THE FREE HOSPITAL FUND FOR CHILDREN CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 205115 ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31ST 2025
Official- Financial THE FREE HOSPITAL FUND FOR CHILDREN LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31ST 2025 LEGAL STATUS.. - Registered Charity Number.. 205115 REGISTERED OFFICE: Gloucestershire County Council Shire Hall Weslgale Street Gloucester GL12TG BANKERS: Lloyds Bank PLC Easlgate Street Gbucesler GL11NU INVESTMENTS: CCLA Fund Managers Ltd One Angel Lane London EC4R 3AB INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS: Audit Risk Assurance Shared Service Gloucestershire County Council Shire Hall Weslgate Street Gloucester GL12TG CHARITY TRUSTEES: Trustees who served during the year were as follows.. Mr R Stanley - Chairman Mis D Fenton - Life Trustee Dr G Cole- Retired GP Heather Sulcliffe Ruth Woodliffe James D Fenton ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE: The Free Hospital Fund for Children is a registered charity. and the Trustees are responsible for its overall management and adminislralion. The investments are held by the Offich21 Custodian of Charities. Clerk.. Oliver Brown Gloucester City Council Treasurer.. Mrs K Chisholm- Gloucestershire County Council Adminislralion'.Admin Gloucester Families First Team- Gloucestershire County Council RELATED PARTIES: Gloucestershire County Council and Gloucester City Council
Official- Financial THE FREE HOSPITAL FUND FOR CHILDREN TRUSTEES REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31ST 2025 Background and Hlstory: The Free Hospital Trust Fund has been in existence Sin 1947 and originates from the creation of a free hospital for sick children Irom poor families in 1866. Below is a brief history of the hospital and the creation ol the Trust Fund. In 1866 a free hospital ft)r children of the poor was established next to Sl. Lucy's Home of Charity beeen Kingsholm and Longfoid. The home, a converted villa east of the Tewkesbury Road, was occupied by the sisters of St. Lucy, an Anglican community founded in 1864 by Thomas Gambier Parry of Highnam lo train nurses and lend the sick in their homes. By 1866 the sisters, who were sent lo many parts of the country. nLJrsed some patients in the home. Garnbier Parry also conceived the idea for the children's hospital in connexion with the home and paid much of the building ¢osls. The hospital. a brick building designed by Vwlliam Jacques, opened in 1867 with 22 beds. Children ol the poor from any distance were admilled and oul-palients were tated al a house in Bell Lane. The hospital was supported by subscriptions and donations. In 1872 the sisters of Sl. John the Baptist from Clewer IBerks.I took over the worf( of the sisters of Sl. Lucy. In 1876 Gambier Parry moved the home to a large house al the corner of Hare Lane and Pill Street. The new home included a ward for fee-paying incurables from 1885 and adjoined the hospitals oulpalienl department, Iwhich occupièd the building known as College Gardens) from 1873 10 1905. when a new dispensary opened in the hospital's grounds. In 1921 the sisters gave up IheiF work al the hospital and the management committee made new arrangements, IntrSuC1ng payments for patients, keep a¢¢ording lo means. FLJrther changes in management came in 1928 when the Clewer sisters resumed their work, and from 1929 children sent by the Gloucestershire Royal Infirmary were admilled. The Clewer sisters were succeeded al the hospital in 1939 by the nursing sisters of Sl. John the Divine from Deplford {Kenti. In 1941 accommodation was increased but in 1947 the hospital was closed and sold lo the city corporation. The proceeds of the sale sUPPOrted a fund for the relief of sick children. Charlty Objectives and Act]vltigs: In line with the Charity's governing document, The Free Hospita1 Fund for Children provides grants for the benefit of sick and suffering children who reside in Glouceslershire. The grants include.. 1. Clothing and shoes and if applicable, bedding grants for individual children and their siblings (who are aged 18 years and under al the lime of the fL)nding allocation).. and 2. Block grants lo other organisalionslcharities for relevant projects. Any of the following criteria musl be mel lo be eligible.. 1. Families where chiklren have significant health problems,. 2. Families where the parents have significant health problems," 3. Families who live in Poor housing andlor domest violence issues are present,. or 4. Families where the children have physical, emotional. or social problems.
