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← East Cheshire Hospice

2025-03-31-accounts

EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE

ANNUAL REPORT AND CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Registered company number 01807691 (England and Wales) Registered Charity number 515104

EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (INCORPORATING THE STRATEGIC REPORT) For the year ended 31 March 2025

Contents Page
Legal and administrative information 1
Report of the Trustees (incorporating the Strategic Report) 2
Independent Auditors Report 21
Consolidated Statement of Financial Activities 25
Consolidated Balance Sheet 26
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement 27
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 28-40

EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION For the year ended 31 March 2025

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Registered Company Number 01807691 (England and Wales)
Registered Charity Number 515104
Constitution Company limited by guarantee
Principle and Registered Office Millbank Drive
Macclesfield
Cheshire
SK10 3DR
Harts Limited
Auditors
Westminster House
10 Westminster Road
Macclesfield
SK10 1BX
Bankers Royal Bank of Scotland PLC
52 Chestergate
Macclesfield
Cheshire
SK11 6BU
Investment Advisors Quilter Cheviot
One Kingsway
London
WC2B 6AN
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EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (INCORPORATING THE STRATEGIC REPORT) For the year ended 31 March 2025

The Trustees (who are also the directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006) who served during the year were:

Mrs Juliette White CBE[Chair Elect (Appointed Sep-24, ] Dr J Mallon Chair from 1 Aug-25) Mr W Spinks Chair (Retired Sep-25) Dr D A Maxwell Dr J Beck Mr N L McArthur Vice Chair Mrs G Crawford Mrs N C Sampson Mr S J Dickenson Mrs K R Waters Mrs L Haughton Mr I Williams

All trustees are members of the Company and have no beneficial interest in it. Unless indicated above, they were all trustees at the time that this Report and the attached Financial Statements were approved.

Patrons: Mr M Oliver OBE DL Mr J Corrigan Dr W Mansoor Mr Noddy Holder Mr Nick Robinson Mrs Suzan Holder Prof A Burns President: Mr David Briggs CVO MBE KStJ Vice Presidents: Mr P Bianchi Mr P Morrissey Mr N Bianchi Mr D Pollock DL Mrs F Brereton Mr R Raymond Mrs F Bruce MP (to May-24) Mr T Roca MP (from July-24) Mrs J Clowes Mrs S Russell MP (from July-24) Mrs C Hayward DL Mr D Rutley MP (to May-24) Dr S Hayward Lady A Winterton Mr M Jones Sir N Winterton Mr P E Jones Mr R Barrow MBE DL (to Nov-24) Miss E McVey MP

Honorary Mrs E Keefe Vice President Management Team:

:
Mrs K Johnston Chief Executive
Dr D Alexander Medical Director
Mrs R Allcock Income Generation Director
Mrs S Dale Clinical Director of Quality & Innovation
Ms S Jones Clinical Director (retired Dec-24)
Mrs S Seabourne Finance Director

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EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (INCORPORATING THE STRATEGIC REPORT) For the year ended 31 March 2025

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EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (INCORPORATING THE STRATEGIC REPORT) For the year ended 31 March 2025

In submitting their Annual Report together with the consolidated financial statements of East Cheshire Hospice and its subsidiary for the year ended 31 March 2025, the Trustees have ensured that all financial statements comply with the Charity Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, and Accounting & Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102, effective 1 January 2019).

CHARITABLE PURPOSE & PUBLIC BENEFIT

The objects and principal activities of East Cheshire Hospice are to provide palliative care and support to people with life limiting illnesses within the communities of Buxton, Congleton, Handforth, High Legh, High Peak, Knutsford, Macclesfield, Poynton, Wilmslow and the 72 villages and hamlets in between, serving a total population of c.200,000. It does this by:

The Trustees have carefully considered the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit in setting our objectives and planning our services, which are provided free of charge for the benefit of the public. Our mission is to provide the highest quality care and support to the people we serve. Our values and principles can be summarised by the acronym CARE – compassion, association, resourcefulness and excellence.

Our Vision

Our vision is that by 2028, East Cheshire Hospice will be at the centre of a whole-system solution delivering or facilitating high quality, seamless, co-ordinated end of life care to people affected by life limiting illness, ensuring they are prepared, supported and cared for in a place of their choosing and with the minimum of stress and anxiety.

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EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (INCORPORATING THE STRATEGIC REPORT) For the year ended 31 March 2025

ACTIVITIES

East Cheshire Hospice offers both specialist palliative and specialised end of life care and support to adults who are approaching the final stages of life. We extend this comfort and compassion to assist families, caregivers, and loved ones so that they are better able to cope with this life changing event. Our comprehensive range of services is provided without any cost to those in need. We continuously review our services to meet the evolving needs of our communities, including addressing the growing number of patients with frailty, dementia, and complex comorbidities.

This report encompasses the period from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, a year in which a sluggish UK economy and geopolitical uncertainty resulted in a negative forward view of household discretionary spending, a key indicator of people’s propensity to give to charity. This economic backdrop presented a perfect storm for an organisation such as East Cheshire Hospice, reliant as we are on voluntary donations to meet an ever-increasing cost base whilst experiencing increased demand for services. The communities, individuals, companies, legators and retail shoppers and donors in East Cheshire continued to support our work and although at each quarter in the year one or more of our income streams struggled, we ultimately met both the demand for services and our income targets.

Our frontline and support services are made up of the following key elements:

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EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (INCORPORATING THE STRATEGIC REPORT) For the year ended 31 March 2025

counselling for adults, specialised support for childhood bereavement, and spiritual assistance for people of all faiths and those without specific religious affiliations. Our compassionate team, led by a dedicated chaplain, aims to provide holistic care that caters to the diverse needs of our patients’ families and loved ones.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

In this year we: supported more people than we had ever done before; reopened the refurbished Sunflower Centre; refurbished our inpatient bedrooms; launched the discovery phase of Palliative Advice Centre East (PACE); strengthened the team in Knutsford Home First; identified two new retail premises, one opening in year. This marks the third increase in the number of people we have supported in as many years, as we strive to meet the growing demand for palliative care services in East Cheshire and generate the necessary income to ensure our sustainability.

Operationally our plans were organised under our perpetual Continuous Improvement workstream and a set of multi-year Change Programmes with specific milestones for the year to March 2025, as detailed below:

Continuous Improvement

This workstream managed the organisation’s business as usual service delivery and operational support functions to ensure ECH developed in the right direction, meeting its charitable objects as well as its fiscal responsibilities.

In terms of Governance, the Trustee Board faced some changes this year, as the incumbent Chair Will Spinks was set to reach the maximum time-served limit of 3x3 year terms of office. The Board therefore undertook a comprehensive recruitment process, including staff and supporter consultation, and successfully appointed Juliette White in September 2024 to be our Chair Elect. Juliette has been shadowing our existing Chair for almost a year and will take up her role as Chair in August 2025. We are confident that this extended handover period will allow for continuity and that our Board will continue to provide seamless scrutiny and challenge of our operations.

This year saw some significant strides in our IT strategy, including several infrastructure upgrades such as a new phone system, a stronger, wider Wi-Fi network and new smart TVs and mood lighting controls for Inpatient Unit bedrooms. We have integrated sound, lighting, climate and audio-visual controls in the Sunflower Living Well Centre, provided mobile IT equipment for clinical services expansion and

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EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (INCORPORATING THE STRATEGIC REPORT) For the year ended 31 March 2025

implemented a new Nurse Call System for both the Inpatient, Living Well and Outpatient units. Our transition from analogue to digital has been impressive with staff and volunteers adapting to the well rolled out, more efficient processes with ease.

Our reliance of IT puts even greater pressure on the reliability and security of our systems, therefore we were reassured by gaining the highest standard of accreditation again this year. The Cyber Essentials Plus certification demonstrates our high standards of cybersecurity and commitment to protecting our systems and data from cyber threats. Achieving this certification involved thorough assessments conducted by specialists, and proactive monitoring and interventions by the IT team to ensure compliance. Not only does this strengthen our security position but also demonstrates that we are a trusted organisation that prioritises cyber security. It reassures our patients, staff, and community that we are taking proactive steps to safeguard data.

We have enhanced our digital capabilities with interactive Microsoft Whiteboards allowing our clinicians to share real-time patient activity and department dependency and capacity between partner clinicians regardless of their physical location. Digital applications have now replaced paper-based processes and forms, with the latest development being digital sign-in pads on Reception desks and electronic feedback forms. Our Inpatient Unit digital signage screens now feature real-time data dashboards within Reception and the clinical units to give patients and families access to our performance.

Change Programmes

1. Development of Existing Hospice Services

Strategic objective: To ensure we have the capacity and capability to deliver or facilitate accessible, relevant and inclusive services which support people and their families to live well whatever their condition.

