## **NEUROBLASTOMA UK**
Charity Commission reference number 326385
## **REPORTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
For the year ended 31 December, 2023
NEUROBLASTOMA UK
**REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** For the year ended 31 December, 2023
|Trustees’ annual report
Independent Examiner’s Report
Statement of Financial Activities
Balance sheet
Notes to the financial statements|**CONTENTS**
**Page**
2-5
6
7
8
9-12|
|---|---|
Page 1
## **TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT for the year to 31 December, 2023**
The Trustees present their report with the financial statements of the Charity for the year ended 31 December, 2023. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1 January, 2015). As a charity registered in England and Wales, the Charity also reports in accordance with the Charity Commission for England and Wales’ guidance on public benefit and the Charities Act 2015.
**Section A Reference and administrative details** Charity Name NEUROBLASTOMA UK Registered Charity Number 326385 Registered Address 7-14 Great Dover Street, London SE1 4YR Trustees who manage the Charity: Zara Aitchison (Co-Chair) Andy Pearson (Co-Chair) Tori Eadington (Secretary) – appointed 10 September 2023 Malcolm Dean (Treasurer) Ruby Dickens Tony Heddon Keith Holmes Stephen Smith Debbie Tweddle Faye Watts Kate Wheeler (Co-Chair) Tanya Wood - appointed 27 May 2023 Carolyn Jackson - resigned Independent Examiner Haines Watts, Statutory Auditor, 3[rd] Floor Pacific Chambers, 11-13 Victoria Street, Liverpool, L2 5QQ Bankers Barclays Bank PLC, Newmarket, LE87 2BB **Public Benefit Requirement**
The trustees of Neuroblastoma UK confirm that they have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the Charity Commission in exercising their powers or duties.
## **Section B Structure, governance and management**
## **Governing Document**
The Trust is an unincorporated trust, constituted under a Trust Deed dated 20 May, 1983 and by the supplemental Deed of Amendment 9th September 2016 and is a registered Charity number 326385 in England and Wales.
## **Recruitment and appointment of new trustees**
Lay Trustees are appointed by the Trustees following consideration of applications received from individuals. Medical Trustees are appointed by the Trustee on the recommendation of existing Medical Trustees.
## **Risk Management**
Trustees have considered the major risks to which the Charity may be exposed; have reviewed them and established systems and procedures to manage them. Trustees consider the possibility that money placed on investment could be at risk if the organisation holding the deposit should fail. Although current investments are placed with large, well-established financial institutions Trustees identified the need to re-examine investment policy and have concluded that investments should be spread across a number of institutions to minimise the
Page 2
impact if a single fund-holder should fail. The Trust is essentially a cash based charity, holding no property. The Charity has developed sufficient internal controls to monitor and minimise the risk of misappropriation of funds.
## **Section C Objectives and activities**
## **Objectives and Aims**
The object of the Charity is to improve treatments and outcomes for all children suffering with neuroblastoma, and to achieve this we raise funds for vital medical research. The Charity also raises awareness of the disease, advocates for improved accessibility to treatments and provides information and support to families.
## **Policy on Grant-Making**
Trustees invite applications for grant award by public advertisement, typically on the Charity’s website. Normally this is biennially so that sufficient funds are available to commission meaningful research studies, although exceptions are occasionally made when judged appropriate by the Trustees in consultation with the Charity’s Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). Applications are first considered by the Charity’s SAB, which is made up of 5 scientists experienced in Neuroblastoma research and a chairman who is a paediatric oncology clinician. Each application is accompanied by reports from 2 or 3 referees who have specialist knowledge of the research area proposed, and by a response from the applicants to those reports. The SAB then recommends to Trustees applications worthy of grant funding in order of merit. Trustees award grants in the light of the SAB’s advice and funds available. Grants are only awarded to the extent that resources have already accrued in the Charity’s unrestricted fund or appropriate restricted fund.
