northlondonhospice.org
Contents
| Contents | |
|---|---|
| Message from Chair and Chief Executive | 4 |
| Our Year in Numbers | 6 |
| Patient Services and Quality | 10 |
| People and Culture | 12 |
| Finance and Resources | 14 |
| Retail | 16 |
| Fundraising | 18 |
| Big Fun Art Adventure | 20 |
| Communications and Marketing | 22 |
| Support from Charitable Trusts | 24 |
| Trustees’ Annual Report | |
| Structure, Governance and Management | 26 |
| Our Trustees | 38 |
| Our Executive Team | 39 |
| Independent Auditors Report | 40 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 43 |
The Board of Trustees of the North London Hospice (‘The Hospice’) presents its Impact Report & Audited Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 and the CharitiesAct 2011. The audited accounts for that year are also presented and comply with the Companies Act 2006, the hospice’s governing document and the 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).
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Message from Chair Contents and Chief Executive
It has been a year of continued transformation and evolution at North London Hospice, and still we remain steadfast in our commitment to provide the best of life, at the end of life, for everyone.
The appointment of our new Chair of Trustees, Simon Morris MBE, coincided with last year’s Impact Report, and in the twelve months since, Simon has continually brought his wealth of experience in the charity and healthcare sectors, as well as previous positions on our Board, to support and guide us through a busy and demanding period.
This year we have been further bolstered by the appointment of three Honorary Presidents. Simon’s predecessor Lis Burgess Jones, Penny Gluckstein MBE and Geoffrey Hill have all played instrumental roles in the hospice over the years and their acceptance into these positions reflects our appreciation of their dedication and commitment to our work. We look forward to working with them as we continue to make a meaningful difference to those we serve in our community.
Simon Morris MBE Chair, Board of Trustees
With a robust leadership foundation, our Executive Team was further strengthened with the appointment of Peter Brook into the position of Director of Retail in July 2024. As our transformation journey has continued, resulting in several considered and meaningful changes across Patient Services, HR, Volunteering and Retail, Peter leads us on a new three-year Retail strategy to realise our financial ambitions of achieving a £4.5m turnover.
In broad terms, our transformation remains grounded in ensuring that we are putting the patient at the heart of everything we do, whilst safeguarding our future sustainability as a charity. Carried out using a co-production model, engaging key representatives and those with lived experience to help shape our new models of working, there have, inevitably, been changes to team structures and roles.
Declan Carroll Chief Executive
We must, therefore, acknowledge and pay tribute to all involved staff for their professionalism and understanding through this unsettling time.
Following several years and extensive meetings involving the Integrated Care Board (ICB), North Middlesex University Hospital (NMUH) and North London Hospice, we were pleased to accept transfer of the lead provider model contract for Haringey from North Middlesex in January 2025. Importantly, this will enable a fully integrated model of community palliative care across our three boroughs, as per our transformation plans. As a result, our Haringey Community Team moved to our Enfield office in March.
Our Enfield office was also earmarked for an exciting new collaboration this year, which would see Medicus Health Partners, the largest GP practice in Enfield, relocated to share the premises. With the tenancy at their current location coming to an end, the proposed partnership would see the hospice continue to deliver services from our Enfield office, whilst some areas of the building would be used by Medicus to run its GP services. Albeit a lengthy process, if approved, it would provide a new, valuable income stream for the hospice whilst leveraging our existing, state-of-the-art facilities.
At our Finchley site, plans to redevelop our Inpatient Unit are moving forward as we aim to create a modern, state-of-the-art facility for those needing intensive, specialist 24-hour support. The proposal marks a profound step toward transforming palliative and end-of-life care for North London residents, setting new benchmarks in hospice care for our community. Quite possibly the most ambitious project we have undertaken since our building was first established almost 40 years ago, we look forward to keeping you informed at every stage.
With hospice funding making the headlines last December, we were grateful to receive a muchanticipated cash injection from the government of £283,640 earlier this year. Ringfenced by the Department for Health and Social Care for capital expenditure, to go towards helping hospices to improve their buildings, equipment and accommodation, this money has kickstarted our capital appeal to fund our proposed redevelopment.
However, while we welcome the government’s support at a time when our sector is facing significant challenges, our day-to-day costs have increased significantly, and our income has not kept up. Hospices like ours provide vital services, many of which the NHS cannot provide. Sustainable funding is crucial for our business-asusual work, and so we are committed to working with the government and our partners to find a long-term solution.
Of course, hospice care was also in the news this year as the Assisted Dying Bill passed and will now go to the House of Lords. Whilst there are many questions about how the law could be implemented and what its impact would be, we recognise the close connections with our work. At this stage, we maintain that everyone should be able to access high quality palliative and end-of-life care, no matter who they are, where they are or why they are ill. Throughout the debate, the necessity for fair funding and equitable provision of palliative and end-oflife care across the UK became clear. We will continue to campaign for this.
Every day, we all have the pleasure to work alongside the best staff and volunteers who help to make our charity the special place it has become within the communities we support. We can’t put a value on what our services mean to all the patients, families and friends that we have cared for and supported over the years and will continue to support for years to come, but we can talk with pride, as we hope you all do, about how important our work is at North London Hospice.
We would like to thank all our staff, Trustees, donors, volunteers and supporters for everything they do to continue to help us achieve our aims. Despite continued significant pressures, they have risen to the many varied challenges we have experienced. We hope you find this report helpful and informative.
Simon Morris MBE
Declan Carroll
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Our year in numbers[ ] Contents*
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Community
Palliative Care
Services
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Outpatients and
Wellbeing
Service
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Haring
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Inpatient Unit
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21,636 visits by our
Community Palliative Care Service
to our patients
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- 3,370 referrals
92% of patients achieving their preferred place of death 6,571 total number of calls received through our overnight specialist Community and Palliative Advice Team (5pm-8am)
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223 referrals
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1,383 attendees
315 admissions
10.2 days average length of stay
86% occupancy
91% of patients achieving their preferred place of death
- These figures are correct as of 31 March 2025
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Co ntents
Compassionate People and Culture
Neighbours
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170 Referrals
586 volunteers
40 Compassionate Neighbours 211 staff
trained
212 Number of group sessions held
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Retail
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43,806 Number
of Gift Aid registered
donors
288 Number of
retail volunteers
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Fundraising
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Learning and
Development
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94% Staff compliance with
mandatory training
122 Internal mandatory and non
-mandatory training sessions for staff
38 courses delivered to 1,263
external learners
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8,712 People and organisations
supported us by giving us a gift
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56 Received notifications of a gift left to us in their will
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1,139 Number of
people assisted by our
support services (social
work, bereavement,
spiritual care)
Patient and
Family Support
Services
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Patient Services Contents and Quality
Key Achievements and Strategic Impact
Patient Services has seen significant changes in how we deliver our care in the last 12 months. Working to build the hospice of the future, we focused on creating more time to care in the Inpatient Unit. We have established a Care Co-ordination Centre to manage referrals, increase responsiveness and deploy nurses to patients efficiently, as well as developing a Living Well group model. Aimed at tackling longstanding health disparities, it is focused on making hospice care more accessible, culturally responsive, and relevant to groups currently underserved due to structural barriers, cultural stigma, and a lack of tailored services.
urgent patient queries or handover from secondary care. This has enabled a more seamless transition from hospital to home. Our investment in modern digital solutions has increased efficiency by responding to staffing need, whilst retaining the personal touch synonymous with palliative care.
To support these changes, we have planned a new governance structure within Patient Services that will prioritise patient safety and effective innovation and improvement. We have small specialist frontline groups focused on areas of patient safety, able to flexibly respond to changes in frequency of events or outcomes for patients and develop agile action plans that bring impact for patients. They are focused on identifying areas for quality improvement, which will improve our effectiveness. Key to this will be that we will be identifying issues proactively. This is putting our commitment to patient safety, effectiveness and patient experience at the forefront of the changes we are making.
In addition, our new Nurse Consultant role has allowed us to fine tune the distribution of medical resources, where patients who do not require daily consultant input are managed and monitored under their care. In turn, our doctors are afforded more time to focus on those with more complex needs. And in the community, our new centralised Rapid Response Team ensure those in need receive an urgent same day visit, whilst our Clinician of the Day has been available for
Challenges Addressed and Insights Gained
Delivering our usual level of care whilst completing a transformation programme has challenged Patient Services to think differently. As such, our new heads of service have been transitioning into their more strategic roles, ably supported by nursing leadership mentors.
That said, through the transformation process – which has been conducted using a co-production model – we have been able to shape and form our practices, using the valuable insight of our patients, their families and our staff. Not only has this ensured that any changes have been a partnership, but that in listening to those with lived experience and weaving their ideas into our plans, engagement has organically improved.
Priorities for Sustainable Growth
Our vision is to increase the reach of North London Hospice into the more deprived areas of North Central London, increasing our support to the most in need, whilst developing a workforce that is innovative and creative in delivering care, safe in the knowledge that they are valued by the organisation.
I'd be grateful if you would be able to forward a note of thanks to Jo and the team who were on the advice line in the early hours of this morning. I’m a newly qualified paramedic working with London Ambulance Service and we attended a gentleman very much at the end of life. This morning was the first time working with North London Hospice and my first time making an end-of-life care referral without a clinical mentor on my shoulder, and it was a great experience. The administrator was very quick and efficient in arranging a call back. Jo was then very proactive and kind in helping us arrange a plan for our patient. The family were very happy with the outcome and asked me to convey their thanks in addition.
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People and Culture
Key Achievements and Strategic Impact
Challenges Addressed and Insights Gained
This year, we have implemented a new structure for the People team, creating People Services, Business Partnering and Learning & Development teams working in a more integrated way to support and develop the experience of our people. This change led us to also integrating volunteering across all People teams, developing a volunteer handbook, volunteer agreements and reviewing recruitment and onboarding. Working with Communications, we also introduced a newsletter, Volunteer Voice, to better connect volunteers with the activity of the hospice.
We have now established a consistent data set to ensure we are able to monitor and report Key Performance Indicators, but this continues to be a challenge due to outdated People IT systems that lack integration and management reporting capability.
Management of staff absence and wellbeing continues to be a priority to ensure teams across the hospice are resourced and resilient to provide services to our patients and their families. Through updating our sickness absence policy and tightening up in a number of areas such as reporting and trigger points, we are more proactively business partnering managers. Our new leadership development programme includes a module focused on absence management and our wellbeing programme provides additional support and tools in a number of key areas, including menopause, financial wellbeing, stress management techniques, meditation and exercise.