Official- Finanaal THE FREE HOSPITAL FUND FOR CHILDREN REPORTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31ST 2025 The Trustees present their report for the year ended March 31 2025 together with the financial statements. Achlevements and performance The charity works with Gloucestershire County Council IGCCI lo pr(Kess the Fund grant applications. GCC adminislralion verify all the Early Help Assessrnenls IEHAI and non-Early Help Assessments Inon-EHAI for GCC to ensLJre all the criteria has been mel, the Cor01 amount ol funding has been applied for. and that the family has not received any funding during the last year. GCC maintain audit trail of all grsnl applications and award payments. This work is carried out al no charge lo the Fund. The Charity funds are invested with CCLA Fund Managers Ltd - COIF Charities Investments Fund. Interest from this account is paid quarterly lo the Fund's nominated bank account. Trustees meet 4 limes a year lo consider grant making, block commissioning applications, reserves, risk management, policies and performance. The funding available for the year is based on the interest received from CCLA in the previous year. The figure is divided by 4 to work out the amount available for the first Trustee meeting of the year, if the amount is underloverspenl this is reflected in the next Trustee meeting. Application approval and funding allocation is completed by the Fund Trustees. GCC facililale the payment of grants via the Charity. Priority payments are given lo non-EHA applications and then EHA applications. Grant Funding Available from 1st April 2019.. up to 4 years old £60.00., aged 5-10 £75.00., and aged 11-18 £110.00. During January 2023 il was agreed lo increase the 11-18 grant funding lo £150.00. The Charity will only pay the maximum grant available lo a childfyoung person in any 12-monlh period following the date of the fi'rst claim. Bedding grant was introduced from ISI April 2018, for a Child who has Incontinen problems (only for that child and not the siblings) £40.00 Ilowards the purchase of mattress proleclorsl. During 2024125, 41 grant applications were approved lof whh 2 were returned) which included 93 children lof which 6 relurnedl. compared lo 38 applications and 73 children in 2023124. Summa GCC non-EHA 24125 A Ilcatlons GCC EHA 28 Total 41 13 No of Children: U lo 4 Years 5-10 Years 11- 18Years Total 15 14 37 16 32 56 31 46 93 All grant payments were made within 2024125.
Official Financlal THE FREE HOSPITAL FUND FOR CHILDREN REPORTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31ST 2025 Applicatlons awarded - clothingi shoes & mattress protectors All 42 grant applications in 2024r25 were considered by the Trustees. Of this.. 41 were approved anc$ 1 was unsuccessful due to not meeting the charity's uiteria. I grant awarded exceeded the grant scale bul was aulhorised due to being accepted by Iruslees as an exceptional case. 9 applications were partly or fully refunded in year, reasons being not all the funding was required or no longer needed. Three applications were EHA11 for 24125 & 2 for 23r24 and six non-EHA {3 for 24125 and 3 for 231241, which We all refunded back lo the Charity. Block Commissioning & Donations During the year ended 3131 March 2025, the funding grant available was not all dispersed. leaving a surplus of funds. The same trend had occurred in the previous 8 financial years. Rather than reinvesting these surplus funds, the Trustees, after seeking guidance from the Charity Commission, now offer block commissioning grants of up to £3,500.00 per grant application. Flexibility on the block commissioning grant threshold was discussed and agreed al the 131h January 2023 Trust Board, which confirmed that the £3,500 was a guideline and not a cap. A breadth of projects has been supported within Gloucestershire lo dale, all with deliverables aligned lo the Free Hospital Fund for Children's objectives. The Charity criteria for grant awards sets out a requirement for outcome reports and presentation on completion of the projects. During this financial year, block commissioning grants of £40,374.90 and donations of £2,194.24 were made compared with block commissioning grants of £18,679.02 made during the previous financial year 2023124. 9 Block Commissioning applications were considered during 2024125. Of this, 8 were approved and 1 unsuccessful due lo not meeting charity's criteria. Of the 8 Block Commissioning Projects approved In 2024125. these are ongoing, and payments are made as and when required. The type of selling, project and aims of the grants are as follows.. 1. School- Project'Re-developmenl of Willow tunnel area,. Aim - Repair and develop an area of Willow trees within the Foresl School selling. Coppice and pollard the existing willow area I tunnel and remove the large arnounl ol dead willow trees and brash, this will allow new willow and other species lo grow, includes maintenance and additional re-planting. Selling will provide new willow lo be planted lo re-inslale and improve the existing area. Grounds worker lo clear some areas of the Forest School sile that have become very overgrown with nellles and brambles elc which currently restrict the amount of space these children have to play and learn in. This also slops us using these areas to expand the variety of activities and learning opportunities that we offer. £1,300.00 awarded. 2. School - Project 'Enlighlen Ability.. Adaptive Sensory Lighting for Special Needs.. Aim - To provide a large - scale sensory lighting experience in the sports hall lo provide a mulli-fLJnclional area. This is to develop.. enhanced sensory slimulalion, promotion ol physical activity and social interaction. Pfomolion of physical aclivily through dance, yoga, sensory movement and number of other activities which will encourage students to engage in physical aclivily, Promoting better health and well-being. Social inleraclion. promoting friendships and sense of bek)nging and lo Include families to social events. Awarded £3,500.00. 3. Sehool- Project'mental Health and Emotional Literacy room,. Aim- ResoLJrce and equip a calming, nurturing Spa for delivery of Social, Emotional and Mental Health inlervenlions and provide pastoral support lo all children across the school. A safe space lor Iherapeulic intervention and for visiting community therapists treating children of our school. Awarded £1,336.50.