## **Section D Achievements and performance**
## **Charitable Activities**
With the residual ongoing challenges from the pandemic and the tougher economic environment, 2023 has been a year to replenish funds to build towards hosting a Neuroblastoma UK Symposium and Major Grant Round in 2024. However we did still fund new research, we cofunded with Solving Kids Cancer for the development and initial start-up costs of the REDMAPP study website led by Helen Pearson and additional funding of a research project being carried out by Prof Suzanne Turner at Cambridge investigating into personalised therapeutics to prevent and treat anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) positive neuroblastoma resistant to ALK inhibitors. Also, Neuroblastoma UK were one of the main sponsors for the International Conference in Amsterdam for the Advances in Neuroblastoma Research bringing together researchers from around the world with introductory educational sessions, presentations on the latest trials and insight into some of the basic science work being undertaken in the neuroblastoma research field. For the first time in the history of the Conference, patient advocates were a part of the main agenda and our Trustee, Stephen Smith joined other patient advocates on the panel to discuss, with questions posed by clinicians, as to how patient advocates can help improve the survival of children with Neuroblastoma.
2023 saw us hold our first advocacy event in Scotland during Children’s Cancer Awareness Month , kindly hosted by Rona Mackay SNP in memory of Matthew Innes and calling on MSPs to ensure that childhood cancer is recognised as a critical research priority in Scotland and supported by members of the Scottish paediatric medical community. This was a very special and moving reception highlighting the impact of a childhood cancer diagnosis and the need for more research.
Earlier in the year we marched, with a number of other cancer charities, as ‘One Cancer Voice’ to hand a petition to 10 Downing Street, London calling on the government to improve outcomes and experiences for people affected with cancer.
We have worked closer with Solving Kids Cancer in 2023 looking at ways that we can work better on behalf of all children with neuroblastoma and their families and to ensure that all areas across the research spectrum receive the awareness and vital funding needed.
2023 showed a stronger financial position to 2022, in part to the £214,000 we received from the UK Government/ Medical Research Fund for charity funded early career researchers.
We are a charity reliant on voluntary income through fundraising. This is the key to our vital research and we are extremely grateful to our supporters who ran marathons, climbed mountains, dusted off their football boots, baked, sang and numerous other activities to raise money for our cause.
Page 3
We received additional support in 2023 from a number of charity partners including Georgia’s Fund, Vitol Foundation and Isabelle Grundy Donations Trust . We also worked with a number of corporate partners including Banks Group, Rightway Electrical, Topling Ltd, Solent Stevedores and Rosebuds & Pearls.
Additional fundraising activities from the Charity came in the launch of our weekly Lottery draw and our first time participation in the Big Give - Christmas Challenge , a match funded charity campaign .
We continued to distribute our free “Parents Guide to Neuroblastoma” and our factsheet “Treatment options for relapsed or refractory high risk neuroblastoma”, online and in print, in collaboration with Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group.
The outcomes of the research we fund are published in peer-reviewed journals and where possible referenced on our website and social media platforms. Publications are also shared with other researchers at national and international meetings of researchers. Annual and Final research reports are examined and assessed by our Scientific Advisory Board .
Our sincere thanks for the continued support of fundraisers, families, researchers, expert advisers, volunteers, patrons, staff and trustees of Neuroblastoma UK in 2023.
## **Section E Financial review**
## **Reserves Policy**
The annual income generated by the Charity is to be applied for charitable purposes in accordance with the Trust’s objective. Year on year the trustees intend to make a full distribution of available income, subject to making adequate reserves for known and potential liabilities and commitments, where applicable. Any amounts not so distributed are accumulated in the unrestricted fund. Funds committed to supporting approved research, but not immediately required are invested in line with the investment policy described below. The balance held as unrestricted reserves at 31 December, 2023 was £586,048 (2022: £72,191).
## **Investment Policy**
The Trustees’ intention is to maintain funds so that they are readily accessible when required, but are earning a reasonable return whilst not utilised.Trustees reviewed this policy in February 2005 and confirmed their policy of only placing funds in investments where the book value of the principal is maintained.
## **Statement of Trustees Responsibilities**
The trustees are responsible for preparing the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Charity Law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the trustees have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the United Kingdom generally accepted accounting practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards, comprising FRS 102 ‘The financial reporting standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’, and applicable law).The financial statements are required by law to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the surplus or deficit of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements the trustees are required to:
- ❖ select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- ❖ observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP (FRS102);
- ❖ make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- ❖ state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
- ❖ prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue in business.
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the Charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed.
