# **Annual Report 2023/24**
Charity no. 801171 Company no. 02328627
**Action for Stammering Children is the UK charity for children and young people who stammer, their families, and the communities who support them.**
**We’re here to make sure that every child who stammers has the support, respect and confidence to live the life they want to lead.**
**We support and empower parents, caregivers and professionals; facilitate and champion research; and campaign for changes in policy and societal attitudes.**
## **Contents**
**2 THE YEAR IN REVIEW**
## **40 FINANCIAL REVIEW**
- **4 Message from the Chair**
- **6 The Year in Numbers**
**42 Breakdown of Charitable Income 44 Breakdown of Charitable Expenditure**
- **8 A Strategic Approach to Charity Activity**
**46 Trustee’s Report**
**10 OUR IMPACT**
- **12 Introduction**
**14 Information, Community & Support**
- **22 Championing Research**
- **26 Changing Policies & Attitudes**
**52**
- **50 Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Action for Stammering Children**
## **FINANCIAL STATEMENTS**
- **54 Statement of Financial Activities**
- **55 Balance Sheet**
**56 Statement of Cash Flows**
**32 LOOKING AHEAD TO 2024-25**
- **58 Notes to the Financial Statements**
- **74 The Charity, Trustees and Advisers**
**38 Priorities for 2024-25**
The Year
in Review
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## **Message from the Chair**
I am pleased to report that 2023/24 was a year of consolidation and strengthening of Action for Stammering Children’s organisation so that we were in a position to accelerate progress on our ambitious plans.
We launched our new national strategy with its three strands: providing information, community and support; championing research; and changing policies and attitudes. A great deal of thought had gone into this strategy as a result which ASC made substantial progress in the year.
We exist in order to achieve our charitable objectives and with key projects in each of the three strands of the strategy, we did indeed go a considerable way towards those objectives. The Stammering Support Hub, laying the foundations for our ambitious Schools’ Project, the Service Mapping Report, and the Research Priority Setting project with the James Lind Alliance are just some of the highlights of the year. There is plenty more, as you’ll see in this report!
All of this activity was underpinned by a new visual identity and narrative, launched in October around International Stammering Awareness Day. October is always full of activity around this special day, but it was crowned in 2023 by Colin Firth, our Vice-President, presenting the BBC Lifeline Appeal on our behalf and the immense response to the appeal.
I am continually astonished by how much ASC, a small charity, does and the impact that it has. We have a long way still to go in order for childhood stammering to be recognised, understood and effectively supported but we are certainly on the right path. A great tribute to our tiny team led by Dr Ria Bernard. My thanks to them, to my fellow trustees, and to all of those who fund and support us. It would simply not be possible without you.
**Dame Jane Roberts** Chair of Board of Trustees
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## **The Year in Numbers**
**completion of the first Priority Setting Partnership in Childhood Stammering contributors to the Top 10 Research Two Priorities in Childhood 3,000 Stammering research publications in map of local stammering international services for children in journals England 3,000 1 doctoral thesis visitors to the Stammering published Support Hub children and young people accessed direct support 64**
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## **A Strategic Approach to Charity Activity**
**The three key areas align with our six strategic goals:**
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1
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**To increase access to effective therapy services for children and young people across the UK who stammer.**
**To achieve its mission, the Charity undertakes activities and projects across the following three key areas:**
~~**2**~~
**To empower children and young people who stammer by giving them a voice within our organisation and in society.**
~~**3**~~
**Information, community & support** ~~**4**~~ **Championing research 5**
~~**4**~~
**To assist the parents of children and young people who stammer, so that they are better able to support their child.**
**To improve the ability of speech and language therapists to provide effective services to children and young people who stammer.**
**To promote research into the most effective treatment of stammering in children and young people.**
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Changing policies
& attitudes
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~~**6**~~
**To promote awareness of stammering and the impact it has on children and young people’s lives, and to change public perceptions.**
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Our
impact
## **Introduction**
It has been a busy year at Action for Stammering Children as we unveiled our rebrand and laid the foundations for our new national strategy, which will help us to reach more of the 8% of children who stammer, and their families, living across the UK.
Schools’ Project. At the same time, we have continued to deliver for children and families through long-standing and new partnerships; offering access to therapy courses and support that would otherwise be unavailable through public funding.