Following the substantial investment in Dementia Services in 23/24, the Dementia Carer Wellbeing Programme expanded from half days in the five Care Communities to five full days. Alongside the structured programme offered to support carers, they now have access to a range of activities they can attend with their loved ones in community venues, including Dementia Café drop ins, a Sunshine Social group with games and music, Singing Together and Love to Move exercise sessions. The Hospice has continued to raise awareness among healthcare professionals about the expansion of Dementia services, resulting in increased engagement and referrals.

The Sunflower Living Well Centre, which offers Outpatient appointments and Living Well programmes for people living with a terminal diagnosis, underwent a significant transformation and was relaunched in April 2024. The Centre now boasts modern facilities designed to better serve patients and their loved ones and informal carers. The renovation project, costing £1.3 million, was completed over nine months and included enhancements such as increased natural light, smart technology integration and dementia-friendly designs such as colour-coded areas. The new-look Centre has seen in increase in activity since relaunching and footfall has more than doubled from 179 people per month to 388.

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EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (INCORPORATING THE STRATEGIC REPORT) For the year ended 31 March 2025

2. Hospice Sustainability

Strategic Objective: To ensure that ECH remains financially sustainable and meets our communities’ needs.

Using our donors’ resources we have been able to test the efficacy of different models of hyper-local home-based care and have used this empirical evidence to demonstrate to our NHS Partner Providers a more efficient way of working. Our System partners have, in turn, used this to create a business case to be considered by senior leaders in our local NHS helping them to achieve care closer to home and hospital avoidance goals.

As an active and current Chair holder of the Cheshire & Merseyside Hospice Provider Collaborative we have contributed to a review of funding for palliative and end-of-life care services. The aim of this review is to identify disparity of service provision and inequitable funding arrangements in each of the 9 Places which make up Cheshire & Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB). We are confident that when this review concludes East Cheshire Hospice will be independently verified as an efficient, reliable and productive provider of palliative and end-of-life care services for the people of East Cheshire.

In addition to this work, we have focused our fundraising resources on developing our Individual Giving income stream, working closely with clinical colleagues to help support friends and loved ones of patients to become long term Hospice supporters. Our Ambassador Group, which oversees our philanthropic giving, launched a new campaign to raise money to fund a new way of delivering fully integrated palliative and end of life care for everyone who needs it, no matter which healthcare professional they engage with initially. This innovation which the Group is raising funding of £1.55m for is called Palliative Care Centre East (PACE).

3. System Integration for Palliative & End of Life Care

Strategic Objective: To work with partners to fully integrate our services so that patients and families experience a crisis-free last year of life with choice and control right to the end.

The launch of the discovery phase of our Palliative Advice Centre East (PACE) in early 2025 was the first step in offering a Healthcare System-wide single point of access to coordinated palliative and endof-life care for individuals with life-limiting illnesses and their loved ones or carers in East Cheshire.

In year, we developed the PACE team comprising of Advanced Nurse Practitioners, Medical Lead and Clinical Coordinator who work seamlessly with the Hospice @Home team and other community palliative health care professionals to improve quality of life for patients and carers. This new model of working aims to care for patients for at least the last 12 months of life by providing 24/7 access to support at the right time in the right place by the right people and to improve the experience and reduce crisis admissions to hospital.

Other System Integration achievements include:

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EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (INCORPORATING THE STRATEGIC REPORT) For the year ended 31 March 2025

to support over the weekends.

4. Facilities Development

Strategic Objective: To ensure our facilities are fit for purpose, efficient to run and safe to use

During 2024, our Inpatient Unit bedrooms underwent major refurbishments to optimise comfort levels for our patients and their loved ones. For example:

FINANCIAL REVIEW

The Statement of Financial Activities is set out on page 25, and a summary of the financial results is given below. The group achieved a small surplus on net operating activity of £1,848 (2023/24: surplus £1,191,341). The overall result, after allowing for stock market gains and losses on the market value of our investment fund, is a deficit of £19,422 (2023/24: surplus £1,660,300).

Income Generation Activity

Our total Income Generation Activity for the year ended at £3.765m, which was slightly higher than our original budget, by £77K. It was a challenging and busy year for both our Commercial and Fundraising teams, as outlined below:

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EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (INCORPORATING THE STRATEGIC REPORT) For the year ended 31 March 2025

Commercial

After several years of searching for retail properties in both Knutsford and Congleton, this year saw us find ideal venues in both towns simultaneously. We therefore took the unprecedented step of taking on both properties in year. Our Congleton shop opened in West Heath shopping centre on 14th December, and it is now open 7 days a week. Despite being a much larger shop than we are used to, it is proving incredibly busy both in terms of shoppers and donations. In March, the income from Congleton was just over £24K, which is in line with our original predictions of £25K once the shop is fully operational.

Our Knutsford shop is undergoing significant renovations to convert it from its original use as a private gym and is due to open in July 2025.

Fundraising

We benefited from another year of strong support from our local community, despite the uncertainty of the current financial climate and the resulting fundraising challenges this created. Our Fundraising income for the year was £2.738m against an original budget of £2.647m. This represents an increase of 16% from £2.358m last year.

We had a packed calendar full of both Hospice-run and community events throughout the year. Some of our major events were the Starlight Walk, Fashion on the Edge and Light Up A Life. We also kept busy with all the usual favourites—coffee mornings, open gardens, plant and cake sales, quiz nights, fetes, golf days, festivals, balls, and plenty more. A few of the standout moments from the year included:

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EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (INCORPORATING THE STRATEGIC REPORT) For the year ended 31 March 2025

Fundraising complaints

We did not receive any complaints about our fundraising activities during the last year. Our fundraising team abides by the Fundraising Regulator’s Code of Practice and their Fundraising Promise. We strive always to act ethically and responsibly, using best practice when communicating with our supporters, and we strictly adhere to General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) processes in relation to data usage.

Funding from statutory bodies

We are grateful for the continued support of our main commissioner, Cheshire & Merseyside Integrated Care Board (C&M ICB), despite the well documented financial pressures that the health service, and in particular C&M ICB, are operating under. We received a 3.87% (£22,866) uplift on our general grant which is very welcome but only a fraction of the equivalent increase in salary costs as a result of matching NHS pay rates.

Our involvement in the Palliative Care in Partnership contract, under agreement with Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (MCHT) has remained strong, and provides at home end of life care, enabling us to provide care 24/7 in more patients own homes. This service has proved very popular with patients and has been well received by C&M ICB and we are looking at ways to expand its reach and provide more support to the local health economy. In line with our objective of being at the centre of end-of-life care in East Cheshire, we were pleased to support Macclesfield District General Hospital with a community doctor for 6 months, and the funding for this went some way to offsetting the withdrawal of winter bed pressures monies in the current year.

In year we received £134,481 from the Department of Health and Social care to be used for capital expenditure. These funds were used to complete the upgrade of patient bedrooms, replace a leaking roof and bring the Hospice’s 38-year-old electric wiring up to safer modern standards.

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EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (INCORPORATING THE STRATEGIC REPORT) For the year ended 31 March 2025

Expenditure

Total costs increased by £860k (12%) in the year to £7,837,887. This follows on from an 8% increase in costs in 2023/24. The last 2 years have seen significant service expansion with the growth of our Hospice at Home day service, the Knutsford Home First Initiative, Community Dementia Outreach and PACE. The Board understand that the pace of development has been rapid and are expecting costs to stabilise as these new services become embedded.

Staffing remains the single largest cost in the Hospice, and £576k of the increase in costs in the current year relates to salaries, following on from £500k last year. This underlines that the excellent care our patients and their families receive is reliant on our ability to recruit and retain experienced and highly sought-after care staff. The increase in salary costs is driven both by the 5.5% NHS Agenda for Change Pay deal announced in July 2024, which the Hospice also implemented, and the additional staffing in Hospice at Home, Community Dementia and PACE. The increases in National Insurance Contributions and staffing for these services was phased throughout the year and so we would expect staffing costs to increase in 2025/26 to reflect a fully staffed year, but then level out into 2026/27.

The cost of raising funds also increased £148k in the year, and this reflects the expansion of our retail offering, with the new Congleton shop which opened in December 2024 and the purchase of a retail shop in Knutsford which is currently under renovation and expected to open in July 2025. The extra revenue generated by this expansion will be pivotal in helping to fund the clinical service expansion over the last few years.

We are mindful as always of the need to use our donated income and resources in the most efficient way, and to provide the maximum benefit for our patients and their families. We continue to review all our activity to ensure we meet the changing needs of the community we serve.

