Bereavement
Support
Annual Report and
Accounts 2024/25
i!
cruse.org.uk

Annual Report ond Account$ 2024125
Contents
Welcome
Our year at a glance
Trustees Report
Strategic Review
Governance
13
Financials
Independent Auditor's Report
19
Financial statements
23
Thank you
41
Personal Stories
42

l Annuol Report ond Accounts 2024/25
I think what Cruse does as a charity
is wonderful. You have changed my life
and my relationship with grief. ??
The kindness and support I received has
really helped to 'lift the fog. To be able to trust a
stranger and talk openly, laugh and cry as I re-lived
memories has made a huge difference to how I feel. ??
..after the loss of my husband when
I felt very low the support was excellent,
and in all honesty I don't know how I would
have managed without it. ??
The group session was so helpful
and the volunteers were the best support. ??
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2 Annugl Report and Accounts 2024/25
I'd been paralysed by grief for eight years.
My volunteer helped me do something that
I've wanted to do for a very long time,
but I felt incapable of doing - sort through
all the photographs of my late teenage son.
He took his own life. I was reminded that there
were happy memories of his life too.
I'll be forever grateful for the support,
encouragement, guidance, inspiration and patience.
I feel like I can live again. ??
My I l-year-old son had 6 sessions.
he did not tell me what he talked about in his
sessions but it was clear that he was able
to find an outlet for his thoughts and feelings
about losing someone who was his play buddy,
his best friend...he seemed more grounded
and less prone to having nightmares and
melt downs in school and at home.
He found his smile again. I cannot thank
Cruse enough for this. ??
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3 Annual Report and Accounts 2024125
Welcome
As I look back on the last year, and all that
has been achieved, the positive impact of
all our volunteers, employees, donors and
supporters is clear.
As a new Chair, appointed in September
2024, 1 have appreciated the opportunity to
meet many bereaved people, volunteers,
funders and staff and see for myself the
crucial role played by Cruse at times of
need.
At Cruse we believe bereaved people should
not be alone in their grief. Our strength comes
from our clinical experience and expertise, our
local footprint, our national delivery, and the
passion and commitment of our volunteers
and staff.
Your support made it possible for us to provide
information, bereavement and grief support to
so many people, who often have nowhere else
to turn.
Last year was a challenging but successful
year for Cruse. We have continued to deliver
and develop vital support. Demand for our
services continues to grow, and far too many
bereaved people struggle to get the support
they need.
Our Charity has been supporting bereaved
people for over 65 years and whilst the
emotions fired by bereavement may be
unchanging, the intensity and complexity of life
can make il harder to cope. Cruse believes in
a world where everyone grieving is supported,
respected and understood and we are working
to make thal a reality.
Our values underpin how we work al Cruse.
We always strive to be kind, inclusive,
ambitious. and genuine. We have adapted to
work in more effective ways and developed
our Charity s approach to ensure we are here
for bereaved people when they need us.
We have approved a new organisalional
strategy and priorities for the year ahead.
We continued to develop. strengthening our
governance, enhancing our diversity and
increasing the involvement of bereaved people
in all we do.
As we look ahead, we hope you will support
and partner with us to be there and provide
life-changing support for bereaved people
through one of the most painful times in life.
Thank you to everyone who volunteered,
supported and worked for Cruse.
Lucy Harmer
Chief Executive
Dr Neil Churchill OBE
Chair
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4 Annuol Report Und Accounts 2024/25
Our year at a glance
71,703
support activities for
bereaved people
1 million
people viewed information
on our website
3,364
volunteers donated
their time
84
local branches across England,
Northern Ireland and Wales
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5 Annual Report and Accounts 2024125
Strategic Review
Our impact
employees and for improved bereavement
policies and laws.
We believe bereaved people should not be
alone in their grief.
We want to live in a world where everyone
grieving is supported, respected, and
understood. Grief can be lonely and
overwhelming, but we are here to help.
Over the last year we provided expert
bereavement and grief information and support.
We provided specialist support and information
online, by phone and in person for bereaved
adults, and children and young people across
England, Northern Ireland and Wales.
Our strategy
During 2024125 we completed our strategic
review and agreed our new strategy. Over the
last three years there have been substantial
changes in the external environment following
the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.
The way people want to access support has
changed, Ihere has been an increased demand
for more flexible volunteering opportunilies, and
the funding environment has been challenging
across the charity sector.
Our services included our website information,
the national Cruse Helpline, group and
one-lo-one bereavement support sessions,
delivered nationally and locally by our trained
Bereavement Volunteers.
Bereavement and grief can have a wide impact
on family. friends, colleagues. professionals,
and communities. We delivered expert
specialist training. working wtth companies,
private and public sectors organisations,
groups and individuals to improve the support
and services they provide to bereaved people,
including colleagues and customers.
Our mission continues to be focused on
supporting people through one oflhe most
painful times in life - wilh bereavement
support. information and campaigning. A key
focus of our strategy is ensuring bereaved
people are at the heart of all we do. We want
to ensure bereaved adults, children, young
people and families..
We are here to equip and empower society to
show people the respect and kindness they
deserve following a bereavement.
can recognise grief and are empowered to
manage their grief and to be in control of
their lives
are connected to the people and
communities that support them
have improved mental and physical
wellbeing
can access good quality services and
information when someone dies and are
supported to challenge poor services.
Our wide-ranging activity and experience
included sharing people's stories and
experiences through our website and social
media, raising awareness of the impact of
grief and bereavement and the information
and support available. We also worked wilh
organisations lo upskill their staff, and review
bereavement policies. We campaigned for
businesses to provide better support for
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6 Annuol Report ond Accounts 2024125
Our Patron
it, and is often the first source of support and
information Ihrough Cruse. Our website was
viewed by over 1 million people in 2024125.
Our Chief Execulive Lucy Hamier met with our
new Patron, Her Royal Highness The Duchess
of Gloucester. at Kensington Palace, sharing
informalion about how Cruse supports people
coping with grief and bereavemenl.
Information covering bereavement and grief
helped to build resilience. empower people to
make informed decisions, and provided tools
to self-manage grief.
Volunteers representing Cruse were delighted
to be included in events at Westminster Abbey
and Buckingham Palace.
The website provided great
information, helping me understand
my grief and where best to find
help and support.
Suddenly, out of the blue, the
penny dropped and everything
made sense. Life feels good and
I have Cruse Bereavernent
Support to thank for that.
??
??
People accessed a variety of online resources
including personal stories, expert blogs and
content covering many forms of bereavement
and loss. Topics included the death of a
partner, parent, or child, anticipatory grief, loss
of a loved one to suicide, losing a sibling, and
experiences of traumatic grief.
Supporting bereaved people
Cruse provides a wide range of support
and information. runs a number of specialist
funded projecls, and delivers grief and
bereavement training.
Cruse National Helpline
Our Helpline answered over 28,000 calls and
emails in 2024125. We continue to see high
levels of demand for this service and we are
unable to answer all the calls we receive. We
carried out a review of our Helpline service,
which is delivered by staff and volunteers,
drawing on data insights and feedback
received. Through the new strategy we will
seek funding to continue and increase support
for our telephone and email service, and pilot
new pathways, to support more bereaved
people when they need us.
People who used our services have given
us positive feedback that our support helped
them..
understand their grief is normal
process their grief and better adjust to their
loss
improve their wellbeing I mental health
Expert bereavement and grief
information
Al Cruse, we want to make sure people
who are grieving get the help they need in
a way that works for them. Our high-quality
information service on our website is available
to all bereaved people, whenever they need
The lady who answered was
extremely supportive and kind. she
really listened and helped me to
understand that what I was feeling
was normal with bereavement.
??
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7 Annual Report ond Account$ 2024125
Cruse Bereavement Groups
Over 3,000 people were supported through
Cruse Bereavement Groups in 2024125. Our
Understanding Your Bereavement sessions
were delivered online and in local communities
by trained Bereavement Volunteers. We
continued to develop our Understanding Your
Bereavement group support, and insights from
funded projects evidenced the benefit of this
type of support for bereaved people.
The support given to me
via zoom sessions was invaluable.
I feel completely different to how
I was when I first started and
I now feel I have the tools
able to help myself.
??
Our training and Consultancy
I felt so much better in
myself after completing this course,
in the sense that all my needs
were met in knowing the feelings
I have are nonnal. Through going
to group sessions I've made
some great friends for life.
We continued to lead on providing expert
bereavement and grief awareness training,
with training courses and consultancy services
including our Manager's Guide to Grief in the
Workplace, Grief First Aid and Supporting
those Bereaved by Suicide. Our training and
consultancy received excellent feedback from
organisalions and individuals committed to
developing their understanding of grief and
bereavement and supporting customers and
employees.
??
One-to-one Bereavement Support
Our trained Bereavement Volunteers
supported over 24,000 adults, young people.
children and families virtually, by telephone
and in person.
I feel empowered and far
more confideni in offering suppo
to colleagues experiencing
bereavement or anticipatory loss.
The course provided some excellent
tools for starting conversations with
a bereaved colleague.
My support sessions on
Zoom gave me a place where I felt
welcorne to talk about all the aspects
of loss that were troubling me.
My volunteer was so lovely,
creating that crucial space and
reassuring me I was normal. ??
??
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8 Annual Report ond Accounts 2024125
Our profile, reach and influence
support during the pandemic. We provided
additional insighls inlo mouming rituals, the
Importan￿ of them, and how they can influen
the grief pro￿sS. In addition. Cruse Trustee Ann
Kenrick attended the Covid-19 Day of Reflection
event at Parliament.
As experts in supporting bereaved people, we
continued to evolve our approach, infomed by
latest insight and specialist Cruse funded projecls.
We gained insight on our Servi￿ development
and delivery by involving bereaved people in our
work and through our new Clinical Insight Advisory
Group.
Social media continued to be an important way for
us to reach bereaved people. raise awareness of
the impact of grief and bereavement, and share
information on how to support people following
bereavement. Social media posts covered a
range of content, with opportunities for comments
and links to useful infomiation and stories on our
website. We achieved over 137,000 social media
engagement interactions in 2024125.
Through our contacts with the press and media
we shared information wth the general public
about how to cope when griemng. We worked with
The Daily Express to publish a written feature on
Christmas Eve, focusing on how to cope with grief
over the festive period. We collaborated with The
Financial Times to produce an article on how to
cope with grief in the New Year.
Our People
Our work wrth local and national BBC Radio
included features on how to cope wlh the death
of a partner and how to find support and cope
following a sudden and traumatic bereavement.
A notable highlight was a new collaboration with
Voice of Islam, including an in-depih radio feature
on faith and grief.
The work of Cruse is only possible through
the shared ambits'on and support of Cruse
employees and volunteers. Our work in 2024125
was delivered by our staff and 3,364 volunteers
supporting bereaved people and communits'es
across England, Wales and Northem Ireland.
We continued to develop our approach to
volunteering. Our new central volunleering ieam
improved our approach to volunteer recruitment,
engagement and training, focusing on quality
improvements, cost effectiveness and Continuous
Professional Development for volunteers.
Informed by our volunteer survey and Volunteer
Experience Panel, we identified areas of focus as
part of the new strategy. We continued to broaden
the opportunities for involvement with Cruse as a
volunteer, through our Volunteer Council, branch
forums and a range of new volunteer roles and a
variety of skills.
We remained activety engaged in the
bereavement seclor, working with partners
through the National Bereavement Alliance.
as a member of the steering group. We also
collaborated wth olher bereavement support
organisations to inform the Department of Health
and Social Care's work on policy developments
to improve support for bereaved people. We
wortod with voluntary sector pathers to pmduce
a submission to Parliament highlighting the
importance of supporting people bereaved
through assisted dying. This included speaking at
a Padiamentary event in October 2024, alongside
partners from the bereavement sector in response
to the proposed Terminally111 Adults (End of Life}
Bill, under consideration by Parliament at the lime
of writing this report.
The volunteer was really
wonderful. Kind, insightful,
helpful, good company and
I felt I was being held.
We have also contributed to the Covid-19 inquiry.,
our Chief Executive, Lucy Harmer, attended a
round-table on funerals, burials, and bereavemenl
??
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9 Annuol Report ond Accounts 2024125
Financial review
Gross income for the year totaled £6,428k
{2024'. £6,401 kl. Income from stalutory sources,
including cenlral and devolved governments.
local authorilies, integrated care boards, local
health boards, and other funders supporting
charitable activities increased by 11 % to
£4,442k12024-. £4,011k). This growlh helped
mitigate reductions from other income streams.
ensuring continued support for our services.