There’s plenty more to do but we are pleased to be in a position to expand on our offer for families in 2024/25 thanks to the continued support, collaboration and generosity of our funders, partners and families.
After ten months of working with beneficiaries and stakeholders, we were delighted to launch our national strategy and new visual identify in October to coincide with International Stammering Awareness Day and the release of our BBC Lifeline Appeal. Behind the scenes, the staff team have been busy putting in place the infrastructure to deliver on our ambitious plans as the national charity for children and young people who stammer, their families, and the communities who support them. This has meant that much of the team’s time has been spent on preparing for the launch of two exciting nationwide initiatives that are at the core of ASC’s new strategy: the Stammering Support Hub and the
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## **Key Area 1**
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Project
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## **Schools Project**
The second project underpinning our nationwide strategy is an ambitious schools’ project that aims to equip education professionals with the knowledge and resources to better support pupils who stammer in the classroom.
_We provide resources, advice and guidance for children and young people who stammer, their families, and the professionals who support them._
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Project
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## **Stammering Support Hub**
**We have developed the content for an exciting new resource for schools**
This year, we have been focusing on the scoping phase of this project and have been busy working with stakeholders to determine the most beneficial content for this initiative. Over the summer, we held a series of focus groups with young people, parents and teachers to find out how schools could better support pupils who stammer. Through this piece of work, we have developed the content for an exciting new resource for schools. We will be rolling out the project in 2024/5 and look forward to reporting back to supporters in our next annual review.
In the Autumn 2023, we launched our new Stammering Support Hub, one of the two key projects that underpin our nationwide strategy. While much of this year has been focused on getting the infrastructure in place, we were delighted to launch the Support Hub in October.
Over the summer, we offered two internships to undergraduate students who spearheaded a project to develop a database of speech and language therapy services available to families living in different regions of England. More about this in the next section. We have generated over 40 knowledge articles to answer some of the most frequently asked questions from parents/carers, health and education professionals and schools. Since launching in October, we have already had 3,000 visitors to the Support Hub. Our new Support Hub Advisor will be joining us in April 2024 to handle enquiries in real time from our beneficiaries.
**Key Outcomes**
Stammering Support Hub launched Over 3,000 visitors to the Hub since it’s launch in October
ASC Stammering Support Hub
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Project
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## **Talking Out**
We continue to partner with non-profit speech and language therapy practice, Talking Out Ltd, to fund access to specialist courses for teenagers who stammer living anywhere in the UK. This year, we funded three courses:
## **“It helped** courses for teenagers who stammer living anywhere in the UK. **me not worry** This year, we funded three courses: **about the way** A one-week online course for teenagers in May-June 2023 **I speak but pay** Two one-week residential courses for teenagers in July – **attention to the** August and October – November 2023. **message that I** Both online and residential courses aim to promote the **am delivering”** following skills amongst participants:
- A one-week online course for teenagers in May-June 2023
- Two one-week residential courses for teenagers in July – August and October – November 2023.
- Confidence in communicating.
- A more positive attitude to speaking.
## **What has**
**changed? “I don’t think I’m as sensitive to stammering and I don’t feel alone with my stammer anymore.”**
Funding permitting, we are intending to develop bursaries for those families who may struggle with the associated costs of attending the course, such as travel and luggage costs. This should encourage more families living outside of Yorkshire and the North East to refer to the course.
- Decreased sensitivity to stammering.
- Problem solving and self-help skills.
- Positive thinking skills.
- A peer support network.
The week-long residential courses integrate dedicated therapy sessions with outdoor activities that encourage the young people to challenge themselves.
In addition to the direct work with teenagers, the course offers support to parents/carers who attend online evening sessions throughout the week to promote carry-over of skills and help young people to maintain what they have learnt when they return home.
The Talking Out stammering courses also provide an opportunity **What has** for student speech and language therapists to gain experience **changed? “My** in working with young people who stammer, which not only **overall mindset.** contributes to their professional development but encourages **I went from** them to consider specialising in this clinical area once qualified. **being anxious** In line with our commitment to achieving national reach as a charity, we were pleased to see that teenagers living across **to being** England were able to participate in the course. Of those **confident in** participants who provided this information, half lived outside of **groups”** the Yorkshire and Humber region where the residential course takes place.