Official- Finaneial THE FREE HOSPITAL FUND FOR CHILDREN REPORTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31ST 2026 4. School - Pioject'Enhancing our playground spaces,. Aim - Playground equipment lo brighten and refresh OLJr outdoor areas with new playground markings lo encourage outdoor activities and learning, irllprove children's mental health and well-being and support co-operative play and engagement. Awarded £2,000.00. 5. Charity - Project 'Refurbishmenl of Mini Bus, Aim- To refurbish one of the minibuses that is used to transport children from school lo the charity selling for after school club and to allend community events, facilitate outings for children and their families in the school holidays. This will provide transport for 17 children over 4 journeys each week in term lime. Awarded £4,300.00. 6. Charity- Projec1'ACSSlb1e support for Engage Youth Circus,. Aim - 'Engage' is an inclusThie circus and perfomiance project, which aims lo improve the wellbeing of young people by providing opportunities lo enjoy physical activity through circus and accessible aerial skills. Awarded Circus sourceS £1,119.00 and Healing £1,100.00 7. School - Projecl'Brealhing Space,. Aim- Extra funding for grant to purchase outdoor weatherproof clothing and wellies so children can enjoy the breathing space area, created after 8 previous grant awarded in 2022. Awarded £500.00 8. Charity. Projecl'Aclivity Hub Rent,. Aim - contribute towards renting of the hub. which is a vibrant space where families can come together to play, learn and connect, The HLJb is central lo the charity and hosts 2 wide range of activities that benefit the whole family such as the Toy Library, toddler groups, parent and carer workshops and slay and play sessions. It is also home lo activities geared tOW8rds teens and young adults with our gaming club, teen takeaway and young adult takeaway sessions being held al the Hub. There something for every child and young person here. whatever their age or need. Grant award £4,000.00 Donation lo Local hospital- Projecl'Emity's Gift,. Books purchased for usewhere children suffering from cancer. Awarded £194.24. Donation lo Charity- Projecl'Parenl support services forthe most vulnerable parents,. Parents who experience severe challenges due lo their home circumstances. This is work that is in high demand and has a significant, lasting impact for the families we support. The delivery is in the form of mentoring and support groups for Parents of teens, Currently support over 100 parents via this service. Awarded £1,000.00. Donation - Project 'Support and Crisis Grants,. Aim - to help with costs associated wlh travel to and from medical facilities and lo provide financial assist2n lo help with the purchase of specialized equipment to enhance the quality of life for children with disabilities. Awarded £1,000.00.
Official- Finanaal THE FREE HOSPITAL FUND FOR CHILDREN REPORTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR ST THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31 2025 Flnanclal Statements The revenue account shows a delicil of income against expenditure for the year amounting lo £29,461.401£10,913.50 less £40,374.90 for block commissioning), compared lo a deficit 01 £3,938.071£14,740.95 less £18,679.02 for block commissioningl in 23124 and compared to a surplus of £2,752.211£15,988.52 less £13,236.31 for block commissioning) in 2022r23. Income receivable at £25,960.71 has increased by £561.94 in comparison with an increase of £97.54 in 2023124. Grants payable and expenses al £55,422.11 lincludes £40,374 90 for block commissioning projects, Treasurer Honoraria £1,340.00 and Independent Examiners Fees £2,630.001£350.00 for 224 & £2,280.00 for 24r251 have increased in comparison lo 23124 £29,336.84 linclLJde £18,679.02 for block commissioning projects, Treasurer Honoraria £1,300.00 and Independent Examiners Fees £1,750.00) The market value of the inveslmenls, managed by the Official Custodian for Charities, is valued al £904,704.97 and has decreased by £44,212.15 by way ol comparison in 2023124 the investments increased by £78,764.50. Reserve Account The Charity operate one unreslricled fund only. due lo the current operations and needs of the Charity. The operational approach of the Charity is lo use the interest from investments Iplus the available cash surplus) only on annual grants activities. Investment balanS are maintained. The Trust has agreed that a reserve account will be introduced where funds available in the bank (excluding investment balances) redu to £20,000. This p¢)silion has not occurred lo dale and hence has not been actioned.
