, Guildford GU1 3SR| |**Accountant**|Nunn Hayward|2-4 Packhorse Road, Gerrards Cross SL9 7QE| |||| |||| **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** ## **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**||| |---|---|---| ||Natalie Carrick|| ||
Chair of Trustees|| ||29/03/2026|| ||29/03/2026|| THE UTTLE LVIXS TRUST FOR ThE PERIOD ENDED 31 OECEAIBER >Y25 THE UTTLE UNKS TRUST FOR THE PERK>D EMDED 310ECEIIBER 202S INDEX c￿rity Ink¥ma ststernertrf)knial acamues BllL4nce sheet THe L￿fLE UNKS TRU FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 Chartty trfftimwiton LKRZr*im T W4soA AJLWIkns HSLSr NC B K &)shl TLTWa PrfnGIW OIII¢•: Buc￿"r￿dha￿￿tr0 SL9 70E ¢h¥rlty R•9E6tr•tSon Nurol>•r. 1212660 Jm LLP 24 P￿*1￿)1¥e Ro dorvJh8rTthre SL97aE Lws B￿kpLc FO Box 1C¢XI BX11LT THE Lf￿LE UNK8 TRUST STATEMENT OF ￿mAN¢￿ ACTI1•￿ IWCUIDING IIIC(XIE AND EXPENDMJRE ACWUWT) FOR THE peRK)D tNDED 31 DECEwBeR 2025 2026 Don8Uon8 8nd WrA05 9218 Tatsl 9.218 EXp¢nd1￿I• Charitablo èxsknd 2.123 Total Exporhdliur 2,123 N•t In¢on Re¢oncMl•thn of Total fvnds txtyjght fo[￿r￿ at 24M Marth 2025 Total lunds tthed f¢]Th%wd ai 318t Dec4mber2025 The 5tat8meni offinanThal aCtI￿ties ai aT%J lo888s rwr¥R8d in IWI Incurne arNI exwThlttur8 ￿ert￿ from P808 2 THE LrrrLe UNKS TRUST BALANCE SHEET AT 31 DECEMBER 2025 2025 2025 CURRENT AssErs Debior8 CaÈh atbar* and In hond 17.094 17.094 CREDITORS ArnountsNllng du•wSthln on• s Cr&1itfKS and acuuds 10.m) NET cuRRETr￿ ASSETS NET ASSErs Fund• of Ih• Chwlty UnrBslricted lunts 3.594 3￿0 TOTAL C+IARrrY FUNDS -. 2026 sw1 o)1ts HSLSK KJ( R8grf%tsr￿ thsdty numt4r. 1212