2024125 was a successful year for Cruse.
It marked a period of slabilisation, as we
successfully strengthened our financial
position following a series of challenging
years. Like many organisations. Cruse
continues to navigate the ongoing impact of
the cosl-of-living crisis, which affects both
income streams and expenditure.
The ongoing cost-of-living crisis has
significantly affected donation levels, leading
to an 18% reduction. Donations amounted
to £1,661k (2024.. £2,031 kl, comprising
contributions from trusts, foundations, groups,
individuals {including gift aid), and gifts in
Wills.
Throughout 2024125, we have taken decisive
steps to reduce costs, prioritising operational
efficiencies and financial sustainability.
Building on the changes we started in 2023124
we achieved a further 20% saving on our
operational costs and an overall surplus of
£78k which is a significant improvement on
our previous year's deficit.
Income from trading activities, including
training and consultancy services, saw a 50/0
decrease, reaching £320k compared to £338k
in 2024.
Our budget for 2024125 was set to achieve
a break-even position, aligning with our
stabilisalion strategy. This approach allowed
time to embed prior-year changes while
acknowledging the challenging fundraising
climate. Looking ahead to 2025126, our
focus remains on reinforcing these solid
foundations to ensure continued slabilily and
organisational resilience.
Demand for our services continues to rise,
and we remain committed lo enhancing
efficiency in Servi￿ delivery to meet this
growing need. Securing income from diverse
sources remains essential in sustaining our
ability to provide local support across England.
Wales. and Northern Ireland.
To support the long-term success of
Cruse, we developed a new strategy and
comprehensive change plan, enabling
Cruse to operate with greater flexibility and
adaptability in an ever-evolving external
landscape. This approach positions us for
sustained growth and responsiveness to future
challenges and opportunities.
Delivery costs decreased by 20 /0 to £6,350k
{2024'. £7,954kl, reflecting the continued
success of planned efficiencies initiated in
the prior year. Strengthening our cost base
remains a priority, ensuring we deliver value
for money to our funders while maintaining
operational effertiveness.
The reported surplus of £78k (2024.. deficit
£1,553k) is slightly ahead of our budget and
represents a reduction in expenditure of 20 %
from the previous year- demonstrating the
effectiveness of our financial management
and cost-control measures..
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10 Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25
Future Plans
Looking ahead our new slrategy sets out a
clear palhway to slrengthen Cruse. ensuring
long term financial sustainability and building
our support for bereaved people.
We have agreed our focus from 2025-2028
will be..
insight and coproduction with bereaved
people
sustainable income
data and digital innovation
a diverse and skilled workforce
effective governance and operating models
strong partnerships and collaboration.
We are investing in fundraising resource
and digital, increasing engagement with
volunteers across our branches, exploring new
partnerships, and developing services that can
attract both philanthropic and commissioned
funding.
As Trustees, we are confident that this
strategic direction and the plans that underpin
it will enable the Charity to grow ils impact,
strengthen its voice, and remain a trusted
source of support for bereaved people across
England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Alongside this we are prioritising investment
in core infrastructure and digital innovation
to improve efficiency and reduce operational
costs.
Since the end of the financial year, the Charity
has completed the sale of ils registered
office in Richmond. This decision was made
in line with our strategic focus on financial
sustainability and operational efficiency.
A key elemenl of our plans has been the
agreemenl of a new Income Generation
stralegy and a commitment to diversify Cruse
income.
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11 Annuol Report and Accounts 2024/25
Our funding
National Loltery Community Fund-
Empowering Young People 3-
Somewhere for Us. Northern Ireland
The funding and donations we receive are
essential for us to provide vital support and
informalion for bereaved people. We would
like to thank all our funders and donors for
their commitment and support including..
National Loltery Community Fund- RC
England Wide- Choice & Access for
Bereaved People
Oxford City Council Community Impact
Fund - Round 3 Smalllmedium Grant
2024125
The Alice Ellen Cooper-Dean Charitable
Foundation
Barleylands - Ashes into Glass
Pantheon Ventures
The Beeching Trust
Penelope Martin Charitable Trust
Centurion Management Limited
The Pury Cust Trust
CIS TTPlus Project
Rothesay Life Pl
Cily Bridge Foundation
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
Collins Aerospace
SGN
The Colyer-Fergusson Charitable Trust
Sheffield Church Burgesses Trust
Co-operative Group Limited
Siemens Mobility UK
De Lage Landen Leading Limited
The Simon Gibson Charitable Trust
Dignity Funerals Limited
The Sir James Reckitt Charity
Forward Carers
Spellhorne Borough Council
Gloucestershire Community Foundation
Sulton Community Fund, provided by
London Borough of Sutton
Greenham Trust Ltd
Hodge Foundation
Wales Council for Voluntary Action IWCVA)
John James Bristol Foundation
Walney Extension Community Fund
Kirklees Council
Lichfield District Council
Mansfield District Council - Mansfield
Community Grant Fund
National Lottery Community Fund (National
Lottery Community Fund England)
National Lottery Community Fund -
Reaching CommunitieslPartnerships - Men
in Grief
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12 Annuol Report ond Accounts 2024/25
Reserves policy
The Board of Trustees conducts an annual
review of our reserves policy lo ensure that
we maintain sufficient funds to support the
Charity's financial stability and ongoing
development.
As part of this policy, the Trustees aim to hold
unrestricted reserves equivalent to three to
six months, expenditure, which equates to
£972k- £1,944k of unrestricted expenditure,
providing a financial safeguard to sustain
operations and respond to future challenges.
The Charity's reserves policy is currently
under review as part of our broader financial
strategy.
In addition, the Charity holds £882k
{2024=£416k) of restricted reserves which are
itemised in Note 18.
At 31 March 2025, the Charity had
unrestricted reserves of £486k {2024.' £873k)
which represents approximately 1.5 months,
12024: 2.4 monlhs'l prior year unrestricted
expenditure. This change in reserves cover
for Ihe year ending March 2025 is mainly due
to the re-classification of some income and
expenditure from restricted to unrestricted.
The Board of Trustees affirms that there are
no material uncertainties that would cast doubt
on the Charity's ability to continue as a going
concern.
In reaching this conclusion, the Trustees have
reviewed three year financial plans, including
cash flow forecasts, high-level business plans
and the external environment.
Therefore, the accounts have been prepared
on the basis that the Charity is a going
concern.
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13 Annuol Report ond Accounts 2024/25
Governance
Legal structure
voluntary organisalions and with Government
departments to improve bereavement
legislation and practice. We also provide
external training in bereavement support to a
wide variety of organisations and individuals.
Cruse Bereavement Support I"Cruse"I was
incorporated on 5 October 1959 as Cruse
Clubs Ltd and registered with the Charity
Commission during 1962. Cruse Bereavement
Support is a company limited by guarantee. In
the event of the company being wound up the
members have undertaken to contribute a sum
not exceeding £1.
In planning these activities, the Board has
regard to the Charity Commission's guidance
on public benefit. In particular, Cruse makes
its services available to bereaved people
from all parts of the community, regardless
of age, disability, race, religion, gender re-
assignment, marriage and civil partnership,
pregnancy and maternity, sex or the
circumstances in which they have suffered
bereavement.
Cruse is governed by Articles of Association
adopted 3 December 2016 as amended 23
December 2021.
Charitable objects
Cruse's charitable objects, which are set out in
the Arlicles of Association are:
Our governance
Cruse is governed by a Board of Trustees who
are also Direclors of the company. All Trustees
undergo a detailed induction programme as a
Trustee of Cruse and are given the opportunity
to attend additional external training in charily
governance.
The relief of persons who are in condilions
of poverty, sickness or diSt￿sS arising
from bereavement or from anticipation of
bereavement
The protection and preservation of public
health particularly through the prevention
of sickness which may arise from
bereavement or from the anticipation of
bereavement.
New Trustees can be appointed by resolution
of the Board. However, they must be elected
to the Board at the next Annual General
Meeting for a term not exceeding three years
after which they must be re-elerted. No
Trustee is eligible for election to the Board
on more than two occasions. The Articles of
Association provide for a minimum of 8 and up
to a maximum of 25 Trustees.
Cruse does this through our expert
bereavement information and websites, the
national Cruse Helpline, group and one-to-
one bereavement services delivered by our
nationwide network of trained Bereavement
Volunteers, and through online and social
media channels.
The Board decides Cruse's strategic priorities
and monitors ils performance.11 meets
regularly through the year. 11 has three sub-
committees..
Cruse raises awareness oflhe needs of
bereaved people by working with other
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14 Annual Report ond Accounts 2024125
Audit and Finance Committee.
Oversees finance, digital, audil, and risk,
including review of budgeting, financial
and management reporting. systems and
controls, annual audit and risk management.
The Trustee Directors in post during the year
and up to Ihe date of signing of this report were:
Sir Anthony Hawkhead {Chairl- resigned
30 September 2024
Dr Neil Churchill {Chairl
appointed 30 September 2024
Maureen Bradley (Vice Chair, Council
member)
Juliet Armstrong
Liz Crussell (Council member)
Mabinty Esho
Angela Gannon (Council memberl-
resigned 31 December 2024
Gerard Jacques
Ann Kenrick- appointed 4 November 2024
Kale Mozzicarelli
Vijay Patel
Mary Walsh
Lei Wei {Honorary Treasurer)
People and Culture Committee.
Oversees the appropriateness and
effectiveness of the people plans that
support Cruse's strategic purpose.
The Committee also ensures that the
remuneration, culture and people policies
and practices are designed to support
Cruse's strategy and promote long-term
sustainable success.
Operations Committee. Oversees the
reach, performance and quality of services
and other activities provided by Cruse to
deliver outcomes for bereaved people.
This includes oversight of influencing
and campaigning activities and the
implementation of policies and procedures
to safeguard volunleers and employees
and mainlain safe delivery of services.
The Board met six times during the year. All
Trustees give their time freely, and no Trustee
remuneration was paid in the year. The
Trustees claimed £960 of expenses12024:
2.1291 in connection with Cruse's business.
Cruse also has a Volunleer Council which is
an advisory body of volunteers. It consists of
members from Wales. Northern Ireland. Regions
across England and National Services. Meetings
of Council also include members from the
Board of Trustees and are attended by senior
executives of Cruse. The Board of Trustees is
the legal decision-making body. and its work is
informed by the views of Council. Three Council
members sit on the Board of Trustees.
Karen Wilson served as Company Secretary
from 14 December 2023.
As part of Cruse s continual review of
governance, the Trustees agree that notes
from Board and Council meetings should be
published on the Cruse intranet for greater
transparency. The Board is committed
to ensuring that it observes the Charity
Governance Code.
Council members along with the Board of
Trustees are the Company members of Cruse
and have a vote in the election of Board
members and on resolutions put to Annual
General Meetings andlor Extraordinary
General Meetings.
The Chief Executive and their colleagues on
the Senior Leadership Team comprise the key
management personnel in charge of directing
and controlling Cruse on a day-to-day basis.
The Senior Leadership Team during 2024125
comprised..
Day-to-day decision making is made by the
Chief Executive and the Senior Leadership
Team.
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15 Annuol Report and Accounts 2024125
Lucy Harmer- Chief Execulive
Andy Langford - Clinical Direclor
Alison Shotler- Director of Income
Generation & Marketing lappoinled
3 April 2024)
Karen Wilson- Director of Finance
& Corporate Services
Tracey Gibson - Director of Services
(appointed 19 August 20241
Equity, diversity and inclusion
It is the aim of Cruse Bereavement Support
to recognise and encourage the valuable and
enriching conlribution that people from all
backgrounds and experiences bring to the
organisalion. We believe that all individuals
working or volunteering for Cruse or coming to
Cruse for a service should be treated without
prejudice or discrimination. We recognise that
currently our volunteer and staff groups could
better reflect the communities that we serve
and we are addressing this as a priority.
Senior Leadership Team pay is reviewed
annually by the People and Culture
Committee. Their remuneration, and the
remuneration of all staff, is benchmarked with
charities of a similar size and Cruse aims lo
pay at least median salary for the sector less
50/0. This is to ensure that the remuneration
set is fair and consistent with that generally
paid for similar roles.
Cruse EDI policy and strategy includes the
following priorities..
1. Create a continuous EDI learning and
development cycle, enhancing knowledge,
skills, and awareness across the
organisation
Fundraising
2. Build an inclusive culture at Cruse,
ensuring there is a shared understanding
of what EDI means and how il reflects the
organisation's values
Cruse is registered with the Fundraising
Regulator and is compliant with the standards
set oul by the Regulator in ils Code of
Fundraising Practice. Fundraising activities
are organised by staff and volunteers of
the Charity. We do not engage Ihird party
professional fundraisers lo raise funds on
our behalf. We work with Sterling Lotteries
to raise funds through a lottery using the
Unity lottery. We are mindful during our
fundraising activities not to be unreasonably
persistent or to apply undue pressure on
anyone, or to intrude on anyone's privacy. We
did not undertake any telephone or doorstep
fundraising in the year or buy or sell mailing
lists. There was one Gomplaint related to
fundraising during the year to 31 March 2025
12024= one).
3. Strengihen current governance and
leadership structures for embedding EDI
and improving communications
4. Enhance data collalion and monitoring
processes to measure EDI performance.
I had help when I needed it
most. I lost my mother
and I didn't know how
to overcome the grief.
I don't speak English and someone
who spoke my language was
arranged and made me feel
welcome.
??
OVERVIEW
STRATEGIC REVIEW
GOVERNANCE
FINANCIALS
THANKYOU
PERSONAL STORIES

