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2021-10-31-accounts

REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: CE018092 (England and Wales) REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 231708

Report of the Trustees and

Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 October 2021

for

The Thalidomide Society

Lewis Smith & Co. Chartered Certified Accountants The Old Doctor's House 74 Grange Road Dudley West Midlands DY1 2AW

The Thalidomide Society

Contents of the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 October 2021

Page
Reference and Administrative Details 1
Report of the Trustees 2 to 5
Independent Examiner's Report 6
Statement of Financial Activities 7
Balance Sheet 8 to 9
Notes to the Financial Statements 10 to 15
Detailed Statement of Financial Activities 16 to 17

The Thalidomide Society

Reference and Administrative Details for the Year Ended 31 October 2021

TRUSTEES Mr G Spink (resigned 31.5.22) Ms K West Mr D Mansell Mr G Tweedy Ms M Hogg Ms G Freeman Ms W Stubbings (resigned 1.4.21) Mr R Bareham Ms M De La Mare Mr B Payne (resigned 31.5.22) Ms S Thakkar (appointed 1.5.21)

REGISTERED OFFICE Flat 29 Weymouth House Hill House Mews Bromley BR2 0DD REGISTERED COMPANY CE018092 (England and Wales) NUMBER

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 231708

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER Lewis Smith & Co. Chartered Certified Accountants The Old Doctor's House 74 Grange Road Dudley West Midlands DY1 2AW

Page 1

The Thalidomide Society

for the Year Ended 31 October 2021

Report of the Trustees

The trustees who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 October 2021. The trustees have adopted the provisions of 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) (effective 1 January 2019).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES General Overview

The Board of Trustees meets four times a year (usually in October, February, March and June) to discuss the work of the Society, to review investments and to plan ahead. These meetings mostly now take place on Zoom due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In between meetings the trustees communicate, by email and Zoom, to discuss matters arising and to move forward on all outstanding issues as they arise.

The Board has four subcommittees: Finance, Governance, Events and Communications. The Finance and Governance subcommittees meet at least once a year and the Governance, Events and Communications as and when necessary.

The Society has a website to share information about the activities of the Society with the public and its members. The Society also has a Facebook page and Twitter account through which information is shared with members. The Society produces a yearly newsletter which is sent to all members and holds an Annual General Meeting and Conference to which all members are invited.

Over the last year, the Society has been holding additional meetings to discuss and plan for our diamond jubilee event in 2022, where we intend to celebrate 60 years since the Society's creation.

2021 Annual General Meeting and Conference

As a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic the Society's Annual General Meeting and Conference was held virtually this year and was a joint event with the Thalidomide Trust. The event was hosted by Rockitfish and took place over two days on the weekend of 15 / 16 May. It was very successful, with over 140 attendees, and gave the Society a chance to include more of our overseas members and those who would not normally wish to attend a live event.

We sent out notifications of our accounts including the Trustees' Report, an address from the Chair and updates on our projects. We also asked members to approve the accounts and the appointment of the independent examiners.

The Board of Trustees welcomed Sukeshi Thakkar as a new trustee. Wendy Stubbings retired from the board.

Page 2

The Thalidomide Society

for the Year Ended 31 October 2021

Report of the Trustees

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

The Board of Trustees

During the AGM section of the online event, Geoff Adams-Spink was elected as chair and Kath West as vice chair and line manager to the secretary. Brian Payne was elected as chair of finance; Rowland Bareham chair of governance and Guy Tweedy chair of communications.

Progress started again on the HLF-funded oral history project, Thalidomide Stories, which sees nine thalidomide survivors trained as oral historians, undertaking oral history interviews with fellow survivors. Forty-nine interviews are now completed in full with transcripts and interview summaries in accordance with British Library guidelines. One of the project aims was to build our outreach activities to thalidomide survivors who do not usually attend Society events or may never have met any other survivors. This has been very successful with over 30 new members signing up. The Parents' Oral History Project, also currently on hold, has two new interviews completed.

Progress has also been made on the Society's historical archiving, beginning and now all of the early Board of Trustees meeting documents and minutes as well as early information bulletins and leaflets have been completed.

The Secretary, Ruth Blue, produced a six-part series, featuring items from the archives and the oral history interviews, Voices of Thalidomide, which is now available on Wellcome Collection's website.

Former trustee Marie Pearse has continued to run the successful Lottery Project. The Society runs a busy Facebook group, has a Twitter account and website.

ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE

Investment Policy and Performance

At the year end the balance of the Society's investment portfolio was valued at £581,895 (2020 - £495,772) and generated income during the year of £19,086 (2020 - £26,469). The value of the investment portfolio significantly increased as a result of the financial markets recovering after initial losses at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Finance Committee actively monitors these investments.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Financial position

Total income for the year was £22,376 (2020 - £73,147). Expenditure for the year (excluding the investment movements) was £59,817 (2020 - £87,260). The total funds of the charity increased to £621,177 (2020 - £551,497). This consisted of unrestricted funds of £598,092 (2020 - £514,450) and restricted funds of £23,085 (2020 - £37,047).

Page 3

The Thalidomide Society

for the Year Ended 31 October 2021

Report of the Trustees

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Restricted Funds

The restricted funds are accounted for separately. These funds are generated from several sources and are restricted for specific projects. These are:

Support for Srey Hang

Funds are generated from the Society's raffle and auctions at the AGM, as well as from occasional separate private donations and bequests.

Oral History Project: Thalidomide Stories

In July 2018 the Society was granted £96,935 of Heritage Lottery funding for Thalidomide Stories: An Oral History of Thalidomide Survivors. The funds will be used solely for this project. So far funding of £88,740 has been received of which £75,372 has been spent on delivery of the project. Since October 2020, the project has been on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic although a small amount of interviews have been conducted by Zoom.

Oral History Project: Parents' Oral History

Funds generated from private bequests, net receipts from the Thalidomide Society Lottery, specific gifts from members and the sale of Society badges are used to support the Society's Parents' Oral History Project. Occasionally funds here too may be used to fund an interview with a thalidomide survivor or someone involved in the thalidomide community when it is needed for a specific talk or presentation on behalf of the Society. The project is mostly currently on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic, although a very small amount of interviews have been conducted via Zoom and telephone call.

Unrestricted Funds

The Society generates most of its unrestricted funds from its investment portfolio and uses this income to cover charitable activities and governance costs.

Reserves policy

Apart from the Restricted Funds, all reserves available for use by the Society are unrestricted and can be used for the Society in accordance with its charitable aims. The Trustees are aware the Society depends upon the income from its investments to fund its core activities and recognise the need to source other income to embark on any major projects.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

The Society aims to continue with archival digitisation work to protect its heritage and enhance the website content which we are already making progress with. A book contract has been proposed by Polity Press through which the Society can produce a social history of thalidomide, using the words of survivors.

The HLF-funded oral history project will be a strong focus for the next year, with a presentation to members at the 2022 event. The Society will continue to support Srey Hang and continue too with gathering parent oral histories.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Governing document

The charity is controlled by its governing document, a CIO Association conversion dated 4 July 2019.

Risk management

The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error.

Page 4

The Thalidomide Society

Report of the Trustees

for the Year Ended 31 October 2021

IMPACT OF COVID-19

A great many aspects of the Society's work have been affected by restrictions due to Covid-19. We are managing successful Zoom meetings for Board of Trustee and subcommittee business, as well as for event planning. We hope that by making our archive content available through our website, as well as communicating with members through social media, the newsletter and regular website updates, that we can keep the thalidomide community connected.

TRUSTEES INFORMATION

The details of the charity's trustees can be found on the Reference and Administrative Details on page 1 of the accounts.

The following people are not trustees of the charity but hold the following positions:

Name Position
Dr R Blue Secretary to the Board of Trustees
J Tunbridge Honorary Treasurer

Approved by order of the board of trustees on ............................................. and signed on its behalf by:

.......................................................................... Ms K West - Trustee

Page 5

Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of The Thalidomide Society

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of The Thalidomide Society ('the Company')

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 October 2021.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity's trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

  1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or 2. the accounts do not accord with those records; or

  2. the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or

  3. the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities (applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)).

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

Mr Craig Alan Beale FCCA Lewis Smith & Co. Chartered Certified Accountants The Old Doctor's House 74 Grange Road Dudley West Midlands DY1 2AW

Date: .............................................

