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2025-03-31-accounts

The Epilepsy Charity 1in100 people have epilepsy 2025 REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES & FINANCIAL sfATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 Registered Charity Number 200359 The Epilepsy Charity www.meath.org.uk meathcharity Themeathcharity Themeathcharity

Annual report 2024/25

TABLE OF CONTENTS JOINT STATEMENT FROM THE CHAIR OF TRUSTEES AND CEO ......................................................... 2 OBJECTIVES & AIMS ...................................................................................................................... 4 ACHIEVEMENTS & PERFORMANCE ................................................................................................ 4 FINANCIAL REVIEW………….……………………………..……………………………….…………………………………15 PRIORITIES FOR 2025/26 ............................................................................................................. 17 STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT .............................................................................. 19 REFERENCE & ADMINISTRATION ................................................................................................. 21 STATEMENT OF TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITIES ................................................................................ 23 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS REPORT .............................................................................................. 24 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ............................................................................................................ 28

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JOINT STATEMENT FROM THE CHAIR OF TRUSTEES AND CEO

We are proud to represent an organisa�on that delivers comprehensive, person-centred care to adults living with complex epilepsy and associated disabili�es and give thanks to the generosity of our donors, who support many of the life-enriching opportuni�es made available to the people we support. A key highlight of the year has been the con�nued success of our Capital Appeal, which has allowed us to future-proof our facili�es. Phase 1 of the appeal supported the repair of the roof of our Grade II listed main building and Phase 2, the replacement and repair of 90 windows, and redecora�on of the main house, significantly enhancing the safety and comfort of the people we support. It is sa�sfying to report that we are also on track to deliver on Phase 3 of our Appeal, which will replace our internal safety systems across the site.

We were delighted to welcome our new patron, Professor John Duncan. Since 1989, Professor Duncan has served as a consultant neurologist at the Na�onal Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, and the Na�onal Society for Epilepsy. With approximately 2,000 pa�ents under Professor Duncan’s care, his exper�se and passion for epilepsy makes him a wonderful asset to The Meath and we are very grateful to have the support of such a dis�nguished figure in the wider epilepsy community.

Improvement’ was extremely disappoin�ng and in response we have engaged both a Pharmacist and a Compliance Consultant. Their exper�se has driven improved outcomes for the people we support, as well as enhancing regulatory compliance. In addi�on, we have recruited a Medica�on Quality Assistant to further strengthen our medica�on management. These improvements are also suppor�ng staff development and equipping our teams to deliver safe, modern, and high-quality care. Our Service Improvement Plan provides a strong founda�on for The Meath’s journey toward excellence. Collabora�on remains at the heart of our progress, and we are pleased to see departments across the organisa�on working together in specialist working groups in key areas such as safeguarding and opera�onal policies. These groups are instrumental in shaping best prac�ce and ensuring that our opera�onal frameworks remain aligned with sector developments and emerging CQC standards.

Fair pricing from Local Authori�es and NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) for care packages remains cri�cal and it was therefore extremely frustra�ng that addi�onal cost pressures have been placed upon The Meath because of the decision by central government to increase employer’s Na�onal Insurance Contribu�ons. Addi�onal resource has been allocated to the Finance team to support the CEO and Head of Finance in tackling the financial gap between statutory funding and our real costs, as well as reducing the reliance on our Fundraising team.

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Amidst a na�onwide shortage of specialist epilepsy care providers, The Meath Epilepsy Charity - con�nues to stand out as a highly sought a�er residen�al home, with a steadily growing wai�ng list for residen�al accommoda�on. We have therefore implemented a streamlined “expression of interest” process, that strengthens our admissions pipeline and has led to a marked increase in enquiries from new individuals and their families.

dedica�on of our staff, trustees, volunteers, donors, and families, The Meath Epilepsy Charity will con�nue to thrive and make an even greater impact in 2025.

Lee Benne�, CEO and Graham Healy, Chair of Trustees

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TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT

Objec�ves & Aims

At The Meath Epilepsy Charity, our mission is to enrich the lives of individuals with complex epilepsy and associated disabili�es. We are dedicated to ensuring individuals receive the tailored support, expert care, and encouragement necessary to foster confidence, develop new skills, and achieve greater independence in their daily lives. In se�ng the objec�ves and planning the ac�vi�es of the Charity, the Trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit.

excep�onal facili�es. From the picturesque Grade II Listed manor house to modern annexes houses catering to higher needs, alongside the dynamic Skills Centre and The Hive café, all set amidst landscaped grounds, our loca�on combines tranquillity with accessibility to local ameni�es and transporta�on hubs. Embraced by our vibrant local community, The Meath Epilepsy Charity maintains strong �es with the town, proud to be at its heart.