Investment Objectives and Returns

The Trustees have the power to invest in such assets as they see fit. The Hospice maintains a mixture of liquid funds and longer-term stock market investments which act as both an income stream and reserves. Income flows can be hard to predict, and so cash balances over and above those required for immediate operational purposes are invested in a mix of term deposits to allow for possible funding gaps and in the stock market. The investment portfolio is invested in the Quilter Cheviot Global Income and Growth Fund for Charities, a Charity Authorised Investment Fund (CAIF), which has a similar risk profile to the Hospice’s previous discretionary fund with the benefit of reduced fees.

Quilter Cheviot’s performance is reviewed quarterly against the Asset Risk Consultants (ARC) Steady Growth benchmark. The total return on the portfolio for the year to 31 March 2025 was 2.7%, slightly under the benchmark (3.0%). The performance has been reviewed by our specialist advisory group and Trustees remain confident in the investment holding.

Reserves

At 31 March 2025, the Hospice held total reserves of £17,348,140, a small decrease of £19,422 over the previous year. Total reserves are a mix of restricted (relating to fixed assets or donor intentions), designated (where Trustees have set aside funds for specific projects), and free reserves – used by the charity to manage its in year cash flow. See note 22 on page 38 of these accounts.

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EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (INCORPORATING THE STRATEGIC REPORT) For the year ended 31 March 2025

Restricted Reserves

Since 2017, the Hospice has adopted a successful strategy of fundraising in advance for major new service developments and only going live with these services when sufficient pledges are received to ensure service viability for 5 years. As this can often take several years to achieve, the Hospice is in receipt of significant restricted funds which can only be spent on specific projects and in future periods. The high restricted balances can give a misleading view of the Hospice’s need for additional funding for non-restricted services.

Of the total reserves, £6,686,544 is restricted, a decrease of £425,170 in the year. The main reductions in restricted funds relate to Knutsford Home First and Hospice at Home – both of these services received significant one-off donations from Mr Michael Oliver in recent years (£700k in 2024 and £800k in 2023) to fund expansion over the medium term, and so this reduction was expected. Our newer campaigns for PACE and Dementia services are performing well, with both services having gone live in 2024/25.

The main restriction is in respect of the Hospice building (£4.5m), a decrease of £0.56m in the year. Should the Hospice cease to operate, or the building be sold, all proceeds must be returned to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

Designated Reserves

The Trustees have designated funds to support service development, facilities maintenance and building development. These will help to support ambitious plans in the fields of dementia, single point of access, and further Hospice at Home expansion, as well as support the maintenance and phased redevelopment of the Millbank Drive site to make it fit for modern services.

Free Reserves

The Hospice’s ‘free reserves’ are those unrestricted funds that are freely available to spend on any of the charity’s purposes, and excludes all fixed assets, restricted and designated funds. Free reserves at 31 March 2025 are £6,538,888 compared to £6,538,805 last year. This is equivalent to 10.0 months of operating costs at the 2024/25 level.

During the year, the Trustees reviewed the reserves policy and set a range within which it was deemed prudent to hold free reserves. This is based on a minimum level required to support the Hospice through two fallow income generation years and sufficient funds to wind up the Hospice in the event of a forced closure and a maximum level of 12 months’ operating costs. Reserves in excess of the minimum are held to support service development and to meet exceptional circumstances.

Risk Management

The Board carefully evaluates the potential risks that the Charity may face. Robust governance systems are in place to supervise risk management across clinical, support services, and business administration, ensuring that high standards are upheld in accordance with best practices, laws, and accreditation requirements. The implemented processes aim to offer reasonable assurance, though not absolute, against significant errors or losses. These include the following:

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EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (INCORPORATING THE STRATEGIC REPORT) For the year ended 31 March 2025

The trustees recognise that the Hospice's reliance on voluntary income to cover the majority of annual operating costs creates a financial sustainability risk. In response, the trustees have adopted a strategy of ongoing enhancement in service delivery and have made investments in income generation to mitigate this risk to the greatest extent feasible.

Demand for ECH services is expected to increase driven by population growth, aging local demographic and the organisation’s ambition to ensure palliative care is accessible to all who need it. The primary risk faced is the potential for services to be overwhelmed rendering them ineffective. To mitigate this risk, staff numbers will increase, and trustees have tasked the Senior Leadership Team to create a fully rotational workforce which can be deployed to any service facing short-term surges in demand.

Cheshire & Merseyside Integrated Care Board is facing significant budgetary constraints which may have adverse impact on the commissioning of palliative and end-of-life services. There is a potential risk that we may face challenges in obtaining adequate statutory funding to sustain our services at their current levels. To mitigate this risk, East Cheshire Hospice, as part of the Cheshire & Merseyside Hospice Provider Collaborative, is participating in an ICB-led review to find a fairer statutory funding model for charitably funded hospice care.

PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS

Continuous Improvement

Our ambition is and always will be to continuously improve our services to meet the needs and expectations of the people we serve. To achieve this, we make sure that efficiency and effectiveness is embedded in our culture, our plans and in the personal objectives of each individual who makes up our high-performing ECH team. We demonstrate our commitment to this ambition by using data from patient and family feedback, incident reports and the frontline experiences of healthcare professionals to continuously improve what we do so that better outcomes can be achieved for the next cohort of patients and family members.

Both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis informs our service provision and helps to ensure that we can accurately define the impact we are having on the experiences of our patients and their families. We will carry on our work to fully integrate our services with those in the wider health system ensuring that patients are informed, prepared and in control of their choices from the point of diagnosis right to the end.

Delivery of responsive, effective, safe and caring services

We will ensure that our existing services are consistently meeting needs of the people they serve by listening to and acting on feedback. We understand the urgency and importance of addressing the expediential demand for our palliative and end of life care services and those provided by public sector and other third sector organisations operating within an extremely constrained funding environment.

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EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (INCORPORATING THE STRATEGIC REPORT) For the year ended 31 March 2025

We believe that we can meet this challenge with creativity, partnerships and efficiencies provided by adopting new and evolving technologies.

People development It is our aim to give our staff and volunteer workforce fulfilling opportunities to grow as individuals, be part of a winning team and to use their time and talents for positive change in our communities. We will do this by ensuring that each job or volunteering opportunity has all the elements of a rewarding, manageable and fulfilling experience. We have identified that a local shortage in qualified health and social care staff represents a future risk to the sustainability of our services, therefore we will carry out a major workforce review and set a strategy to address issues.

Governance and oversight By March 2026 we will deliver a comprehensive review of our governance structures and processes using the Charity Governance Code as a validated best practice guide and seek to benchmark our governance against our partners in the Cheshire & Merseyside Hospice Provider Collaborative. Improvements will be implemented as they are identified to give patients, families, donors and the wider public the assurance that ECH is a well-run, stable care provider.

Innovation and collaboration We will continue to be creative in our problem solving, brave in our delivery and be generous in sharing our learning with partners in our Locality (East Cheshire), our Place (Cheshire East), our Region (Cheshire & Merseyside) and nationally through Hospice UK.

Care and business support services We will focus on removing unnecessary barriers to optimal operating processes, making efficiencies in our key support services of Information & Communication Technology, Finance, Income Generation, Human Resources including Learning and Development, Hospitality and Facilities.

Community Engagement We will use our considerable connections with the communities we serve to inform the development of responsive services and increase donor, staff and volunteering opportunities. By partnering in a Cheshire East Health Literacy pilot, we will empower patients and carers to understand how to make local healthcare provision work for them.

Digital Transformation We will continue to increase productivity and security in our service provision and be a digitally agile organisation using emerging technologies, with reliable IT infrastructure, ‘smart’ facilities and interoperability with partners.

Data Analytics Integrate all ECH information sources to give Board, Senior Managers, Heads of Functions and Team Leaders greater visibility of, and confidence in, data for effective monitoring, reporting and timely decision-making.

Change programmes 2025/26 Milestones

1. Development of Existing Hospice Services

Strategic objective: To ensure ECH has the right services in place with adequate capacity to meet growing demand for care closer to home.

We will explore the impact the Terminally Ill (Adults) Bill will have on existing services and gain further insights into patient and carers support requirements to assist us with future planning. We will measure our performance using the internationally recognised palliative care impact tools, Outcome Assessment and Complexity Collaboration (OACC) and Integrated Patient Outcome Scale (IPOS), to help demonstrate the effect our services have on patients and where necessary, improvements can be made. We will also determine which facets of the NHS 10-year plan will influence the development of ECH services in the future.

We will deliver:

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EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (INCORPORATING THE STRATEGIC REPORT) For the year ended 31 March 2025

2. Hospice Sustainability

Strategic Objective: To ensure that ECH remains financially sustainable and meets our communities’ needs

This change programme is wide ranging with each element aimed at ensuring ECH has the skills and requisite human, financial and material resources to comfortably maintain prevailing services whilst ensure the long-term stability and low environmental impact necessary to deliver innovative services in partnership with others long into the future.