Page 6

The Thalidomide Society

Statement of Financial Activities

for the Year Ended 31 October 2021

Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Donations and legacies
789
Charitable activities
Grant income
-
Investment income
3
19,074
Other income
-
Total
19,863
EXPENDITURE ON
Charitable activities
Staff costs
25,963
Other charges
17,379
Charitable activities
-
Total
43,342
Net gains/(losses) on investments
107,121
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)
83,642
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward
514,450
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD
598,092
Period
5.7.19
Year Ended
to
31.10.21
31.10.20
Restricted
Total
Total
funds
funds
funds
£
£
£
2,501
3,290
6,809
-
-
39,440
12
19,086
26,578
-
-
320
2,513
22,376
73,147
8,284
34,247
59,690
8,191
25,570
27,070
-
-
500
16,475
59,817
87,260
-
107,121
(60,529)
(13,962)
69,680
(74,642)
37,047
551,497
626,139
23,085
621,177
551,497

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 7

The Thalidomide Society

Balance Sheet

31 October 2021

Unrestricted
fund
Notes
£
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors
7
7,320
Investments
8
581,895
Cash at bank
10,797
600,012
CREDITORS
Amounts falling due within one year
9
(1,920)
NET CURRENT ASSETS
598,092
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT
LIABILITIES
598,092
NET ASSETS
598,092
FUNDS
10
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds
TOTAL FUNDS
Restricted
funds
£
-
-
23,085
23,085
-
23,085
23,085
23,085
31.10.21
Total
funds
£
7,320
581,895
33,882
623,097
(1,920)
621,177
621,177
621,177
598,092
23,085
621,177
31.10.20
Total
funds
£
-
495,772
57,535
553,307
(1,810)
551,497
551,497
551,497
514,450
37,047
551,497

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 October 2021.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 October 2021 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for

The notes form part of these financial statements

continued...

Page 8

The Thalidomide Society

Balance Sheet - continued

31 October 2021

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on ............................................. and were signed on its behalf by:

............................................. Ms K West - Trustee

The notes form part of these financial statements

Page 9

The Thalidomide Society

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 October 2021

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

The Thalidomide Society is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). Its principal activity is to work with thalidomide and similarly impaired people, their families and supporters, providing a social network for thalidomide and similarly impaired people. Its registered office is Flat 29, Weymouth House, Hill House Mews, Bromley, BR2 0DD

Company Status

The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). It is registered on Companies House with the company number CE018092 but is not required to submit and accounts or other documents with them. The company is registered with The Charity Commission with the charity number the 231708. It is required to file an annual report with them which includes a copy of these accounts.

2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

Income

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end date are noted as a commitment but not accrued as expenditure.

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.

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

Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund is included in the notes to the financial statements.

Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits

The charitable company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the charitable company's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities in the period to which they relate.

continued...

Page 10

The Thalidomide Society

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 October 2021

2. ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued

Debtors

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

Cash at bank and in hand

Cash at bank and in hand includes cash and short-term liquid investments with a short maturity of 3 months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.

Liabilities

Liabilities are recognised when there is an obligation at the Balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably.

Liabilities are recognised at the amount that the charity anticipates it will pay to settle the debt or the amount it has received as advanced payments for the goods or services it must provide.

3. INVESTMENT INCOME

INVESTMENT INCOME
Period
5.7.19
Year Ended to
31.10.21 31.10.20
£ £
Investment income 19,086 26,578

4. TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 October 2021 nor for the period ended 31 October 2020.

Trustees' expenses

There were no trustees' expenses paid for the year ended 31 October 2021 nor for the period ended 31 October 2020.

5. STAFF COSTS

STAFF COSTS
Period
5.7.19
Year Ended to
31.10.21 31.10.20
£ £
Wages and salaries 27,607 46,984
Social security costs 3,922 3,711
Other pension costs 1,144 1,536
32,673 52,231

continued...

Page 11

The Thalidomide Society

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 October 2021

5. STAFF COSTS - continued

The average monthly number of employees during the year was as follows:

Period
5.7.19
Year Ended to
31.10.21 31.10.20
Employees 2 2
No employees received emoluments in excess of £60,000.
6. COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
Unrestricted Restricted Total
fund funds funds
£ £ £
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM
Donations and legacies 2,411 4,398 6,809
Charitable activities
Grant income - 39,440 39,440
Investment income 26,520 58 26,578
Other income 320 - 320
Total 29,251 43,896 73,147
EXPENDITURE ON
Charitable activities
Staff costs 22,109 37,581 59,690
Other charges 18,554 8,516 27,070
Charitable activities 500 - 500
Total 41,163 46,097 87,260
Net gains/(losses) on investments (60,529) - (60,529)
NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE) (72,441) (2,201) (74,642)
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward 586,891 39,248 626,139
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD 514,450 37,047 551,497

continued...