Alongside the changes to our structure, we have partnered with Patient Services and Retail to develop and deliver significant structural change more broadly, in order to be more responsive to patient need and to generate increased income to support patient care.
This year, we also introduced a new Learning & Development Framework to ensure targeted development of our staff to be the best they can professionally, and through COREmmunications and COREnections training, connecting people to our values and core purpose.
Priorities for Sustainable Growth
In the coming year we will continue the progress we have made in 2024/2025 in line with our EDI strategy, targeting improvements in our recruitment and People management that enable us to attract more diverse staff and volunteers and enable greater cultural competence of our people to meet the diverse needs of our patients.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for the comprehensive training you delivered. The palliative care training has significantly impacted my career, equipping me with the necessary skills and knowledge to provide compassionate and effective care. Your expertise and dedication have made a lasting difference, and I am truly thankful for the opportunity to learn from you. Thank you once again for everything.
We will also look to source and implement a new People information system to integrate with existing systems, to enhance data integrity, improve our processes and provide increased insight to support continued improvement in People management.
We are keen to benchmark our pay and benefits package with other healthcare providers. Focusing on becoming more flexible and meeting individual needs, we will look at appropriate changes to the benefit of future organisational need. Alongside this, we will continue to prioritise our Learning & Development work, for the growth of our team and the hospice as a whole.
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Finance and Resources
Key Achievements and Strategic Impact
Challenges Addressed and Insights Gained
Our increased collaboration with our stakeholders is something we have worked hard to develop throughout the year. Finance, Facilities and IT have a huge impact on service delivery, and by continuing to develop meaningful relationships with both clinical and non-clinical teams, we can help to ensure joined up thinking. We have worked hard at assisting teams to deliver on their financial targets, which has in turn contributed to the delivery of expenditure in line with the budget, all against the backdrop of a changing environment. Improved efficiency in reporting and forecasting has played a key part in that.
Changing our outsourced IT provider was a huge challenge at the start of the year, but we are proud to have again achieved Cyber Essentials Plus - a more rigorous assessment of our IT security - and Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) certification illustrating our compliance with NHS data safety.
Developing a financial recovery plan has helped to focus our attention on key controllable areas of the business. Assisting in co-ordinating and developing transformation plans, whilst improving and not diminishing service delivery, has led to joined up thinking that looks to the future.
We are proud to prioritise the growth and progression of our incredible staff internally within the charity. We now have volunteers and apprentices working in the team and are continuing to cultivate career development plans, helping both individuals and the wider hospice.
Priorities for Sustainable Growth
We must continue our work to ensure the path to a financially sustainable future is understood, shared and under constant review. This is especially important both because of, and in parallel to, our movement towards the potential redevelopment of our Inpatient Unit. As we examine the need for a modernised Inpatient facility, we also recognise the value in creating a digital strategy, which places technology at the heart of the organisation. This will be of significant benefit to our broader plans for patient care, allowing us to innovate, meet future demand, and become more agile in the way we can tend to their needs on site and in the community.
As we look to future-proof our facilities and models of working, it is incumbent upon us to also review our reserves policy, as part of an ongoing governance review, to ensure it meets our current and future requirements.
Our dear mother was at North London Hospice for the two-week period ending with her death. We cannot find enough words of praise for the loving care, attention, empathy and support bestowed on our mother and on her family around her bedside by the hospice staff during those two weeks. By hospice staff we mean not just the doctors and nurses at the forefront of care, but every staff member we encountered in the facility, specifically including the cleaners, food service people, social workers, and the many caring volunteers. Also not to be overlooked as we remember the calm and peaceful natural surroundings, the gardeners and landscapers who tend the grounds.
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Retail
Priorities for Sustainable Growth
In the year ahead, Retail must further increase its financial contribution to North London Hospice. While continuing to maximise income from existing shops and revenue streams, growth will be a priority, with plans to open five new shops, primarily in the London boroughs of Islington and Camden. The transformation team will focus on innovation at the point of purchase, expanding e-commerce and enhancing customer experience.
We are the face of the hospice for many in our community, and they will often come in keen to share their stories of their own loved ones who have been cared for here. Welcoming them with a friendly face and offering a listening ear is so important. Just hearing them and offering empathy is so healing. There is one gentleman who comes in regularly and now he always greets me with a big hug.
Key Achievements and Strategic Impact
Challenges Addressed and Insights Gained
Following the appointment of a Director of Retail in July 2024 as part of the Executive Team, Retail at North London Hospice has undergone a major transformation. A clear strategic focus has driven improvements across six key areas: People, Finance, IT, Estate, Customer Experience and Operations.
Retail’s transformation has presented both opportunities and challenges. Addressing historic Health & Safety non-compliance required a complete overhaul of policies, training, and operational processes.
With a new leadership structure in place, embedding these changes will be essential, ensuring teams are well-supported, trained and equipped for high performance. Continued investment in technology, branding and logistics will further improve efficiency and visibility. Strengthening volunteer engagement and training will also remain a focus.
Health & Safety non-compliance has been fully addressed, embedding safer working practices. New technology has delivered significant financial benefits, with a new till system doubling Gift Aid revenue and a revised card payment process reducing errors and transaction fees. Retail operations have been enhanced with two branded vans improving logistics, and digital boards rolled out across all shops, strengthening brand presence on the High Street. A comprehensive volunteer database has been created, and, for the first time, every retail volunteer has received structured training.
Modernising technology was another key focus, with new till and payment systems improving financial performance without disrupting day-to-day operations. A major people transformation was also undertaken, designing and implementing a new structure for the start of the financial year. This involved extensive consultation, ensuring the right framework to support future growth while maintaining team morale and engagement.
Above all, Retail will work to significantly grow income generation, ensuring the hospice can continue to provide outstanding care and support for those at the end of their lives while securing its financial future.
I know first-hand that a hospice can be a transformational space where the care, love and sympathy afforded to the patient and their family can make a powerful difference at the hardest time. I recognised that same support when I started volunteering at the North London Hospice shop, so I feel fortunate to be able to assist. A lot of people have misguided impressions of what hospices are about, so I enjoy talking to customers about what we do and how we can help. I feel passionately that the dignity, respect and comfort you offer changes things in those moments. I try to share that as much as possible.
Despite these structural changes, Retail’s performance continued to strengthen, demonstrating the professionalism and commitment of the team. Additionally, the creation of a transformation team has shifted Retail towards a proactive, strategic approach, allowing the function to identify new opportunities for innovation, efficiency and revenue growth. The successful navigation of these challenges has ensured Retail is in a stronger position to support the hospice’s long-term sustainability.
Alongside these improvements, Retail successfully delivered its 2024/2025 budget, demonstrating resilience and a strong commitment to supporting the hospice’s mission.
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Fundraising Contents
Key Achievements and Strategic Impact
We had an exciting year embedding a team culture focused on testing and learning and building effective relationships with our local community. We have positioned ourselves as a passionate team, committed to ensuring the sustainability of the hospice. It was a successful year where we increased our gross income by £600k on 2023/2024 and in fact have grown income over 36% in the past three years.
Challenges Addressed and Insights Gained
Gifts in wills have been challenging this year. They are our single biggest source of voluntary income, but it is very difficult to anticipate the value we will receive in the short term. This year, we received a below average gift value, but we are working on a number of initiatives to increase both gift value and the number of people who choose to give through this method.
Highlights included rescuing a much-loved, local volunteer-led running event called Race The Neighbours that was on the brink of ending. By taking the event over, the team has brought it back to the community and have even added an additional winter event that looks to be just as popular.
The popularity of virtual fundraising events have been on the decline in the last couple of years, so we have decided to put less emphasis on this area of work in the coming year, responding to changes within our audience.
We also worked closely with Hospice UK on a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of the importance of gifts in wills for hospices. Our local marketing work for the campaign resulted in significant interest in donating in this way, which is very encouraging in the long term.
We run a large number of fundraising events and activities and finding volunteers to help on the day can cause real challenges. We work hard with internal teams to encourage others - both colleagues and hospice volunteers - to support fundraising at the hospice.
Priorities for Sustainable Growth
As we settle into our culture of highperformance in the fundraising team, we need support from our colleagues to take us to the next level. We are keen to embed a culture of philanthropy within the hospice, with fundraising being something that everyone plays an important part in from our clinicians to our shop managers and to our catering team.
A huge thank you to the team, for organising the events and training classes. The updates on the total raised are great for motivation. It has been a privilege to run for the hospice and give back to a wonderful organisation who helped my family when we needed them most. I truly hope the money raised makes a huge impact and helps other families too. My partner and her family hold the hospice in such high regard. I’m proud to say I have run the marathon for the hospice. It has been the experience of a lifetime! Lastly, thank you for the support on the day. The cheers from both groups at miles 12 and 24 were incredible and gave me goosebumps and a much-needed boost.
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Big Fun Art Adventure Contents
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22 schools and over 3,000 children took part in the project, all learning about hospice care and the importance of it in the community.
TV coverage of our trail reached 7.5 million people and Underground advertising of the trail at Finsbury Park reached 407,000 people
Adventure
Challenges Addressed and Insights Gained
Big Fun Art Adventure was a first for North London Hospice and for North London it was the first sculpture trail of this scale. The trail took place in Haringey and for eight weeks visitors could spot unique giant owls using a paper map or a free app. So many people we met on the trail told us how much they loved finding the owls across the borough and we were amazed to discover just how far people had travelled to visit them.
It’s fair to say this project brought us many challenges. Initially, securing sponsors was more challenging than anticipated but we were delighted when the 29th and final sponsor came on board. We also didn’t manage to secure as many schools as hoped, with many citing deficit budgets and fundraising themselves for essential school supplies such as pencils and tissues.
The brand awareness that was achieved was phenomenal and provided many good news stories in the community. It was a gentle introduction to North London Hospice across a broad range of audiences and the businesses that we met through the project, including those who didn’t go on to sign up as sponsors, has provided a rich new pool of potential supporters. We engaged with schools and groups that will go on to support us in the future and developed relationships with Haringey Council which until this point had been limited.
The owls were so impactful and magical. There were so many responses from different people from far and wide. It is impossible to capture the outpouring, the sheer delight from adults, the young, families, groups and friends, streaming in from all over the country, especially to complete the trail.
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Communications Contents and Marketing
Key Achievements and Strategic Impact
Since the general election we have actively engaged with MPs to advocate for our community. We will continue to work with them to engage constructively so that we can continue to put our patients at the heart of everything we do.