Achievements & Performance

Residen�al Houses

The Meath comprises nine individual houses organised under the oversight of our Registered Managers (RMs). At present, we accommodate 78 residents and have ini�ated a refurbishment programme to enhance our residen�al services. Our houses are individually named and listed below:

  1. Cedar View & The Co�ages

  3. Bradbury Wing & Li�le Meath

  4. Hambledon, Thursley & The Bradbury

�ed with bespoke kitchen and bathroom facili�es, ensuring convenience and comfort for our residents. While some houses offer en-suite facili�es, others feature high-tech bathroom fi�ngs, including specialised baths and showers, kindly funded via our generous donors, designed for comfort and accessibility. In keeping with our commitment to personalised care, bedrooms are furnished according to the individual preferences of our residents and their families. Communal areas are decorated in accordance with the personal choices of the people we support, gathered through surveys and ques�onnaires. This collabora�ve approach ensures that they feel truly at home in their surroundings, developing

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a sense of agency and belonging. Individuals are carefully matched with homes that meet their individual needs, ensuring truly person-centred care. Each house is led by a Registered Manager, supported by a Deputy Manager and a skilled team of Senior Support Workers and care staff. Our residen�al team includes approximately 160 dedicated support workers delivering 24-hour care. To address na�onal recruitment challenges, we have partnered with trusted staffing agencies to maintain safe staffing levels.

Care Quality Commission Visits

The CQC undertook targeted visits on 18.9.2024 and 25.9.2024 to assess against their SAFE and WELL LED criteria. The Meath received 61 out of 100 for both categories, resul�ng in The Meath retaining a ra�ng of Requires Improvement. This was extremely disappoin�ng as The Meath had been on a journey of con�nuous improvement and significant work had gone into the design and comple�on of mul�ple ac�on/recovery plans over the previous two years. In addi�on, ac�on plans, services and staff are scru�nised and held to account by regular Health and Social Care Trustee Sub-Commi�ee mee�ngs.

A Mock CQC inspec�on, PAMMS (a care provider assessment) visit and reports provided evidence that The Meath were on track, with a GOOD ra�ng awarded, and ac�on plans were developed from both visits and delivered upon but unfortunately deemed insufficient by the CQC. The primary focus of the latest CQC visit was medica�on management: they highlighted inconsistency with medica�on recording as well as audits of services that did not offer sufficient scru�ny. In response, the CEO provided a Teams Call to each service for all families that explained the CQC report as well as ini�a�ves and ac�ons that aided recovery. In addi�on the spring family forum, was brought forward in order to outline the service recovery plan.

What we did in response:

A former CQC inspector and compliance consultant supported the design of a Service Improvement Plan (SIP) for Meath and con�nues to engage Registered Managers and their

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opera�onal teams to drive regulatory improvements and enhance governance systems. The SIP captures elements of the single assessment framework aligned to the CQC quality statements. It highlights what we are doing well and what we may need to improve upon. This is a live document that all the Senior Management Team are invested in and reviewed regularly along with our Board of Trustees.

Progress so far:

In addi�on to independent support, The Meath remains on a con�nuous improvement journey with:

Both the Safeguarding Group and Commi�ee feed into the Health and Social Care Commi�ees.

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Looking forward:

We plan to transi�on to Day. A key priority is the planned rollout of eMAR with barcode scanning which will significantly improve medica�on accuracy; our new Medica�on Quality Assistant will support this transi�on. In addi�on, this change will:

Health & Social Care Commi�ee Mee�ngs

Following the CQC report, Health & Social Care Commi�ee (H&SCC) mee�ngs were increased from quarterly to monthly. The H&SCC mee�ngs include reviewing of the Service Improvement Plan, Safeguarding, Pharmacy and eMAR migra�on.

Quality & Compliance

The appointment of a full �me Compliance looked at five main themes and trends: Training, Values & Behaviours, Consistency, Risk Management and Repor�ng Processes. Quality & Assurance Monitoring mee�ngs take place quarterly – looking at posi�ve and nega�ve themes across The Meath and the implementa�on of the new quality assurance framework and terminology.

improve staff understanding. Quan�ta�ve data is received from the Managers’ monthly mee�ngs and Quality & Assurance visits to ensure best prac�ce across all services.

Meaningful progress in medica�on management improving their compliance scores. Quality & Compliance toolkits have been introduced to every service, storing all data centrally. The toolkits are completed monthly by services and

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reviewed by Quality and Compliance Manager. Themes and lessons learned are discussed quarterly at the Quality Assurance Mee�ngs with a focus on sharing best prac�ce.