Page 4
They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Approved by the Trustees at a Zoom meeting on 2 May, 2024
Signed on their behalf and with their approval by:
MRS Z AITCHISON Chair
MR M DEAN Trustee and Treasurer
Page 5
## _**Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Neuroblastoma UK**_
I report to the trustees on the examination of the accounts of Neuroblastoma UK for the year ended 31 December, 2023.
## _**Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner**_
The Charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.
I have reported in respect of the examination of the Charity’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out the examination have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
## _**Independent Examiner’s Statement**_
The Charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of ICAEW.
I have completed the examination and can confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination, which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect:
- the accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act 2011;
- the accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
- the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair’ view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Mr M J Forshaw BA FCA Haines Watts Pacific Chambers 11-13 Victoria Street Liverpool L2 5QQ
Page 6
## **NEUROBLASTOMA UK**
## **STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER, 2023**
|
Note
**INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM:**
Donations
2
Other trading activities
3
Income from investments
4
**_TOTAL_**
**EXPENDITURE ON:**
Raising funds
5
**Charitable activities:**
Grants payable and grant amendments
6
Governance costs
7
**_TOTAL_**
**_NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)_**
**RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS**
**Total funds brought forward**
**_TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD_**|Unrestricted Funds
31 December, 2023
£
£
366,478
51,607
32,349
**450,434**
(6,699)
214,525
(144,403)
**63,423**
**513,857**
72,191
**586,048**|Unrestricted Funds
31 December, 2023
£
£
366,478
51,607
32,349
**450,434**
(6,699)
214,525
(144,403)
**63,423**
**513,857**
72,191
**586,048**|Unrestricted Funds
31 December, 2022
£
£
250,365
9,340
8,712
268,417
(7,506)
(691,520)
(119,754)
(818,780)
(550,363)
622,554
72,191|Unrestricted Funds
31 December, 2022
£
£
250,365
9,340
8,712
268,417
(7,506)
(691,520)
(119,754)
(818,780)
(550,363)
622,554
72,191|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||**450,434**
**63,423**||268,417
(818,780)|
||||||
|||**513,857**
72,191||(550,363)
622,554|
|||**586,048**||72,191|
Page 7
## **NEUROBLASTOMA UK**
## **BALANCE SHEET**
## **AS AT 31 DECEMBER, 2023**
|Note
**CURRENT ASSETS**
Debtors and advance payments
9
Investments
10
Cash at bank
11
**_TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS_**
CREDITORS: Amounts falling due due within
one year
12
**_NET CURRENT ASSETS_**
CREDITORS: Amounts falling due in more
than one year
13,14
**_NET ASSETS_**
FUNDS OF THE CHARITY
Unrestricted fund
15|2023
2022
£
£
46,341
55,176
967,476
845,713
378,268
275,392|
|---|---|
||**1,392,085**
1,176,281|
||(655,329)
(605,785)|
||736,756
570,496
(150,708)
(498,305)|
||**586,048**
72,191|
|||
||**586,048**
72,191|
The financial statements set out on pages 8 – 13 were approved by the Trustees on
TRUSTEE – Mrs Z Aitchison
TRUSTEE – Mr M Dean
Page 8
**NEUROBLASTOMA UK**
**NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER, 2023**
## **1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES**
## **Basis of preparing the financial statements**
The financial statements of the charitable trust, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS102) ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) (effective 1 January, 2015)’, the Financial Reporting Standard 102 (effective January 2015) and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.
## **Donations**
Cash donations and gifts are included in full in the Statement of Financial Activities when they are received by the Charity. Cash collected at special fund-raising events is included in the income and expenditure account after deducting the expenditure incurred directly in staging the event. Significant non-cash donations are included in the income and expenditure account at the Trustees’ estimation of their market value when received.
## **Income from investments**
Investment income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities on an accruals basis.
## **Research grant awards**
These are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities when the Trustees have awarded them. Research grants awarded, but not disbursed at the balance sheet date, are carried forward as grant creditors in the balance sheet.
## **Fund accounting**
Unrestricted funds can be used in accordance with the charitable objectives at the discretion of the trustees.
Restricted funds can only be used for particular restricted purposes within the objects of the charity. Restrictions arise when specified by the donor or when funds are raised for particular restricted purposes.
