Official- Financial THE FREE HOSPITAL FUND FOR CHILDREN CHARITY REGISTRATION IYUMBER: 205115 A￿NUAL REPORT AND AccouNfs FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31ST 2024 Official- Financial THE FREE HOSPITAL FUND FOR CHILDREN LECAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS FOR ST THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 2024 LEGAL STATUS: Registered Charity Number.. 205115 RECISTERED OFFICE: Gloucestershire County Council Shire Hall weStga￿ Street Gloucesier GLI 2TG BANKERS: Lloyds Bat￿ PLC Easigaie Street Gloucesier GLI INU INVESTMENTS: CCLA Fund Managers Ltd One Angel Lane London EC4R 3AB INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS.. Audit Risk Assuran￿ Shared Service Glouccstershire County Council Shire Hall Wesigatc Stre¢t Gloucestcr GLI 2TG CHARITY TRUSTEES: T￿Stee5 who served during the year were as follows: Mr R Stsnley - Chairnian Mrs D Fenton- Life Trustee Dr G Cole- Retired GP Heather Sutclifye Ruth Woodliffe Jame5 D Fenton- appointed 30 June 2023 ORGANISATIONAL STRucfuRE: The Free H05Pit&l Fund for Children is a re8lSt¢red charity and the Trustees ar¢ responsible for its overall management ond administratton. The invesijnents are held by th¢ Offi¢ial Custodian of Chariti¢s. Clerk.. Oliver Brown- Gloucester City Coun¢il Treasurer.. Mrs K Chisholm- Gloucestershire County Council Administration.. Admin Gloucester Familie5 First Te4m- Glouc¢stershire County Council RELATED PARTJES: Gloucestershire County Council Glouce$ter City Council Official- Financial THE FREE HOSPITAL FUND FOR CHILDREN TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH JIST 2024 Background and History: The Free Hospital Trust Fund has been in existence since 1947 and originates from the creation of a free hospital for sick children from poor families in 1866. Below is 8 brief history of the hospital and the crediion of the Trust Fund. In 1866 a free hospital for children of the poor was established nexi to St. Lucy's Home of Charity between Kingsholm and Longford. The home, a converted villa east of rhe Tewkesbury Road, wa5 occupied by the sisiers of St. Lucy. an Anglican community founded in 1864 by Thomas Gambier PaJTy of Highndm to irain nurses and lend the sick in their homes. By 1866 ihe sisiers. who were sent 10 many Pdrts of the couniry, nursed some patients in the home. Gambicr PaTry also conceived the idca for the children'5 hospital in ¢onn¢xion with the home and paid much of the building costs, The hospital, a brick building designed by William Jacques, op¢ned in 1867 wilh 22 bed5. Children of ihe poor from any disrance were admitted and out-patients were treated at a house in Bell Lane. The hospital was supported by subscription5 and donation5. In 1872 the sisiers of Si. John Ihe Baptist from Clewer (Berks.) took over the work of the sisters of St. Lucy. In 1876 Gambier Parry moved ihe home io a large house at the comer of Hare Lane and Pitt Street. The new home included a ward for fee-paying in£urables from 1883 and adjoined the hospita15 Outpalient departinent, (which occupied the building known as College Gardens) from 1873 to 1905, when a new dispensary opened in the hospital's grounds. In 1921 ihe sisiers gave up their wod( at the hospital and the management committee made new arraTh￿ementS, introducing payments for patients, keep according to means. Further chan¥e5 in management came ID 1928 when the Cl¢wer si51ers resumed their work. ond from 1929 Lhildren sent by the Gloucestershire Royal Infirniary were admitted. The Clewer sisters were su¢ceeded at the hospital in 1939 by ihe nursing sisleTS of Si. John the Divine from Deptford IK¢nt). In 1941 accommodation was increased but in 1947 ihe hospital was closed and sold to the city corporaLion. The proceeds of the sale supported a fund for the relief of sick children. Ch¥Jrlty Objeetlves and Aetlvltlej: In line with the Charity's 8oveming document, The Free Hospital Fund for Children provides grdnts for the benefit of sick and sutTerin8 children who reside in Gloucestershire. The grdnts include.. Clothin8 artd shoes and if applicable, bedding grants for individual ¢hildr¢n and thcir siblings {wh0 are 4g¢d 18 years and under at the tim¢ of the fLtndin8 allocation),. and Blwk grants to other