The People we Support

and pride themselves on the rapport with families and communica�on. Every month, each unit holds a fully accessible Residents Mee�ng where the people we support are asked for their feedback and sugges�ons on a range of topics such as lifestyle & ac�vi�es, (ac�vi�es, community par�cipa�on etc), environment & decora�on (covering communal and individual spaces), menus, snacks & drinks (ideas for future menus, engagement in shopping and preparing of meals), upcoming celebra�ons, any staff changes, any changes to the running of The Meath (changes to systems or processes, fire procedures etc). These mee�ngs are personalised for each unit; for example, one unit has a wishing wall where residents can put on here ideas for future trips and visits.

In the repor�ng year, the people we support enjoyed a wide range of ou�ngs—from farms and zoos to cinemas and theatres—making for a fun and ac�ve year. Onsite events included Mother’s Day, Valen�nes Day, Chinese New Year, a Fireworks display and resident forums. Many ac�vi�es in addi�on to our Skills Centre have been enjoyed throughout the year, which included visits to farms, Birdworld, cinemas, bowling, pantomimes, theatres, Harry Po�er World, sea life centres, steam engine fairs, Christmas events and salons.

donkeys and PAT (Pets as Therapy) dogs. This has had a very positive impact on mental and emotional wellbeing and bringing numerous therapeutic benefits.

A newsle�er is circulated quarterly which is well received by family members.

One Meath employee said: “We are very proud, as a team to have developed a cohesive team culture. There are many changes at The Meath and our staff members embraced these changes and worked together as a team, by using a collabora�ve approach.”

Supported Living

Our Supported Living service in Godalming supports seven tenants with daily living, appointment management, and the development of independent and social skills. Individuals are encouraged to engage with the local community through volunteering and local resources. Collabora�on with the Head of Health and Wellbeing, including the use of SUDEP checklists, has improved our epilepsy care, with posi�ve feedback from tenants and families reflec�ng the enhanced quality of care. Individuals take part in ac�vi�es at The Meath’s Skills Centre,

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local employment, and volunteering—one even received the Mayor’s Award for Volunteering. sed. The service has also Benefit reviews have helped ensure en�tlements are maximi supported holidays to Centre Parcs, Butlins, and trips to the seaside and local events.

Health & Wellbeing

The Health & Wellbeing Team con�nues to strengthen coordina�on with healthcare professionals and reassured families through a responsive and expert-led approach. The proac�ve strategies have supported fewer emergency calls and hospital admissions, highligh�ng the impact of early interven�on. An Epilepsy Coordinator has now joined the team who oversees improving seizure monitoring and compliance. All residents have been assessed using SUDEP and Seizure Safety Checklists, and a new seizure recording system is being rolled out.

Addi�onal health ini�a�ves include the introduc�on of a part-�me Neuro-physiotherapist, four free Complementary Therapy sessions per resident, and a low-intensity mental health support programme, “Talking Therapies.” The success of Donkey Therapy has also shown the value of animal-assisted support. The ‘My Epilepsy Journey’ journal helps track everyone’s epilepsy care, developed collabora�vely by Residen�al and Health teams. Internally, the team has launched a robust training programme on epilepsy awareness and emergency medica�on. The appointment of our Medica�on Quality Assistant has already seen improvement in medica�on management and will play a key role in the transi�on from paper MAR charts to our new Pharmacy and eMAR. The Occupa�onal Therapy (OT) Assistant offers person centred sessions to the people we support. She has a real passion and connec�on with the individuals who live at The Meath and is passionate about improving independent living skills. In this repor�ng year the OT Assistant has completed 30 ASDAN life challenges with 15 people we support. These have included ‘Healthy Me’, ‘Food Hygiene and Cooking’, ‘Nature Collage’ and ‘Using Money’ to name a few. Sensory sessions prove par�cularly popular and improve service users’ wellbeing and cogni�ve skills.

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The Meath Moments Magazine is created by the OT Assistant in collaboration with the people we support who all enjoy taking part and giving ideas and providing pictures or articles to showcase their work. The Social Lunch Clubs have been greatly received and occur every last Friday of each month. The people we support enjoy an organised lunch at The Hive and we have special visitors including Ambassadors or supporters. These monthly sessions help the people we support to make new friends and enhance their social skills in a supportive and caring environment.