10 Annuol Report and Accounts 2024125
Risk management
Financial sustainability- we regularly review
our fundraising activity and sel income targets
aligned with this. We are aiming to increase
and diversify our income alongside reducing
our operating costs.Financial sustainability
is overseen by our Audil and Finance
Committee which regularly reports lo the
Board.
The Trustees recognise that the effective
management of risks is central to Cruse's ability
to achieve its objectives, and aim to anticipate
and, where possible, manage risks rather than
dealing with their unforeseen cOnsequen￿s.
The key risk review and reporting mechanisms
are..
Our People: everything we do is dependent
on our volunteers and employees and is for
the benefit of bereaved people. We monitor
staff turnover and sickness, invest in training,
use volunteer and employee engagement
surveys, and benchmad< salaries to help retain
and develop our people. We have EDI, Dignf(y
at Work and Whistleblowing policies and
procedures in place, and effectively manage
our volunteers and employees, to make sure
we operate safely. Oversight is provided by our
People and Culture Committee which regularly
reports to the Board.
Risk register: this is the primary
mechanism for considering long-term risks.
It identifies all known long-term risks, ranks
them according to likelihood and impact
and assigns them for management to an
individual member of the Senior Leadership
Team. It is reviewed regularly by the Senior
Leadership Team, quarterly by the Audit and
Finance Committee and also by the Board.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIS):
strategic objectives are identified annually,
and appropriate KPIS agreed with the
Board. These are the tools by which Cruse
measures its performance against risks.
They are reviewed quarterly by the Senior
Leadership Team and then reported to the
Board.
Our services: our work is informed by
bereaved people, clinical best practice and
external research. We regularly review the
quality, reach and impact of our services to
inform demand management planning and
ensure we meet conlraclual commitments.
We have safeguarding policies and
procedures in place. Oversighl is provided by
our Operations Committee which regularly
reports to the Board.
Management accounts and budgets:
these identify and measure financial
performance against financial objectives
and the risks of not achieving them.
Management accounts are prepared
monthly and reviewed by both the Audit
and Finance Committee and Board every
quarter. Reforecasts are prepared when
needed to provide clarity on significant
variations against budget or plans. Budgets
are produced annually, reviewed by
the Audit and Finance Committee, and
approved by the Board.
Our infrastructure: we invest in the
infrastructure required to effectively deliver
our services and regularly report to the Board
on progress aligned with business plans and
objectives. Oversight of our IT and digital
development is overseen by our Audit and
Finance Committee.
Governance: our Governance is informed
by the Charity Governance Code and we
regularly review the skills and experience
of our Board. We have procedures in place
to ensure we comply with legal regulations
relating to governance.
Trustees have identified five areas of specific
risk during 2024125 as summarised below.
OVERVIEW
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PERSONAL STORIES