organisation51chariti¢s for relevant projEct5. Any of the following ￿lt¢ria must b¢ met lo be eligible.. Families where childr¢n have significant health probl¢ms' F￿llieS where the parents have significant health problem5. Families wh(Tr live in poor housing andlor domestic violence i55ue5 are present. or FaTnilie5 wher¢ th¢ Children have physical, emotional, or social problclns. Official- Financial THE FREE HOSPITAL FUND FOR CHILDREN REPORTS AND FJNAIYCJAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31ST 2024 ANNUAL REPORT The Trustees present their report for the year ended Morch 315t 2024 iogether with the financial ststements. Achlevements and performance The chariry works with Glou¢e$tershire County Council (GCC) to process the Fund grdnt applications. GCC administraiion verify all th¢ Early Help Assessments {EHA) and non-Early Help A5%ssm¢nts {non-EHA) for GCC to ensure all th¢ ¢rit¢ria h&8 b¢¢n m¢t, the correci amount of funding has been applied for, and that the fomily has noi received any ￿ndIng during the last year. GCC mainlain audit trail of all grant applications and award payments. This work 18 CaJTied out at no charge to the Fund. Th¢ Cherity fvnds ar¢ invested with CCLA Fund Manogers Ltd - COIF Chariiies Investtnents Fund. Interest from ihis account is paid quarterly ¢0 the F￿d,% nominated bank account. Trustees meet 4 times a year to consider 8rani making, block commissioning applications, reserve$, risk managemenl policies and perfomiance. The ￿ndIng available for the yeAr is baged on the interest received from CCLA in the previou5 year. The figure is divided by 4 to work out the Amount available for the first Tnjstee meeting of the year, if Ihe amount is underlover spent ihis is reflected in the next Trustee meeting. Application appToval and funding allocation 15 co￿p]e1¢d by the Fund Trustees. GCC facilitote ihe payment of grants via the Charity. Priority payments ar¢ giY¢n to non-EHA appliegtions and then EHA applications. Grant Funding Available from April 2019.. up to 4 years old £60.00. aged 5-10 £75.00; and aged I l- 18 £110.00. During January 2023 it was agreed to in¢Tease the 11-18 grani funding to £150.00. The Charity will only pay the rnaximum grani available to a Lhildlyouns person in any 12 month period following the date of the first ¢lairn. Bedding grant was introduced frorn April 2018, for a Child who has incontinence problems (only lor that child and not the sibling5) £40.00 {toward$ ihe pur¢ha5e of mttttress protectors)- Durrn8 2023124, 38 grant applications were opproved which included 73 children, compared to 38 appli¢ation3 and 95 ¢hildr¢n in 2022123. Summgr GCC non-EHA 23124 A lications CCC EHA TotAI 38 14 24 No of Children: U to 4 Years 5-10 Years 11- IS Years Total io 31 32 26 23 18 55 73 All grnnt payments w¢r¢ madc within 2023124. Official Financial THE FREE HOSPITAL FUND FOR CHILDREN REPORTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 315f2024 ANNUAL REPORT Applications awarded- clothln¥? $ho¢$ & mAttreu pro￿torS All 38 grant applications in 2023124 were approved by the Charity. Of this.. l applieation was queried. and further infoTmation was required before the grant was awarded. 7 applications w¢r¢ partly or fijlly re￿nded in year, rea50n5 being not all the funding was requiTed or no long¢r n¢¢d¢d. Six 8ppli¢8tions were EHA and the other one non-EHA, which were all refunded back to th¢ Charity. Block Commlmioning During ih¢ yc4r ¢nd¢d 31" Morch 2021, the fijnding grant available w&8 not all dispersed, leaving 5UTpIu5 of fvnds. Th¢ same tr¢nd had ocCU￿ed in the previou5 5 financial years. Raiher than reinvesiiog these surplu5 funds, the Trusiees, after seeking guidance from the Charity Commission. now offer blo¢k ¢ommissionin8 grants of up 10 £3,SOO.QO PCT grant application. Flexibility on lhe block commissioning grant threshold wag discussed and agreed at the 13th January 2023 Trust Board, which confimied that ihe £3,500 wa5 a guideline and not & cap. A breadth of projects have been supported within Glou¢e51ershire io dole, all with deliverables ali8n¢d io th¢ Free Hospital Fund for Children's objectives. The charity ¢ri¢eria for gr￿1 award5 5els out outcome reports and presentation on completion of the projed. During this financial