Further explanation of the nature and purpose of each fund Is included in the notes to the financial statements.
## **Cash flow statements**
The Charity has taken advantage of the exemption provided by the Charities SORP (FRS102) and does not prepare a cash flow statement.
## **Taxation**
The Charity is exempt from taxation on its charitable activities.
## **VAT**
As a non-trading organisation the Charity is not registered for VAT purposes, and is unable to recover VAT incurred on its expenditure.
Page 9
**NEUROBLASTOMA UK**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (Continued)**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER, 2023**
|2.
**DONATIONS**
Donations and fund-raising
3.
**OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES**
Christmas cards, webshop and other income
4.
**INCOME FROM INVESTMENTS**
COIF deposit
National savings income bonds
5.
**EXPENDITURE ON RAISING FUNDS**
Fund-raising and publicity costs
6.
**GRANTS PAYABLE AND GRANT AMENDMENTS**
Contribution from Medical Research Council
Gaze
Chesler
Ewing & Gao
Conferences, Travel and Other Grants
Write back||2023
2022
£
£
366,478
250,365|
|---|---|---|
|||2023
2022
£
£
51,607
9,339|
|||2023
2022
£
£
27,728
5,949
4,621
2,763|
|||32,349
8,712|
|||2023
2022
£
£
6,699
7,506|
|||2023
2022
£
£
(214,525)
214,385
469,093
10,000
(1,958)|
|||(214,525)
691,520|
Page 10
**NEUROBLASTOMA UK**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (Continued)**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER, 2023**
## 7. **EXPENDITURE ON CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES**
|
Rent and facilities
Staff salaries and pension contributions
Staff training
Sporting event costs
Subscriptions
Travel
Computers, software and equipment hire
40thAnniversary celebration
Accounts and audit
Trustees meeting costs
Printing, postage and stationery
Sundries
Advertising and website
Insurance
Bank and professional charges
ANR Conference|2023
£
2022
£
8,642
8,923
87,803 67,118
131
0
8,757 8,566
2,618 2,183
1,215 177
8,439
5,195
3,307
11,792
720
5,556
213
0
585
1,456
414
1,727
1,903
5,870
1,155
1,119
135
72
18,366
0|
|---|---|
||144,403
119,754|
## 8. **TRUSTEES’ REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS**
There was no trustees’ remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 December, 2023 (2022: £NIL).
The Trust owns no premises.
## 9. **DEBTORS AND PREPAYMENTS**
|**RS AND PREPAYMENTS**||
|---|---|
|Receivables
Prepayments
Co-funding income|2023
2022
£
£
1,188
1,188
20,403
23,238
24,750
30,750|
||46,341
55,176|
## 10. **CURRENT INVESTMENTS**
|COIF Deposit Fund
National Savings – Income bonds|2023
2022
£
£
617,476
495,713
350,000
350,000|
|---|---|
||967,476
845,713|
Page 11
**NEUROBLASTOMA UK**
## **NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS (Continued)**
## **YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER, 2023**
|11.
**CASH AT BANK AND IN HAND**
Cash at Bank
12.
**CREDITORS – DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR**
Grant commitments
Trade creditors
Accruals
Co-funding income received in advance
13.
**CREDITORS – DUE IN MORE THAN ONE YEAR**
Grant commitments
14.
**GRANT COMMITMENTS**
Total commitments at 1 January, 2023
Paid in the year
New commitments
Written back in the year|2023
2022
£
£
378,268
275,392
2023
2022
£
£
548,847
562,130
90,582
27,755
900
900
15,000
15,000
655,329
605,785
2023
2022
£
£
150,708
498,305
2023
2022
£
£
1,060,435
682,189
(373,668)
(298,275)
12,788
676,523
(2)|
|---|---|
||699,555
1,060,435|
All of the grants paid in 2023 and 2022 were to institutions and to commission research studies. All of the new grant commitments in 2023 were to institutions.
## 15. **ANALYSIS OF UNRESTRICTED FUND**
|At 1 January, 2023
Net movement in funds for the year|2023
2022
£
£
72,191
622,554
513,857
(550,363)|
|---|---|
||586,048
72,191|
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