The Skills Centre

The Skills Centre proudly hosted its annual awards ceremony, celebra�ng the remarkable - achievements of the people we support in their ac�vity sessions. This much an�cipated event provided an opportunity for par�cipants to share their accomplishments with family and peers, fostering a sense of pride and community. A significant focus was placed on developing life skills through the ASDAN-accredited framework, encompassing areas such as healthy ea�ng, sensory experiences, donkey therapy, and kitchen safety. These ini�a�ves aimed to promote independence and well-being among the people we support. To further encourage health and community engagement, a walking group was launched, allowing individuals to explore the local area and The Meath’s beau�ful grounds, promo�ng physical ac�vity and social interac�on.

Addi�onally, the Skills Centre collaborated with Art Venture on four art projects inspired by the River Wey. These collabora�ve efforts provided par�cipants with crea�ve outlets and opportuni�es to connect with the broader community through shared ar�s�c expression.

Looking ahead, we are excited to introduce a comprehensive impact assessment model designed to monitor and support the progress of the people we support. This model will focus

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skills. Through our outcomes-focused approach, we aim to empower individuals by aligning our programmes with their personal goals and aspira�ons. We plan to refresh our ac�vity �metable to enhance the quality and relevance of our sessions, ensuring they con�nue to meet the evolving needs and interests of our par�cipants. We have invested in new gym equipment to help track progress and assist the people we support improve their physical health and wellbeing. We are also proud to launch a five-a-side football team, star�ng with prac�ce sessions and aspiring to join a disability football league, promo�ng teamwork and physical health. Con�nuing our commitment to community engagement, we will strengthen partnerships with local organisa�ons, including the DAiSY (Disability Arts in Surrey) network, to enrich the lives of the people we support with new experiences and opportuni�es.

The Hive Café

community and social inclusion.

The Hive Cafe is open every weekday for The Meath community, family members and visitors. The Hive aims to provide the quality of an independent high street café, at approximately half the price. Having an affordable café serving healthy fresh food benefits our staff and volunteer team in addi�on to the people we support and visitors. The Hive team deliver regular social events and ac�vi�es for the people we support.

foods from around the word, with each des�na�on providing guests with an opportunity to enjoy a side dish of global culture. From quizzes to cra�s, dancing to singing and even a dabble into basic vocabulary, Around The World Supper Clubs are proving to be a great example of The Hive being a buzzing hub of socialisa�on and a great place to meet, eat and thrive!

“I like trying new food, it’s tasty and I also like the ac�vi�es. I didn’t think we would all be able to sing a song in French- but we did it!” Lauren, resident

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Supper Clubs are our date night. John, resident

The Hive Cafe opens on alternate Saturday mornings for the people we support. These relaxed and friendly sessions provide the opportunity to socialise with their peers with our friendly team of staff and volunteers. Hive volunteers are integral to our ability to champion social inclusion, and sessions typically involve volunteers facilita�ng topic led conversa�on, playing games or running a cra� ac�vity.

“Social Saturdays have been brilliant for three of the people I support in par�cular. The socialisa�on is great for them and I’ve been amazed at the difference it’s made to them; it really helps with encouraging them to converse and has increased confidence levels.” Duncan, Support Worker

Marke�ng

The Meath Marke�ng Department supports all key areas of The Meath, which encourages mul�ple stakeholders to support The Meath and maintains the profile of the charity. It also creates internal communica�ons or literature for different audiences, within The Meath Community. Our new website launched in June 2024 and we are ac�ve on social media including Linked In, Instagram, Facebook and X.

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Our Marke�ng Department supports a broad range of Meath services and ac�vi�es, including fundraising appeals and events, HR recruitment, Skills Centre & The Hive ac�vi�es, Volunteer coordina�on, and communica�ons.

Fundraising

Our Fundraising Team includes two in-house professional fundraisers. We do not undertake door-to-door or street fundraising and do not use external fundraisers. We fundraise to provide for and enhance the lives of the people the charity supports. We are members of The Chartered Ins�tute of Fundraising and the Fundraising Regulator. We prac�ce ethical fundraising and always adhere to the Fundraising Regulators promise to be open, honest, fair and legal. We are compliant with the Code of Fundraising Prac�ce, meet the standards required in law and strive to reflect best prac�ce. We only communicate with exis�ng donors or members of the public who have expressed an interest in our charity. We have not received any complaints during the year.

Despite the challenging fundraising landscape, we exceeded our target and are delighted to have secured £1m, of which £841k is reported as income in this financial year. We are very grateful to everyone who has supported us this year. The majority of The Meath’s donors wish to remain anonymous, but we are pleased to confirm restricted grants from the Community Founda�on for Surrey and from The Humphrey Richardson Taylor Charitable Trust. We are very fortunate to receive ongoing support from a variety of individuals, organisa�ons and Trusts. We thank them all for suppor�ng us to con�nue our valuable work of enabling and empowering extremely vulnerable individuals to live safe, happy and fulfilled lives.