year, block commissioning grants of £18,679.02 were made compared with £13,236.31 made durin8 the pr¢vious financial year 2022123. I l Block Commi55i0TJing Proje¢is were approved in 2023124, these are ongoing. and payments are made as and wh¢n required. The type of settin8, project and aims of the granis are as follow5.' School - Proj￿1 'Every ¢hild deserves io be safe, happy, listened to and heord,. The provision of mentsl health F4war¢n¢ss training for teachers at an inset day. Aim of the project is 5UPPOrting prim8ry age children, who have suffered adveise childhood experiences IACE'5), offering early intervention to deal wilh their emer8in8 mental health issues before they become a tnore 5ignifi¢ant problem. To enable children to understhnd their lived experience5 nd teach them effe¢tiv¢ and lifelong strategies they can use to improve th¢ir resilience and mental health wellbein8. £250.00 awarded. 2. Local authority- Project 'Early Help summer transition programm¢'. Aim of the project 15 the nning of a progrdmme designed to SUp￿rt idenLified groups of young p¢opl¢ who are making the transition behveen primary and secondary school. The children identified are those who have no or little intervention from external agencies or sources, would benefit from friendshiplrelationship supporL have difficulty formin8 new relaiionships, difficulty with change or new situations, have poor attendance duc to anxiety and poor social skills and peer relationship worries possibly around bullying. Th¢ design of the programm¢ compl¢tnents the transition work carried out ￿rosS 10 Secondary 5¢hools and approximately 60 primary schools across thE county of Gloucestershire to identify a group of 21M) young peopl¢ that would benefit from additional 5UPPOrt at this crucial point in their emotional and academic development. Awarded £3,5￿.00. Offi¢ial- Financial THE FREE HOSPITAL FUND FOR CHILDREN REPORTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31ST 2024 ANNUAL REPORT School- Projeet 'Postgrdduat¢ diploma in play th¢Tapy' Aim of the project is io train a member of staff io b¢¢om¢ a fully qualified play therapist io allow working with children with moderate to severe problems and to work with a wider range of children within ihe school including those with social ¢ar¢ involvement. looked after and more complex needs. as well as offering therapeuti¢ group WOTk. This will also help the worker lo make links with other settings io offer this support. Awarded £3,500.IJO. 4. Charity- Playgroup. Project 'Family Friday Food,. Aim of the project is after playgroup, to s¢rv¢ a hot dish along with platter of fresh fruit and vegetables. This is eaten in the café wh¢rc families can sit together. The reason to feed both child and parent is because the focus of thc group, is attachment and pujposeful learning through play. Awarded £3,447.50. 5. Chartty- Music. Project'community Music Studio and Young People's Hub. Aim of the project 15 to C5tablish another hub for the young people in the area, reaching 600 young p¢opl¢ mainly froTn challenging circumsiances (disability or long-tem) health ¢ondilion). Grnnl will eover easy acce85 instruments and equipment for the sensory room to support and ¢nri¢h th¢ lives of di￿bled young individuals in an inclusive and stimulating environment. Awarded £3,500.00. Charity - Supporting Victims of Crime and Traumatic Incidents. Projeci 'lnside ond Out,, a six week programme for young people to support them io connect with their inner selves whilst spending time outside connectin8 Wlth Tha￿re. Aim is io offer young people a space to build Tesilience, confidence and comp&ssion using nature conneciion artd mirtdfulne$8. Awarded £1,860.00. 7. School- Project'Let's C￿k Together.. Aim is to start a new cooking club for parents and hildren- to learn to cook together 8nd eat healthily and use this opportunity lo build relationships, (rnst and support for Healthy Eating. Award¢d £1,200.00. This will provide more opporDJnitie8 to build on their skills, ¢onfid¢n¢e, and knowledge. School- Project'Play Centre and Pastoral Support Developrnent,. Grant to ￿nd book resources. sensory equipmen(, dolls hous¢/role play iterns and kettle. Play centre to be used to increase the variety of suprA)rt offered to familie5 of pupils attending the 5ettin& which will enable further impact. Will hold workshops and courses to target specific areos of ditTiculty such as sleep, behaviour, and toileting. Re50urce5 will be 5UPPOrtive of development and learning around emotions and well-bein8, creating a Safe place. Awarded £1,750.