Annual Report of Society for Research into Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida, 2024
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
The Society is managed by the trustees.
The income received to date has been evaluated, in terms of any potential risk to the society, and assessed as minimal. On an ongoing basis the major risks to which the charity is exposed, as identified by the trustees, have been reviewed and systems have been established to mitigate these risks.
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
The Society’s objectives are to further the research and knowledge into prevention and management of Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
SRHSB is a multinational society with a multidisciplinary membership from many countries. The Society continues to undertake surveillance of flour fortification and raise awareness amongst all medical
professionals of the importance of pre-conceptual folic acid and vitamin B12 in reducing the incidence of spina bifida. It continues to support and encourage research into the causation and treatment of spinal bifida and hydrocephalus. The Society's Annual Meeting in Manchester in September 2024 was educationally and scientifically a great success and made a welcome surplus of £2,972 for the Society. The full programme was highly praised by the delegates, and encouraged new members to join the Society. The organisers of the meeting managed to operate at a small profit. The Society has also attracted a bequest of £15,016. This funding has been used to support small research projects and offer financial assistance to less privileged doctors throughout the world so that they can attend the Annual Scientific Meeting and present their work. In the forthcoming year, it hoped that the Society's profile will be raised by promoting itself through a new website and other initiatives encouraging new membership and assuring its sustainability into the future.
Risk Review
The major risks to which the charity is exposed, as identified by the trustees, have been reviewed and systems have been established to mitigate these risks. Other hydrocephalus research societies have been established during the last few years which have drawn members away from the SRHSB, so the Society will now focus on encouraging and facilitating research projects by young researchers especially from low-income countries. The Society meetings will continue to be used for networking and external charitable donations will be increasingly sought to help start new research projects.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
In 2023, total income was £12,817 and expenditure on grants, bursaries and running costs amounted to £18,562, resulting in a deficit of £5,745. This has been reflected in the Society’s cash assets, which declined from £72,999 to £67,254 at the end of 2023.
The Society has net incoming resources in the year 2024. Total income was £33,340 and expenditure on grants, bursaries and running costs was £7,747. The Society now has a solid asset base of £92,847 which in the longer term will enable the Society to meet its objectives.
Reserves Policy
It is the policy of the charity to maintain a level of reserves sufficient to cover any loss that might occur as a result of the Annual Meeting.
PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS
The foundation aims to continue meeting its objectives via the activities of the 16 members of the Executive Committee who are also the Trustees of the Society.
Administrative Information:
Ian Pople MD FRCS(SN), President
Jocelyn Glazier, Hon Secretary
William Singleton PhD FRCS(SN), Hon Treasurer
Dr Jaleel Miyan, Folic Acid Spokesperson and Past President
Prof John Pickard past president
Prof Pat McCallister, North American Corresponding Member and Past President
Mr Andy Wynd MBE, Past CEO of Spina Bifida Scotland
Hannah Botfield, Membership Secretary
Carolyn Harris, Bioengineering Liaison
Albert Isaacs, Young Investigator Representative
Prof Patricia Paez Gonzales, Publications Secretary
Dr Takayuki Inagaki, Pan-Asian representative
Nada Mohammed, Pan-African representative
Khalid Al-Kharazi, Pan-Middle Eastern representative
Christopher Roberts, Social Media Team
Talisser Gasser, Webmaster
Society for Research into Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida (SRHSB)
Financial Statement for the year ended 31 December 2024
Payments and Receipts Accounts
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGIANO AND WAiES Sotlotylor R••arch Into FWroc•phaIsPl Blfl Recei ts and ments accounts CC16a Forthe perfod from To Section A Receipts and payments Endowmoni lunds funds lund$ Layiyear A1 Rècèl s113ll iJ69 2.320 1029 10IE IgT2 2,32 1.610 10.QOO th)1&10fvtsb£8O0OreStsthdfQrgTan1sl Beques15 Iprofilsfrom?Tr?4Jlnnual mwwevenl 2.972 1.Ta4 toia ross in¢om& 2aqOE 12M11 A2 A5S&tand Investhnenl sales, see table. 25.6D6 9,734 A3Pa ents ranlsTvr ke5ea(ch Ploitds Weosite mainlenw Proes &¥11 oi 1.03 g.OUO 442 1fjB prethn le knUahieEUngSubY1SEth swaBrfA55t> 8.121 Sub toial &515 T.T4T A4A5set4nd Investrnenl pr¢h•S•S, 16• Stsb ioiI Totalpaymenls 1&32 7,747 18,562 olrecwpts/lpaymentsl ASTrJn8f•rs tW8n A6 Cash funds145tye4r enil Cash fvnds this yearend 22,374 )219 26.$•3 07,2S4 67,2 92N7 5219 5,746 Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of thè period Unrostrictèd lunrt5 to n•ar•sl£ Endowmont funds tnr•S1 lund5 ton•¥•5tt B1 Cash fund5 35.036 Tnath5 46,744 P3v1 Total¢ash ftstrmts 89,62B 4219 Endowrnenl fund5 tnr•s1* fo Mir•Jl£ ton•w•51 82 Other monetary assets CCXX R1 aCts(s5)
Fthidlothkh Costlopl¢nal CurMrrt¥au• an B3 Inve51menta55ets Fund1tswhkh sb•lan Costl<onai nt¥au an own use Fundtrwthkh 11 rd•t•S Vth•ndu on Detalls on B5 Liabilities sty0Or1bU5ieE5(tshdf41 sIgrE8le Prknl Name Date ol Igton 12.(%J-25 12tht.25 CCXX R2xwtslS5l 10nor2025
Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees of Society for Research into Hydrocephalus & Spina Bifida - Year Ended 31 December 2024
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2024.
RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES AND EXAMINER
The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity's trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
• examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act;
• to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
• to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
BASIS OF INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination
includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records.
It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S STATEMENT
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
(1) which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements:
• to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act; and
• to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the 2011 Act have not been met; or
(2) to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Mr. Ahmad Graiz
Independent examiner
Digitally signed by Ahmad Graiz DN: cn=Ahmad Graiz, ou=Independent Examiner, email=Graiz.ahmad@yahoo.com Date: 2025.10.16 11:16:22 +03'00'
Address: Bahrain - Manama