2024/2025 saw our Communications and Marketing team deliver more than ever before. The team supported the organisation through a period of considerable change, working towards being sustainable as a charity. We launched a brand awareness campaign to help us to reach more people. This included a mixture of digital marketing and physical advertising across our three boroughs.
Challenges Addressed and Insights Gained
Embedding a new team takes time and we have recruited the best possible candidates to our organisation, who can deliver powerful and effective communications to support our charity, and ultimately in the service of our community.
This ambitious campaign provided an opportunity for us to share our story, raise awareness of our charity among new audiences, and saw us reach more than five million people. We have also been telling more diverse stories, utilising our social media platforms. Our content has resulted in an increase in followers across our channels, including a rise of 16% on Instagram and over 25% on LinkedIn. We also secured mainstream broadcast media coverage on ITV, BBC and Sky News.
With a new team formed, we have been focused on working in an agile way, maximising our resources through new processes and ways of working. Part of this includes exploring digital solutions in line with our sustainability pledge, reducing printing and a historical over-reliance on physical paperwork.
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This is Hospice Care TV Campaign
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Priorities for Sustainable Growth
My relationship with nurse Pat blossomed immediately. She taught me how to clean my wounds and take care of myself, but more than that, she helped me love my body again after the operation. She empowered me. She was – and is – my angel.
We have so much more to do to ensure that we are supporting our patients, their loved ones and the wider community. We have a commitment to ensure that our charity and its brand are representative of our diverse communities and we will work across the organisation to ensure that this happens.
One key piece of work will include the development of a new website. Our current site is not fit for purpose; information is not easy to find at times, and we know that we need to create a platform which supports our audiences better. We will also be revising and refreshing our literature, ensuring that information is relevant, up to date and consistent.
I couldn’t imagine being without Pat and the hospice. I don’t think I’d be here chugging along without them. They help me be the best version of myself that I can, put my ducks all in a row for my daughter’s future and keep my medicines dancing together so I feel well.
We have a duty to ensure that every penny spent by our team is accounted for and we will be commissioning brand awareness research to measure and evaluate the impact of our brand awareness campaign.
We welcome feedback from everyone in our community, and we know that many people want to ‘give back’ to North London Hospice but sometimes this hasn’t always been simple. We will therefore be introducing a Grateful Patient and Family Policy to make it easier to do this, helping to make sure that the hospice is there for future generations.
I used to think a hospice was where you go to die, but to me it’s been where I go to live. I know in time they’ll play a different role, but I am not ready for that yet. I just feel so blessed that everyone from the hospice has such a kind spirit and that Pat – who is such an incredible woman full of love and light – is mine.
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Kate Osamor MP for Edmonton and Winchmore Hill visits our Enfield site
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Contents Support from Charitable Trusts
We have listed Trusts who have donated over £5,000 to the hospice during the year. We would like to thank them for their recognition of our work and their generous donations.
During the next financial year, we look forward to further strengthening our relationships with our highly valued supporters.
The Albert Hunt Trust Anonymous Foundations (x2) Balvimaa Charitable Trust The Charles Wolfson Charitable Trust (x2) City Bridge Trust Dr French Foundation H&M Charitable Trust Jesus Hospital in Chipping Barnet Kessler
Magnus Trust Milton Damerel Trust Rayne Trust Reed Foundation Saloman Foundation The Thompson Family Charitable Trust
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Trustees’ Annual Report for the year ending 31 March 2025
How We Are Governed
North London Hospice is a company limited by guarantee – registered number 1654807 and a registered charity in England and Wales (charity number 285300). Our constitution is our Articles of Association, which were first adopted on 29 July 1982 and amended on 13 January 2022. The hospice has a wholly owned subsidiary ‘North London Hospice’ (Trading) Limited (charity number 2268094) – the subsidiary company did not trade in the year ending 31 March 2025.
Objectives and Principal Activities:
The hospice’s objectives are:
- To relieve sickness and suffering and, in particular but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, by the establishment and maintenance of a hospice in North London for persons suffering from chronic or terminal diseases.
Structure, Governance and Management
Our Trustees
Governance
Our charity is governed by the Board of Trustees who are legally responsible for directing our affairs. The Board determines our long-term strategy and approves our annual strategic priorities and budget. Specific responsibilities are delegated to a number of committees which report back to the Board on a regular basis. The Board delegates day to day management of the charity to the Chief Executive and the Executive Team.
Our Committee framework has been integrated positively into our governance structures and a further review in the year has given us an action plan for improvement. All Trustees are required to disclose potential or actual conflicts of interest to the charity as part of an annual review and at the start of each meeting. The Board continues to adopt the principles of good governance in the Charity Governance Code, and we held updated training for the Board on the code during the year under review.
During the year under review two colleagues left or retired from office - Lis Burgess Jones (Chair) and Judith Tobin both retired in May 2024. Both members offered invaluable expertise to the Board and Executive Team and will be sadly missed. We would like to offer our thanks for their commitment and support.
These principles underpin the Board’s governance and form an integral part of the programme of change we have undertaken. The Trustees have taken account of the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims, objectives and planning.
Simon Morris (Former Vice Chair) took the role of Chair and Tom Easterling the role of Vice Chair from May 2024.
Board Committees
Following a process of recruitment in 2024 we were delighted to welcome four new Trustees – Suzanne Joels, Marsha Jones and Sam Shaerf, who joined the Board in September 2024 and Hayley Pannick, who joined the Board in January 2025. We are looking forward to working with them and value the skills and experience they bring to our already diverse Board.
Board Development and Remuneration Committee
Responsible for Board governance arrangements and succession planning and recommendations for the appointment and reappointment of governance and executive positions. Oversight of the performance of and recommendations on the remuneration of the Chief Executive and Executive Team.
All Trustees complete an annual appraisal process with the Chair and Vice Chair, together with completion of our Fit and Proper Persons declaration and adopt our approved Code of Conduct.
Finance and External Audit Committee
Responsible for the strategic oversight and effective use of the charity’s financial resources and investments. To oversee associated policy, strategy and performance across all finance and investment areas.
- To relieve the suffering of the families and friends and in particular, but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, by the provision of practical, bereavement and other emotional support and programmes for education and advice.
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Clinical Governance and Assurance People and Organisational Development Committee Committee Responsible for oversight and delivery Responsible for strategic oversight of the Contents
Responsible for oversight and delivery assurance of the People, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy, and Volunteering. To oversee associated policy, strategy and performance across all people (staff and volunteer) areas.
Responsible for strategic oversight of the charity’s clinical and patient services to ensure they are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. Provide assurance to the Board on all aspects of the quality of clinical care, clinical risk management, clinical governance systems, compliance with clinical regulatory requirements and standards of quality and safety. To oversee associated policy, strategy and performance in all clinical and patient service areas.
Retail Committee
Responsible for development and delivery of the retail strategy, exploring shop growth with return on investment and overseeing associated policy, strategy and performance across the retail areas.
Fundraising Committee
Responsible for strategic oversight of the fundraising delivery and services. To oversee associated policy, strategy and performance across all fundraising income areas.
Please see page 38 for a full list of Trustees, which also shows movements through the year under review.
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Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities and Corporate Governance
The Trustees are responsible for their annual report, and for the preparation of accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the incoming resources and application of those resources during the year, and of the state of affairs as at the end of the financial year. In preparing these accounts, the trustees are required to:
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the hospice is operating efficiently and effectively
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all assets are safeguarded against unauthorised use or disposition and are properly applied
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proper records are maintained and financial information used within the hospice, or for publication, is reliable
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ensure that suitable accounting policies are established and applied consistently
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the hospice complies with relevant laws and regulations.
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make judgements and estimates which are reasonable and prudent
Reserves Policy
- state whether applicable accounting standards and statement of recommended accounting practice have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the accounts
The Trustees recognise that the current level of reserves is in line with the minimum requirements as per the policy.
Moving forward, the charity has designated some of these reserves for future projects, including an Inpatient Unit redevelopment project, further investment in the retail shops, as well as designating a legacy buffer should income in this area fall below the planned ten-year average, which was the case in 2024/2025.
- prepare the accounts on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the hospice will continue in operation
The Trustees confirm that they have complied with the above requirements in preparing the accounts.
Accordingly, the existing policy is at a level that the Trustees consider will be adequate. The policy is to always maintain unrestricted reserves at a minimum of nine months of unrestricted operating expenditure, taking into account future forecasts.
The Trustees have overall responsibility for ensuring that the hospice has appropriate systems and controls, financial and otherwise. They are also responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the hospice and enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the hospice and for their proper application as required by charity law, and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities and to provide reasonable assurance that:
Current levels of expenditure and maintaining our unrestricted general fund will ensure longterm financial stability and enable the hospice to withstand external events which may affect the level of income received. Planned investments from reserves as part of our current and future strategic priorities in 2025/2027 will result in the reduction of the current level of unrestricted general fund.
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Investment Policy
The Memorandum and Articles of Association do not place any restrictions on the investment policy to be adopted. The Trustees have invested surplus funds, whilst ensuring easy access to meet the operating costs of the hospice.
During 2024/25 the Trustees approved the re-tendering of the investment portfolio. Six investment managers were invited to tender (including the incumbent Newton), and all were assessed against the following weighted criteria:
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Philosophy and Process
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Team
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Organisational Alignment
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Performance
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Client Service and Reporting
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The Executive Team, chaired by the Chief Executive, regularly reviews and monitors key charity-wide strategic and operational risks.
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The Clinical Governance and Assurance Committee scrutinises the management of clinical risks, and the monitoring of clinical incidents and trends.
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Each committee reviews the results of the executive risk management and the operation of our risk management processes. Each committee review and deep dive into selected key risks as necessary.
In addition, we have policies and procedures to identify and manage risks arising from our existing operations and strategic development, and to provide reasonable assurance against material errors or loss.
-
ESG
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Cost
At the end of the process it was agreed that the portfolio would be split between the existing incumbent and Cazenove. The transfer of 50% of the portfolio from Newton to Cazenove will take place in 2025/26.
Principal Risks and Uncertainties
The Board of Trustees has overall responsibility for risk management of North London Hospice. This includes setting the risk appetite for the charity, ensuring there are reasonable procedures in place for the prevention and detection of major risks, including fraud risk and other irregularities, and ensuring that risk procedures are reviewed when issues arise.