Financial Infrastructure

We will identify and exploit the benefits of new and existing technology such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Microsoft Power BI data analysis software to develop financial literacy and insights with colleagues. We will maximise opportunities to automate and improve the availability of real time financial information to colleagues and partners.

We will deliver:

We will explore the impact the Terminally Ill (Adults) Bill will have on our income generation activity and the need for a fairer statutory funding model for hospices across Cheshire & Merseyside. We will also identify future uses for philanthropic giving following completion of PACE campaign.

We will deliver:

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EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (INCORPORATING THE STRATEGIC REPORT) For the year ended 31 March 2025

Data-driven decision making

We will explore the use of AI tools for advanced reporting, insights and trend analysis, Maximise the use of NHS Data Analytics tools and build a case for a Data Analyst role at ECH

We will deliver:

Workforce Planning

We will explore ways in which each role within ECH can be made more efficient, enjoyable and rewarding, identify learning and development efficiencies achieved through increased inhouse training provision/alternative providers. We will also invest in technology to support data analytics & future workforce flexibility.

We will deliver:

Information Technology

We will explore technologies to enhance efficiency and productivity across ECH and utilising AI tools we will enhance the visibility of data to improve business decisions and efficiency. We will also explore the feasibility of ECH connecting to local NHS Virtual Wards and becoming fully integrated with the wider Digital Care System.

We will deliver:

Deliver our services in a sustainable, low carbon, energy efficient way

We will complete our Sustainability Plan for 2025-28, engage with other Hospices within our cluster group to share best practice and expand our collaboration with our Corporate and Community support network

We will deliver:

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EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (INCORPORATING THE STRATEGIC REPORT) For the year ended 31 March 2025

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We will reassess our current EDI practices, identify gaps in accessibility and representation and engage with diverse communities to understand their needs

We will deliver:

3. System Integration for Palliative & End of Life Care

Strategic Objective: To work with partners to fully integrate our services so that patients and families experience a crisis-free last year of life with choice and control right to the end

We will assess existing collaboration with healthcare partners (NHS, social care, charities) to identify service gaps and barriers to seamless end-of-life care. We will also explore digital solutions for improved communication and real-time patient data sharing across services and engage with patients, families, and underrepresented groups to understand their end-of-life care preferences and challenges.

We will deliver:

4. Facilities Development

Strategic Objective: To ensure our facilities are fit for purpose, efficient to run and safe to use

We will design and cost phase three of the plan to upgrade kitchen, staff changing and breakout rooms and increase efficiency through technology, equipment and sustainability.

We will deliver:

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

The Hospice is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated in England and Wales on 10 April 1984 and registered as a charity on 25[th] April 1984. The company is established under a

18

EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (INCORPORATING THE STRATEGIC REPORT) For the year ended 31 March 2025

Memorandum of Association which sets out the objects and powers and is governed under its Articles of Association, as updated in March 2015.

The Nominations and Remuneration Committee is responsible for monitoring and evaluating the trustee recruitment, selection and appraisal process. The governing document requires between 5 and 14 trustees. Board vacancies are identified through regular skills audits and vacancies are filled through a formal recruitment process. The Hospice serves the needs of the broad community, so the Board endeavours to reflect this in the make-up of its membership, whilst meeting the need to have an appropriate mix of professional skills necessary for the day-to-day and longer term running of the Charity. Once appointed to the Board, new trustees undertake an induction programme, supported by an existing member of the Board, and are supplied with a comprehensive information pack detailing the responsibilities of their trusteeship. Trustees are appointed to serve for a term of three years, but can seek re-appointment for two further periods, with a total permitted maximum of nine consecutive years.

The Board meets at least four times a year and is responsible, through its committees, for setting and monitoring progress against the Strategic Plan, Annual Delivery Plans and Key Performance Indicators. These meetings are attended by the Chief Executive and members of the management team, who are responsible for the day-to-day running of Hospice services.

The committees are attended by designated Trustees and management team. The committees make proposals to the Board and have approved terms of reference with specific assigned responsibilities. The committees are:

The Finance and Resources Committee reviews all staff pay on an annual basis to determine whether an inflation pay award can be given. The management team is included in this review and receives any increase on the same basis as all other staff.

Individual indemnities have been provided to the Trustees, under which the charitable company has agreed to indemnify the Trustees to the fullest extent permitted by law in respect of all liabilities to third parties arising out of, or in connection with, their execution of their powers, duties and responsibilities as Trustees of the charitable company and of the group.

The Hospice is a member of The End of Life Partnership, a local charity involved in end of life care issues across Cheshire. It also promotes the delivery of high-quality palliative care education in order to ensure all communities are prepared for end of life care. The Hospice does not have any control over this charity. The Hospice is also a shareholder, but again has no control over, the Hospice Quality Partnership, a commercial company set up by hospices nationally to provide more efficient and betterquality procurement in the sector through collective bulk purchasing power.

The Hospice’s wholly owned subsidiary, ECH Trading Limited, was established to run commercial retail activities. The subsidiary donates its profits to the Hospice and all related party transactions are provided in the notes to these accounts.

19

EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES (INCORPORATING THE STRATEGIC REPORT) For the year ended 31 March 2025

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The Trustees (who are directors of East Cheshire Hospice for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees’ Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the Board to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the charitable company as at the balance sheet date and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including income and expenditure for the financial year. In preparing those financial statements, the Board should follow best practice and:

The Board is responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. The Board is also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

In so far as the trustees are aware

AUDITORS

Harts Limited were re-appointed as the charitable company’s auditors and have expressed their willingness to continue in that capacity.

Approved by the Board on 16 December 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

Mrs J White

20

EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS REPORT TO THE MEMBERS AND TRUSTEES OF EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE For the year ended 31 March 2025

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of East Cheshire Hospice (the 'parent charitable company’ or the ‘charity’) and its subsidiaries (together the ‘group’) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the consolidated Statement of Financial Activities, the consolidated group and charity Balance Sheet, the consolidated group and charity Cash Flow Statement, and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion, the financial statements:

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 Auditors responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable group 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.

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 doubt on the group and parent 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 trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the trustees’ annual report, other than the financial statements and our Report of the Independent Auditors thereon.

Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent

21

EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS REPORT TO THE MEMBERS AND TRUSTEES OF EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE For the year ended 31 March 2025

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 this gives rise to 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. We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable group and parent charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Report of the Trustees.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the Statement of Trustees Responsibilities, the trustees (who are also the directors of the parent charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework 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.

In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the group’s and parent charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern, as well as disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the group or parent charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

22

EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS REPORT TO THE MEMBERS AND TRUSTEES OF EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE For the year ended 31 March 2025

Auditors’ responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

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 a Report of the Independent Auditors that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but it 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.

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 primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of non-compliance with laws and regulations, including fraud, rests with both those charged with governance of the entity and management. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below:

The objectives of our audit, in respect to fraud, are:

Our approach was as follows:

We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that are applicable to the parent charitable company and the group,and determined that the most significant are in respect of Employment Law, the Health and Social Care Act and compliance with Care Quality Commission fundamental standards.

We understood how group companies are complying with those frameworks by making inquiries of management responsible for charity and company legislation and legislation procedures.

We assessed the susceptibility of the parent charitable company and group's financial statements to material misstatement, including how fraud might occur by discussion with trustees to understand where it is considered there was a susceptibility to fraud. We considered the controls that the parent charitable company and the group established to address identified risks that otherwise prevent, deter and detect fraud.

To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we performed analytical procedures to identify unusual or unexpected relationships; investigated the rationale behind significant or unusual transactions; and tested journal entries to identify unusual transactions.

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

23

EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE INDEPENDENT AUDITORS REPORT TO THE MEMBERS AND TRUSTEES OF EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE For the year ended 31 March 2025

non-compliance with laws and regulations enquiry of the trustees and other management and inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any. Material misstatement that arises due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.

Based on this understanding we designed our audit procedures to identify non-compliance with such laws and regulations that could materially impact the financial statements. Taking into account our understanding of the parent charitable company and group, our procedures involved enquires of management and focused testing as appropriate with consideration to risk assessment.

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/auditors responsibilities. This description forms part of our Report of the Independent Auditor's.

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 a Report of the Independent Auditors 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.