## **Beneficiaries attended the course from all over England**
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North East Yorkshire
17% 47%
“It helped me
to build my
confidence to
push myself North West14%
beyond my East Midlands East of England 3%
3%
limits to do South East
West Midlands
8%
what I wouldn’t 6%
normally do”
’
South West
3%
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- 41 teenagers aged between 11 and 16 accessed specialist support
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Key
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## **Outcomes**
- 41 parents/carers accessed expert support and guidance from specialist speech and language therapists
- 8 student speech and language therapists gained experience in working with children who stammer
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**Project**
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## **ASC Mentoring Scheme**
The ASC Mentoring Scheme ran from February to September 2023 in partnership with Iain Wilkie and Sam Simpson. A total of six mentee-mentor pairs were enrolled on the scheme. Although this was a smaller number than the year before, we were pleased to receive positive feedback from both mentees and mentors again this year.
Having taken on board feedback from this second cohort of mentees and mentors, we plan to run the programme again next year to offer young people entering that tricky transition into early adulthood the chance to receive 1-to-1 career mentoring from a professional with lived experience of stammering.
**We now offer a bursary scheme to a larger number of families living across London**
## **City University intensive course**
We have worked with the speech and language therapy team at City University for a number of years, providing financial assistance to those families who are unable to meet the costs of the week-long summer intensive course. Thanks to our supporters, we now offer a bursary scheme to a larger number of families living across London. The bursary scheme covers the cost of transport for the young person and their parent as well as the small course fee and subsistence.
Unfortunately, the course scheduled for July 2023 had to be cancelled due to a series of national rail strikes. We will continue to offer the bursary scheme next year and are in discussion with our partners about funding a higher number of bursaries.
**“I found my mentoring experience to be really beneficial and amazing. It allowed me a rare space in my life where I had someone who really properly understood the challenges and I was able to discuss pretty much anything with.”**
Six young people benefited from one-to-one career **Key** mentoring **Outcomes** Six professionals with lived experience of stammering developed skills and experience in mentoring a young person
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**Project**
## **Michael Palin Centre**
Although we now work with a diverse range of partners to fulfil our mission, we maintain the historic association with our longest-standing partners based at the Michael Palin Centre for Stammering. The speech and language therapy service provided by Whittington Health NHS Trust runs out of the Pine Street Building, which is owned by the charity. We are proud to be in a position to support the incredible work undertaken by the clinical team through this arrangement and by funding clinical activity not otherwise funded by the NHS.
This year, we have provided funding for 17 children and young people to access expert clinical services at the Michael Palin Centre for stammering children. Nine of these children received a specialist assessment and eight children benefited from therapy programmes delivered by the highly specialist speech and language therapists at the Centre. Due to the nature of the service provided at the Michael Palin Centre, our funding facilitates access to highly specialised therapy programmes. We are delighted that our funding has enabled children and young people to access the following therapy programmes:
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**The first time that many of our supporters heard directly from the young people we support**
## **Desert Challenge Appeal launch**
On 10th July, at the October Gallery in Central London, we launched our Desert Challenge Appeal. The appeal aimed to raise funds for future Talking Out courses through our partnership with the Nefud Expedition Team who plan to cross the harshest part of the Arabian Peninsula in Electric Vehicles. By partnering with us, they hope to attract sponsorship that can be used to support our projects and raise awareness about stammering.
The event was attended by over 60 guests who heard from four beneficiaries of previous Talking Out courses as well as the Nefud Expedition Team. It was the first time that many of our supporters heard directly from the young people we support and we are grateful to all those who spoke, attended and supported the Appeal. We will be sharing more updates about the Appeal next year.
Two preschoolers accessed 20 sessions of Palin ParentChild Interaction Therapy
Three school-aged children accessed 30-sessions of Palin Stammering Therapy for School Children
Two school-aged children accessed a one week intensive course with a one-year follow-up
One teenager accessed the two-week intensive course involving a one-year follow-up
**Key Outcomes**
17 children and young people, and their parents/carers, accessed specialist assessments or therapy at the Michael Palin Centre
Launch of the Desert Challenge Appeal at the October Gallery in London
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## **Key Area 2**
## **Championing Research**
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## **JLA Research Priorities**
We are proud to have led the very first Priority Setting Partnership into Developmental Childhood Stammering in partnership with the prestigious James Lind Alliance (JLA). Working with representatives from across the stammering community, this project aims to identify the most important questions to be addressed by future research as selected by those with lived experience of stammering.