17 Annuol Report ond Accounts 2024125
Legal and administrative details
Company Number
00638709
Senior Leadership Team
Chief Executive
Lucy Harmer
Director of Finance & Corporate
Services
Karen Wilson
Director of Services
Tracey Gibson
Clinical Director
Andy Langford
Diredor of Income Generation &
Marketing
Alison Shotler
Charity Number
208078
Registered Office
Cruse Bereavement Support, 5 Kew Road,
Richmond Twg 2PR
Patron
HRH The Duchess of GIOu￿ster
Chair
Dr Neil Churchill
Auditor
Sayer Vincent LLP, 110 Golden Lane, London,
EC1Y OTG
Vice Chair
Maureen Bradley
Honorary Treasurer
Lei Wei
Bank
Barclays Bank UK, Leicester, LE87 2BB
Company Secretary
Karen Wilson
Sollcltors
Russell-cooke LLP. 8 Bedford Row, London,
WC1R 4BX
Trustees
A full list of Trustees is on page 14
OVERVIEW
STRATEGIC REVIEW
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FINANCIALS
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PERSONAL STORIES

18 Annual Report and Accounts 2024125
Statement of Trustees,
responsibilities
company and hence for taking reasonable
steps for the prevention and detection of fraud
and other irregularities.
The Truslees (who are also Directors of Cruse
Bereavement Support for the purposes of
company law) are responsible for preparing
the Trustees, Annual Report and the financial
statements in accordance with applicable law
and United Kingdom Accounting Standards
(United Kingdom Generally Accepted
Accounting Practice) including FRS 102 "The
Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the
UK and Republic of Ireland"
In so far as the Trustees are aware..
there is no relevant audit information of
which the auditor is unaware., and
the Trustees have taken all steps that they
ought to have taken to make themselves
aware of any relevant audit information and
to establish that the auditor is aware of that
information.
Company law requires the Trustees to
prepare financial statements for each
financial year which give a true and fair
view of the stale of affairs of the charitable
company and of the income and expenditure
of the charitable company for that period.
In preparing those financial statements, the
Trustees are required to..
The trustees are responsible for the
maintenance and inlegrity of the corporate
and financial information included on the
charitable company's website. Legislation in
the United Kingdom governing the preparation
and dissemination of financial statements may
differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
This report has been prepared in accordance
with the special provisions applicable to
companies subject to the small companies
regime.
select suitable accounting policies and
apply them consistently
observe the methods and principles of the
Charities SORP
make judgements and estimates that are
reasonable and prudenl
follow UK Accounting Standards and
statements of recommended practice.
subject to any material departures
disclosed and explained in the financial
statements
prepare the financial statements on
the going concern basis unless it is
inappropriate to presume that the charitable
company will continue in business.
The Truslees and Directors report was
approved by the Board on 14 August 2025.
By Order of the Board
Dr Neil Churchill OBE
Chair
The Trustees are responsible for keeping
proper accounting records which disclose
with reasonable accuracy at any time the
financial position of the charitable company
and to enable them to ensure that the financial
statements comply with the Companies
Act 2006. They are also responsible for
safeguarding the assets of the charitable
Lei Wei
Honorary Treasurer
OVERVIEW
STRATEGIC REVIEW
GOVERNANCE
FINANCIALS
THANKYOU
PERSONAL STORIES

## **Independent auditor's report to the Members of Cruse Bereavement Support** 

## **Opinion** 

We have audited the financial statements of Cruse Bereavement Support (the ‘charitable company’) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the statement of financial activities, balance sheet, statement of cash flows and 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 FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 

In our opinion, the financial statements: 

- Give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company’s affairs as at 31 March 2025 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure for the year then ended 

- Have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice 

Have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 

## **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 charitable company 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 sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. 

## **Conclusions relating to going concern** 

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. 

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on Cruse Bereavement Support's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue. 

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 trustees’ 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. 

## **Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006** 

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit: 

The information given in the trustees’ annual report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and 

- The trustees’ annual report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements. 

## **Matters on which we are required to report by exception** 

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the trustees’ annual report. We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: 

- Adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or 

- The financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or 

- Certain disclosures of trustees’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or 

- We have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or 

- The directors were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies’ exemptions in preparing the trustees’ annual report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report. 

## **Responsibilities of trustees** 

As explained more fully in the statement of trustees’ responsibilities set out in the trustees’ annual report, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) 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 charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company 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 extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud are set out below. 

## **Capability of the audit in detecting irregularities** 

In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, our procedures included the following: 

- We enquired of management, which included obtaining and reviewing supporting documentation, concerning the charity’s policies and procedures relating to: 

   - Identifying, evaluating, and complying with laws and regulations and whether they were aware of any instances of non-compliance; 

   - Detecting and responding to the risks of fraud and whether they have knowledge of any actual, suspected, or alleged fraud; 

- The internal controls established to mitigate risks related to fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations. 

- We inspected the minutes of meetings of those charged with governance. 

- We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework that the charity operates in, focusing on those laws and regulations that had a material effect on the financial statements or that had a fundamental effect on the operations of the charity from our professional and sector experience. 

- We communicated applicable laws and regulations throughout the audit team and remained alert to any indications of non-compliance throughout the audit. 

- We reviewed any reports made to regulators. 

- We reviewed the financial statement disclosures and tested these to supporting documentation to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations. 

- We performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud. 

- In addressing the risk of fraud through management override of controls, we tested the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments, assessed whether the judgements made in making accounting estimates are indicative of a potential bias and tested significant transactions that are unusual or those outside the normal course of business. 

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 is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report. 

## **Use of our report** 

This report is made solely to the charitable company's members as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members 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 charitable company and the charitable company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. 

## **Joanna Pittman (Senior statutory auditor)** 

**Date: 06 October 2025** 

**for and on behalf of Sayer Vincent LLP, Statutory Auditor** 

**110 Golden Lane, LONDON, EC1Y 0TG** 



**Statement of financial activities** (incorporating an income and expenditure account) 

**For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

|Note<br>**Income from:**<br>2<br>3<br>4<br>5<br>7<br>6a<br>g)<br>**Reconciliation of funds:**<br>Raising funds<br>**Total expenditure**<br>Charitable activities:<br>Donations and legacies<br>Charitable activities<br>Investments<br>Other<br>**Total income**<br>**Expenditure on:**<br>Other trading activities<br>Bereavement support<br>Policy<br>Other trading activities<br>Total funds brought forward<br>**Total funds carried forward**<br>**Net income/ (expenditure) and**<br>**net movement in funds**|Unrestricted<br>£<br>1,283,317<br>1,892,892<br>319,666<br>5,680<br>-<br>3,501,555<br>1,172,787<br>2,441,855<br>148,694<br>125,308<br>3,888,644<br>(387,088)<br>873,124<br>486,035|Restricted<br>£<br>377,795<br>2,549,356<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>2,927,151<br>-<br>2,461,769<br>2,461,769<br>465,382<br>416,367<br>881,749|**2025**<br>**Total**<br>**£**<br>**1,661,113**<br>**4,442,248**<br>**319,666**<br>**5,680**<br>**-**<br>**6,428,706**<br>**1,172,787**<br>**4,903,624**<br>**148,694**<br>**125,308**<br>**6,350,413**<br>**78,294**<br>**1,289,491**<br>**1,367,784**|Unrestricted<br>£<br>1,177,095<br>774,404<br>337,795<br>9,776<br>11,735<br>2,310,805<br>1,367,903<br>1,894,998<br>178,090<br>195,607<br>3,636,598<br>(1,325,793)<br>2,198,917<br>873,124|Restricted<br>£<br>853,509<br>3,236,911<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>4,090,420<br>-<br>4,317,610<br>4,317,610<br>(227,190)<br>643,557<br>416,367|2024<br>Total<br>£<br>2,030,604<br>4,011,315<br>337,795<br>9,776<br>11,735<br>6,401,225<br>1,367,903<br>6,212,608<br>178,090<br>195,607<br>7,954,208<br>(1,552,983)<br>2,842,474<br>1,289,491|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|



The prior year income and expenditure has been restated to take account of contracts that had been classified previously as grants. The restatement has no impact on the split of restricted and unrestricted reserves. 