Melissa Bowers FCCA (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of Harts Limited Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors Westminster House, 10 Westminster Road Macclesfield Cheshire SK10 1BX

16 December 2025

24

EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (Incorporating Income & Expenditure account) As at 31 March 2025

Notes
Income from:
Donations and legacies
2
Charitable activities
3
Other trading activities
4
Investments
5
Total
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
7
Charitable activity
8
Inpatient services
Day-care and outpatients
Hospice @Home
Family support services
Outreach and education
Total
Net gains/(losses) on
investments
13
Net income/(expenditure)
Transfers between funds
22
Net income/(expenditure)
for the year
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
22		 2025
Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
£
£
£
4,562,296
669,705
5,232,001
872,660
-
872,660
1,277,320
9,613
1,286,933
448,141
-
448,141
7,160,417
679,318
7,839,735
1,422,991
970
1,423,961
3,050,028
5,923
3,055,951
868,201
159,603
1,027,804
1,053,828
691,504
1,745,332
456,511
20,472
476,983
106,292
1,564
107,856
6,957,851
880,036
7,837,887
(21,270)
-
(21,270)
181,296
(200,718)
(19,422)
224,452
(224,452)
-
405,748
(425,170)
(19,422)
10,255,848
7,111,714
17,367,562
10,661,596
6,686,544
17,348,140		 2024
Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
£
£
£
4,434,132
1,153,829
5,587,961
865,314
-
865,314
1,257,964
6,295
1,264,259
352,057
-
352,057
6,909,467
1,160,124
8,069,591
1,284,496
624
1,285,120
2,821,988
93,000
2,914,988
754,863
59,075
813,938
1,110,599
257,160
1,367,759
444,364
26,261
470,625
86,634
39,186
125,820
6,502,944
475,306
6,978,250
568,959
-
568,959
975,482
684,818
1,660,300
(474,581)
474,581
-
500,901
1,159,399
1,660,300
9,754,947
5,952,315
15,707,262
10,255,848
7,117,714
17,367,562

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year and all amounts derive from continuing activities. The transfer between funds is in respect of movements in fixed assets.

The notes on pages 28 to 40 form part of these accounts.

25

EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE

BALANCE SHEET

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Notes
Fixed Assets
Tangible assets
12
Investments
13
Current Assets
Stock
15
Debtors
16
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling
due within one year
17
Net Current Assets
Total Assets Less Current Liabilities
Net Assets
Restricted funds
Unrestricted - general funds
- designated funds
-revaluation reserve
Total Funds
22		 Group
2025
2024
£
£
5,724,330
4,978,299
6,035,225
6,056,495
11,759,555
11,034,794
720
337
591,042
519,098
5,519,234
6,432,592
6,110,996
6,952,027
522,411
619,259
5,588,585
6,332,768
17,348,140
17,367,562
17,348,140
17,367,562
6,686,544
7,111,714
7,714,128
6,792,299
2,947,468
3,344,167
-
119,382
17,348,140
17,367,562		 Charity
2025
2024
£
£
5,724,330
4,978,299
6,035,227
6,056,497
11,759,557
11,034,796
-
-
591,042
519,098
5,519,232
6,432,590
6,110,274
6,951,688
522,509
619,740
5,587,765
6,331,948
17,347,322
17,366,744
17,347,322
17,366,744
6,686,544
7,111,714
7,713,310
6,791,481
2,947,468
3,344,167
-
119,382
17,347,322
17,366,744		 Charity
2025
2024
£
£
5,724,330
4,978,299
6,035,227
6,056,497
11,759,557
11,034,796
-
-
591,042
519,098
5,519,232
6,432,590
6,110,274
6,951,688
522,509
619,740
5,587,765
6,331,948
17,347,322
17,366,744
17,347,322
17,366,744
6,686,544
7,111,714
7,713,310
6,791,481
2,947,468
3,344,167
-
119,382
17,347,322
17,366,744
11,034,796
-
519,098
6,432,590
6,951,688
619,740
6,331,948
17,366,744
17,366,744
7,111,714
6,791,481
3,344,167
119,382
17,366,744

The financial statements have been prepared according with the special provisions of part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small charitable companies. These financial statements of East Cheshire Hospice (charity number 515104; company number 01807691) were approved by the Board of Trustees on 16 December 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

Mrs J White

Mr N L McArthur

The notes on pages 28 to 40 form part of these accounts

26

EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS For the year ended 31 March 2025

Cash flows from operating activities:
Net cash provided by / (used in) operating activities
Cash flow from investing activities:
Dividends and interest from investments
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Net cash provided by / (used in) investing activities
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the year
Cash and cash equivalents b/f
Cash and cash equivalents c/f		 2025
£
(329,794)
448,141
(1,031,705)
(583,564)
(913,358)
6,432,592
5,519,234		 2024
£
1,489,635
352,057
(1,175,819)
(823,762)
665,873
5,766,719
6,432,592

Notes to the consolidated cash flow statement

Reconciliation of net income / (expenditure) to net cash flow from operating activities:

Net income / (expenditure) for the reporting period
Depreciation charge
(Gains) / losses on investments
Investment income
Loss / (profit) on sale of fixed assets
Decrease/(increase) in stock
(Increase)/decrease in debtors
(Decrease)/increase in creditors
Net cash provided by / (used in) operating activities
Analysis of cash and cash equivalents:
Cash in hand
Notice deposits
Total cash and cash equivalents		 2025
£
(19,422)
285,674
21,270
(448,141)
-
(383)
(71,944)
(96,848)
(329,794)
2025
£
1,455,767
4,063,468
5,519,234		 2024
£
1,660,300
241,784
(568,959)
(352,057)
149,374
357
421,730
(62,894)
1,489,635
2024
£
1,681,250
4,751,342
6,432,592

27

EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

For the year ended 31 March 2025

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

General Information and Basis of Preparation

The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS102, have been prepared in accordance with 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 (Charities SORP FRS102 – effective 1 January 2019), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with the exception of investments, which are included at market value as modified by the revaluation of certain assets. The financial statements are presented in GB Sterling, which is the functional currency, rounded to the nearest Pound.

Basis of consolidation

These accounts consolidate the results of the charity and its wholly owned trading subsidiary, ECH Trading Limited, on a line by line basis. A separate Statement of Financial Activities and Income & Expenditure Account has not been presented for the charity as allowed by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006. The net loss of the Hospice for the year is £19,422 (2024: net gain £1,660,300).

Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

In the application of the accounting policies, Trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and underlying 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 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 affected current and future periods.

In the view of the Trustees, no assumptions concerning the future or estimation uncertainty affecting assets or liabilities at the balance sheet date are likely to result in a material adjustment to their carrying amounts in the next financial year.

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. Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be used for specific projects. The aim and use of each significant restricted fund is set out in the notes to these accounts.

Incoming Resources and Debtors

All income is recognised in the statement of financial activities when the Hospice has entitlement to the funds, receipt is probable, and the amount can be reliably measured. The following policies are applied to income:

Debtors are recognised at settlement value.

28

EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

For the year ended 31 March 2025

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

Resources Expended and Creditors

Expenditure is recognised when there is a legal or constructive obligation to a third party, payment is probable, and the amount is reliably measurable. Irrecoverable VAT is allocated as a support cost. Expenditure is classified under the following activity headings:

Grants payable are made to third parties in the furtherance of the Hospice’s charitable objectives. Grants are accounted for when the conditions for payment have been met by the recipient, or in full when no conditions have been set.

Redundancy and termination payments are recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Creditors are recognised where it is probable that a reliably estimated present obligation will result in a payment to a third party. Creditor are recognised at their settlement value.

Support and Governance costs

Support costs are those back-office functions that are necessary for the effective running of the Hospice but are not directly involved in providing care. They are allocated between the cost of raising funds and charitable activities as set out in the notes to these accounts. Governance costs comprise all costs involving the public accountability of the charitable company and its compliance with regulation and good practice

Tangible Fixed Assets and Depreciation

Tangible fixed assets costing more than £1,000 are capitalised at cost. Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets at rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, over their estimated useful life as follows:

 Buildings 2 – 10% p.a. straight line depending on the asset nature  Leasehold improvements Straight line over the life of the lease  Plant, equipment and vehicles 12.5% p.a. straight line  Computer hardware 25% straight line

The land at Millbank Drive is included at market value at the time of donation from the Health Authority.

Investments and cash

Listed investments are stated at market value at the balance sheet date. Unlisted investments are valued at cost. The SOFA includes the net gains and losses arising on revaluations and disposals throughout the year. Cash at bank is held to meet the day to day running costs of the Hospice as they fall due.

Stock

Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Items donated for resale are not included in the financial statements until they are sold.

Financial instruments

Basic financial instruments are initially measured at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost, with the exception of investments and cash at bank which are held at fair value. Financial assets held at amortised cost comprise trade and other debtors and financial liabilities held at amortised cost comprise trade and other creditors, except taxation and social security.

29

EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

Leases

Rental payable under operating leases are charged to the statement of financial activities in equal annual instalments over the period of the lease.