In November, we held a one-day workshop at Coram with 22 participants, including children and young people who stammer, parents and caregivers and professionals. Through a series of small group workshops facilitated by JLA advisers, participants identified the Top Ten Priorities from a short-list of 25. The Top Ten will be released next year with the intention of influencing the research priorities of academics, institutions and funders moving forward.
## **Doctoral Research Programme**
The Doctoral Research Programme that we have co-funded with the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) at University College London (UCL) was completed in September 2023. Over the course of the studentship, PhD researcher, Ria Bernard, undertook three projects to investigate risk for anxiety and depression in children who do and do not stammer.
JLA Research Priorities Workshop
In addition to her doctoral thesis, this research has been published in two highly reputed international journals in the field.
Bernard, R., Hofslundsengen, H, & Norbury, C. F., (2022). Anxiety and Depression Symptoms in Children and Adolescents Who Stutter: A Systematic Review and MetaAnalysis. _Journal of Speech, Language & Hearing Research_ , 65(2), p624-644.
Bernard, R. F. L., & Norbury, C. F., (2023). Factors associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression in children who stutter. _Language, Speech & Hearing Services in Schools_ , 54(2), p535-549.
Bernard, R. F. L., (2023). Investigating risk for elevated anxiety and depression symptoms in children who stutter relative to non-stuttering peers. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).
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**Project**
**This project aimed to gather information about the local NHS speech and language therapy services available for children across England**
## **Service Mapping Project**
The ASC Team welcomed two interns over the summer to support our research and policy projects. Their primary responsibility was to complete the service mapping project, which aimed to gather information about the local NHS speech and language therapy services available for children who stammer living across England. The objectives of this project were two-fold; firstly we aimed to generate a database of local services that would inform the Stammering Support Hub; and secondly we wanted to better understand barriers and facilitators to families accessing local services.
Over the course of the three months they were with us, Charis and Maria executed a comprehensive research proposal that gathered information from NHS service providers (speech & language therapists) and users (parents/carers, young people). This project was delivered in collaboration with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) and the King’s Fund. The report will be made available next year.
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## **Impact**
## **Travers Reid Award**
For many years, we have sponsored the Travers Reid Award in honour of our late President, Travers. The award recognises the contribution of research to the lives of children and young people who stammer and comprises a £300 prize for the winning entry. Usually, this would be awarded at the Oxford Dysfluency Conference, however this was not possible due to postponement of the conference this year.
Instead, we held a special online session permitting candidates to present their research to the Travers Reid sub-committee. We received nine nominations from early career researchers based in seven countries worldwide. We felt particularly fortunate that such an esteemed panel of academics agreed to sit on the sub-committee. including Professor Kari-Anne Bottegård Næss from the University of Oslo, Professor Peter Howell from UCL, and Dr Charlie Wiltshire from Bangor University.
The 2023 winner of the Travers Reid Award was Sarah Horton of the University of Melbourne for her research into executive function, stuttering severity and subjective impact on people who stutter.
One Doctoral Thesis published
Two publications accepted by international journals
Map of speech and language therapy services available to families living in England Completion of the Priority Setting Partnership into Developmental Stammering
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**Project**
## **Key Area 3**
## **Changing Policies & Attitudes**
## **Youth Panel**
The ASC Youth Panel comprises a group of 15 – 25 year olds who inform the charity’s strategy and work with the staff team to advocate for greater awareness of stammering in the UK. This year, the Youth Panel established a new committee structure with dedicated roles to help fulfil their mission of raising awareness about the impact of stammering and challenging common misconceptions.
Throughout the year, members of the Youth Panel have continued to feed into our projects and have been instrumental in development of our new initiatives, such as the Schools’ Project and Support Hub.
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## **About my Stammer Poster Campaign**
This year, we teamed up with speech and language therapists at South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust to create a series of school posters. The posters were designed by children who stammer and made freely available for schools to download with the aim of raising awareness about stammering in the classroom.
## **What have the Youth Panel been up to this year?**
- ASC Ambassador and founder of _Stammer Stories_ Podcast, William Laven invited youth panel members, Georgie, Thomas and Sam, to talk all things stammering on his podcast.