- North London Hospice committee groups meet quarterly to oversee key risk areas, including information governance and data privacy, fraud, and bribery, safeguarding and business continuity. Risks are escalated as appropriate.
Planning and Performance
We operate a comprehensive annual planning and budgeting process. We monitor performance through use of key financial and performance indicators which compare actual results and activity against our plans and are routinely reported to the Board of Trustees. A phased budget and regular forecasting enable the Trustees and the Executive Team to link financial performance with resource and activity levels.
The Finance and External Audit Committee has delegated oversight into this area.
Internal Audit
Internal controls are subject to scrutiny by each committee. We carry out a programme of cyclical reviews throughout North London Hospice. The Executive Team approves and presents the annual audit plan, scrutinises regular reports and presents to each committee on progress against the audit plan, the effectiveness of controls in audited functions and recommendations and learnings from audits.
-
Each directorate meets regularly to carry
-
out reviews of risk management arrangements across the directorate and inform the escalation of the risk to the Executive Team/ Board.
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Key Strategic Risk We reviewed our approach to risk management during the year under review. This included a review of our key strategic risks and our managing and reporting framework. A new Risk Contents Assurance policy and procedure was approved by the Board of Trustees in March 2025. An overview of our key strategic risks and the actions we take to mitigate them is summarised in the table below. Each risk area is supported by relevant policies and procedures that are regularly reviewed and updated, and subject to compliance testing.
Risk How we mana e it g
| Risk | How we manage it | |
|---|---|---|
| FUNDING & FINANCIAL STABILITY & | • Finance & External Audit Committee | |
| RESILIENCE | • Diversification of income sources | |
| Over reliance on single funding sources (e.g. grants, donations) |
• Financial planning & reserves policy • Reporting & Management |
|
| • Strengthening Donor & Funder Relationships | ||
| • Risk Management & Scenario Planning | ||
| • Digital Innovation Strategy | ||
| REGULATORY & LEGAL COMPLIANCE | • Governance & Leadership Oversight | |
| Non-compliance with Charity Commission rules, GDPR, CQC, Health & Safety, Safeguarding |
• Legal & Regulatory Compliance Framework • Internal Audits & Monitoring • Policies, Procedures & Training |
|
| • Legal Advice & Industry Best Practice |
- Strong Governance & Ethical Leadership • Proactive Media & Communications Strategy
REPUTATION
Negative media attention, incidents or governance failures can damage credibility
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Transparency & Stakeholder Engagement
-
Risk Management & Safeguarding
-
Legal & Compliance Safeguards
-
Community & Corporate Partnerships
-
Digital & Social Media Reputation Management
-
Trustee Board & Committee – Terms of Reference, scheme of delegation, recruitment & skills audit
GOVERNANCE & LEADERSHIP
Weak Trustee Board / committees, Executive Team, conflicts of interest, or poor strategic decision-planning & management
-
Conflict of Interest Management – policy & process
-
Effective Executive Team Leadership
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Strategic Decision-Making & Risk Management
-
Legal & Regulatory Compliance
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Board & Leadership Communication & Engagement
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Risk How we mana e it
g
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| IT, DIGITAL & CYBERSECURITY | • Data Protection & GDPR Compliance | |
|---|---|---|
| Data breaches, fraud, or lack of IT/digital | • Cybersecurity Measures | |
| transformation strategies | • Fraud Prevention & IT Governance – Information | |
| Governance Steering Group | ||
| • Digital Transformation & IT Strategy | ||
| • Incident Response & Crisis Management | ||
| OPERATIONAL | • Strategic Planning & Performance Management | |
| Inefficiencies, poor resource | • Efficient Resource Allocation & Financial Management | |
| management, or inability to deliver | • Workforce & Volunteer Management | |
| services effectively | • Risk Management & Contingency Planning | |
| • Technology & Process Optimisation | ||
| • Governance & Accountability | ||
| QUALITY OF CARE | • Clinical Governance & Regulatory Compliance | |
| Failure to provide compassionate, | • Safe & Effective Care Delivery | |
| effective and safe patient centered care | • Continuous Professional Development (CPD) & Training | |
| that delivers the best clinical outcomes | • Patient Safety & Risk Management Policies & Procedures | |
| • Measuring Outcomes & Quality Improvement | ||
| • Ethical & Compassionate Care Culture | ||
| WORKFORCE & VOLUNTEER | • Recruitment & Onboarding Best Practices | |
| MANAGEMENT | • Retention & Employee Engagement | |
| Recruiting, retaining, and safeguarding | • Safeguarding & Duty of Care | |
| employees and volunteers | • Workforce Planning & Succession Management | |
| • Volunteer Management & Support | ||
| • Compliance & HR Best Practices | ||
| POLITICAL & ECONOMIC | • Financial Resilience & Diversified Funding | |
| UNCERTAINTY | • Government Policy & Compliance Monitoring | |
| Changes in government policy, inflation, | • Donor & Corporate Engagement Strategies | |
| or economic downturns impacting | • Inflation & Cost Management Strategies | |
| donations & support | • Scenario Planning & Risk Management | |
| • Public Awareness & Advocacy | ||
| ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL | • Environmental Sustainability & Climate Change | |
| Climate change, diversity, and inclusion | Adaptation | |
| issues affecting operations, funding or | • Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy & Action Plan | |
| sustainability | • Social Responsibility & Ethical Governance | |
| • Sustainable Operations & Financial Resilience | ||
| • Risk Monitoring & Compliance |
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Complaints and Concerns
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Quality Performance Indicator 2023-2024 2024-2025
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| Quality Performance Indicator | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Number of complaints (NLH target fewer than 30) | 30 | 29 |
| Investigations completed, complaint upheld/partially | 26 | 28 |
| Investigations completed, complaint not upheld | 2 | 0 |
| Investigations in progress | 2 | 1 |
| Quality Performance Indicator | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Number of concerns | 16 | 13 |
| Concern investigations completed, complaint upheld/partially | 14 | 9 |
| Investigations completed, complaint not upheld | 1 | 4 |
| Investigations in progress | 1 | 0 |
In 2024/2025 we recorded a total of 29 complaints and 296 compliments. We saw a reduction in clinical complaints and noted that complaints form a minority of the feedback we receive. The increase in non-clinical complaints is mostly related to our retail shops. The overarching themes in complaints were; communication, including alignment to our organisational values and behaviours, followed by supporter communication relating to our retail shops and patient care within our patient services.
The overarching themes in compliments were empathy of staff, kindness, compassion and outstanding communication of clinical staff and excellent holistic care for both patients and carers.
Of the 29 complaints:
Financial Review of the Year
2024/25 has proven to be a challenging financial year. Though the total deficit was £1.5m (2023/24 surplus £1.6m), this was achieved despite a £1.4m reduction in year-on-year legacy income. Without this fall, the charity would have been close to breaking even, outperforming the budgeted deficit.
Throughout the year, work continued on transformation plans, primarily in how to deliver care more impactfully and efficiently. The benefits of this will primarily be seen in 2025/26 onwards, which - coupled with investment in technology and additional retail investment - is likely to result in an improved financial outlook for the year ahead. The charity remains committed to achieving a balanced budget within the next three years.
The potential investment in a new Inpatient Unit is the largest project the charity has undertaken since the main hospice building opened in 1992. Whilst this is primarily to be funded by fundraising, with some internal designated funds also contributing, we are thankful to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) for their award of a grant, which we have allocated towards this project, as well as the Charity Commission for granting approval to allocate a particular endowment to the project.
Total incoming resources were £14.7m in the year ending 31 March 2025, compared with £15.3m in the year ending 31 March 2024.
Total donations and fundraising were £2.5m, of which £0.2m is restricted income. Events income continues to perform well in the year and the focus for 2025/26 is achieving continued growth, whilst potentially simultaneously commencing a large Capital Appeal.
With legacy income now falling below the ten-year average in two of the last three years, the charity has allocated additional resources to legacy marketing in 2025/26. In the short term, legacy income will be budgeted at a lower level, with the expectation that this will recover in the coming years.
Total grants income was £6.6m compared with £5.4m in the previous year, of which £1.7m (2024: £0.8m) was restricted. This increase included the transfer of a loan into a grant of £0.5m as well as the DHSC award of £0.3m.
Other trading activities reflect the charity shop operations, comprising sales of £2.9m (2024: £2.8m), donations of agency sales and Gift Aid of £1.3m (2024: £1.0m) and rental income of £14k (2024: £12k).
Investment income of £403k was £8k higher than the previous year. During the year, the decision was made to appoint two investment managers, and we welcome Cazenove as an additional manager to the portfolio, alongside Newton.
Total expenditure was £16.6m, compared with £15m in the previous year. The prior year included a one-off write back of £1.3m of accumulated loan interest. If this was excluded, then the overall increase in the cost base was around 1.8% year on year.
Position of the Charity at the End of the Year
The unrestricted general fund at the year-end (excluding designations) represented some 12 months of underlying unrestricted expenditure and is above the reserves policy of holding at least nine months of unrestricted expenditure.
Principal Risks and Uncertainties
As referred to in the message from the Chair and Chief Executive, there are continuing challenges facing all hospices, to which North London Hospice is not unique. Whether that is uncertainty regarding the levels of future NHS funding, inflationary pressures or increasing fundraising and retail targets, all of these have a part to play in ensuring North London Hospice continues to deliver the wide range of services that are currently supported. The hospice will continue to look to invest reserves in areas which result in quality improvements in patient care.
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14 related to clinical Patient Services
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12 related to Retail
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1 related to Patient and Family Support Services
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1 related to Facilities
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1 related to Fundraising and Communications
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Public Benefit Statement Hospice services are available to those most in The Trustees confirm that they have complied need of the services in the London boroughs of with the duty in section 17 of the Charities Barnet, Enfield, Haringey, Camden and Islington. Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Contents The hospice provides specialist palliative care Commission’s general guidance on public in an inpatient, outpatient and therapies and benefit, “Charities and Public Benefit”. community setting.
North London Hospice’s objects comply directly with two of the Charities Act’s descriptions of “charitable purpose”:
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“the advancement of health” and
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“the relief of those in need, by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage”
The hospice’s charitable purpose is enshrined in the wording of the hospice’s objects.
Disclosure of Information to the Auditor
As far as the Trustees are aware, there is no relevant information of which the company’s auditor is unaware.
The Trustees have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as Trustees to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the company’s auditor is aware of that information.
The Trustees ensure that this purpose is carried out for the public benefit by delivering services that are valued by our patients, their families and friends and the community in general.