(K). Arts & Education- Charity. Proje¢t'Engage Youth Circus,. Aim to provide a warni. safe place for young people to ¢ongregate. Funding to supw)rt the increased costs of heatin8 the venue. Awarded £1,300.(K). 10. Sport5- Charity. Project'sports Progrdmme,. Aim to provide sports sessions for disabled ¢hildr¢n and young people, specifically venue hire for swimming and Rebound Therapy. The ¢harity Provides regular physical activity for those who simply cAnnot aecess it without specialist support and equipment. Awarded £3.500.00. I l. School (GCC). Project'Early Years Play8round Transformation, Airn to create a playful, engaging envirotllnent that sparks joy amon85t pupils and provid¢5 inclusiv¢ opportllniti¢5 to learn and explore. Grant to fund maintenance work and resources to be u5¢d by th¢ Children. Grant award £3,500.(K). Offl¢lal- FSnancial THE FREE HOSPITAL FUND FOR CHILDREN REPORTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31- 2024 ANNUAL REPORT FlnAncial Statements The revenue account shows a deficit of incoTn¢ against expenditure for the year amounting to £3,938.07 {£14,740.95 less £18,679.02 for block commissioning) compared to a Surplus of £2,752.21 (£15,988.52 less £13.236.31 for block commissioning} in 2022123, compared to a deficit of £157.01 (£19,088.07 le55 £19,245.08 for block commissioning) in 2021122. Income receivable at £25,398.77 hgs increased by £97.54 in comparison with £25.301.23 in 2022r23. GTants payabl¢ and ¢xp¢ns¢s at £29.336.84 {include £18.679.02 for block commissioning projects. Treasurer Honoraria £1,300.00 and Independent Examiners Fees £1,750.00) have increa5¢d by £6,787.82 in ¢ornpari5on wi¢h £22.549.02 (include £13,236.31 for block commissioning projects 4Dd Treasurer Honoraria £1,265.00). The market value of ihe investments, managed by the oifi¢ial Custodian for Charities, is valued at £948,917.12 pnd has in¢r¢a$ed by £78.764.50 by wE4y of comp4risoD in 2022123 the inY¢stm¢nlS decreased by £34.222.62. Rejerve Account The Chority operate on¢ unr¢5triri¢d ftu)d only, due lo the cu￿ent operations and needs ofthe Charity. The operational approach of th¢ Charity is to use the intere5¢ from investtnents (plus the availabl¢ ¢a5h surplus) only on annual grnnts ac¢ivities. Investmeni balance5 ar¢ mainiained. The Trust has agreed that a re￿rY¢ account will be introduced where fvnds available in the bank (excluding investment balan￿$) reduce (0 £20,000. Thi5 Posltion has not occurred to date and h¢n¢¢ has not been actioned. orndal- Flnanthal THE FREE HospifAL FUND FOR CHILDREN statemènt ol Fin nclal A tiYi¢le5 SOF arch 2024 Nolgs 2024 2U23 Oivid8nds on Inv85bn8nts Donations 25,398.77 0.00 25,301.23 0.00 25.398.77 25,301.23 endil Grnnts Payqb Ralurned Gianls Honoraria Block Commissioning Indopandonl Examinern F9•8 8,160 ts) -552.18 1,300.00 18,679.02 8 1750,00 8,537.73 490.02 1.265 00 13,236.31 0.00 29,336.84 22,549.02 Excwi of Income Over Expondllur• 4 938.07 2 762.21 The notel on p*gM g*nd 10 frffrn w in¢•yl yrtoflh•B• •xrunt•, Thp llthenliai 7 to 10 Indull￿w•r* •PPTov•a tyltki Tru•t• OCTrJ6EL ZIL •nd •19n￿ on Ih•lrW•lfby'. ThE FREE HOSPITAL FUND FORCHILDREN B•￿￿she•l ForThe Y•arend•d JiBtIAllrGh 2024 2023 ,917.12 870.152.62 8,379.40 77,858 s2 Cash ai Bank 80,144 13 U4,Z3492 UO,421.99 L￿1 8Lv*Jry Crnditarn 1.T¥O.QO 0.00 Toiol N8tAM 676. Bllaru brauohlfor￿r0 LYc•Mol Imr Ftyth•Y•w UNeall•od {th•e*yo￿nI 966,576.61 13.938.071 qOB,048.02 2,762.21 1031AO1￿￿ Officlal- Flnancial THE FREE HOSPITAL FUND FOR CHILDREN Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31st March 2024 2024 2023 1 Investments Charities Official Investment Fund.. Ori nal Pur¢hases.' Capital Accounl124,343.89 unts @ £1 each Income Account119,531.6 units @ £1 each) 24,343.89 19.531.60 43.875.49 24,343.89 19,531.60 43,875.49 Additional Purchases". Income AC￿UntI2.S6s.84 units 1,169.21pl 30,000.00 73,875.49 30,000.00 73.875.49 Capital Accounl124,343.89 uni18 Income Accounl122,097.44 