- In November, Thomas and Mike shared their experiences of stammering at a special UCL Giving Voice Society workshop for student speech and language therapists.
- Thomas was invited to the Buckingham Palace Garden Party to receive his Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. As part of this award, Thomas volunteered with Action for Stammering Children, helping the staff team further the charity’s objectives.
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- Thomas was amongst 100 winners globally of the Rise Challenge for his idea of creating a targeted app to provide speech and language therapy for young people living across the world with limited access to support.
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- Phoebe continues to advocate and spread awareness about stammering through her social media activity.
Phoebe and Thomas on the BBC Breakfast Sofa with Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt
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## **International Stammering Awareness Day 2023**
October is always a busy time of year for Action for Stammering Children and this year was no different! A key date in the calendar for the whole stammering community, we were thrilled to play our part in shining a light on childhood stammering.
This year, the main event was our BBC Lifeline Appeal, which broadcast on BBC1 on 15th October. Presented by AcademyAward winning actor and ASC Vice-President, Colin Firth, our Lifeline Appeal featured three of the young people we have supported through our projects. We were overwhelmed by the response to the Appeal and the local and national media engagement surrounding the broadcast. Two of the young people featured in the Appeal appeared on the BBC Breakfast sofa alongside Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt. Phoebe, a student at the University of Leicester appeared in Leicestershire Live, while Thomas’ story was shared in local paper, Your Harrogate.
## **Advocacy**
In addition to the direct work we do with families, we also raise awareness about the impact of stammering on children and young people. One of the ways we do this is by making sure stammering is part of the conversation.
This year, we had a number of opportunities to shine the spotlight on stammering – changing attitudes and challenging misconceptions by talking about the impact stammering can have on a child’s development.
- In May, our Chief Executive chatted with co-producer of _A Blind Date with Knowledge_ podcast, Steven Liggett, about the status of stammering research.
- To mark Mental Health Awareness Week, CEO, Ria Bernard, spoke at the City of London Corporation event about the association between childhood stammering and risk for adverse mental health.
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- In November, Youth Panel members, Thomas and Mike, shared their experiences of stammering at a special UCL Giving Voice Society workshop for student speech and language therapists.
- Two beneficiaries from this year’s mentoring scheme joined the South East and London Clinical Excellence Network to share their experiences of the ASC mentoring scheme as part of their Study Day focusing on transitions.
## **Awards & recognition**
Our Award Winning film, _Me & My Stammer_ , was nominated for a Third Sector Award. Although we didn’t win, we were thrilled to be shortlisted!
ASC Stambassador, Megan Tomkies, won an RCSLT Giving Voice Award in recognition of her brilliant initiative of creating M&S name badges for employees with speech difficulties.
Colin Firth presented our BBC Lifeline Appeal in October
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## **A few highlights from 2023/24**
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Looking
Ahead to
2024-25
Iiiiu
This year, we have been busy working behind the scenes to get new projects off the ground ready for launch in 2024/25. The two major initiatives we will be focusing on in the coming year are the **Stammering Support Hub** and our **Schools’ Project** , which underscore our strategy to reach a greater number of families living across the four corners of the UK.
We intend to maintain and extend our existing partnerships to expand our offer to families. We are committed to reaching those families and communities who can often go unsupported, and we will be working with organisations in the stammering community and beyond to meet the needs of every family of a child who stammers.
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## **Case Study**
## **Elliot (mentee)**
My name is Elliot and I have a stammer. I don’t remember exactly when I realised it, but I do remember that as I became more conscious of my stammer, I withdrew from most social interactions and kept to myself more. My words became fewer. Instead, I focused on what I could do, draft short stories with characters who always felt out of place.
When I made a conscientious effort to understand my stammer, my journey to self-acceptance began. More so because at this point, I was in the university and had become tired of never expressing myself out of fear of the reactions of others.
I joined the Ghana Stammering Association, took part in online meetings and felt this barrier I had built slowly start to disintegrate. I moved out of my comfort zone and was able to speak without fear of reactions and talk about my stammer with my close friends and family. However, right after my undergraduate studies, I moved to the U.K for my PhD and here, it felt like all the progress I had made had vanished. My research required that I give weekly presentations, take part in networking events and the culture shock had an effect on me as well.