Approved by the Board of Trustees on 15 July 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
SIMON MORRIS MBE Chair of Trustees
ANDREW J. HARRIS Company Secretary and Honorary Treasurer
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Our Executive Team
Contents
Our Trustees
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Name Committee Membership
Chair of the Board Development & Remuneration Committee
Simon Morris MBE - Chair
Member of the Finance & External Audit and Fundraising Committees
Chair of the People & Organisational Development Committee
Tom Easterling - Vice Chair Member of the Finance & External Audit and Board Development &
Remuneration Committees
Andrew Harris
Chair of the Finance & External Audit and Retail Committees
Hononary Treasurer and
Member of the Board Development & Remuneration Committee
Company Secretary
Anna Bokobza Member of the People & Organisational Development Committee
Saurabh Khare Member of the Retail Committee
Simon Males Member of the Finance & External Audit and Fundraising Committees
Member of the Finance & External Audit and Retail Committees
John Reid
(to March 25)
Dr Ujjal Sarkar Member of the Clinical Governance & Assurance Committee
Member of the People & Organisational and Clinical Governance
Beverley Taylor & Assurance Committee’s
Freedom to Speak up Guardian
Chair of the Clinical Governance & Assurance Committee
Dr Cate Woodwark
Member of the Board Development & Remuneration Committee
Sam Durling Member of the People & Organisational Development Committee
Rob Tobin Member of the Clinical Governance & Assurance Committee
Suzanne Joels
Member of the Clinical Governance & Assurance Committee
(joined September 2024)
Marsha Jones
Member of the Clinical Governance & Assurance Committee
(joined September 2024)
Sam Shaerf
Member of the Retail Committee
(joined September 2024)
Hayley Pannick
Chair of the Fundraising Committee
(joined January 2025)
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Name
Declan Carroll Chief Executive Officer
Dr Sam Edward Medical Director and Consultant in Palliative Care
Wolfie Smith Director of Patient Services and Quality
Anna Cooper Director of Fundraising & Communications
Kelvin Walker Director of Finance and Resources
Suzie Long Director of People and Culture
Peter Brook Director of Retail (joined July 2024)
Michelle Forde Director of Nursing and Quality (left November 2024)
Registered Office North London Hospice
47 Woodside Avenue, London N12 8TT
Buzzacott Audit LLP
External Auditor Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors
130 Wood Street
London EC2V 6DL
Barclays Bank p.l.c.
Bankers Barnet & Hampstead Business Banking
PO Box 12820
London N20 0WE
Newton Investment Management Limited
Investment The Bank of New York Mellon Centre
Managers 160 Queen Victoria Street,
London EC4V 4LA
Cazenove Capital
1 London Wall Place
London EC27 5AU
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Independent Auditors Report to the Contents Members of North London Hospice
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of North London Hospice (the 'charitable company') for the year ended 31st March 2025 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet and the statement of cash flows, the principal accounting policies and the notes to the financial statements. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard Applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
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' report including the strategic 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:
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adequate accounting records have not been kept by the charitable company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
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the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
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certain disclosures of trustees' remuneration specified by law are not made; or
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we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
Responsibilities of trustees
In our opinion, the financial statements:
- give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company's affairs as at 31st March 2025 and of its income and expenditure for the year then ended;
As explained more fully in the trustees' responsibilities statement, 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.
have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
-
have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
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.
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.
Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the accounts
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.
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 the charitable company'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, including the trustees' report, strategic report and the impact 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 audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is 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.
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, is detailed below:
How the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities including fraud
Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and noncompliance with laws and regulations, was as follows:
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The engagement partner ensured that the engagement team collectively had the appropriate competence, capabilities and skills to identify or recognise non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
-
- We identified the laws and regulations applicable to the charity through discussions with management and trustees and from our knowledge and experience of the charity sector;
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We focused on specific laws and regulations which we considered may have a direct material effect on the accounts or the activities of the charity. These included but were not limited to the Companies Act 2006; the Charities Act 2011; Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable to the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019), legislation and regulations specific to Hospices (including the Care Quality Commission), Safeguarding Regulations, GDPR, fundraising regulations; and
-
We assessed the extent of compliance with laws and regulations identified above by making enquiries of management and representatives of the trustees and review of the minutes of trustees’ meetings.
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' report, which is also the directors' report for the purposes of company law and includes the strategic report, for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
-
the trustees' report, which is also the directors' report for the purposes of company law and includes the strategic report, has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
Continued……
Continued……
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-
How the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities including fraud (continued) We assessed the susceptibility of the charity’s accounts to material misstatement, including how fraud might occur by: - Making enquiries of management and representatives of the trustees as to where they considered there was susceptibility to ~~Conten~~ ts
-
fraud, their knowledge of actual, suspected and alleged fraud; and
How the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities including fraud (continued)
We assessed the susceptibility of the charity’s accounts to material misstatement, including how fraud might occur by:
- Considering the internal controls in place to mitigate risks of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations.
To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:
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Performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships;
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Tested and reviewed journal entries to identify unusual transactions;
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Verified the implementation of financial controls;
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Assessed whether judgements and assumptions made in determining the accounting estimates were indicative of potential bias; and
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Investigated the rationale behind significant or unusual transactions.
In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to:
- Agreeing accounts disclosures to underlying supporting documentation;
Reading the minutes of meetings of trustees; and
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Enquiring of as to actual and potential litigation and claims.
There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the trustees and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.
Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located 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.
17th July 202515th July 2025 130 Wood Street London EC2V 6DL
Edward Finch (Senior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf of Buzzacott Audit LLP, Statutory Auditor
NORTH LONDON HOSPICE
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING THE INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT
| FOR THE YEAR ENDED: Unrestricted funds Income: Donations and fundraising 2,320,618 Legacies 939,743 Charitable activities Grants 4 4,890,760 Other trading activities Charity shops sales 2,939,328 Donated agency sales 1,255,341 Rental income 13,800 Investment income 5 315,718 Other 6 74,495 Total income 12,749,803 Expenditure: Raising funds Fundraising and promotion 7 1,542,169 Charity shops expenditure 8 2,741,939 Investment manager's fees 66,595 Charitable activities Cost of operation of hospice 9 9,392,379 Other Interest on loan from The Governors of the Peabody Donation Fund - Total expenditure 13,743,082 Net gains on investments 13 279,942 Net (expenditure)/income before transfers (713,337) Transfers between funds 1,171,921 Net movement in funds 458,584 Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward, 1st April 2024 25,429,567 Total funds carried forward, 31st March 2025 £ 25,888,151 |
Restricted Endowment funds funds 194,620 - - - 1,707,586 - - - - - - - - 88,174 - - 1,902,206 88,174 - - - - - - 1,003,070 1,868,588 - - 1,003,070 1,868,588 - 75,106 899,136 (1,705,308) 439,351 (1,611,272) 1,338,487 (3,316,580) 6,362 3,466,580 1,344,849 150,000 31ST MARCH 2025 |
Total funds 2,515,238 939,743 6,598,346 2,939,328 1,255,341 13,800 403,892 74,495 14,740,183 1,542,169 2,741,939 66,595 12,264,037 - 16,614,740 355,048 (1,519,509) - (1,519,509) 28,902,509 27,383,000 |
2024 Total funds 3,255,399 2,306,307 5,382,342 2,846,290 1,040,204 13,800 395,251 66,120 15,305,713 1,330,162 2,575,894 60,335 12,351,378 (1,301,765) 15,016,004 1,323,968 1,613,677 - 1,613,677 27,288,832 28,902,509 |
|---|---|---|---|
All incoming resources and resources expended derive from continuing activities.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
The detailed comparative information for the statement of financial activities is included at note 24.
The attached notes form part of these accounts.
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| ~~Co~~nt~~ent~~s BALANCE SHEET Note 2025 Fixed assets: 31ST MARCH |
~~Co~~nt~~ent~~s BALANCE SHEET Note 2025 Fixed assets: 31ST MARCH |
~~Co~~nt~~ent~~s BALANCE SHEET Note 2025 Fixed assets: 31ST MARCH |
~~Co~~nt~~ent~~s BALANCE SHEET Note 2025 Fixed assets: 31ST MARCH |
~~Co~~nt~~ent~~s BALANCE SHEET Note 2025 Fixed assets: 31ST MARCH |
2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tangible assets | 12 | 8,204,531 | 8,200,780 | ||
| Investments | 13 | 13,453,555 | 16,726,231 | ||
| Total fixed assets | 21,658,086 | 24,927,011 | |||
| Current assets: | |||||
| Debtors | 14 | 2,766,145 | 3,705,934 | ||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 4,272,123 | 2,490,316 | |||
| Total current assets | 7,038,268 | 6,196,250 | |||
| Liabilities: | |||||
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | 15 | (1,313,354) | (1,720,752) | ||
| Net current assets | 5,724,914 | 4,475,498 | |||
| Total assets less current liabilities | 27,383,000 | 29,402,509 | |||
| Creditor: amount falling due after more than one year | 16 | - | (500,000) | ||
| Total net assets | £ | 27,383,000 | 28,902,509 | ||
| The funds of the charity: | |||||
| Endowment funds | 17 | 150,000 | 3,466,580 | ||
| Restricted income funds | 18 | 1,344,849 | 6,362 | ||
| Unrestricted funds | |||||
| Designated funds | 19 | 13,054,531 | 10,250,780 | ||
| General Fund | 20 | 12,833,620 | 15,178,787 | ||
| Total charity funds | £ | 27,383,000 | 28,902,509 |
Approved for issue by the Board of Trustees on 15th July 2025 and signed on its behalf by:-
SIMON B. MORRIS (Chair)
ANDREW J. HARRIS (Treasurer)
NORTH LONDON HOSPICE
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
| FOR THE YEAR ENDED: Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities Cash flows from investing activities Investment income Income from UK listed investments Interest receivable Withdrawal from investments Purchases of tangible fixed assets Purchases of fixed asset investments Cash used in investing activities Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents in the year Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year Reconciliation of net movement in funds to net cash flow from operating activities Net movement in funds Investment income Income from UK listed investments Interest receivable Depreciation Interest payable Net gains on investments Decrease in debtors (Decrease)/increase in creditors Net cash provided by/(used in) operating activities Analysis of cash and cash equivalents Bank accounts Cash in hand Total Analysis of changes in net funds Cash at bank and in hand £ |
£ £ £ At start of year 2,490,316 |
2025 2024 (1,827,361) (303,572) 372,276 351,977 31,616 43,274 4,000,000 - (422,448) (511,930) (372,276) (351,977) 3,609,168 (468,656) 1,781,807 (772,228) 2,490,316 3,262,544 4,272,123 2,490,316 (1,519,509) 1,613,677 (372,276) (351,977) (31,616) (43,274) 555,272 540,760 - (1,301,765) (355,048) (1,323,968) 939,789 179,355 (1,043,973) 383,620 (1,827,361) (303,572) 4,269,876 2,487,110 2,247 3,206 4,272,123 2,490,316 Movement At end of year 1,781,807 4,272,123 31ST MARCH |
|---|---|---|
The attached notes form part of these accounts.