Pensions

The Hospice contributes to the NHS pension scheme as allowed under direction of the Secretary of State in England and Wales. This is an unfunded, defined benefit pension scheme and it is not possible to identify the assets and liabilities which are attributable to the Hospice. The scheme is therefore accounted for as defined contribution scheme. The Hospice also operates 2 further defined contribution pension schemes. The assets of all schemes are held separately from those of the Hospice in independently administered funds. Contributions payable for the year are charged to the SOFA in line with the activity carried out by the relevant pension scheme member.

Taxation

The Hospice is an exempt charity within the meaning of schedule 3 of the Charities Act 2011 and is considered to pass the tests set out in Paragraph 1 Schedule 6 Finance Act 2010 and therefore it meets the definition of a charitable company for UK corporation tax purposes.

Going Concern

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as the Trustees believe that no material uncertainties exist. The Trustees have considered the level of funds held and the expected level of income and expenditure for 12 months from authorising these financial statements. The budgeted income and expenditure is sufficient with the level of Hospice reserves to be able to continue as a going concern.

2. Donations and legacies:

Donations
Legacies
Community activity
Grants		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
2025
£
£
£
1,294,643
304,843
1,599,486
1,913,040
-
1,913,040
439,158
42,745
481,903
915,455
322,117
1,237,572
4,562,296
669,705
5,232,001		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
2024
£
£
£
972,214
951,427
1,923,641
2,100,930
-
2,100,930
489,711
7,538
497,249
871,277
194,864
1,066,141
4,434,132
1,153,829
5,587,961
Grants receivable were:
Cheshire & Merseyside ICB – care
Cheshire & Merseyside ICB – drugs
Cheshire & Merseyside ICB – other
Derbyshire ICB – care
Hospice UK – Hospice Capital Grant
National Lottery Community Fund
Other grants and trusts		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
2025
£
£
£
519,671
- 519,671
108,972
- 108,972
55,600
-
55,600
20,720
- 20,720
-
134,481
134,481
-
55,000
55,000
210,492
132,636
343,128
915,455
322,117
1,237,572		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
2024
£
£
£
499,448
-
499,448
108,000
-
108,000
54,929
-
54,929
20,000
-
20,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
188,900
194,864
383,764
871,277
194,864
1,066,141

30

EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

2. Donations and legacies (continued):

The Hospice's main grant agreements are with Cheshire & Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB). The ICB makes a contribution to the provision of 24-hour specialist palliative care for patients and families in the East Cheshire region and for drugs. The Hospice has a similar arrangement with Derbyshire ICB as the boundaries of the Hospice's service area extend to parts of Derbyshire.

3. Charitable activities:

Local government and NHS service
contracts
Other ancillary income		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
2025
£
£
£
769,542
-
769,542
103,118
-
103,118
872,660
-
872,660		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
2024
£
£
£
795,393
-
795,393
69,921
-
69,921
865,314
-
865,314

4. Other trading activities:

Events and sponsorship
Lottery income
Shops		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
2025
£
£
£
376,648
9,613
386,261
273,972
-
273,972
626,700
-
626,700
1,277,320
9,613
1,286,933		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
2024
£
£
£
388,427
6,295
394,722
283,289
-
283,289
586,248
-
586,248
1,257,964
6,295
1,264,259

5. Investment income:

Investment income:
Dividends received
Interest received		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
2025
£
£
£
170,613
-
170,613
277,528
-
277,528
448,141
-
448,141		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
2024
£
£
£
175,769
-
175,769
176,288
-
176,288
352,057
-
352,057

6. Net incoming resources for the year (group and charity):

This is stated after charging:
Depreciation (owned assets)
Auditor's remuneration (excluding VAT) - charity
Auditor's remuneration (excluding VAT) - subsidiary
Non audit fees (excluding VAT)		 2025
£
285,674
10,500
1,250
300		 2024
£
241,784
9,500
1,000
5,905

31

EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

For the year ended 31 March 2025

7. Raising funds:

Donations and legacies:
Staff costs
Events and fundraising costs
Other trading activity:
Staff costs
Events and fundraising costs
Lottery management costs
Lottery prizes
Shop running costs
Shop depreciation
Support costs
Charitable activities:
Inpatient services:
Staff and related costs
Patient consumables – direct
Catering and housekeeping
Property occupation and repairs
Depreciation
Support costs
Day care and outpatients:
Staff and related costs
Patient consumables – direct
Catering and housekeeping
Property occupation and repairs
Depreciation
Support costs
Hospice @Home:
Staff and related costs
Patient consumables – direct
Catering and housekeeping
Property occupation and repairs
Depreciation
Support costs		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
2025
£
£
£
430,327
-
430,327
205,002
-
205,002
635,329
-
635,329
297,772
-
297,772
76,451
-
76,451
12,444
-
12,444
78,000
-
78,000
189,914
-
189,914
8,995
-
8,995
663,576
-
663,576
124,086
970
125,056
1,422,991
970
1,423,961
Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
2025
£
£
£
2,249,018
-
2,249,018
148,682
-
148,682
56,792
451
57,243
208,208
3,472
211,680
131,400
-
131,400
255,928
2,000
257,928
3,050,028
5,923
3,055,951
546,677
136,641
683,318
5,948
4,853
10,801
17,116
107
17,223
105,479
17,093
122,572
76,650
-
76,650
116,331
909
117,240
868,201
159,603
1,027,804
776,760
685,846
1,462,606
22,268
3,640
25,908
1,735
-
1,735
29,525
442
29,967
21,900
-
21,900
201,640
1,576
203,216
1,053,828
691,504
1,745,332		 Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
2024
£
£
£
394,715
-
394,715
178,157
-
178,157
572,872
-
572,872
266,878
-
266,878
91,411
-
91,411
13,491
-
13,491
79,312
-
79,312
154,855
-
154,855
-
-
-
605,947
-
605,947
105,677
624
106,301
1,284,496
624
1,285,120
Unrestricted
Funds
Restricted
Funds
Total
2024
£
£
£
2,075,647
1,499
2,077,146
126,651
-
126,651
52,719
407
53,126
170,301
1,933
172,234
124,929
87,557
212,486
271,741
1,604
273,345
2,821,988
93,000
2,914,988
518,433
14,591
533,024
7,495
3,904
11,399
14,918
97
15,015
67,474
726
68,200
55,963
39,222
95,185
90,580
535
91,115
754,863
59,075
813,938
845,600
244,033
1,089,633
21,800
1,989
23,789
1,256
-
1,256
16,678
141
16,819
13,911
9,749
23,660
211,354
1,248
212,602
1,110,599
257,160
1,367,759

8. Charitable activities:

32

EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

For the year ended 31 March 2025

8. Charitable activities (continued):

Family support:
Staff and related costs
Patient consumables – direct
Catering and housekeeping
Property occupation and repairs
Depreciation
Support costs
Outreach and education:
Staff and related costs
Patient care and consumables
Patient care – grant
Support costs		 278,320
18,543
296,863
2,072
500
2,572
3,470
-
3,470
59,051
883
59,934
43,800
-
43,800
69,798
546
70,344
456,511
20,472
476,983
91,446
-
91,446
5,394
1,503
6,897
1,697
-
1,697
7,755
61
7,816
106,292
1,564
107,856		 293,918
753
294,671
1,998
100
2,098
3,174
-
3,174
42,168
357
42,525
35,171
24,650
59,821
67,935
401
68,336
444,364
26,261
470,625
57,489
36,590
94,079
4,397
51
4,448
17,200
2,500
19,700
7,548
45
7,593
86,634
39,186
125,820

Support costs are now apportioned on the basis of headcount used in each activity.

9. Allocation of support costs:

Governance costs
Office support
Accounting and payroll
Information technology
Workforce & volunteers
Marketing
Irrecoverable VAT		 Raising
funds
Inpatient
services
Day care &
outpatients
Hospice
@Home
Family
Support
Outreach/
education
Total
2025
Total
2024
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
7,963
16,424
7,465
12,940
4,479
498
49,769
43,520
11,379
23,470
10,668
18,492
6,401
711
71,121
41,703
20,667
42,626
19,375
33,584
11,625
1,292
129,169
121,453
32,919
67,896
30,862
53,494
18,517
2,057
205,745
226,915
34,601
71,365
32,439
56,227
19,463
2,163
216,258
205,000
13,527
27,898
12,681
21,980
7,609
845
84,540
76,253
4,000
8,249
3,750
6,499
2,250
250
24,998
44,448
125,056
257,928
117,240
203,216
70,344
7,816
781,600
759,292

Governance includes audit £12,250 (2024 £10,000) and insurance costs £37,519 (2024 £33,520).