THE FREE HOSPITAL FUP4D FOR CHILDREN Staternent of Financial A¢tivStl8S SQFA For The Year Ended 31st March 2025 Noles 2025 2024 Income Dividends on Investments Oonalion8 25,0.71 25,398.77 000 25,960.71 25.398.77 Ex endilu ants Payatle Returned Granls Honor8ria BILKk Commis$ioning Donations Independenl Examiners Fees 10.135.20 -1,252.23 6 fj,340.00 40,374.90 2,194.24 6 2,630.00 8,160.00 -552 18 1,300.00 18,679.02 0.00 1,750. 55.422.11 29,336.84 Excess of Income Over Expendilurt -29,461.40 -3.938.07 Thè notescn 9&8$ and 10 an inl4fal thege8CIXJunl5. ThB slalgmért& pages 7 10 10 inclUVewe8 spwoved by the Tru51 and sbwed on thr bBhallby"
THE FREE HOSPITAL FUND FOR CHILD E Balance Sht ForThe Year 31st March 202S ¥esents 9D4.7N.97 948,917.12 D8blOI$ Cash ai B8nk 7,578.12 47,725.40 6.37840 77,858.52 55.303.52 84.234.92 Sundry Credilots 2280.txj 1,750.00 Total NelAgsets 957728.49 I,0314024 Unre Balance broughl lowaid Excess¢l ExpeilUre OverlnciTh ForlFtYear Ibs¥sVgaln5 1,031.402.04 129,461.401 44 212.15 95S,575.81 13.938.on 78,764.50 95T,72U.49 1,031,d02.04
Official- Financial. THE FREE HOSPITAL FUND FOR CHILDREN Notes lo the financial statements for the year ended 31 sl March 2025 2025 2024 1 Investments Charities Official Investment Fund.. Ori inal Purchases.. Capital Accounl124,343.89 units @ £1 each) Income Accounl119,531.6 units @ £1 each) 24,343.89 19,531.60 43,875.49 24,343.89 19,531.60 43,875.49 Additional Purchase$'. Income Account12,565.84 units @ £11.69211 30,000.00 73,875.49 30.000.00 73,875.49 Capital Accounl124.343.89 units @ £19.48061 Income Account {22,097.44 units @ £19.48061 474.233.58 430,471.39 904,704.97 497.408.97 451,508.15 948,917.12 Market value at the end of the year 27 March 2014 investment purchase Market value al the beginning of the year 904,704.97 0.00 948,917.12 44,212.15 948,917.12 0.00 870,152.62 78,764.50 £30,000 was invested as al 27 March 2014. This was agreed and recorded by the Trustees. This purchased an additional 2,565.84 units in the Income Account COIF Charities Investment Fund on 27 March 2014. As al 31 March 2014 a lolal of 22,097.44 units were held by the fund compared to 19,531.60 units as of 31 March 2013. No additional purchases were completed within 2016117. 2 Sund Debtors al Dividends on investments due al March 31st received after balance sheet dale bl Refunds due al March 31st received after balance sheet date 6,529.65 6.376.40 1,048.47 7.578.12 0.00 6.376.40 3 Sund Credltors al Grants authorised by the Trustees during the year but unpaid at balance sheet date b} Honoraria cl Invoices received but not paid before the balance sheet dale - Grants payable dl Cheque not presented 0.00 0.00 2,280.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2,280.00 0.00 0.00
Offlclal Financial THE FREE HOSPITAL FUND FOR CHILDREN Notès to the finanal statemen18 for the year ended 31st March 2025 4 Related Pa Transactions No lated party Iran58Ctions have occurred with Trustees in 2024125 or prior year. No related party transaction5 have occurred with Glouce81gr City Council in 2024r25 or prior year. Gloucester City Council Trust Cleik support is provided free of charge to the charity. Related party transactions occur annually with Gloucesl8rshire County Council who.. Act a$ a conduit for dlstribution and payment of EHA and non EHA grants to applicants, based on the application and asse8sment process in place.. Can be a roule for block cornrnissioning payments, where the approved applic8nl is a Local Authority Maintained School.. and Act as the roule for payment of the Charity Treasurer {see notè 61. O The £2,280.00 Independent Examination 2024-25 fee. The activity was dèlivered by ARA, a shared Service hosted by Gloucestershire County Council. The fee has been treated as 8 creditor within the 2024-25 Trust accounts. Gloucestershirè County Council do not charge the Trust for completing the above payment processes. Payments made to Gloueastershire County Council ft)r the above transaction lypes for both 2024125 and 2023124 had no net financial gain for the Council. All relevant arnoullls were distributed to end re¢lpients {the approved applicants) in line wlh Trust request on approved aclivllies. S Disclosure of Trust•e Remuneratlon Benefits and Ex enses Trustees do not receive Remuneration, Benefits or Expenses. No payments of this nature were made in either 2024125 or 2023r24. The Trust do tt have staff costs. No p8ymenls of this nature were made in either 2024125 or 2023124. 6 Dlsclosure of Inda endent Examlnation and Other Flnanelal Servlces Feès The Trustee Treasurer 18ceived an annual honarium of £1,340.00 in 2024125 and in comparison £1.300 during 2023124. Th8 annual charge is agreed by the Trustees and the agreement minuled. Audit Risk Assurance Shared Serwce at Gloueestershire County Council were commissioned to eomplete the 2024125 Independent Examination at an agreed lee of £2.280.00 (inclusive VAT). Includes adjustment of £350.00 2023124 fees as net figure £1.750.00 recorded in the accounts instead of gross £2,100.00 2022123 was the first year where the Trust required an Independent Examination due to the level of income exceeding the Charity Comrnission £25,000.00 threshold. io