44
45
NORTH LONDON HOSPICE
ACCOUNTING POLICIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 ~~Contents~~
Company information
North London Hospice is a company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 47 Woodside Avenue, London, N12 8TF.
ACCOUNTING POLICIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 (Continued)
c) Income (continued)
Grant and service level agreement income is recognised in the period to which the income relates.
a) Basis of preparation of accounts and assessment of going concern
The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with the exception of investments which are included at their market value. The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued in October 2019, the Companies Act 2006 and Charities Act 2011.
The accounts are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the company, and are rounded to the nearest £1.
Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy notes.
The trustees have prepared the accounts on the going concern basis which assumes the charitable company will continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future as the trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern. The level of reserves held mean that the trustees expect the charity to be able to continue its activities for a period of at least 12 months from the approval of these accounts.
Income from investments has been taken into the accounts when receivable. Interest receivable has been accounted for on an accruals basis.
d) Expenditure and irrecoverable value added tax
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to make payment to a third party, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. Staff and other costs are allocated directly to the activity for which they are incurred. Costs of raising funds comprises the costs associated with attracting voluntary income and the costs of operating
Charitable activities expenditure comprises those costs incurred in the delivery of hospice services. It includes both costs that can be directly allocated and those of an indirect nature necessary to support them including governance costs.
Not all value added tax is recoverable. Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the expenditure heading for which it was incurred.
e) Capitalisation and depreciation
North London Hospice meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102.
b) Fund accounting
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the trustees for particular purposes. The aim and use of each designated fund is set out in the notes to the accounts.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the accounts.
Endowment funds are capital funds that must be retained for the benefit of the charity. The use of income arising from these capital sums may be subject to restrictions.
Investment income, gains and losses are allocated to the appropriate fund.
c) Income
All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.
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 to the Trust 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 treated as a contingent asset and disclosed if material.
Donations are accounted for when received by the charity. Donated agency sales relating to proceeds from sale of goods subsequently donated to the charity are accounted for when proceeds are received. Tax reclaimed in respect of Gift Aid is accounted for on an accruals basis. Tangible assets donated are included in the accounts at their market value. Goods donated to fundraising shops are included in the accounts when sold. The charity also receives the benefit of work carried out by volunteers, the value of which cannot be quantified.
The trustees have adopted the policy that small items of expenditure, being those less than £1,000, of a capital nature are not capitalised but are included in resources expended.
Freehold land is not depreciated. Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of fixed assets, less their estimated residual value, over their expected useful lives on the following bases:
| Freehold buildings | - | 2% straight-line |
|---|---|---|
| Furniture, fixtures, fittings and | ||
| medical equipment | - | 20% straight-line |
| Motor vehicles | - | 25% straight-line |
| Refurbishment | - | 10% straight-line |
f) Investments
Investments are a form of basic financial instrument and are initially recognised at their transaction value and subsequently measured at their fair value as at the balance sheet date using the closing quoted market price. The statement of financial activities includes the net gains and losses arising on revaluation and disposals throughout the year.
The charity does not acquire put options, derivatives or other complex financial instruments.
The main form of financial risk faced by the charity is that of volatility in equity markets and investment markets due to wider economic conditions, the attitude of investors to investment risk, and changes in sentiment concerning equities and within particular sectors or sub sectors.
g) Stocks
Stocks of donated goods to fundraising shops are not reflected in the accounts because the trustees consider it is impracticable to be able to assess the value of donated goods until sale as there are no systems in place which record these items until they are sold and undertaking a stock take would incur undue cost for the charity which far outweighs the benefits.
h) Debtors
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid.
i) Cash at bank and in hand
Cash at bank and 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.~~
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47
NORTH LONDON HOSPICE
ACCOUNTING POLICIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 2025 (Continued) ~~Contents~~
j) 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.
k) 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.
l) Pensions
The charity contributes to defined benefit and defined contribution schemes on behalf of its employees.
The assets of the defined benefit scheme are held separately from those of the Hospice by the National Health Service Superannuation Scheme.
The assets of the National Health Service Superannuation Scheme cannot be identified on a consistent and reasonable basis. Contributions to the scheme are charged to the statement of financial activities so as to spread the cost of pensions over employees' working lives with the charity. The contributions are determined by qualified actuaries on the basis of periodic
Defined contribution scheme pension costs charged in the accounts represent the amounts payable to the scheme in respect of the year. Where employees' wages and salaries are allocated to unrestricted or restricted funds, the pension costs relating to those employees, and any associated liabilities, are allocated to the same funds.
m) Operating leases
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS - 31ST MARCH 2025
1. Legal status
North London Hospice is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. It is registered in England and Wales. The members of the company are the trustees named on page 38, of which there were 16 at 31st March 2025 (2024 - 14). In the event of the company being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the company.
2. Judgements in applying accounting policies and key sources of estimation uncertainty
In the application of the charity's accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised, if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.
Key sources of estimation uncertainty
The annual depreciation charge for tangible fixed assets is sensitive to changes in the estimated useful economic lives and residual values of the assets. The useful economic lives and residual values are re-assessed annually. They are amended when necessary to reflect current estimates, based on technological advancement, future investments, economic utilisation and the physical condition of the assets. See note 12 for the carrying amount of the tangible fixed assets and accounting policy e) for the useful economic lives for each class of asset.
- Group accounts
The charity has one wholly owned subsidiary company, North London Hospice (Trading) Limited. Group accounts have not been prepared as the subsidiary company is dormant and not material in the context of the group. Accordingly, these accounts present information about the charity as an individual entity and not about its group.
Rental costs under operating leases are charged in the accounts in equal annual instalments over the period of the leases.
48
49
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS - 31ST MARCH 2025 (Continued) ~~Contents~~ Unrestricted Restricted
| 4. 5. |
Unrestricted funds Grants Year ended 31st March 2025 North Central London - Integrated Care Board Barnet/Enfield/Haringey 4,890,760 North Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust - DHSC Capital Grant - Peabody Grant - £ 4,890,760 Year ended 31st March 2024 North Central London - Integrated Care Board Barnet 2,480,682 Enfield 1,882,134 Haringey 127,700 NHS Partial Offset of Pensions Costs 66,536 North Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust - Other NHS 28,600 £ 4,585,652 Investment income Year ended 31st March 2025 Income from UK listed investments 284,102 Interest receivable 31,616 £ 315,718 Year ended 31st March 2024 Income from UK listed investments 262,472 Interest receivable 43,274 £ 305,746 |
Restricted funds - 922,868 284,718 500,000 1,707,586 - - - - 796,690 - 796,690 - - - - - - |
Endowment funds - - - - - - - - - - - - 88,174 - 88,174 89,505 - 89,505 |
Total 4,890,760 922,868 284,718 500,000 6,598,346 2,480,682 1,882,134 127,700 66,536 796,690 28,600 5,382,342 372,276 31,616 403,892 351,977 43,274 395,251 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other income Year ended 31st March 2025 Education income 43,822 - Work placement 27,380 - Apprenticeship levy top up 3,293 - £ 74,495 - Year ended 31st March 2024 Education income 51,292 - Work placement 13,690 - Apprenticeship levy top up 1,138 - £ 66,120 - Fundraising and promotion Year ended 31st March 2025 Staff costs 981,344 - Other costs 560,825 - £ 1,542,169 - Year ended 31st March 2024 Staff costs 879,068 - Other costs 451,094 - £ 1,330,162 - Charity shops expenditure Year ended 31st March 2025 Staff costs 1,720,185 - Other costs 432,318 - Rents paid under operating leases 556,952 - Rates and water 32,484 - £ 2,741,939 - Year ended 31st March 2024 Staff costs 1,525,880 - Other costs 443,091 - Rents paid under operating leases 573,267 - Rates and water 33,656 - £ 2,575,894 - Unrestricted Restricted funds funds |
Other income Year ended 31st March 2025 Education income 43,822 - Work placement 27,380 - Apprenticeship levy top up 3,293 - £ 74,495 - Year ended 31st March 2024 Education income 51,292 - Work placement 13,690 - Apprenticeship levy top up 1,138 - £ 66,120 - Fundraising and promotion Year ended 31st March 2025 Staff costs 981,344 - Other costs 560,825 - £ 1,542,169 - Year ended 31st March 2024 Staff costs 879,068 - Other costs 451,094 - £ 1,330,162 - Charity shops expenditure Year ended 31st March 2025 Staff costs 1,720,185 - Other costs 432,318 - Rents paid under operating leases 556,952 - Rates and water 32,484 - £ 2,741,939 - Year ended 31st March 2024 Staff costs 1,525,880 - Other costs 443,091 - Rents paid under operating leases 573,267 - Rates and water 33,656 - £ 2,575,894 - Unrestricted Restricted funds funds |
