**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 3. 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 4. 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 - (a) ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and - (b) preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each financial year in accordance with the requirements of Sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company. 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