Looking back now, I am grateful for
these challenges because it was through my need to overcome them that I discovered the Action for Stammering Children (ASC) Mentoring Scheme. I was a bit hesitant when the scheme started and thought it would just be a generic meeting where we were told every week what to do and what not to do. However, when I was paired with Steven, a fellow individual with a stammer and with far more experience than I, we hit it right off. Steven became not just a mentor but a friend I could go to anytime and he would always listen to me. Through the Scheme, Steven and I planned our 6-month sessions and once every fortnight we met over zoom to discuss many topics including dealing with stammering in the workplace and social life, how stammering is
portrayed in the media, stammering pride movement and the future of stammering. It was even through our meetings that I got to know about the Stammering Flag! My mental health improved, and I found myself gradually be accepting of my new environment.
Each fortnight, I looked forward to our chat and even though the scheme has ended, we still have our catchups. I am now able to speak freely about my stammering with new friends here and have added the STAMMA logo to my email signatures. I entered this scheme looking for a way to just overcome a challenge, however, now I understand myself so much more and look for any opportunity to spread stammering awareness.
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## **Priorities for 2024-25**
## **Championing Research**
A priority next year will be establishing relationships with research and policy stakeholders to encourage more robust research into childhood stammering and influence policymakers. We plan to do this by:
Launching the Top Ten Research Priorities as identified by the stammering community through our James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership.
- Collaborating with at least one academic or institution on a research project.
## **Information, Community & Support**
We will continue to fund access to expert therapy and support that would otherwise be unavailable via the NHS. Over the next year we intend to:
- Fund three one-week stammering courses delivered by our partners at Talking Out Ltd for 60 teenagers who stammer living in the UK;
- Provide 6-month mentorships to at least eight young people who stammer in collaboration with our partner, Sam Simpson;
- Fund specialist assessments and therapy programmes for 14 London families through our partnership with the Michael Palin Centre.
- Provide bursaries for up to 8 children who stammer and their families to access stammering courses run by City University.
Launching a new process for promoting ongoing research studies within the ASC community and communicating the findings of recent research studies.
## **Changing Policies & Attitudes**
Release our report into the barriers and facilitators to accessing local speech and language therapy services.
- Work with our Youth Panel to recruit more young people to the panel and drive forward campaigns.
Contribute evidence and/or recommendations to at least one policy process.
- Establish a dedicated fund for children of service personnel to access our tangible therapy projects.
Appoint a dedicated Support Hub Advisor to handle enquiries from beneficiaries and manage the Stammering Support Hub.
Launch the Schools’ Project resource.
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Financial
Review
## **Breakdown of Charitable Income**
## **Sources of income 2023/24**
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Trusts & Foundations Individual
35.3% 55.6%
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Generating Funds Investment
2% 5.1%
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## **Income**
Section 162a of the Charities Act 2011 requires charities to make a statement regarding fundraising activities.
The year to 31 March 2024 has continued to be challenging and total income for the year to 31 March 2024 amounted to £208,248, down from £388,275 in the year ended March 2023. This was due largely to the charity focusing on spending restricted and designated funding received in prior years to get new projects and initiatives off the ground.
The Charity has complied with the relevant codes of practice. We have received no complaints in relation to fundraising activities. (2023: none)
## **Reserves**
Total general funds of £662,729 consists of £250,000 designated funds and unrestricted free reserves of £412,729. Designated funds of £250,000 have been earmarked for expenditure on key strategic projects in 2024/25 to enable the charity to evidence the impact for beneficiaries, whilst the charity actively seeks longer term funding.
Unrestricted free reserves of £412,729 represents approximately 11 months of budgeted expenditure, in line with current policy.
## **Reserves policy & going concern**
The Trustees have considered the desired level of unrestricted funds, not designated for specific purposes or otherwise committed (free reserves). Given the nature of the Charity’s work, we have determined that the level of free reserves should be equivalent to nine to twelve months of budgeted expenditure. In our judgement, this provides sufficient flexibility to cover any temporary shortfalls in incoming resources and ensures that the Charity is able to continue its work, and also able to respond immediately to a reasonable range of unforeseen adverse circumstances, before remedial plans can be implemented. This policy will be kept under constant review.