Offlclal- Financial THE FREE HOSPITAL FUND FOR CHILDREN STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES FOR 8T THE YEAR ENDEO MARCH 31 2025 The Trustees have adopted the folbwing policies in order to determine the value of material items included in the balance sheet and also to establish the excess of income over expenditure for the year.. Basis of Accounting The fi'nancial slalements have been prepared on the accruals basis under the historical cost convention, in accordance with accounting standards and the Charity Commission Statement Of Recommended Practice ISORPI. The accounts have teen prepared on a going concern basis. Al the point of accounts pfeparalion antj sign off. there are no material UnrtaInlieS regsrds the charity's ability to continue. bl Investments Investments have been valued at market value on the balance sheet dale and the unrealised galnlloss has been sel against the accumulated unreslricled funds. Taxation As a charity, registered under the Charities Act, The Free Hospital Fund for Children is exempl from laxalion on its income and capita1 gains. The Trustees are required lo prepare the accounting slalemenls for each financial year. in compliance with the Charities Act 2011 and Charity Commission SORP, which provides a true and fair view of the slate of affairs of the Charity. In pieparing the financial slalemenls, they must wn&der accounting coneepls, as follows.. Adoption of suitable accounting policies and their (x)nsislenl application., bl Making judgements and eslimales which are reasonable and prudent., and Producing accounts on a going concern basis unless il is known that the Charity's aclivilie5 are lo be discontinued. The Trustees are also responsible for the keeping of proper accounting records, which will readily disclose the financial posilion of the Charity al any given lime. Further, they are responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and should therefore lake all reasonable steps to prevent and delecl fraud and other irregularities. 11
Inde endent Examlner's Re ort -'examiner's unqualified report (for a non-company charity preparing accrual accounts) with a gross income of £250,000 or less in the relevant financial year, template Report to the trusteeslmembers of The Free Hospital Fund for Children On accounts for the year ended 31st March 2025 Charily no (rfany) 205115 We report to the Truslees on our examination of the accounts of the above charity {"the Trust"} for the year ended 31 March 2025. Responsibililies and As the charity Trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the basls of report accounts in accordance with Ihe Charities Act 20111"the Acf,). We report in respect of our examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out our examination, we have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515}(b) of the Act. Independent examiner's statement We have completed our examination. We confirm that no material matters have come to our attention in connection with the examination which gives us cause to believe that in, any material respect: The accounting records were not kept in accordance with Section 130 of the Act. or The accounts did not accord with the accounting records- or 111. The accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulalions 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'lrue and fair, view which is not a matter considered as part of an independenl examination. We have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which allenlion should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Signed: Name: Professional qualificationls) or body: Address: JH( Date: 18111125 Josephine Church Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy ICIPFAI Audit Risk Assurance Shared Service (ARA), Gloucestershire County Council, Shire Hall, Westgate Street, Gloucester, GL12TG Page 1
Inde endent Examiner Re ort-lm rovement O ortunities This section of the report is designed to offer the examiner opportunity to highlight matters identified during the course of the examination. For example, where improvement to systems, prOsS or controls could be considered by the Trustees. Give here details of any items that the examlner wishes to raise for the Trustees consideration. None Page 2