In July 2023, we launched our £1.1m Capital Appeal. This Appeal is enabling us to restore, renovate and renew our main historic building and upgrade our internal and external systems to provide the safest home for the people we support. The Meath’s approach has been to only commence a phase of work when the necessary funds have been secured. We are delighted to have completed all the external renova�on works and are now focused on the upgrade and renewal of our internal safety systems across our site. Due to the risks associated with complex epilepsy, the use of modern technologies will reduce the risk to the life of our vulnerable residents and provide peace of mind for the staff and rela�ves who look a�er them.

The Charity is commi�ed to providing a variety of opportuni�es, combined with specialist care and support, which comes at a significant cost. The income raised covers the cost of nonstatutory services and all the extra ac�vi�es, services or equipment that mean so much to those in our care. The focus for 2024/25 was core funding, strengthening The Meath’s whilst we financial posi�on and building reserves and this will remain our focus for 2025/26 also con�nue to fundraise for the Capital Appeal.

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In December, we hosted a spectacular Carol Concert at St Clement Danes for which the highlight was our Meath Choir’s performance. The team also ran several smaller events including an exhibi�on about our Founder, Mary, Countess of Meath and numerous other events in the local community. The team are very grateful for everyone suppor�ng these events. In addi�on, nine Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) days were successfully hosted. Thank you to everyone who has volunteered, supported and engaged with The Meath over the last year.

. We prac�ce ethical fundraising and always adhere to the

ta�s�cs

,
Overall Staf Sta�s�cs		 ,
2023/2024 2024/2025
Total hires 90 92
Total leavers 97 78
Support Worker vacancies – current (as of
April)		 28 13.5
Survey Comple�on
August 2024 99 staf
March 2025
92 staf

Highlights

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Financial Review

During the year our total funds raised through contracts for residential services, social enterprises, and fundraising, together with investment income, totalled £8.8m. Our on-going Capital Appeal has enabled us to invest £700k improving our property and updating equipment with the balance of our income being used to fund the services and activities mentioned above.

As shown in the restricted funds column in the Statement of Financial Activities, restricted income totalled £520k which was raised for Life Enrichment programmes, our Capital Appeal and other Residential projects. At the year-end have £221k was available to progress these projects.

Residential Services and Supported Living are our primary charitable purposes and our largest sources of income, totalling £7.7m. These are also where we face our biggest challenges in terms of rising costs driven by a combination of inflation and a shortage of care staff. During the year we continued to prioritise front-line staff pay rates which is having a positive impact on recruitment.

Donations and legacies total £841k this year, of which £391k is restricted for our Capital Appeal. This income provides support for our Life Enrichment programmes, through our skills centre and wellbeing teams, as well as the refurbishment of our Grade II listed main building. Whilst the refurbishment is largely complete we are still negotiating prices to replace our nurse on-call system and to install air-conditioning in the main house.

The balance of our income is from our social enterprises, extending our Skills Centre and The Hive Café to both residents and external users, as well as fundraising events and investment income. These additional funds enable us to continue to provide the life enriching activities which set us apart as a centre of excellence for adults with epilepsy.

Financially this has not been an easy year, the Statement of Financial Activities shows a net deficit of income over expenditure for the year of £164k and the Statement of Cash Flows shows a net cash decrease of £203k. This has contributed to a reduction in general funds by £288k to a total of £1.9m.

The Charity’s business plan for the year to 31 March 2026 reflects the continuing struggles to secure the correct funding, reporting a potential deficit of c£590k. After adjusting for noncash depreciation c£478k and planned capital projects c£310k, forecast net cash outflow is c£535k. On this basis the Charity will continue to have adequate reserves and will be able to meet its liabilities as they fall due. Accordingly, the Trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

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Reserves Policy

The Trustees recognise the need for the Charity to have sufficient reserves to be able to meet its charitable obligations and provide for a stable and sustainable future. The current policy is to build the unrestricted general fund to a level that covers three months’ expenditure plus any one-off major capital projects. Unrestricted general fund at 31 March 2025 amounted to £1,914k, after deducting £60k to be used for capital projects, representing 2.6 months average future fixed costs. The balance of major capital projects will be come from restricted funds.

As explained in notes 1(a) and 18, the Trustees have transferred the endowment fund into the capital fund. Whilst the Capital fund is general in nature it is set aside to support the long term financial investment in the Charity’s fixed assets.