Page 12

The Thalidomide Society

Notes to the Financial Statements-continued
for the Year Ended 31 October 2021
7.
DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
Prepayments and accrued income
8.
CURRENT ASSET INVESTMENTS
Listed investments
9.
CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
Accruals and deferred income
10.
MOVEMENT IN FUNDS
Unrestricted funds
General fund
Restricted funds
Thalidomide Society Oral History
Support for Srey Hang
Srey Hang & Beyond
HLF
TOTAL FUNDS
Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Incoming
resources
£
Unrestricted funds
General fund
19,863
Restricted funds
Thalidomide Society Oral History
2,501
Srey Hang & Beyond
2
HLF
10
2,513
TOTAL FUNDS
22,376

At
1.11.20
£
514,450
3,511
1,341
4,553
27,642
37,047
551,497
Resources
expended
£
(43,342)
(2,252)
-
(14,223)
(16,475)
(59,817)
31.10.21
£
7,320
31.10.21
£
581,895
31.10.21
£
1,920
Net
movement
in funds
£
83,642
249
-
2
(14,213)
(13,962)
69,680
Gains and
losses
£
107,121
-
-
-
-
107,121

continued...

Page 13

The Thalidomide Society

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 October 2021

10. MOVEMENT IN FUNDS - continued

Comparatives for movement in funds

At 5.7.19
£
Unrestricted funds
General fund
586,891
Restricted funds
Thalidomide Society Oral History
6,713
Support for Srey Hang
1,744
Srey Hang & Beyond
5,045
HLF
25,746
39,248
TOTAL FUNDS
626,139
Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:
Incoming
Resources
resources
expended
£
£
Unrestricted funds
General fund
29,251
(41,163)
Restricted funds
Thalidomide Society Oral History
4,411
(7,613)
Support for Srey Hang
-
(403)
Srey Hang & Beyond
8
(500)
HLF
39,477
(37,581)
43,896
(46,097)
TOTAL FUNDS
73,147
(87,260)
Net
movement
At
in funds
31.10.20
£
£
(72,441)
514,450
(3,202)
3,511
(403)
1,341
(492)
4,553
1,896
27,642
(2,201)
37,047
(74,642)
551,497
Gains and
Movement
losses
in funds
£
£
(60,529)
(72,441)
-
(3,202)
-
(403)
-
(492)
-
1,896
-
(2,201)
(60,529)
(74,642)

continued...

Page 14

The Thalidomide Society

Notes to the Financial Statements - continued for the Year Ended 31 October 2021

11. RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 October 2021.

Page 15

The Thalidomide Society

Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the Year Ended 31 October 2021

Detailed Statement of Financial Activities
for the Year Ended 31 October 2021
Period
5.7.19
Year Ended to
31.10.21 31.10.20
£ £
INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS
Donations and legacies
Donations 1,585 4,639
Lottery income 1,705 2,170
3,290 6,809
Investment income
Investment income 19,086 26,578
Charitable activities
Grants - 39,440
Other income
Delgate fees - 320
Total incoming resources 22,376 73,147
EXPENDITURE
Charitable activities
Grants to institutions - 500
Support costs
Human resources
Wages 27,607 46,984
Social security 3,922 3,711
Pensions 1,144 1,536
Travel and subsistence costs 2,564 7,459
35,237 59,690
Other
Insurance 254 254
Telephone and communications 4,376 10,575
Postage and stationery 946 1,096
Computer and IT expenses 1,122 1,880
Training seminars & workshops 11,092 7,515
Oral history interview costs 3,090 2,836
Carried forward 20,880 24,156

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements

Page 16

The Thalidomide Society

Detailed Statement of Financial Activities

for the Year Ended 31 October 2021

Detailed Statement of Financial Activities
for the Year Ended 31 October 2021
Period
5.7.19
Year Ended to
31.10.21 31.10.20
£ £
Other
Brought forward 20,880 24,156
Memberships and subscriptions 80 94
Investment fees 998 819
Accountancy fees 1,920 1,810
Legal fees 702 191
24,580 27,070
Total resources expended 59,817 87,260
Net expenditure before gains and losses (37,441) (14,113)
Realised recognised gains and losses
Realised gains/(losses) on fixed asset investments 107,121 (60,529)
Net income/(expenditure) 69,680 (74,642)

This page does not form part of the statutory financial statements

Page 17