Other income Year ended 31st March 2025 Education income 43,822 - Work placement 27,380 - Apprenticeship levy top up 3,293 - £ 74,495 - Year ended 31st March 2024 Education income 51,292 - Work placement 13,690 - Apprenticeship levy top up 1,138 - £ 66,120 - Fundraising and promotion Year ended 31st March 2025 Staff costs 981,344 - Other costs 560,825 - £ 1,542,169 - Year ended 31st March 2024 Staff costs 879,068 - Other costs 451,094 - £ 1,330,162 - Charity shops expenditure Year ended 31st March 2025 Staff costs 1,720,185 - Other costs 432,318 - Rents paid under operating leases 556,952 - Rates and water 32,484 - £ 2,741,939 - Year ended 31st March 2024 Staff costs 1,525,880 - Other costs 443,091 - Rents paid under operating leases 573,267 - Rates and water 33,656 - £ 2,575,894 - Unrestricted Restricted funds funds |
Other income Year ended 31st March 2025 Education income 43,822 - Work placement 27,380 - Apprenticeship levy top up 3,293 - £ 74,495 - Year ended 31st March 2024 Education income 51,292 - Work placement 13,690 - Apprenticeship levy top up 1,138 - £ 66,120 - Fundraising and promotion Year ended 31st March 2025 Staff costs 981,344 - Other costs 560,825 - £ 1,542,169 - Year ended 31st March 2024 Staff costs 879,068 - Other costs 451,094 - £ 1,330,162 - Charity shops expenditure Year ended 31st March 2025 Staff costs 1,720,185 - Other costs 432,318 - Rents paid under operating leases 556,952 - Rates and water 32,484 - £ 2,741,939 - Year ended 31st March 2024 Staff costs 1,525,880 - Other costs 443,091 - Rents paid under operating leases 573,267 - Rates and water 33,656 - £ 2,575,894 - Unrestricted Restricted funds funds |
- 43,822 - 27,380 - 3,293 - 74,495 - 51,292 - 13,690 - 1,138 - 66,120 - 981,344 - 560,825 - 1,542,169 - 879,068 - 451,094 - 1,330,162 - 1,720,185 - 432,318 - 556,952 - 32,484 - 2,741,939 - 1,525,880 - 443,091 - 573,267 - 33,656 - 2,575,894 Endowment funds Total |
- 43,822 - 27,380 - 3,293 - 74,495 - 51,292 - 13,690 - 1,138 - 66,120 - 981,344 - 560,825 - 1,542,169 - 879,068 - 451,094 - 1,330,162 - 1,720,185 - 432,318 - 556,952 - 32,484 - 2,741,939 - 1,525,880 - 443,091 - 573,267 - 33,656 - 2,575,894 Endowment funds Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6. Other income
- Fundraising and promotion Year ended 31st March 2025 Staff costs Other costs Year ended 31st March 2024 Staff costs Other costs 8. Charity shops expenditure Year ended 31st March 2025
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51
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS - 31ST MARCH 2025 (Continued) ~~Conten~~ Unrestricted Restricted ~~t~~ Endowment ~~s~~
| Unrestricted funds Cost of operation of hospice Year ended 31st March 2025 Direct costs Hospice staff costs 4,592,690 Catering and cleaning services 570,172 Other medical costs 381,739 Support costs Support staff costs 1,772,615 Premises costs 631,919 Other costs 856,634 Depreciation 555,272 Governance costs (see Note 10) 31,338 £ 9,392,379 Year ended 31st March 2024 Direct costs Hospice staff costs 6,802,765 Catering and cleaning services 554,964 Other medical costs 384,273 Support costs Support staff costs 1,441,054 Premises costs 705,987 Other costs 916,198 Depreciation 540,760 Governance costs (see Note 10) 28,525 £ 11,374,526 |
Restricted funds 997,168 - 4,294 - 1,608 - - - 1,003,070 874,895 - 7,452 - 5,000 - - - 887,347 |
Endowment funds 1,868,588 - - - - - - - 1,868,588 89,505 - - - - - - - 89,505 |
Total 7,458,446 570,172 386,033 1,772,615 633,527 856,634 555,272 31,338 12,264,037 7,767,165 554,964 391,725 1,441,054 710,987 916,198 540,760 28,525 12,351,378 |
|---|---|---|---|
Support costs including governance costs incurred relating to fundraising and promotion and charity shops are immaterial. Consequently all support costs are included in the cost of operation of hospice.
| Unrestricted funds Governance costs Year ended 31st March 2025 Auditors' remuneration Current year 16,200 Accountancy fees 9,385 Legal & professional fees 5,753 £ 31,338 Year ended 31st March 2024 Auditors' remuneration Current year 16,200 Prior year 7,500 Accountancy fees 4,825 £ 28,525 |
Restricted funds - - - - - - - - |
Endowment funds - - - - - - - - |
Total 16,200 9,385 5,753 31,338 16,200 7,500 4,825 28,525 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
-
Governance costs
-
Staff costs, trustee remuneration and expenses and the cost of key management personnel
| Staff costs, trustee remuneration and expenses and the cost of key management personnel | |
|---|---|
| 2025 2024 |
|
| Wages and salaries Social security costs Pension costs Redundancy costs |
10,255,280 10,098,722 979,747 958,970 569,096 546,006 128,467 9,469 |
| £ | 11,932,590 11,613,167 |
| Analysis by function: Hospice services Fundraising and promotion Shops Support The charity operates both defined benefit and defined contribution schemes for its employees, the above. At the balance sheet date £78,518 (2024 - £79,409) was accrued for pension costs. |
7,458,446 7,767,165 981,344 879,068 1,720,185 1,525,880 1,772,615 1,441,054 pension charge for the year is shown |
| £ | 11,932,590 11,613,167 |
| The number of higher paid employees was: | 2025 2024 |
| Number Number |
|
| £60,000 to £70,000 £70,000 to £80,000 £80,000 to £90,000 £90,000 to £100,000 £110,000 to £120,000 £120,000 to £130,000 |
12 12 7 6 3 2 1 - - 1 1 1 |
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NORTH LONDON HOSPICE NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS - 31ST MARCH 2025 (Continued) ~~Content~~ s
- Staff costs, trustee remuneration and expenses and the cost of key management personnel (continued) Contributions were made to a defined benefit scheme for sixteen (2024 - thirteen) higher paid employees and to a defined contribution scheme for nine (2024 - nine) higher paid employees. Total contributions in the year amounted to £149,810 (2024 - £125,070).
No trustees have received any remuneration in respect of their services or had any expenses reimbursed (2024 - the same).
| 13. | Fixed asset investments 2025 Listed investments: Market value at 1st April 2024 16,721,231 Additions at cost 372,276 Withdrawal (4,000,000) Net gains on investments 355,048 Market value at 31st March 2025 13,448,555 Cost of shares in subsidiary company: North London Hospice (Trading) Limited 5,000 £ 13,453,555 |
2024 15,045,286 351,977 - 1,323,968 16,721,231 5,000 16,726,231 |
|---|---|---|
The average number of employees, analysed by function, was:
The historical cost of the listed investments as at 31st March 2025 was £6,623,924 (2024 - £10,251,648).
| Hospice services Fundraising and promotion Shops Support |
2025 Number 110 19 50 55 234 |
2024 Number 116 18 51 54 239 |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Reconciliation of unrealised gains
| Unrealised gains at 1st April 2024 6,469,583 Net gains on investments 355,048 Unrealised gains at 31st March 2025 £ 6,824,631 |
5,145,615 1,323,968 6,469,583 |
|---|---|
At 31st March 2025 the listed investments all related to UK equities listed on the International Stock Exchange, London.
The average number of employees reflects the average actual number of employees rather than the average full-time equivalents (FTE).
At 31st March 2025 UK equities comprised:
The staff costs and numbers of employees do not include any allowance for the work carried out for the Hospice by over 580 volunteers. Volunteers have carried out a variety of roles including welcoming visitors to the Hospice, assisting staff in the inpatient unit in serving meals, helping to transport patients to and from the Outpatients and Wellbeing Service, carrying out numerous administrative functions and helping at fundraising events, and a significant number of volunteers assist in our charity shops. The value of this work cannot be quantified.
The key management personnel of the charitable company are the trustees and the executive team, comprising the Chief Executive Officer, the Medical Director and Consultant, the Director of Patient Services, the Director of Fundraising and Communications, the Director of Finance and Resources and the Director of People and Culture. The employee benefits of the key management personnel totalled £724,771 (2024 - £676,504).
- Tangible fixed assets
| Cost At 1st April 2024 Additions At 31st March 2025 Depreciation At 1st April 2024 Charge for the year At 31st March 2025 Net book values At 31st March 2025 £ At 31st March 2024 £ |
Freehold land and buildings 10,180,777 - 10,180,777 3,608,440 175,392 3,783,832 6,396,945 6,572,337 |
Furniture, fixtures and fittings 2,673,641 99,807 2,773,448 2,287,715 149,470 2,437,185 336,263 385,926 |
Medical equipment 474,492 9,034 483,526 438,126 21,295 459,421 24,105 36,366 |
Motor vehicles 43,435 58,825 102,260 43,435 14,706 58,141 44,119 - |
Refurbishment 1,757,033 391,357 2,148,390 550,882 194,409 745,291 1,403,099 1,206,151 |
Total 15,129,378 559,023 15,688,401 6,928,598 555,272 7,483,870 8,204,531 8,200,780 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market value £ 5,242,972.008 units in the Newton Sustainable Growth 9,312,567 and Income Fund for Charities 2,336,056.680 units in the Newton Growth & Income 4,135,988 Fund for Charities £ 13,448,555 |
Cost £ 4,020,806 2,603,118 6,623,924 |
|---|---|
The Hospice owns 100% of the ordinary share capital of North London Hospice (Trading) Limited, a company registered in England and Wales, company number 2268094. The registered office address of North London Hospice (Trading) Limited is 47 Woodside Avenue, London, N12 8TF.
Until 31st March 2018 North London Hospice (Trading) Limited sold goods on behalf of the public for commission, following which the owners were invited to donate the proceeds to the charity under the gift aid scheme. Since 1st April 2018 this has been dealt with directly by the charity as donated agency sales.
Freehold land and buildings includes buildings with a cost of £8,769,618 (2024 - the same) that are being depreciated.
Freehold land and buildings have not been revalued. The trustees consider that there is no advantage in obtaining a valuation as the land and buildings are used exclusively for charitable purposes.
All assets are held for charitable use.
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NORTH LONDON HOSPICE NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS - 31ST MARCH 2025 (Continued) ~~Contents~~
14. Debtors
| 2025 VAT recoverable 215,648 Other debtors 557,887 Prepayments and accrued income 1,992,610 2,766,145 £ |
2024 176,085 298,032 3,231,817 3,705,934 |
|---|---|
17. Endowment funds
| Balance 1st April 2024 Income Expenditure Net gains on investments Transfer to Restricted funds Transfers to Unrestricted funds Balance 31st March 2025 £ |
Pauline Glasser Endowment 718,040 19,186 (19,186) 16,342 (734,382) - - |
Mrs. Burgess Fund for Children 17,000 - - - - (17,000) - |
Capital Fund 150,000 - - - - - 150,000 |
Endowment Fund 2,581,540 68,988 (1,849,402) 58,764 - (859,890) - |
Total 3,466,580 88,174 (1,868,588) 75,106 (734,382) (876,890) 150,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pauline Glasser Endowment:
The trustees approved the transfer of this endowment fund to a restricted fund relating to the future redevelopment of the In Patient Unit in accordance with the terms of the original agreement. In April 2025 the Charity Commission approved this decision, and it is expected that this fund (£734,382) is to be spent within the next 2 years.