Investment policy and objec�ves

Our objectives are to achieve capital and investment growth to maintain the value of our investments, measured against current inflation rates, whilst at the same time generating income to support our charitable activities. The Trustee Directors invest as ethically as possible, whilst also seeking to ensure the investment returns remain competitive. Investments had a value of £939k at 31 March 2025. Investment income for the year is £51k. The Trustee Directors can make such arrangements as they think fit for the investment of the Charity's funds and have regard to the likely timing of major future development expenditure and the level of market prices when making decisions on investments. Social, environmental and ethical aspects of making investments are regularly reviewed by the Trustee Directors together with the Charity’s investment advisers.

Principal Risks & Uncertain�es

All significant activities undertaken are subject to a risk review as part of the initial assessment and implementation. Major risks, for this purpose, are those that have a significant impact on:

The Board of Trustees review and evaluate these risks on an on-going basis and satisfy themselves that adequate systems and procedures are in place to manage the risks identified. The main risks identified by the Board are:

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The processes to mitigate these risks are summarised below:

Priori�es for 2025/26

Delivery of Service Improvement plan and delivery of CQC Outstanding

Having previously received posi�ve feedback from mock and compliance inspec�ons, the Board of Trustees were extremely disappointed with the CQC ra�ng. However, they were sa�sfied with the ac�ons taken by the CEO and Residen�al Services team in designing and delivering a service delivery plan, supported by experts within the compliance and medica�on management field. The Health and Social Care Trustee Sub-Commi�ee meet monthly to scru�nise and hold to account CEO and Residen�al Staff in rela�on to the Service Delivery Plan. The Board of Trustees remain commi�ed to the delivery of best possible care experience & outcomes with its ambi�on to be an outstanding CQC provider and a centre of excellence for epilepsy. A mock inspec�on will be carried out in June 2025 to ensure the Service Improvement Plan is on track.

Delivery of our new 3 weekly quality framework visits

Ensuring regular quality sense checks to ensure readiness for pending CQC inspec�on, to support The Meath’s journey to becoming an 'outstanding' care provider.

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Migra�on to new pharmacy and eMAR

During 2025/2026 we will be migra�ng away from our local pharmacy to a na�onal online pharmacy. The new pharmacy has extensive experience in working with residen�al care se�ngs and they will provide a comprehensive and responsive service tailored to meet our needs. Following this we will be embedding our new electronic Medica�on Administra�on Record (eMAR) system. This is a digital system for managing, recording and tracking cient electronic medica�on administra�on. It replaces paper MAR charts with a secure, effi process.

Fair Pricing from Local Authori�es for Care Packages

Addi�onal the financial gap in statutory funding and reduce the reliance on Fundraising.

Following the comple�on of all the external works we hope to complete the internal upgrade and renewal of our safety systems to further reduce the risk to life for the people we support.

Stakeholder engagement

The Board remain commi�ed to meaningful stakeholder engagement. For example, having received the disappoin�ng CQC news, the CEO provided all families with an opportunity to meet with him, in small numbers within service as well as a Family Forum to reassure and set out service recovery plan. Following Family Forum events, ques�onnaires are distributed to gather feedback and gauge interest in future discussion topics. The Residen�al Services team

consistently produce weekly updates and monthly event summaries for families and external stakeholders. These ini�a�ves demonstrate a commitment to transparency, collabora�on, and con�nuous improvement within the organisa�on.

Impac�ul Social Enterprises

The new Skill Centre Manager will deliver both impac�ul and person centre ac�vity sessions which are measurable.

A robust wai�ng list

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Structure, Governance & Management

The Charity

The charity (Registered Charity Number 200359) is unincorporated and registered with the Charity Commission in England and Wales. It is governed by its Trust Deed last amended on 25 May 2015.

Recruitment and appointment of new Trustee Directors

The Trustee Directors are Directors of The Meath Trustee Company Limited. The Meath Trustee Company Limited is the sole trustee of the unincorporated charity. They are recruited to maintain a balance of skills, qualifica�ons, and experience to ensure that the Charity and its property are managed efficiently and knowledgeably. When a vacancy occurs, a profile of the new Trustee Directors is agreed, with suitable candidates iden�fied possessing the exper�se required. References are obtained for any new Trustee Director, including a criminal records bureau check.