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Trading Income Corporate
0.8% 1.2%
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## **Breakdown of Charitable Expenditure**
## **Project expenditure 2023/24**
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Talking Out Elevator Pitch Assessments & Clinical
22% 17% 16%
Cost of Raising Funds Support Hub Mentoring
16% 7% 5%
JLA PSP
11%
School Project Youth Panel
3% 2%
Other
1%
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## **Expenditure**
Following the unveiling of the charity’s new nationwide strategy, Trustees made the decision to invest in the implementation of this ambitious new strategy by designating funding to core projects underpinning it.
Expenditure of £311,935 in the year ended 31 March 2024 was marginally up from £305,583 in the year ended 31 March 2023. The total expenditure of £311,935 comprised the cost of raising funds (£49,401) and expenditure on charitable activity (£262,534). Expenditure on our long-term partnership with the Whittington Health NHS Trust was higher than last year as this reflects accrued funding related to previous activity.
Expenditure continued to be closely monitored, with much of the reported expenditure coming from restricted or designated funds. Key expenditure that reflects implementation of the charity’s UK-wide strategy include:
Expenditure on Project Elevator Pitch was necessary to permit redevelopment of the charity’s visual identity, reflecting the ambitious national strategy agreed by the Board of Trustees.
Expenditure on the James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership (PSP) enabled this project to reach it’s conclusion and identify the very first Top 10 priorities in future stammering research informed by those with lived experience.
The Stammering Support Hub is one of two flagship projects underpinning this new strategy, which will enable us to provide support and signposting to hundreds of families, young people, professionals and schools nationwide.
Talking Out and the ASC Mentoring Scheme are two projects delivered in collaboration with existing partners, which are core to our tangible offer to families.
## **Investment powers and policy**
The Board of Trustees’ policy is to invest in low risk, liquid investments. Accordingly, Action for Stammering Children invests its funds in cash deposits.
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## **Trustee’s Report**
## **Financial review**
## **Reserves policy**
The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity’s Article of Association, the Companies Act 2006 and “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)”.
## **Objectives and activities**
## **Public benefit**
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
## **Achievements and performance**
Significant activities and achievements during 2023/24 include:
- Launching the UK Stammering Support Hub to empower families with the information and knowledge to choose the most appropriate support for their child.
- Scoping out of the second UK-wide initiative aimed at raising awareness of stammering amongst educators working with pupils.
- Completing the first Priority Setting Partnership into Developmental Childhood Stammering to inform the future research agenda.
- A comprehensive investigation into the availability of NHS speech and language therapy services for children who stammer in England.
It is the policy of the charity that unrestricted funds which have not been designated for a specific use should be maintained at a level between nine to twelve months of budgeted expenditure (£347k to £462k). Actual unrestricted free reserves of £412,729 at 31 March 2024 represented approximately 11 months of budgeted expenditure. The trustees consider that reserves at this level will ensure that, in the event of a significant drop in funding, they will be able to continue the charity’s current activities while consideration is given to ways in which additional funds may be raised. This level of reserves has been maintained throughout the year.
## **Structure, governance and management**
## **Constitution**
The Charity is registered as a charitable company limited by guarantee and was set up by a Memorandum of Association on 15 December 1988, which was last revised in September 2014, and as a charity on 21 March 1989. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association, which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association.
The members of the charitable company include the Trustees. Members of the charitable company guarantee to contribute an amount not exceeding £1 to the assets of the charitable company in the event of winding up.
## **Recruitment and appointment of trustees**
The management of the Charity is the responsibility of the Trustees who are elected and co-opted under the terms of the Articles of Association.
The Board of Trustees seeks to ensure that the interests of children who stammer are appropriately represented in the Trustee body. Prospective board members are appointed by the board either after an external recruitment or, less often, having been nominated by a board member. The Trustees also aim to maintain a broad mix of backgrounds and business skills on the Board.
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The Board of Trustees is committed to being a diverse and inclusive body. The skills and experience of Trustees are reviewed regularly, which also informs recruitment of new Trustees. New Trustees take part in a full induction programme covering all aspects of the work of the Charity, its governance and finances.
The Trustees are directors for the purpose of company law and trustees for the purpose of charity law. The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
**•** Dame J E Roberts **•** Zain Ghani **•** Archna Rahulan **•** Natalie Carver **•** Anya Paul **•** David Broom **• •** Richard Murray Joseph Allen **• •** Stephen Mcateer Felicity Baker
- Juliet Leach
None of the trustees has any beneficial interest in the company. All of the trustees are members of the company and guarantee to contribute £1 in the event of a winding up.