10. Staff costs and numbers

Staff payroll costs (excluding agency) were:
Salaries
Social security costs
Employers pension – defined contribution
Employers pension – defined benefit		 2025
£
4,826,655
448,018
205,273
240,962
5,720,908		 2024
£
4,351,039
405,848
188,638
199,497
5,145,022

33

EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

10. Staff costs and numbers (continued):

The average monthly number of staffs employed during the year on a full time equivalent and headcount basis was:

Full time equivalent:
Clinical and patient support staff
Support – HR & Volunteer, Finance, Marketing, office and ICT
Income generation staff – retail, lottery and Fundraising
Headcount – all areas:		 2025
No.
94
19
20
133
182		 2024
No.
81
20
19
120
162

The number of staff whose emoluments exceeded £60,000 in the year was:

2025 2024
No. No.
£60,000 - £70,000 3 1
£70,001 - £80,000 - -
£80,001 - £90,000 - -
£90,001 - £100,000 1 2
£100,001 - £110,000 1 -

Pension contributions of £29,569 (2024: £17,721) were made to a defined contribution scheme in respect of these employees. The total amount of salary and benefits paid to key management personnel, as identified on page 2 (Legal and administrative details – Management Team) was £507,663 (2024: £510,240 restated to include Employers NI). None of the Trustees received any remuneration or benefits from an employment with the charity or related entities.

During the year no expenses were paid to or on behalf of Trustees (2024: £nil). Trustees donate their time, talent and skills to the smooth running of the Hospice. As well as their ambassadorial duties, they have supported fundraising events and contributed to the commercial activity of the Hospice as Lottery members and by making donations to the shops. In addition to this, the aggregate unconditional donations from Trustees and parties related to them during the year was £12,493 (2024: £19,645).

The Hospice is grateful for the valuable support of all its volunteers who support the work of paid staff in all areas of the Hospice’s work.

11. Pensions:

The Hospice, without obligation, contributes to 3 pension schemes for current employees:

34

EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

their share of the underlying scheme assets and liabilities. Therefore, the scheme is accounted for as if it were a defined contribution scheme: the cost to the Hospice is taken as the contributions payable to that scheme for the accounting period. In order that the defined benefit obligations recognised in the financial statements do not differ materially from those that would be determined at the reporting date by a formal actuarial valuation, the FReM requires that “the period between formal valuations shall be four years, with approximate assessments in intervening years”. An outline of these follows:

Accounting valuation - A valuation of scheme liability is carried out annually by the scheme actuary (currently the Government Actuary’s Department) as at the end of the reporting period. This utilises an actuarial assessment for the previous accounting period in conjunction with updated membership and financial data for the current reporting period, and is accepted as providing suitably robust figures for financial reporting purposes. The valuation of the scheme liability as at 31 March 2025, is based on valuation data as at 31 March 2023, updated to 31 March 2025 with summary global member and accounting data. In undertaking this actuarial assessment, the methodology prescribed in IAS 19, relevant FReM interpretations, and the discount rate prescribed by HM Treasury have also been used. The latest assessment of the liabilities of the scheme is contained in the report of the scheme actuary, which forms part of the annual NHS Pension Scheme Accounts. These accounts can be viewed on the NHS Pensions website and are published annually. Copies can also be obtained from The Stationery Office.

Full actuarial valuation - The purpose of this valuation is to assess the level of liability in respect of the benefits due under the schemes (taking into account recent demographic experience), and to recommend contribution rates payable by employees and employers. The latest actuarial valuation undertaken for the NHS Pension Scheme was completed as at 31 March 2020. The results of this valuation set the employer contribution rate payable from April 2024 to 23.7% of pensionable pay. The core cost cap cost of the scheme was calculated to be outside of the 3% cost cap corridor as at 31 March 2020. However, when the wider economic situation was taken into account through the economic cost cap cost of the scheme, the cost cap corridor was not similarly breached. As a result, there was no impact on the member benefit structure or contribution rates. The 2024 actuarial valuation is currently being prepared and will be published before new contribution rates are implemented from April 2027.

During the year, the Hospice paid employers contributions of £240,962 (2024: £199,497) on behalf of employees who were existing members of the scheme before joining the Hospice and are therefore able to carry on their membership under the scheme rules. This is based on a rate of 14.3% of pensionable pay, based on HMT Valuation Directions. The pension creditor as at the year-end was £32,369 (2024: £29,187). While the Employer contribution rate has been set at 20.6%, Employers have only been required to make contributions at 14.3% for both years. Had the full rate been in force, the Employer contributions in 2024/25 would have been £346,529 (2024: £286,898), an increase of £105,567 (2024: £87,401).

35

EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

For the year ended 31 March 2025

12. Tangible fixed assets (group and charity):

Cost
At 1 April 2024
Additions
Disposals
At 31 March 2025
Depreciation
At 1 April 2024
Charge for the year
Disposals
At 31 March 2025
Net book values
At 31 March 2025
At 31 March 2024		 Freehold
Land &
Buildings
Leasehold
improv’ts
Plant &
Equipment
Vehicles
Computers
Total
£
£
£
£
£
£
6,963,744
-
664,620
140,984
33,583
7,802,931
841,526
86,835
90,810
-
12,534
1,031,705
-
-
(31,118)
-
-
(31,118)
7,805,270
86,835
724,312
140,984
46,117
8,803,518
2,322,323
-
446,077
46,879
9,353
2,824,632
191,262
8,683
53,650
17,623
14,456
285,674
-
-
(31,118)
-
-
(31,118)
2,513,585
8,683
468,609
64,502
23,809
3,079,188
5,291,685
78,152
255,703
76,482
22,308
5,724,330
4,641,421
-
218,543
94,105
24,230
4,978,299

Land and buildings include £663,000 of non-depreciable land.

13. Investments:

Managed Portfolio
Market value b/f
Additions
Disposals
Net investment gains/(losses)
Market value c/f
Historical cost c/f
The portfolio consisted of:
Charity Authorised Investment Fund units
Unquoted - Hospices Quality Partnership
ECH Trading Ltd - wholly owned subsidiary (see note 14)		 2025
£
6,056,485
34,929
(34,929)
(21,270)
6,035,215
5,937,103
6,035,215
10
6,035,225
2
6,035,227		 2024
£
5,487,526
31,122
(31,122)
568,959
6,056,485
5,937,103
6,056,485
10
6,056,495
2
6,056,497

14. Results of Trading Subsidiary:

ECH Trading Limited (Company number 05688814) is a wholly owned subsidiary of East Cheshire Hospice, operating a retail business selling new goods. The results for the year ended 31 March 2025 are:

Turnover
Cost of sales and administration
Management fee paid to the charity
Operating profit
Amount gift aided to the charity
Retained in subsidiary
Balance Sheet
Current assets
Total net assets		 2025
£
20,619
(9,414)
(6,440)
4,765
(4,765)
-
£
820
820		 2024
£
22,102
(10,531)
(6,340)
5,231
(5,231)
-
£
820
820

36

EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

For the year ended 31 March 2025

15. Stocks
Merchandise stock
Carrying amount of stock sold during the year
6. Debtors:
Amounts falling due within one year:
Trade debtors
VAT recoverable
Gift aid recoverable
Prepayments and accrued income
7. Creditors:
Amounts falling due within one year:
Trade creditors
Amount due to subsidiary company
Other creditors
Taxation & social security
Accruals
Deferred income
Analysis of deferred income:
Deferred income b/f
Income deferred in the year
Income released in the year
Deferred income c/f		 Group
2025
2024
£
£
720
337
6,460
8,241
Group
2025
2024
£
£
58,000
71,236
10,318
107,115
44,437
40,835
478,287
299,912
591,042
519,098
Group
2025
2024
£
£
145,096
234,869
-
-
64,235
56,616
101,369
93,236
146,158
146,981
65,553
87,557
522,411
619,259
87,557
108,091
329,495
319,046
(351,499)
(339,580)
65,553
87,557		 Charity
2025
2024
£
£
-
-
-
-
Charity
2025
2024
£
£
58,000
71,236
10,318
107,115
44,437
40,835
478,287
299,912
591,042
519,098
Charity
2025
2024
£
£
145,096
234,869
98
481
64,235
56,616
101,369
93,236
146,158
146,981
65,553
87,557
522,509
619,740
87,557
108,091
329,495
319,046
(351,499)
(339,580)
65,553
87,557		 Charity
2025
2024
£
£
-
-
-
-
Charity
2025
2024
£
£
58,000
71,236
10,318
107,115
44,437
40,835
478,287
299,912
591,042
519,098
Charity
2025
2024
£
£
145,096
234,869
98
481
64,235
56,616
101,369
93,236
146,158
146,981
65,553
87,557
522,509
619,740
87,557
108,091
329,495
319,046
(351,499)
(339,580)
65,553
87,557
619,740
108,091
319,046
(339,580)
87,557

16. Debtors:

17. Creditors:

Deferred income includes lottery subscription fees and event income received in advance. Lottery income is deferred on receipt and released in the week of the draw. Events income relates to ticket and participator sponsorship monies received in advance of events, which is deferred and released when the event takes place.