units 2,043.26pl 2,043 26p} 497,408.97 451,508.15 948,917.12 456,121.73 414,030.89 870,152.62 Market value al the end of the year 27 Mar¢h 2014 investment purchase Market value at the beginning of the year 948,917.12 0.00 870,152.62 78,764 50 870,152.62 0.00 904,375.24 34,222.62 £30,000 was invested as al 27 March 2014. This was agreed and recorded by the Trusts8s. This PUTchased an additronal 2,565.84 units in the Income A¢¢ount COIF Charities Investment Fund on 27 March 2014. As al 31 March 2014 a totsl of 22,097.44 units were held by the fund compaTed 10 19,531.60 units as of 31 March 2013. No additional pur¢ha$8s have been completed since 2013114 2 Sund Debtor8 al Dividends on investments due al March 31st re￿IVed after balance sheet dale 6,376.40 6.278.86 3 Sund Creditor8 al Grants 8ulhorised ty the Trustees during the year but unpaid al balance sheel dale bl Honoraria cl Invoices received but not paid before the balance sheet date - Grants payable dl Cheque not presented el 2023124 Independent Examination Fees 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1,750.00 0.00 0.00 Offici31- Flnènclal THE FREE HOSPITAL FUND FOR CHILDRE Notes to IhÈ financAal statements for the y8ar ended 3181 March 2024 4 Related P Transa ns No rglatad party transacb'ons have c4xurred ￿th Trustees in 2023f24 or prior year. No relalad party trans8clions have occuThed with GIouc8s1er Cty Council in 2023124 or prior year. GIOu￿ster City Council Trust Clerk support Is provided fw of chargè to the cha¢ty. Rel8t8d paty transactions occur annually with Gloucestershire County Council who.. C Act as a conduit for dislrlbution and payment of EHA and non EHA grants lo appllcanl8, based on the appllcation and ass8ssmenl proc8ss in place. 11 The Earfy Help Surnmer Transition Prograrnme block commi8slonlng grant. The £3,500 grant application was confirmed a8 in line wlh Trust objedives and approvad by the Trust 8oar(1 in April 2023, T￿ projed was d&liv8red by the Counul ￿thIn 202&24. Can bè a roule for blook comml85ionlng payments, where th8 approved applicant18 8 Local Authority Malnlained SC￿1 Act 08 the route for payment of the Charity Trea8urér13ee note 61.. and O Thè £1,750 IndepenL1enl Examin81ion 2023.24 Ige. The actlvily was delivgfed by ARA, a shared Service oslgd by GIouc081grshire County Council. The f8e has beèn treated as a creditor within the 2023-24 Trust ac¢ounl$. GIouc8slershire County Council do not charge th9 Trust for compl8llng th8 above payment procArysse8. Payments madè Ic& Gloucestershire County Council lor the above transaction typ88 for bolh 2023124 and 2022123 h8d no nel flnanoal galn lor the Council. All rebevanl amoun15 were dlstributed to end recipient8 Ilhe approved applicants) In lin8 with Tru81 request on gpprove£1 aotNilles. I cloBur• of stge R n•ra an onB• Trustees do not receive Remun8ralion, Benefits or Expenses. No payments of ihi5 natu￿ ￿re made in ellher 2023124 or 2022123. The Trust do not have staff co818. No paymenls ol this natur8 were made in &ithor 2023r24 or 2022123. 8cIosU f Ind• endtr Examinati n and Oth r Flnancl I r¥lc•8 The Trustee TrÈasurer received an annual honarium of £1,300.CQ in 2023124 and in comparison £1,265 during 2022r23. The annual charge is agreed by the Twstees and Ihg agreement minuled. Audll Risk Assurance Sh8r8d Service al Gloucestershi￿ County Council were cornmissloned lo complete the 2023124 Independent Examination at an agreed fee of £1,750. 2022123 Independent Examination was provided gratis through Gloucester City Council and the Audil Risk Assurance Shared Service. 2022123 was Ihe first year where the Trust requi￿ an In(Jependent Examination du6 to Ihelgvel of Income exceeding the Chawty Comrnis$ion £25,000 threshold. 