All new Trustee Directors are given a copy of the Charity Commissioners' booklet on the responsibili�es of a Trustee. A file of essen�al informa�on is provided as part of their induc�on programme. A Governance Manual and Code of Conduct for Trustees is available. Each new Trustee Director is appointed for an ini�al term of four years. Once elected they do not have to be re-elected annually, but they do have to stand down at the end of their four-year term. Trustees are en�tled to stand for re-elec�on for a maximum of three terms. Con�nuing support and training is provided for Trustee Directors including external facilitators at regular away-days.

Organisa�onal Structure

The CEO is responsible for the strategic and day-to-day management of the Charity and reports to the Board of Trustees, who are Directors of the Charity. The strategic direc�on of the organisa�on is determined by the CEO with the Trustee Directors, who have overall

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responsibility for the Charity. The Trustee Directors also ensure that the Charity adheres to the policies and procedures laid down by the Charity Commission and the Care Quality Commission. To fulfil this role, the Trustee Directors have established the following subcommi�ees: Finance and Risk, Fundraising & Marke�ng, Health and Social Care and Nomina�ons and Remunera�ons Commi�ee. These Commi�ees report regularly to the Board where decisions are formally agreed. Board Mee�ngs are held every other month.

Arrangements for se�ng pay of key management

Remunera�on of the CEO is decided by the Trustee Directors a�er considera�on of the level paid to comparable organisa�ons and an assessment of performance. The level of remunera�on and increases paid to Senior Execu�ves repor�ng directly to the CEO are proposed by the CEO and agreed by Trustee Directors.

Risk and Corporate Governance Ma�ers

Trustee Directors are responsible for the management of risk faced by the Charity and treat risk management as a priority. Risk awareness is emphasised throughout all levels of the organisa�on. Risks are iden�fied, assessed and controls are applied throughout the year by Senior Management and staff employed by the Charity. Each risk has been grouped and evaluated according to priority and assigned to the relevant sub-commi�ees for detailed review at least every six months. The Charity is subject to regular inspec�ons by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and is required to conform to the Na�onal Care Standards.

Health and Safety

As an employer, the Charity holds Health and Safety ma�ers paramount, working to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and other associated legisla�on. The CEO is responsible for monitoring The Meath's policy and its implementa�on, maintenance, and ongoing review.

The Charity has a procedure for repor�ng accidents, diseases and dangerous occurrences to the Health and Safety Execu�ve and the Na�onal Care Standards Commission, with all records being kept for inspec�on.

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Related par�es

Apart from the above, no other Trustee Directors of The Meath have connec�ons with any other relevant interested par�es.

Reference & Administra�on

The Meath Epilepsy Charity - Registered Charity number: 200359

The Charity is controlled by its governing document, a Deed of Trust, and cons�tutes an unincorporated charity. This was founded under the name "The Meath Home for Epilep�c Women and Girls" in a Conveyance and Declara�on of Trust dated 28th October 1896. The latest change to the governing documented was during May 2015.

The Meath Trustee Company Limited - Registered Company number: 05822835

The Meath Trustee Company Limited was incorporated on the 19th of May 2006 and is the Trustee of The Meath Epilepsy Charity.

Principal address & contact details

Westbrook Road Godalming, Surrey, GU7 2QH

Tel: 01483 415095 info@meath.org.uk www.meath.org.uk

Patrons

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Trustee Directors

Senior Management Team

Auditor & Advisors

Auditors: MHA, 2 London Wall Place, London, EC2Y 5AU Main Bankers: Lloyds Bank Plc, 49 High Street Godalming Surrey, GU7 1AT Investment Advisor: JM Finn & Co, 4 Coleman Street London, EC2R 5TA

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Statement of Trustee Responsibili�es

The Trustee Directors are responsible for preparing the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

The law applicable to charities in England and Wales, the Charities Act 2011, Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the Trust Deed requires the Trustee Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the situation of the Charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the Charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the Trustee Directors are required to:

The Trustee Directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the Trust Deed.

They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The Trustee Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the Charity and financial information included on the Charity's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

APPROVED ON BEHALF OF THE TRUSTEES

Graham Healy – Chair of Trustees The Meath Trustee Company Limited Date : 23/07/2025

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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF MEATH EPILEPSY CHARITY

Opinion

ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Cash Flows and the notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report.