18. Contingent assets:

As at 31 March 2025 the Hospice is aware of 23 ongoing legacy cases (6 pecuniary and 17 residuary) where the value is uncertain as estate accounts are still to be finalised – no amounts have been included in income in relation to these legacies .

19. Capital Commitments:

Capital commitments at the end of the financial year for which no provision has been made are as follows:

2025 2024
£ £
Contracted - 79,629

There were no capital commitments at 31 March 2025. The capital commitment at 31 March 2024 represented the unfinished element of the Sunflower Wellbeing Centre refurbishment at that date.

37

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE

20. Operating lease commitments:

At the year end, the group and charity had total commitments under operating leases expiring:

Within 1 year
Between 1 and 5 years
In more than 5 years		 Land &
Buildings
Equipment
Total
2025
Total
2024
£
£
£
£
111,000
6,246
117,246
85,422
390,452
10,403
400,855
136,258
-
-
-
20,167
501,452
16,649
518,101
241,847

Operating lease payments made during the year were £85,382 (2024: £78,657).

21. Share capital and company status:

The company is incorporated under the Companies Act 2006. It is limited by guarantee and, therefore, does not have any issued share capital. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the charity.

22. Funds:

Unrestricted Funds:
General
Revaluation reserve
Designated Funds:
Service development
Repairs & equipment
Building Development
Restricted:
Property Funds:
Hospice Premises
Capital Build Fund
Equipment fund
Hospice garden
Service Funds:
Hospice @Home services
Knutsford Home First
PACE (Single point of access
pilot)
Dementia services
Other services
Other Funds:
Staff Fund
Total Restricted
TOTAL FUNDS		 Balance
2024
Income
Costs
Transfers
Gains/
(losses)
Balance
2025
£
£
£
£
£
£
6,792,299
7,160,417
(6,837,719)
620,401
(21,270)
7,714,128
119,382
-
-
(119,382)
-
-
1,138,238
-
-
(230,439)
-
907,799
348,503
-
(120,132)
(43,961)
-
184,410
1,857,426
-
-
(2,167)
-
1,855,259
10,255,848
7,160,417
(6,957,851)
224,452
(21,270)
10,661,596
4,605,421
-
-
(56,333)
-
4,549,088
-
134,481
-
(134,481)
-
-
19,971
48,223
(3,701)
(25,276)
-
39,217
686
3,636
(2,838)
-
-
1,484
1,016,339
96,442
(380,944)
-
-
731,837
666,382
7,686
(190,011)
-
-
484,057

437,147
171,059
(125,642)
(8,362)
-
474,202
365,209
195,996
(154,546)
-
-
406,659
-
21,795
(21,795)
-
-
-
559
-
(559)
-
-
-
7,111,714
679,318
(880,036)
(224,452)
-
6,686,544
17,367,562
7,839,735
(7,837,887)
-
(21,270)
17,348,140

38

EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

For the year ended 31 March 2025

Funds (2024 comparatives):
Unrestricted Funds:
General
Revaluation reserve
Designated Funds:
Service development
Repairs & equipment
Building Development
Restricted:
Property Funds:
Hospice Premises
Capital Build Fund
Equipment fund
Hospice garden
Service Funds:
Hospice @Home services
Knutsford Home First
Single point of access
service
Dementia services
Other services
Other Funds:
Staff Fund
Total Restricted
TOTAL FUNDS		 Balance
2023
Income
Costs
Transfers
Gains/
(losses)
Balance
2024
£
£
£
£
£
£
6,198,974
6,909,467
(6,441,546)
(443,555)
568,959
6,792,299
-
-
-
119,382
-
119,382
1,349,592
-
-
(211,354)
-
1,138,238
425,328
-
(46,360)
(30,465)
-
348,503
1,781,053
-
(15,038)
91,411
-
1,857,426
9,754,947
6,909,467
(6,502,944)
(474,581)
568,959
10,255,848
3,928,610
-
(161,179)
837,990
-
4,605,421
227,886
115,010
-
(342,896)
-
-
5,153
16,564
(1,746)
-
-
19,971
1,355
500
(1,169)
-
-
686

1,140,064
110,308
(234,033)
-
-
1,016,339
700,000
(13,105)
(20,513)
-
666,382
367,838
74,635
(5,326)
-
-
437,147
203,880
138,327
(6,562)
29,564
-
365,209
76,466
3,282
(50,184)
(29,564)
-
-
1,063
1,498
(2,002)
-
-
559
5,952,315
1,160,124
(475,306)
474,581
-
7,111,714
15,707,262
8,069,591
(6,978,250)
-
568,959 17,367,562

Unrestricted Funds:

General fund – this is the accumulation of free reserves. Revaluation Reserve – represents the amount by which investments have been revalued from their historic cost. This has been released to the General Fund in 2024/25.

Designated fund:

Service development – this represents funds set aside to support the ongoing development and expansion of services with particular emphasis on our ambitious plans in the fields of dementia, PACE (single point of access) as well as further Hospice at Home expansion.

Repairs and equipment – funds have been designated in year to ensure that the fabric of the Millbank Drive building can be maintained to a high standard. Parts of the building is over 35 years old and inevitable repairs to areas such as boilers, windows, roof, plumbing and electrics are starting to be required on a rolling basis.

Building Development – in 2018 plans were drawn up to modernise the Millbank Drive site, making it fit for services required by our patients and their families now and in the future. The plans are phased so that they could be done as and when funding is available. The refurbishment of the Sunflower Living Well Centre was finished in 2023/24. The redevelopment of our original kitchen and staff areas was delayed in 2024-25 and will now be carried out in 2025-26.

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EAST CHESHIRE HOSPICE

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

Restricted Funds:

Property Funds - Hospice Premises - this fund represents the net book value of the Hospice's premises at Millbank Drive and includes £300,000 for the land originally donated by the Health Authority. It does not include costs relating to separate properties in Macclesfield and Knutsford. Should the Hospice's activities cease, and the Millbank Drive premises be sold, all the proceeds would be payable to The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. This obligation is secured by a legal charge over the Hospice's premises at Millbank Drive. The value of the land and buildings is therefore considered to be restricted. The transfers result from movements in the property value arising from capital expenditure and depreciation.

Capital Build Fund – represents a grant from Hospice UK and funded by the Department for Health and Social Care which funded capital refurbishment programmes in our Inpatient Unit and chapel.

Property funds - Equipment Fund and Hospice Garden funds represents funds received for the purchase of equipment for all areas of the Hospice, and for the maintenance of the gardens.

Service funds:

The Hospice @Home service is supported by a well-received angel donor campaign. This work has led into the development of Knutsford Home First, a joint project with the NHS to provide at home services in the Knutsford Care Community, paid for by a generous donation from Mr Michael and Jennifer Oliver. Angel donor campaigns have continued in year for both our Single Point of Access and community dementia projects, both of which became operational in 2024/25. Other service funds represent monies received for the provision of specific Hospice services as requested by donors.

Dementia and PACE (Single Point of Access) are the most recent angel donor campaigns. The Dementia campaign is funding the expansion of dementia care into the 5 care communities in East Cheshire, taking the service out to patients and their carers. PACE (single point of access) is currently piloting a new way of working to bring all palliative healthcare services including those not provided directly by the Hospice, under one access point to support patients and their carers to get the help they need from the right service at the right time.

The Staff Fund - this represents donations given specifically for the benefit of staff and for staff training. The People and Development Manager is responsible for deciding benefits to be provided.

Transfers between funds:

These reflect the fulfilment of restrictions through the purchase of fixed assets with restricted donations, and deprecation of those restricted assets.

23. Analysis of net assets between funds:

Tangible Fixed Assets
Investments
Net current Assets
Group Analysis:
Investments
Net current assets
Charity Analysis:		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
2025
£
£
£
1,175,242
4,549,088
5,724,330
6,035,225
-
6,035,225
3,451,129
2,137,456
5,588,585
10,661,596
6,686,544
17,348,140
2
-
2
(818)
-
(818)
10,660,778
6,686,544
17,347,322		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Funds
Funds
2024
£
£
£
372,878
4,605,421
4,978,299
6,056,495
-
6,056,495
3,826,475
2,506,293
6,332,768
10,255,848
7,111,714
17,367,562
2
-
2
(818)
-
(818)
10,255,030
7,111,714
17,366,744

24. Related parties:

There are no related party transactions that require disclosure other than those relating to Directors’ donations (note 10) the trading company (note 14).

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