All of the above results are derived from continuing activities. There were no other recognised gains or losses other than those stated above. Movements in funds are disclosed in Note 18a to the financial statements. 



## **Balance sheet** 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
Company no. [00638709]<br>As at 31 March 2025<br>2025 2024<br>Note £ £ £ £<br>Fixed assets:<br>Tangible assets 13 892,741 989,371<br>Intangible assets 12 168,928 228,093<br>1,061,669 1,217,464<br>Current assets:<br>Debtors 14 724,673 530,880<br>- -<br>Short term deposits<br>Cash at bank and in hand 480,045 435,268<br>1,204,717 966,148<br>Liabilities:<br>Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 15 (898,602) (894,121)<br>Net current assets 306,115 72,027<br>Total net assets 1,367,784 1,289,491<br>The funds of the charity: 18a<br>Restricted income funds 881,749 416,367<br>Unrestricted income funds:<br>General funds 486,035 873,124<br>Total unrestricted funds 486,035 873,124<br>Total charity funds 1,367,784 1,289,491<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


Approved by the trustees on 14 August 2025 and signed on their behalf by 

Dr Neil Churchill, OBE **Chair** 

Lei Wei **Honorary Treasurer** 



## **Statement of cash flows** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

|**£**<br>**£**<br>**Cash flows from operating activities**<br>Net income / (expenditure) for the reporting period<br>**78,294**<br>(as per the statement of financial activities)<br>Depreciation charges<br>**146,956**<br>Amortization charges<br>**114,479**<br>(Gains)/losses on investments<br>**-**<br>Dividends, interest and rent from investments<br>**(5,680)**<br>(Profit)/loss on the disposal of fixed assets<br>**-**<br>(Increase)/decrease in stocks<br>**-**<br>(Increase)/decrease in debtors<br>**(193,793)**<br>Increase/(decrease) in creditors<br>**4,481**<br>**Net cash provided by / (used in) operating activities**<br>**144,738**<br>**5,680**<br>**-**<br>**(105,640)**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**(99,960)**<br>**44,777**<br>**435,268**<br>**480,045**<br>**Analysis of cash and cash equivalents and of net debt**<br>At 1 April<br>2024<br>Cash flows<br>£<br>£<br>Cash at bank and in hand<br>435,268<br>44,777<br>Overdraft facility repayable on demand<br>-<br>-<br>**Total cash and cash equivalents**<br>435,268<br>44,777<br>**Total**<br>**435,268**<br>**44,777**<br>**2025**<br>Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the<br>**Net cash provided by / (used in) investing**<br>**Cash flows from investing activities:**<br>Dividends, interest and rents from investments<br>Proceeds from the sale of fixed assets<br>Purchase of fixed assets<br>Proceeds from sale of investments<br>Purchase of investments<br>**Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year**<br>**Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year**|£<br>£<br>(1,552,983)<br>62,754<br>62,559<br>-<br>(9,776)<br>-<br>-<br>327,417<br>71,761<br>(1,038,268)<br>9,776<br>-<br>(8,601)<br>-<br>-<br>1,175<br>(1,037,093)<br>1,472,361<br>435,268<br>Other non-<br>cash changes<br>**At 31 March**<br>**2025**<br>£<br>**£**<br>-<br>**480,045**<br>-<br>**-**<br>-<br>**480,045**<br>**-**<br>**480,045**<br>2024|
|---|---|





## Notes to the financial statements 

## For the year ended 31 March 2025 

- 1 Accounting policies 

## a) Statutory information 

Cruse Bereavement Support is a charitable company limited by guarantee and is incorporated in the United Kingdom. 

The registered office address is 5 Kew Road, Richmond, TW9 2PR 

## b) Basis of preparation 

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: 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) - (Charities SORP FRS 102), The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006. 

Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy or note. 

In applying the financial reporting framework, the trustees have made a number of subjective judgements, for example in respect of significant accounting estimates. Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.  The nature of the estimation means the actual outcomes could differ from those estimates. Any significant estimates and judgements affecting these financial statements are detailed within the relevant accounting policy below. 

The trustees do not consider that there are any sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next reporting period. 

## c) Public benefit entity 

The charity meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. 

## d) Going concern 

The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity's ability to continue as a going concern. 

In reaching this conclusion, the Trustees have reviewed three year financial plans, including cash flow forecasts, high-level business plans and the external environment. 

On the basis of the above, the trustees have concluded that there are no material uncertainties that suggest that the Charity cannot continue as a going concern and therefore the financial statements continue to be prepared on the basis that the Charity is a going concern. 



## Notes to the financial statements 

## For the year ended 31 March 2025 

## 1 Accounting policies (continued) 

## e) Income 

Income is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and that the amount can be measured reliably. 

Income from government and other grants, whether ‘capital’ grants or ‘revenue’ grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably and is not deferred. 

For legacies, entitlement is taken as the earlier of the date on which either: the charity is aware that probate has been granted, the estate has been finalised and notification has been made by the executor(s) to the charity that a distribution will be made, or when a distribution is received from the estate. Receipt of a legacy, in whole or in part, is only considered probable when the amount can be measured reliably and the charity has been notified of the executor’s intention to make a distribution. Where legacies have been notified to the charity, or the charity is aware of the granting of probate, and the criteria for income recognition have not been met, then the legacy is a treated as a contingent asset and disclosed if material. 

Income received in advance of the provision of a specified service is deferred until the criteria for income recognition are met. 

## f) Donations of gifts, services and facilities 

Donated professional services and donated facilities are recognised as income when the charity has control over the item or received the service, any conditions associated with the donation have been met, the receipt of economic benefit from the use by the charity of the item is probable and that economic benefit can be measured reliably. In accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102), volunteer time is not recognised so refer to the trustees’ annual report for more information about their contribution. 

On receipt, donated gifts, professional services and donated facilities are recognised on the basis of the value of the gift to the charity which is the amount the charity would have been willing to pay to obtain services or facilities of equivalent economic benefit on the open market; a corresponding amount is then recognised in expenditure in the period of receipt. 

## g) Interest receivable 

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the bank. 

## h) Fund accounting 

Restricted funds are to be used for specific purposes as laid down by the donor.  Expenditure which meets these criteria is charged to the fund. 

Unrestricted funds are donations and other incoming resources received or generated for the charitable purposes. 

Designated funds are unrestricted funds earmarked by the trustees for particular purposes. 



## Notes to the financial statements 

## For the year ended 31 March 2025 

- 1 Accounting policies (continued) 

## i) Expenditure and irrecoverable VAT 

- Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make a payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings: 

   - Costs of raising funds relate to the costs incurred by the charity in attracting voluntary income and costs incurred in trading activities, as well as the cost of any activities with a fundraising purpose Expenditure on charitable activities includes the costs of delivery of bereavement support, training and education and policy work undertaken to further the purposes of the charity and their associated support costs Other expenditure represents those items not falling into any other heading 

Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred. 

## j) Allocation of support costs 

Resources expended are allocated to the particular activity where the cost relates directly to that activity. However, the cost of overall direction and administration of each activity, comprising the salary and overhead costs of the central function, is apportioned on the following basis which are an estimate, based on staff time, of the amount attributable to each activity. 

Where information about the aims, objectives and projects of the charity is provided to potential beneficiaries, the costs associated with this publicity are allocated to charitable expenditure. 

Where such information about the aims, objectives and projects of the charity is also provided to potential donors, activity costs are apportioned between fundraising and charitable activities on the basis of area of literature occupied by each activity. 

|<br>ture occupied by each activity.||
|---|---|
|Bereavement Support|74%|
|Raising funds|20%|
|Policy|3%|
|Other trading activities|2%|
|Governance costs|1%|



Governance costs are the costs associated with the governance arrangements of the charity.  These costs are associated with constitutional and statutory requirements and include any costs associated with the strategic management of the charity’s activities. 

## k) Operating leases 

Rental charges are charged on a straight line basis over the term of the lease. 

## l) Tangible fixed assets 

Items of equipment are capitalised where the purchase price exceeds £500. Depreciation costs are allocated to activities on the basis of the use of the related assets in those activities. Assets are reviewed for impairment if circumstances indicate their carrying value may exceed their net realisable value and value in use. 

Where fixed assets have been revalued, any excess between the revalued amount and the historic cost of the asset will be shown as a revaluation reserve in the balance sheet. 

Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write down the cost of each asset to its estimated residual value over its expected useful life. The depreciation rates in use are as follows: 

Leasehold & Freehold Properties 50 years Office Furniture 10 years Office Equipment 4 years 



## Notes to the financial statements 

## For the year ended 31 March 2025 

- 1 Accounting policies (continued) 

## m) Debtors 

Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. 

## n) Cash at bank and in hand 

Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account. 

## o) Creditors and provisions 

Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due. 

## p) Financial instruments 

The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value. 

## q) Pensions 

The Charity operates a defined contirbution pension scheme. The pension cost charge represetns contributions payable under the scheme by the Charity to the fund and are recognised in the Statement of Financial Acitivities in the period to which they relate. The Charity has no liability under the scheme other than the payment of the contributions. 