Prepayments and accrued income includes measurable legacies committed to North London Hospice as at 31st March 2025, but which were not received by that date, amounting to £1,365,635 (2024 - £2,742,484).
Mrs. Burgess Fund for Children:
In line with the Charity Commission rules for spending from a smaller value fund this has now been reallocated to unrestricted reserves.
15. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
| 2025 Expense creditors 512,289 Taxation and social security 248,641 Other creditors 263 Accruals and deferred income 552,161 £ 1,313,354 |
2024 601,544 235,455 345,032 538,721 1,720,752 |
|---|---|
Other creditors includes £nil (2024 - £324,771) relating to agency sales under the retail Gift Aid scheme.
- Creditor: amount falling due after more than one year
| Creditor: amount falling due after more than one year | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | |||
| Loan - The Governors of the George Peabody Donation Fund (secured) | £ | - | 500,000 |
The comparative figure for 2010 has been restated following a prior period adjustment as explained in note 21.
The Governors of the George Peabody Donation Fund have agreed to amend the loan to be a grant towards the redevelopment of the In-Patient Unit at the Hospice. This has now been classified as income in a Restricted fund.
Capital Fund:
Capital sums totalling £150,000 were received in 1993 and 1994. Income from the fund can be used for general purposes and the fund is represented by cash on deposit.
Endowment Fund:
In line with donor wishes it was agreed that this fund could be used to fund the Hospice at Home service. As such, costs of the Barnet and Enfield community teams have now been allocated against this fund.
18. Restricted funds
The income funds of the charity include restricted funds comprising the following unexpended balances of donations to be applied for specific purposes:
| Pauline Glasser Fund Peabody Grant DHSC Grant Civica Scheduling Cuddle Blanket Rapid Response Rapid Response Barnet Rapid Response Enfield & Haringey Child & Youth Bereavement Bladder Probe Bereavement Support Community Development Compassionate Neighbours Music for Life Group Barnet Community Team Haringey Community Team Syringe Drivers Complementary Therapies Thermomix Oxygen Concentrators Sara Stedy Equipment Tilt-in-space Wheelchair £ |
Balance 1st April 2024 - - - - - - - - - - - 5,000 1,362 - - - - - - - - - 6,362 |
Income - 500,000 284,718 22,500 3,900 61,600 30,966 5,000 3,000 1,100 2,500 - 39,800 1,000 5,500 922,868 7,281 5,000 1,279 1,000 1,199 1,995 1,902,206 |
Expenditure - - - (22,500) - - - - (3,000) (1,100) (2,500) - (39,800) (1,000) (5,500) (922,868) (1,608) - - - (1,199) (1,995) (1,003,070) |
Transfers between funds 734,382 - (284,718) - (3,900) - - - - - - - - - - - (5,134) - (1,279) - - - 439,351 |
Balance 31st March 2025 734,382 500,000 - - - 61,600 30,966 5,000 - - - 5,000 1,362 - - - 539 5,000 - 1,000 - - 1,344,849 |
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Transfers have been made from certain of the restricted funds to the unrestricted general fund since appropriate expenditure has been incurred and therefore the conditions relating to the inherent restrictions have been complied with.
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NORTH LONDON HOSPICE NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS - 31ST MARCH 2025 (Continued) ~~Content~~ s
- Designated funds
| Tangible Fixed Asset Fund Legacy Buffer Fund IPU Capital Start Up Fund Retail - Start Up - New Premises Fund Retail Leasehold Improvements Fund Retail - Shop Dilapidations Fund Strategic Investment/Innovation Fund £ |
Balance 1st April 2024 7,700,780 1,500,000 250,000 150,000 250,000 250,000 150,000 10,250,780 |
Income - - - - - - - - |
Expenditure - - - - - - - - |
Transfers between funds 503,751 - 2,450,000 350,000 (250,000) (250,000) - 2,803,751 |
Balance 31st March 2025 8,204,531 1,500,000 2,700,000 500,000 - - 150,000 13,054,531 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The trustees have designated £8,204,531 (2024 - £7,700,780) as a tangible fixed assets fund. This fund represents an amount equal to the net book value of the tangible fixed assets less, at 31st March 2024, the creditor falling due after more than one year which was secured by a charge over certain freehold land owned by the Hospice, as it formed part of the funds the Hospice held that were not readily available to expend on meeting its charitable objectives.
Furthermore, the trustees have designated additional funds as part of the ongoing strategic review. These include future investment in both clinical delivery (with plans for a potential IPU refurbishment) as well as future investment in the retail shops. Additionally, a legacy buffer fund has been created should legacy income fall below the current 10 year average.
21. Analysis of net assets between funds
At 31st March 2025
| Endowment funds Capital Fund Restricted funds Pauline Glasser Fund Peabody Grant Rapid Response Rapid Response Barnet Rapid Response Enfield & Haringey Community Development Compassionate Neighbours Syringe Drivers Complementary Therapies Oxygen Concentrators Unrestricted funds Designated funds Tangible Fixed Assets Fund Legacy Buffer Fund IPU Capital Start Up Fund Retail - Start Up - New Premises Fund Strategic Investment/ Innovation Fund General Fund £ |
Tangible fixed assets - - - - - - - - - - 8,204,531 - - - - - 8,204,531 |
Investments - 734,382 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 12,719,173 13,453,555 |
Current assets 150,000 - 500,000 61,600 30,966 5,000 5,000 1,362 539 5,000 1,000 - 1,500,000 2,700,000 500,000 150,000 1,427,801 7,038,268 |
Creditors - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (1,313,354) (1,313,354) |
Total 150,000 734,382 500,000 61,600 30,966 5,000 5,000 1,362 539 5,000 1,000 8,204,531 1,500,000 2,700,000 500,000 150,000 12,833,620 27,383,000 |
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20. General Fund
| Balance 1st April 2024 Income Expenditure Net gains on investments Transfers from Endowment funds Transfers from Restricted funds Transfers from Unrestricted funds Transfers to Unrestricted funds |
15,178,787 12,749,803 (13,743,082) 279,942 876,890 295,031 500,000 (3,303,751) |
|---|---|
| Balance 31st March 2025 £ |
12,833,620 |
At 31st March 2024
| Endowment funds Pauline Glasser Endowment Mrs. Burgess Fund for Children Capital Fund Endowment Fund Restricted funds Community Development Compassionate Neighbours Unrestricted funds Designated funds Tangible Fixed Assets Fund Legacy Buffer Fund IPU Capital Start Up Fund Retail - Start Up - New Premises Fund Retail Leasehold Improvements Fund Retail - Shop Dilapidations Fund Strategic Investment/ Innovation Fund General Fund £ |
Tangible fixed assets - - - - - - 8,200,780 - - - - - - - 8,200,780 |
Investments 718,040 - - 2,581,540 - - - - - - - - - 13,426,651 16,726,231 |
Current assets - 17,000 150,000 - 5,000 1,362 - 1,500,000 250,000 150,000 250,000 250,000 150,000 3,472,888 6,196,250 |
Creditors - - - - - (500,000) - - - - - - (1,720,752) (2,220,752) |
Total 718,040 17,000 150,000 2,581,540 5,000 1,362 7,700,780 1,500,000 250,000 150,000 250,000 250,000 150,000 15,178,787 28,902,509 |
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NORTH LONDON HOSPICE NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS - 31ST MARCH 2025 (Continued) ~~Contents~~
22. Commitments under operating leases
The company is committed to make the following future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases for the use of land and buildings:
| 23. | 2025 Payable within one year 460,904 Payable within two to five years 1,182,107 Payable in more than five years 195,089 £ 1,838,100 Financial instruments 2025 Financial assets Financial assets measured at fair value 17,720,678 Financial assets that are debt instruments measured at amortised cost 2,166,744 £ 19,887,422 Financial liabilities Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost £ 1,065,559 |
2024 333,934 383,793 36,392 754,119 2024 19,211,547 3,252,461 22,464,008 1,985,297 |
|---|---|---|
24. Prior year's statement of financial activities
| Unrestricted funds Income: Donations and fundraising 3,118,302 Legacies 2,306,307 Charitable activities Grants 4,585,652 Other trading activities Charity shops sales 2,846,290 Donated agency sales 1,040,204 Rental income 13,800 Investment income 305,746 Other 66,120 Total income 14,282,421 Expenditure: Raising funds Fundraising and promotion 1,330,162 Charity shops expenditure 2,575,894 Investment manager's fees 60,335 Charitable activities Cost of operation of hospice 11,374,526 Other Interest on loan from The Governors of the Peabody Donation Fund (1,301,765) Total expenditure 14,039,152 Net gains on investments 1,044,940 Net income before transfers 1,288,209 Transfers between funds 43,078 Net movement in funds 1,331,287 Reconciliation of funds: Total funds brought forward, 1st April 2023 24,098,280 Total funds carried forward, 31st March 2024 £ 25,429,567 |
Restricted funds 137,097 - 796,690 - - - - - 933,787 - - - 887,347 - 887,347 - 46,440 (43,078) 3,362 3,000 6,362 |
Endowment funds - - - - - - 89,505 - 89,505 - - - 89,505 - 89,505 279,028 279,028 - 279,028 3,187,552 3,466,580 |
Total funds 3,255,399 2,306,307 5,382,342 2,846,290 1,040,204 13,800 395,251 66,120 15,305,713 1,330,162 2,575,894 60,335 12,351,378 (1,301,765) 15,016,004 1,323,968 1,613,677 - 1,613,677 27,288,832 28,902,509 |
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Our Vision
The best of life, at the end of life, for everyone
If you would like this publication to be made available in accessible formats such as alternative languages, large print or audio, please speak to the Communications and Marketing Team on 0800 368 7848 (Freephone) or email CommunicationTeam@northlondonhospice.co.uk
@NLondonHospice northlondonhospice
@NorthLondonHospice North London Hospice
North London Hospice 47 Woodside Avenue, London, N12 8TT Phone: 0800 368 7848 (Freephone) Email: nlh@northlondonhospice.co.uk
www.northlondonhospice.org
Charity No. 285300. Registered Address - 47 Woodside Avenue, London, N12 8TT. Company Reg No: 01654807 (England and Wales)