We are independent of the Charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is su�icient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. Our evaluation of the Trustees’ assessment of the entity’s ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting included critical reviews of budgets and forecasts provided.

to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the

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Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of our knowledge and understanding of the Charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Trustees’ Report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Charities (Accounts and Report) Regulations 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of Trustees

As explained more fully in the Trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on page 23, the Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are responsible for assessing the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using

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the going concern basis of accounting unless the Trustees either intend to liquidate the Charity or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The specific procedures for this engagement and the extent to which these are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/Our-Work/Audit/Audit-andassurance/Standards-and-guidance/Standards-and-guidance-for-auditors/Auditors-responsibilitiesfor-audit/Description-of-auditors-responsibilities-for-audit.aspx. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

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Use of our report

This report is made solely to the Charity’s Trustees, as a body, in accordance with Part 4 of the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Charity’s Trustees those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Charity and its Trustees, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

MHA, Statutory Auditor London, United Kingdom

Date: 07/08/2025

MHA is the trading name of MHA Audit Services LLP, a limited liability partnership in England and Wales (registered number OC455542)

MHA are eligible to act as auditors in terms of section 1212 of the Companies Act.

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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

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BALANCE SHEET

AS AT 31 MARCH 2025

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Trustee Directors on 23 July 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:

Graham Healy (Chair of the Board of Trustee Directors) The Meath Trustee Company Limited

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STATEMENT OF CASHFLOWS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

a) Basis of preparing the financial statements

The accounts & financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS102) applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with FRS102 the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland and the Charities Act 2011 and UK Generally Accepted Practice as it applies from 1 January 2015.

The accounts (financial statements) have been prepared to give a ‘true and fair’ view and have departed from the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 only to the extent required to provide a ‘true and fair view’. This departure has involved following the Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014 rather than the previous Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities which was effective from 1 April 2005 but which has since been withdrawn.

The Meath Epilepsy Charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).

Having considered the financial position of the Meath Epilepsy Charity and plans and forecasts for future periods, the Trustees are satisfied that there is no material uncertainty around the ability of the Charity to continue as a going concern for the foreseeable future. The financial statements have therefore been prepared on the basis that the charity is a going concern. The Trustees will continue to monitor the Charity’s financial performance and risk exposure closely and will take appropriate action to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Charity and it’s activities.

b) Income

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received, and the amount can be measured reliably. The main sources of income are from local authorities for providing high levels of care and residential accommodation, this is supplemented by income from social enterprises providing products & services to external clients and the general public. Income from local authorities is recognised in the year that care and accommodation is provided. Income from social enterprises is recognised in the year that a sale occurs. Donations are recognised on receipt.

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

c) Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category.

Direct costs are those which are wholly attributable to a particular activity.

Support costs have been apportioned by reference to direct staff costs as an indication of activity and usage

d) Raising funds

Raising funds includes all expenditure incurred by the charity to raise funds for its charitable purposes and includes costs of all fundraising activities, events and noncharitable trading.

e) Governance costs

This comprises the costs of compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.

f) Taxation

The charity is exempt from tax on its charitable activities and has been deregistered for VAT since 1 November 2023.

g) Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

The charity’s policy is to capitalise assets that cost £1,000 or more individually or where an investment in multiple related items together cost £1,000 or more.

h) Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the Trustees. The general fund comprises unrestricted funds which are neither designated by Trustee Directors nor restricted by donors.

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

Fund accounting (continued)

Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.

There is one remaining designated fund within the Trust which form part of the unrestricted funds.

The Endowment Fund represents the original gift to the charity of its freehold land and building in 1896, as augmented by subsequent revaluations. The endowment fund supports part of the value of investment in Fixed Assets. At the year end the endowment fund has been transferred to the capital fund.

The designated "Capital fund" has been established to support the value of investment in Fixed Assets, and thus cannot be used for the general purposes of the Charity.

i) Investments

Investments are valued at market value as at the balance sheet date. Realised and unrealised gains and losses arising on the revaluation of investments are credited or charged to the Statement of Financial Activities.

j) Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits

The charity supports a defined contribution group personal pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charity's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.

These contributions are invested in an insurance company and are therefore separate from the charity's assets.

k) Employee benefits

Short term employee benefits, such as wages and salaries, are accrued at the amount expected to be paid for the relevant at service and not discounted for the time value of money.

Termination benefits are paid immediately on termination and are therefore accrued at the amount expected to be paid and not discounted for the time value of money.

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

l) Financial instruments

The Meath Epilepsy Charity Trust has financial assets of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at the present value of future cash flows (amortised costs). No discounting has been applied to these financial instruments on the basis that the periods over which amounts will be settled are such that any discounting would be immaterial.

m) Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation

In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, which are described within the notes above, the Trustee Directors are required to make judgements, estimates, assumptions about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and underlying assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an on-going basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects the current and future periods.

In the view of the Trustee Directors, no assumptions concerning the future or estimation uncertainty affecting assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date are likely to result in a material adjustment to their carrying amounts in the next financial year.

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

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