## Notes to the financial statements 

## For the year ended 31 March 2025 

- 2 Income from donations and legacies 

||||||||2<br>0<br>2<br>5|2<br>0<br>2<br>5|2<br>0<br>2<br>5|2<br>0<br>2<br>5|2<br>0<br>2<br>5|||2024|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
||Unrestricted|Restricted|||||T<br>o<br>t<br>a<br>l|||||Unrestricted|Restricted|Total|
||£|£|||||||||£|£|£|£|
|Gifts|971,481|264,245|1<br>,<br>2<br>3<br>5<br>,<br>7<br>2<br>6|||||||||894,910|810,625|1,705,535|
|Legacies|311,836|113,550|||4<br>2<br>5<br>,<br>3<br>8<br>6|||||||282,185|42,884|325,069|
||1,283,317|377,795|1<br>,<br>6<br>6<br>1<br>,<br>1<br>1<br>3|||||||||1,177,095|853,509|2,030,604|



- 3 Income from charitable activities 

|4<br>5<br>Bank interest<br>Government grant<br>statutory funding<br>Other<br>Fundraising projec<br>Income from train<br>and conferences<br>Sale of publication<br>literature<br>Total income from<br>charitable activitie<br>Local authorities<br>Clinical commissio<br>groups and Local<br>boards<br>I<br>n<br>c<br>o<br>m<br>e<br>f<br>r<br>o<br>m<br>o<br>t<br>h<br>e<br>I<br>n<br>c<br>o<br>m<br>e<br>f<br>r<br>o<br>m<br>i<br>n<br>v<br>e<br>|Unrestricted<br>£<br>330,340<br>1,235,928<br>9,878<br>316,746<br>1,892,892<br>Unrestricted<br>£<br>17,610<br>296,442<br>5,614<br>319,666<br>Unrestricted<br>£<br>5,680<br>5,680<br>s and<br>ts<br>ing<br>s and<br> <br>s<br>ning<br>health<br><br>r<br>t<br>r<br>a<br>d<br>i<br>n<br>g<br>a<br>c<br>t<br>i<br>v<br>i<br>t<br>i<br>e<br>s<br>s<br>t<br>m<br>e<br>n<br>t<br>s|£<br>106,157<br>394,065<br>1,799,134<br>250,000<br>2,549,356<br>£<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>£<br>-<br>-<br>Restricted<br>Restricted<br>Restricted|2<br>0<br>2<br>5<br>T<br>o<br>t<br>a<br>l<br>£<br>4<br>3<br>6<br>,<br>4<br>9<br>7<br>1<br>,<br>6<br>2<br>9<br>,<br>9<br>9<br>3<br>1<br>,<br>8<br>0<br>9<br>,<br>0<br>1<br>2<br>5<br>6<br>6<br>,<br>7<br>4<br>6<br>4,442,248<br>2<br>0<br>2<br>5<br>T<br>o<br>t<br>a<br>l<br>£<br>1<br>7<br>,<br>6<br>1<br>0<br>2<br>9<br>6<br>,<br>4<br>4<br>2<br>5<br>,<br>6<br>1<br>4<br>3<br>1<br>9<br>,<br>6<br>6<br>6<br>2<br>0<br>2<br>5<br>T<br>o<br>t<br>a<br>l<br>£<br>5<br>,<br>6<br>8<br>0<br>5<br>,<br>6<br>8<br>0|Unrestricted<br>£<br>224,263<br>382,866<br>-<br>167,275<br>774,404<br>Unrestricted<br>£<br>11,470<br>324,458<br>1,867<br>337,795<br>Unrestricted<br>£<br>9,776<br>9,776|£<br>281,060<br>1,342,313<br>1,313,538<br>300,000<br>3,236,911<br>£<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>£<br>-<br>-<br>Restricted<br>Restricted<br>Restricted|2024<br>Total<br>£<br>505,323<br>1,725,179<br>1,313,538<br>467,275<br>4,011,315<br>2024<br>Total<br>£<br>11,470<br>324,458<br>1,867<br>337,795<br>2024<br>Total<br>£<br>9,776<br>9,776|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|





## **Notes to the financial statements** 

**For the year ended 31 March 2025 6a Analysis of expenditure (current year) [the charitable activities should correspond to those itemised for income purposes]** 

|Raising<br>funds<br>£<br>Staff costs (Note 8)<br>917,989<br>Training & volunteering costs<br>-<br>Other staff and volunteering costs<br>13,304<br>Premises Costs<br>-<br>Legal & professional<br>-<br>Auditor remuneration<br>-<br>Depreciation<br>-<br>Office support costs<br>14,282<br>Fundraising and communications c<br>61,258<br>-<br>-<br>1,006,834<br>Support costs<br>146,749<br>Governance costs<br>19,204<br>**Total expenditure 2025**<br>**1,172,787**<br>Total expenditure 2024<br>**1,367,903**|Raising<br>funds<br>£<br>Staff costs (Note 8)<br>917,989<br>Training & volunteering costs<br>-<br>Other staff and volunteering costs<br>13,304<br>Premises Costs<br>-<br>Legal & professional<br>-<br>Auditor remuneration<br>-<br>Depreciation<br>-<br>Office support costs<br>14,282<br>Fundraising and communications c<br>61,258<br>-<br>-<br>1,006,834<br>Support costs<br>146,749<br>Governance costs<br>19,204<br>**Total expenditure 2025**<br>**1,172,787**<br>Total expenditure 2024<br>**1,367,903**|Charitable activities|Charitable activities|Charitable activities|Governance<br>costs<br>£<br>68,051<br>-<br>981<br>-<br>-<br>19,650<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-|Support<br>costs<br>£<br>-<br>-<br>87,297<br>13,947<br>118,904<br>-<br>106,160<br>389,398<br>18,038<br>-<br>-|**2025**<br>**Total**<br>**£**<br>**4,505,566**<br>**263,502**<br>**218,806**<br>**416,609**<br>**128,046**<br>**19,650**<br>**261,435**<br>**435,131**<br>**101,668**<br>**-**<br>**-**|2024<br>Total<br>£<br>5,466,943<br>762,862<br>280,814<br>616,347<br>63,084<br>47,723<br>125,312<br>489,046<br>102,077<br>-<br>-|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||Bereavement<br>Support<br>£<br>3,313,538<br>239,940<br>114,259<br>402,662<br>9,142<br>-<br>155,276<br>31,451<br>22,372<br>-<br>-|Policy<br>£<br>122,045<br>-<br>1,757<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-|Other<br>trading<br>activities<br>£<br>83,943<br>23,563<br>1,207<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>108,713<br>14,675<br>1,920<br>**125,308**<br>**195,607**|||||
||1,006,834<br>146,749<br>19,204|4,288,638<br>542,971<br>72,015|123,801<br>22,012<br>2,881||88,682<br>7,337<br>(96,020)|733,745<br>(733,745)<br>-|6,350,413<br>-<br>-|7,954,208<br>-<br>-|
||**1,172,787**<br>**1,367,903**|**4,903,624**<br>**6,212,608**|**148,694**<br>**178,090**||-<br>**-**|**-**<br>**-**|**6,350,413**|**7,954,208**|





## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

## **6b Analysis of expenditure (prior year)** 

|Raising<br>funds<br>£<br>Staff costs (Note 8)<br>1,093,452<br>Training & volunteering costs<br>-<br>Other staff and volunteering costs<br>-<br>Premises Costs<br>-<br>Legal & professional<br>-<br>Auditor remuneration<br>-<br>Depreciation<br>-<br>Office support costs<br>-<br>Fundraising and communications c<br>45,591<br>-<br>1,139,043<br>Support costs<br>203,386<br>Governance costs<br>25,474<br>**Total expenditure 2024**<br>**1,367,903**|Raising<br>funds<br>£<br>Staff costs (Note 8)<br>1,093,452<br>Training & volunteering costs<br>-<br>Other staff and volunteering costs<br>-<br>Premises Costs<br>-<br>Legal & professional<br>-<br>Auditor remuneration<br>-<br>Depreciation<br>-<br>Office support costs<br>-<br>Fundraising and communications c<br>45,591<br>-<br>1,139,043<br>Support costs<br>203,386<br>Governance costs<br>25,474<br>**Total expenditure 2024**<br>**1,367,903**|Charitable activities|Charitable activities||Governance<br>costs<br>£<br>67,148<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>47,723<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-|Support<br>costs<br>£<br>-<br>229,787<br>164,970<br>101,401<br>-<br>-<br>125,312<br>367,331<br>28,069<br>-|**2024 Total**<br>**£**<br>**5,466,943**<br>**762,862**<br>**280,814**<br>**616,347**<br>**63,084**<br>**47,723**<br>**125,312**<br>**489,046**<br>**102,077**<br>**-**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||Bereavement<br>support services<br>£<br>4,123,056<br>381,028<br>115,844<br>514,946<br>63,084<br>-<br>-<br>121,715<br>28,417<br>-|Policy<br>£<br>112,339<br>42,238<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-|Other<br>trading<br>activities<br>£<br>70,948<br>109,809<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-||||
||1,139,043<br>203,386<br>25,474|5,348,089<br>766,903<br>97,617|154,577<br>20,895<br>2,617|180,757<br>13,197<br>1,653|114,871<br>12,490<br>(127,360)|1,016,870<br>(1,016,870)<br>-|7,954,208<br>-<br>-|
||**1,367,903**|**6,212,608**|**178,090**|**195,607**|-|-|**7,954,208**|





## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

- **7 Net income / (expenditure) for the year** 

This is stated after charging / (crediting): 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
||||
|---|---|---|
|2025|2024|
|£|£|
|Depreciation|146,956|125,312|
|-|
|Impairment|114,479|
|Operating lease rentals payable:|
|Property|57,300|86,770|
|Other|-|390|
|Auditor's remuneration (excluding VAT):|19,650|30,000|

**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


- **8 Analysis of staff costs, trustee remuneration and expenses, and the cost of key management personnel** 

Staff costs were as follows: 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
||||
|---|---|---|
|2025|2024|
|£|£|
|Salaries and wages|4,019,509|4,846,073|
|Redundancy and termination costs|970|27,413|
|National Insurance costs|357,178|430,203|
|Employer’s contribution to defined contribution pension schemes|127,908|163,254|
|4,505,566|5,466,943|

**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


The redundancy and termination costs were settled and paid at the balance sheet date. 

