THE SOCIETY FOR THE RELIEF OF DISTRESS 

ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 

31ST DECEMBER 2024 CHARITY NO: 207585 



THE SOCIETY FOR THE RELIEF OF DISTRESS TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024 

The Trustees submit their Annual Report and Accounts for the Society for the Relief of Distress (the “Charity”) for the year ended 31 December 2024.  The Trustees confirm that the Annual Report and Accounts comply with current statutory requirements of the Charity’s governing document, the smaller charity provisions of the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011 (the “2011 Act”). 

## **Constitution** 

The Charity is constituted under a Trust deed and is a registered charity no 207585. 

The principal object of the Charity is to make grants for the relief of poverty, sickness and distress to people living in the Inner London Boroughs. 

## **Method of appointing or Election of Trustees** 

The management of the Charity is the responsibility of the Trustees who are elected and co-opted under the terms of the Trust deed.  Trustees are nominated by the Board of Trustees. 

## **Organisational Structure and Decision Making** 

The Charity does not currently employ any staff.  The Trustees are responsible for the management of the Charity and for the furtherance of the objects for which it was established.  The Trustees meet monthly to discuss the affairs of the Charity. 

The following Trustees were trustees for the whole year: 

Chair: Mr I McCulloch Treasurer Ms C Armstrong Trustees: Mr J Perti Mr C Petri Ms L Oxley Ms M van der Lindt Ms O Petri Mrs I Walch Secretary: Ms F Petri 

## **Risk Management** 

The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the Charity is exposed, in particular those relating to the operations and finance of the Trust.  The Trustees are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate the Charity’s exposure to any major risks. 

## **Review of Activities** 

The Charity provides grants to help people of all ages, origins and backgrounds living in London.  Often those receiving grants are very ill or disabled or suffering from great hardship.  Typically one-off grants are made towards essential personal and household items, such as clothing, bedding, baby items, cookers, fridges, furniture and floor covering.  This year 269 (2023 173) grants were made totalling £61,035 (2023 £43,015). The Charity does not accept applications directly from individuals; all applications are required to be made by a recognised body, such as another charity, a social service department, an NHS trust or a church or faith institution. 

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## **Reserve Policy** 

The Charity received donations from a number of individuals and organisations but this is not a guaranteed source of income.  The Trustees therefore maintain a level of investments which guarantees sufficient income to continue the Charity’s activities on an ongoing basis. 

Signed on behalf of the Trustees on 15 October 2024 

Ian McCulloch **C Armstrong** Ian McCulloch Caroline Armstrong Chairman Treasurer 

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## THE SOCIETY FOR THE RELIEF OF DISTRESS 

## INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO 

## THE TRUSTEES OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE RELIEF OF DISTRESS 

I report on the accounts of the Society for the Relief of Distress (the “Charity”) for the year ended 31 December 2024, which are set out on pages 4 to 7. 

## **Respective responsibilities of Trustees and the Independent Examiner** 

The Charity's Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the Annual Report and Accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (the “2011 Act”). 

The Charity’s Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144 of the 2011 Act and that an independent examination is needed. 

It is my responsibility to: 

- examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act, 

- to follow the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act, and 

- to state whether particular matters have come to my attention. 

## **Basis of Independent Examiner's Report** 

My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commission.  An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records.  It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts and seeking explanations from the Trustees concerning any such matters.  The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a “true and fair” view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. 

## **Independent Examiner's Statement** 

In connection with my examination, no material matters have come to my attention which give me cause to believe that in any material respect: 

- accounting records were not kept in accordance with Section 130 of the 2011 Act or 

- the accounts do not accord with the accounting records. 

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 

Andrew C Kemp FCA Meadow Ridge Pednor Nr Chesham Bucks  HP5 2SX 

31  October 2025 

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## The Society for the Relief of Distress Statement of Income and Expenditure Year ended 31st December 2024 

||2024|2023||
|---|---|---|---|
||£<br>INCOME<br>Donations (Note 2 & 3)<br>25,000<br>Investment Income<br>36,096<br>Interest received<br>1,110<br>Income Under Deed of Covenant<br>400<br>TOTAL INCOME<br>EXPENDITURE<br>Grants made<br>61,035<br>less refunds<br>(-)<br>(Note 1)<br>EXCESS/(DEFICIT) OF INCOME OVER<br>GRANTS MADE<br>TOTAL MANAGEMENT EXPENSES<br>SURPLUS/(DEFICIT) OF INCOME<br>OVER EXPENDITURE|£<br>£<br>18,100<br>34,405<br>-<br>400<br>62,606<br>43,146<br>(131)<br>61,035<br>1,571<br>(1,009)<br>£562|£<br>52,905<br>43,015<br>9,890<br>(1,010)<br>£8,880|
|||||



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The Society for the Relief of Distress Balance Sheet As at 31st December 2024 

|Cash at bank – Current Account<br>-<br>Deposit Account<br>Debtors<br>Investments at current market value<br>(per Schedule)<br>TOTAL ASSETS<br>Less LIABILITIES<br>- creditors<br>- deferred income (Note 2)<br>NET ASSETS<br>REPRESENTED BY:-<br>ACCUMULATED FUND<br>Balance at 1st January<br>Add Surplus/(Deficit) of Income over expenditure<br>addincrease/(decrease) in market value of<br>investments during the year<br>Balance at 31 December|||
|---|---|---|
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The Society for the Relief of Distress Investment Schedule - Market Values Year Ended 31st December 2024 

|M&G Equities Investment Fund for<br>Charities“Charifund”<br>15,844.46 units<br>M&G<br>Charities<br>Fixed<br>Interest<br>Common<br>Investment<br>Fund<br>“Charibond”<br>14,374.690 units<br>Schroders SULT Cazenove Charity<br>Equity Value Fund A Income<br>99,676.46 units|Market<br>value at<br>1.1.24<br>Purchased<br>during year<br>Increase/<br>(decrease) in<br>market value<br>during year<br>Market<br>value at<br>31.12.24<br>£<br>£<br>£<br>£<br>227,366<br>-<br>5,928<br>233,294<br>16,077<br>-<br>(567)<br>15,510<br>463,994<br>-<br>35,684<br>499,678<br> <br>£707,437<br>-,<br>£41,045<br>£748,482|
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The Society for the Relief of Distress Notes to the Accounts 31 December 2024 

1. Analysis of net grants made in the year ended 31st December 2024 

|Furniture<br>Household items<br>Electrical goods<br>IT<br>Clothes<br> <br>Baby items and school uniform<br>Flooring and decorating<br>Other items<br>|£<br>18,143<br>6,859<br>25,250<br>1,958<br>3,360<br>700<br>3,900<br>865<br>_____<br> £61,035|
|---|---|



2. A donation of £10,000 was received in December 2023 from the Monday Trust.  This donation was deferred to 2024 and has been fully spent in the current year. 

3. Donations were received during the year from: Monday Trust (£10,000);  Blyth Watson Trust (£10,000); The City Charity Trust (£3,000); and BDB Pitmans (£1,000). 

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