10 OfFicial- Financial THE FREE HOSPITAL FUND FOR CHILDREN STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTING POLICILS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31sf2024 The Trustees have adopted the following policies in order to deiemine rhe value of material items includ¢d in th¢ balanc¢ 5h¢¢t and also lo ¢stablish the ¢xccss of income over expenditure for the year- Bagis of Accountin¥ The financial statements have bcen prepared on th¢ a¢¢ruals basis under the historical cost convention. in accordance with a¢coun¢ing $tandards and the Charity Commission Statement Of Recommended Pmtice (SORP). The accounts have been prepared on a goin8 concern basis. At the point of accounts preparation and si8n off, there are no material un¢ertainti¢$ regords the ¢harity's ability to continue. b) Invejtments Investments have been valued at market value on the bal4n¢e sh￿¢ dat¢ and the unrealised 8ainlloss has been set agyjinst th¢ accumulal¢d unrestricted fijnds. Tax•tlon As a choriry. re8lStered under the Charities Act, The Free Hospital Fund for Children is exempt from taxation on its income and capital gains. Official- Financial THE FREE HOSPITAL FUND FOR CHILDREN THE TRUSTEES AccouJwfINC RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31ST 2024 The Trustees are requir¢d to prepare the accounting statements for each financial year, in compliance with the Charities Act 2011 and ChArity Comrnis5ion SORP, which provides a m]e and fair view of the $tate of affairs of the Charity. In preparing the financial statements, they must consider accouniing conc¢pis, as follows.. Adoption of suitable accounting polieieg and iheir consistent application. b) Making judgements and e$limat¢s whi¢h are reasonable ond prndent. and Producing accounts on a going ¢on¢ern b￿19 unless it is known that the Charity's activities are to b¢ dis¢ontinu¢d. The Trustees are also responsible for the ke¢ping of propcr ￿cOUntIng ￿cOrds, which will readily di5c105e the financial position of the Charity at any giv¢n tim¢. Furth¢r, they are responsible for feguarding the asseis of the Charity and Should iherefore take all reasonable steps to prevent and detect fraud and other ]￿egulArlties. 12 Inde endent Examiner's Re ort Report to the trusteesl members of The Free Hospital Fund for Children On accounts for the year ended 31st March 2024 Charity no lif any) 205115 We report to the Trustees on our examlnation of the accounts of the above charity {'the Trust") for the year ended 31 March 2024. Responsibilities and As the charlty Truslees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basis of report acGounts in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 I-the Act"). We report in respect of our examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carying out our examination, we have followed all the applicab18 Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515){b) of the Act. Independenl We have completed our examination. We confirm that no material examinerfs statement mallers have come to our attention in connection with the examination which gives u8 cause to believe that in, any material respect: Th8 accounting records were not kept in accordance with Section 130 of the Act; or The accounts did not accord with the accounting records., or iii. The accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of account5 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. We have no concems 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. Name: Stephanie Payne Fellow m8mber of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) Jllckn Relevanl professional qualificationlsl or body.. Name: Jos8phine Church Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy {CIPFA) Relevant professional qualification{s) or body.. Address.. Audit Risk Assurance Shared SeNice (ARA), Gloucestershire County Council, Shire Hall, Westgate Street, Gloucester, GL1 2TG 8th October 2024 Date.. Ind8 endent Examiner Re ort-lm rovement o ortunities This section ofthe report is designed to offer the examiner opportunity to highlight matters identified during the course of the examination. For example, where improvement to systems, process or controls could be considered by the TTUStees. Give here details of any items that the examiner wishes to raise for the Trustees consideration. 2023-24 15 the first financial year where the independent examination of the accounts has incurred a fee. The Trust Statement of Accounts 2023-24 have been updated to include the agreed fee as a Greditor and ensure relevant disclosure notes in line with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP). Where future Independent examination activilies incur a fee, the Trust should ensure inclusion of the fee estimate within relevant expenditure forecasting.