The following number of employees received employee benefits (excluding employer pension costs and employer's national insurance) during the year between: 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
||||
|---|---|---|
|2025|2024|
|No.|No.|
|£60,001 - £70,000|-|1|
|£70,001 - £80,000|2|-|
|£80,001 - £90,000|1|-|
|£90,001 - £100,000|1|
|-|-|
|£100,001 - £110,000|

**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


The total employee benefits (including pension contributions and employer's national insurance) of the key management personnel were £391,339 (2024: £418,100) 

The charity trustees were neither paid nor received any other benefits from employment with the charity in the year (2024: £nil).  No charity trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2024: £nil). 

Trustees' expenses represents the payment or reimbursement of travel and subsistence costs totalling £960(2024: £2,129) incurred by 4 (2024: 4) members relating to attendance at meetings of the trustees. 



## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

## **9 Staff numbers** 

The average number of employees (head count based on number of staff employed) during the year was 161 (2024: 193). 

|Staff are split across the activities of the charity as follows (full time equivalent<br>basis):<br>Central services<br>Helpline<br>Governance<br>Raising funds<br>Local bereavement supports services|**2025**<br>**No.**<br>**20**<br>**22**<br>**70**<br>**13**<br>**-**<br>**125**|2024<br>No.<br>16<br>22<br>93<br>14<br>-<br>145|
|---|---|---|



## **10 Related party transactions** 

There are no related party transactions to disclose for this financial year (2024: none). 

There are no donations from related parties which are outside the normal course of business and no restricted donations from related parties. 

## **11 Taxation** 

The charity is exempt from corporation tax as all its income is charitable and is applied for charitable purposes. 



## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

## **12 Intangible assets** 

|At the start of the year<br>At the start of the year<br>Charge for the year<br>Eliminated on disposal<br>At the end of the year<br>**Net book value**<br>**At the end of the year**<br>**Cost**<br>At the start of the year<br>Additions in year<br>Disposals in year<br>At the end of the year<br>**Amortization**<br>Charge for the year<br>Eliminated on disposal<br>At the end of the year<br>**Net book value**<br>At the start of the year<br>Additions in year<br>Disposals in year - scrapped<br>**Depreciation**<br>**At the end of the year**<br>**Cost**<br>At the start of the year<br>**Tangible fixed assets**<br>At the end of the year<br>At the start of the year<br>Impairment|Leasehold<br>property<br>£<br>782,000<br>-<br>-<br>782,000<br>73,080<br>37,584<br>98,576<br>-<br>209,240<br>572,760<br>708,920|Freehold<br>property<br>£<br>230,000<br>-<br>-<br>230,000<br>30,360<br>2,760<br>-<br>-<br>33,120<br>196,880<br>199,640|Office<br>furniture<br>£<br>14,550<br>-<br>(8,399)<br>6,151<br>9,763<br>1,455<br>872<br>(8,399)<br>3,690<br>2,461<br>4,787|Software<br>£<br>314,725<br>4,725<br>-<br>319,450<br>86,632<br>63,890<br>-<br>150,522<br>168,928<br>228,093<br> <br>Office<br>equipment<br>£<br>210,929<br>100,915<br>(142,017)<br>169,827<br>134,905<br>41,268<br>15,031<br>(142,017)<br>49,187<br>120,640<br>76,024|**Total**<br>**£**<br>**314,725**<br>**4,725**<br>**-**<br>**319,450**<br>**86,632**<br>**63,890**<br>**-**<br>**150,522**<br>**168,928**<br>228,093<br> <br>**Total**<br>**£**<br>**1,237,479**<br>**100,915**<br>**(150,416)**<br>**1,187,978**<br>**248,108**<br>**83,066**<br>**114,479**<br>**(150,416)**<br>**295,237**<br>**892,741**<br>989,371|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|



## **13 Tangible fixed assets** 

Leasehold and freehold properties are included at deemed cost. The carrying amount of leasehold and freehold that would have been recognised under the historic cost model is £533,074 (2024: £533,074) for leasehold property and £157,508 (2024: £157,508) for freehold property. Impairment charges were recognised to reduce the value of the leasehold property to the value of the agreed sales price which completed post year-end. Impairment charges were also included to write off computer equipment that was replaced during the year and for office furniture that was obsolete due to office closures during the year. 

All of the above assets are used for charitable purposes. 



## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

## **14 Debtors** 

|Accruals<br>Deferred income (note 16)<br>Trade debtors<br>Other debtors<br>Prepayments<br>Accrued income<br>Taxation and social security<br>**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**<br>Trade creditors<br>Other creditors|**2025**<br>**£**<br>**144,340**<br>**268**<br>**68,007**<br>**512,058**<br>**724,673**<br>**2025**<br>**£**<br>**206,397**<br>**113,588**<br>**24,850**<br>**382,780**<br>**170,986**<br>**898,602**|2024<br>£<br>248,170<br>-<br>29,595<br>253,116<br>530,881<br>2024<br>£<br>147,789<br>105,950<br>6,255<br>499,086<br>135,041<br>894,121|
|---|---|---|



## **15 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year** 

## **16 Deferred income** 

Deferred income comprises contract income invoiced in advance that relates to delivery of services in future 

|Balance at the beginning of the year<br>Amount released to income in the year<br>Amount deferred in the year<br>Balance at the end of the year|**2025**<br>**£**<br>**135,041**<br>**(135,041)**<br>**170,986**<br>**170,986**|2024<br>£<br>274,837<br>(274,837)<br>135,041<br>135,041|
|---|---|---|





## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

## **17a Analysis of net assets between funds (current year)** 

|**Net assets at 31 March 2024**<br>Tangible fixed assets<br>Intangible fixed assets<br>Net current assets<br>**Net assets at 31 March 2025**<br>**Analysis of net assets between funds (prior year)**<br>Intangible fixed assets<br>Net current assets<br>Tangible fixed assets|General<br>unrestricted<br>£<br>849,341<br>168,928<br>(532,234)<br>**486,035**<br>General<br>unrestricted<br>£<br>945,971<br>228,093<br>(300,940)<br>**873,124**|Restricted<br>£<br>43,400<br>-<br>838,349<br>**881,749**<br>Restricted<br>£<br>43,400<br>-<br>372,967<br>**416,367**|**Total funds**<br>**£**<br>**892,741**<br>**168,928**<br>**306,115**<br>**1,367,784**<br>**Total funds**<br>**£**<br>**989,371**<br>**228,093**<br>**72,027**<br>**1,289,491**|
|---|---|---|---|



## **17b Analysis of net assets between funds (prior year)** 



## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

**18a Movements in funds (current year)** 

|**Total restricted funds**<br>**General funds**<br>**Total funds**<br>**Total unrestricted funds**<br>South West<br>Northern Ireland<br>Volunteering & training<br>National Lottery Community Fund -<br>RC England Wide - Choice & Access<br>for Bereaved People<br>National Lottery Community Fund<br>(National Lottery Community Fund<br>England)<br>**Restricted funds:**<br>Cooperative Group- Connecting<br>Communities<br>National Lottery Community Fund -<br>Reaching Communities/Partnerships -<br>Men in Grief<br>National Lottery Community Fund -<br>Empowering Young People 3 -<br>Somewhere for Us, Northern Ireland<br>**Unrestricted funds:**<br>Midlands<br>East & London<br>North<br>Wales|At 1 April<br>2024<br>£<br>240,978<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>175,389<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>416,367<br>873,124<br>873,124<br>1,289,491|Income &<br>gains<br>£<br>250,000<br>146,935<br>905,867<br>124,227<br>149,469<br>6,000<br>107,599<br>104,487<br>337,080<br>137,044<br>98,707<br>559,736<br>2,927,151<br>3,501,555<br>3,501,555<br>6,428,706|<br>Expenditure<br>& losses<br>£<br>(439,967)<br>(62,414)<br>(360,957)<br>(73,310)<br>(149,469)<br>(6,000)<br>(98,599)<br>(229,385)<br>(261,080)<br>(122,145)<br>(98,707)<br>(559,736)<br>(2,461,768)<br>(3,888,645)<br>(3,888,645)<br>(6,350,413)|<br>Transfers<br>£<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-|**At 31 March**<br>**2025**<br>**£**<br>**51,011**<br>**84,521**<br>**544,910**<br>**50,917**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**9,000**<br>**50,491**<br>**76,000**<br>**14,900**<br>**-**<br>-<br>**881,749**<br>**486,035**<br>**486,035**<br>**1,367,784**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|



The narrative to explain the purpose of each fund is given at the foot of the note below. 



## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

**18b Movements in funds (prior year)** 

|**Total restricted funds**<br>**Revaluation reserve**<br>**General funds**<br>Home Office Ministry of Justice- Grief<br>Inside<br>London & South East<br>Children & Young People<br>South West<br>Northern Ireland<br>Midlands<br>**Total funds**<br>Cooperative Group- Connecting<br>Communities<br>**Unrestricted funds:**<br>Restricted to Local Branches<br>Training Courses<br>Wales<br>Armed Forces Covenant Fund<br>Together in Force<br>**Total unrestricted funds**<br>**Restricted funds:**<br>National Lottery Community Fund -<br>RC England Wide - Choice & Access<br>for Bereaved People<br>Institute of Cemetery & Crematorium<br>Management (ICCM)<br>National Lottery Community Fund<br>(National Lottery Community Fund<br>England)<br>Supporting Men in Grief- Severn Trent<br>Norfolk<br>North East|At 1 April<br>2023<br>£<br>184,883<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>7,262<br>-<br>6,163<br>14,894<br>32,364<br>8,794<br>187,657<br>1,000<br>2,205<br>-<br>186,790<br>11,546<br>-<br>643,557<br>69,555<br>2,129,362<br>2,198,917<br>2,842,474<br>|Income &<br>gains<br>£<br>250,000<br>7,987<br>185,000<br>629,273<br>7,495<br>7,299<br>-<br>491,391<br>24,857<br>231,609<br>508,622<br>532,891<br>-<br>201,511<br>244,142<br>718,344<br>50,000<br>4,090,421<br>-<br>2,310,805<br>2,310,805<br>6,401,226|<br>Expenditure<br>& losses<br>£<br>(193,905)<br>(7,987)<br>(185,000)<br>(629,273)<br>(14,757)<br>(7,299)<br>(6,163)<br>(506,285)<br>(57,221)<br>(240,403)<br>(520,890)<br>(533,891)<br>(2,205)<br>(201,511)<br>(430,932)<br>(729,890)<br>(50,000)<br>(4,317,612)<br>-<br>(3,636,598)<br>(3,636,598)<br>(7,954,210)|<br>Transfers<br>£<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>-<br>(69,555)<br>69,555<br>-<br>-|**At 31 March**<br>**2024**<br>**£**<br>**240,978**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**175,389**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>-<br>**-**<br>**-**<br>**416,367**<br>**-**<br>**873,124**<br>**873,124**<br>**1,289,491**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|



## **Purposes of restricted funds** 

Cooperative Group- Connecting Communities - the project supports, resources and inspires communities to support community members following a bereavement. 

National Lottery Community Fund - RC England Wide - Choice & Access for Bereaved People  - the two-year project aims to ensure that bereaved people are able to access a range of bereavement support options no matter where they live in the country. 

National Lottery Community Fund (National Lottery Community Fund England) – Awards for All funding across England supported local branches to provide bereavement services in their local area. 

National Lottery Community Fund - Reaching Communities/Partnerships - Men in Grief – the two-year project reaches out to support men in Birmingham and the Black Country that have suffered grief or loss. 



## **Notes to the financial statements** 

## **For the year ended 31 March 2025** 

National Lottery Community Fund - Empowering Young People 3 - Somewhere for Us, Northern Ireland – the three-year project provides support to bereaved young people to enable them to have a healthy emotional outlet and provides them with the tools they need to be stronger emotionally and become more resilient. 

Volunteering & training – funding was received during the year to be used to provide training for our bereavement volunteer teams. 

Regional funding – funding from statutory sources and trusts and foundations during the year was used to provide local bereavement services across the England, Wales and Northern Ireland. 

## **19 Operating lease commitments payable as a lessee** 

The charity's total future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases is as follows for each of the following periods 

|Less than one year<br>Between two to five years<br>Over five years<br>|**2025**<br>2024<br>**£**<br>£<br>**14,981**<br>38,812<br>**-**<br>11,785<br>**-**<br>-<br>**14,981**<br>50,597<br>Property|**2025**<br>2024<br>**£**<br>£<br>**-**<br>-<br>**-**<br>-<br>**-**<br>-<br>**-**<br>-<br>Office Equipment & Motor<br>Vehicles|
|---|---|---|



## **20 Legal status of the charity** 

The charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital.  The liability of each member in the event of winding up is limited to £1. 

## **21. Post balance sheet event - sale of Richmond** 

The sale of the registered office at Richmond included in fixed assets on the Balance Sheet at 31 March 2025 completed on 25 July 2025. 



41 Annuol Report ond Accounts 2024125
Thank you
We extend our heartfelt thanks to each and every one of our incredible
supporters, volunteers and funders. Your continued generosity, time,
and commitment have made our work possible.
Celebrating our volunteers
Our supporters, funders and
donors
Cruse's strength comes from our local
footprinl, our national delivery and the passion
and commitment of our volunteers and staff.
At Cruse we believe bereaved people should
not be alone in their grief. Thank you to all
our funders and donors for your life-changing
support.
To our amazing volunteer community- thank
you. 3,364 individuals gave their own time
to support people through one of the most
painful times in life.
Funding, donations and legacies to Cruse
are vital for our charity to continue to provide
expert bereavement and grief support and
information for bereaved people.
Thank you to our specialist trained
Bereavement Volunteers who provided
support through one-to-one and group
sessions,. our helpline volunteers who
responded to calls and emails., all Ihose
who shared their experiences through
Cruse's advisory panels- social media and
communicalions volunteers- and volunteers
in local communities and branches across
England. Wales and Northern Ireland who
fundraised for Cruse and bereaved people.
We would like lo thank all our funders and
partners who share our ambition and values
and who provided essential support for
bereaved adults, children and young people.
Thank you to all those who kindly donated lo
Cruse and everyone who fundraised to help
others coping with grief and bereavement.
I will be running a marathon
for Cruse. When l arn finding
training hard I have been thinking
about how much Cruse helped me,
and how the money I raise
will hopefully help someone else to
have the support I did. ??
OVERVIEW
STRATEGIC REVIEW
GOVERNANCE
FINANCIALS
THANKYOU
PERSONAL STORIES

42 Annuol Report Und A¢¢ounts 2024125
Personal Stories
We are extremely grateful to all those supported by Cruse who have
kindly shared their stories about grief and bereavement with us. Sharing
stories can help others feel less isolated.
Thanks also to those who took part in surveys and panels. Your feedback and insight helped us
develop our services and new information resources.
Stories have been shared on Cruse's website and via social media. More stories are available on
our website al cruse.org.uk.
Jane's Story
'My husband, Seb, died of a heart attack . he was jusl 46 years old. It was a complete
shock.
Whilst the practical and emotional support from friends and family was appreciated, I
also really needed someone who had a clearer understanding of the impact of grief to
talk to so I could process and understand. A friend recommended that I speak to Cruse.
There is so much admin related to someone dying.. it was on me to manage the
funeral and contacl countless companies. I was also supporting his daughter who had
lost her Dad at 23. But al the same time, my body was jusl shutting down, I didn't feel
the need to eat or drink water.
Being able to talk Ihrough all of that with someone who understood made me feel more
'normal' _ il was like an anchor. The conversations wilh Cruse, really helped me start to
process."
OVERVIEW
STRATEGIC REVIEW
GOVERNANCE
FINANCIALS
THANKYOU
PERSONAL STORIES

43 Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25
Stuart's Story
-my life was shattered when my eldest son died by suicide at the age of 32.
A devastating loss that changed everything in an instant.
It was my GP who first suggested Cruse and rang the helpline for me. Thal was the first
time I had spoken to anyone outside of my family aboul how I felt. It was a lurning point.
When I met with the Cruse volunteer Ihere was no pressure, no judgement- just quiet
understanding and compassion. I could say exactly what was in my heart, things I was
too afraid to share with my wife or my other sons, who were also drowning in Iheir own
grief. Over the course of my sessions, I slowly learned how to process my pain, how to
exist in a world without my son."
Sarah's story
-my husband, Carlos, was 51 when he passed away.
At the time, I remember jusl thinking it doesn't happen to you, il happens lo others. But
il does happen. You look for answers after you lose someone, as to why them, why me.
Carlos was so fit and healthy, he went lo the gym every morning at 6am and was in
amazing shape, but he died of a haemorrhagic stroke.
The support sessions I had through Cruse helped me to realise Ihat sometimes there
are no answers. In life Ihere's a lot of things you just can'l control.
After I finished my sessions with Cruse, I felt like I had this incredible support and I
didn't pay a penny for il. I thought'what can I do?" That was when we decided to start
fundraising for Cruse."
OVERVIEW
STRATEGIC REVIEW
GOVERNANCE
FINANCIALS
THANKYOU
PERSONAL STORIES

GruEe
Bereavement
Support
We help people through one of the most painful times in life -
with bereavement support, information and campaigning.
uf&nrfdffi&
Cruse Bereavement Support
PO Box 800, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1RG
Call: 0808 808 1677
Email: info@cruse.org.uk
www.cruse.org.uk
Registered Charity No. 208078
A Company Limited by Guarantee No. 638709
Registered Office." 5 Kew Road, Richmond Twg 2PR