The company’s current policy concerning the payment of trade creditors is to follow the CBI’s Prompt Payers Code (copies are available from the CBI, Centre Point, 103 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1DU).
## **Relationship with Related Parties and cooperation with other organisations**
The work of Action for Stammering Children is centred around three key action areas: (I) information, community and support; (ii) championing research; (iii) influencing societal attitudes and public policy. Direct work with beneficiaries is largely delivered through our partnership projects to ensure that children receive expert support that would not be available through the NHS, for example, specialist stammering courses. This year, we have collaborated with a number of project partners to deliver effective support to our beneficiaries, including Talking Out Ltd., the Michael Palin Centre, City University, 50 Million Voices, and Redefining Stammering.
In addition, Action for Stammering Children has worked with the Hear in Hull team, the James Lind Alliance, South Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, UCL Giving Voice Society, and the Stammer Stories Podcast to meet its strategic objectives around advocacy and promoting research.
The Charity has a strict conflict of interest policy and declarations are made at the start of every trustee meeting.
## **Pay Policy for Senior Staff**
All Trustees give their time freely and no Trustee received remuneration in the year. The Board has overall responsibility for the pay policy and the salaries of staff. The Chair, Treasurer and Company Secretary oversees the administration of the pay policy, evaluates employee performance and decides on any changes to pay.
## **Organisational Structure**
The Charity’s Board of Trustees meets in person or online, at least five times per annum. At the end of March 2024, the Board comprises 13 members from a variety of professional backgrounds, many of whom have experience of stammering, either personally or through a family member. Trustees retire by rotation after three years, but are eligible for re-election for up to three terms of office. The Chief Executive of the Charity implements the strategy set by the Trustees and has a prime responsibility for fundraising.
Our general principles are to pay our employees a fair salary that is competitive within the charity sector, proportionate to the complexity of the role, and responsible in line with our charitable objectives.
The trustees’ report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
**Dame Jane Roberts** Chair of Board of Trustees
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## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Action for Stammering Children**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Action for Stammering Children (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2024.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the trustees of the charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (the 2006 Act).
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
3. the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
4. the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
## **Katherine Wilkes FCA DChA**
Digitally signed by Katherine Wilkes Date: 2024.12.18 16:15:03 Z
Katherine Wilkes
**Critchleys Audit LLP First Floor, Park Central 40-41 Park End Street Oxford OX1 1JD**
**18/12/24** Dated:
## **Independent examiner’s statement**
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
1. accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
2. the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
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## **Divider Financial Headline in Statements Title Case Divider blurb. Around 20 words. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent pellentesque cursus feugiat.**
Photo caption. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Praesent pellentesque cursus feugiat. © Photographer Name/Source.
## **Statement of Financial Activities**
(including income and expenditure account) For the year ended 31 March 2024
|For the year ended 31 March 2024||
|---|---|
||**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**2024**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**2024**
**Total**
**2024**
**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**2023**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**2023**
**Total**
**2023**|
||**General Designated**
**General**
**General Designated**|
|Note
**Income from:**
_Donations and legacies_
3
_Charitable activities_
4
_Investments_
5
**Total Income**
**Expenditure on:**
Raising funds
6
Charitable activities
7
**Total expenditure**
**Net income/(expenditure)**
**Transfer between funds**
**Net movement in funds**
10
**Reconciliation of funds**
_Fund balances at April 1 2023_
**Fund balances at 31 March 2024**|£
£
£
£
£
£
£
£
133,960
-
60,922
194,882
285,183
-
97,980
383,163
2,759
-
-
2,759
1,689
-
-
1,689
10,606
-
-
10,606
3,423
-
-
3,423|
||147,325
-
60,922
208,247
290,295
-
97,980
388,275|
||49,401
-
-
49,401
71,435
-
-
71,435
92,605
65,527
104,402
262,534
125,239
-
108,909
234,148|
||142,006
65,527
104,402
311,935
196,674
-
108,909
305,583|
||5,319
(65,527)
(43,480)
(103,688)
93,621
-
(10,929)
82,692
(15,527)
15,527
-
-
(150,200)
150,000
200
-|
||(10,208)
(50,000)
(43,480)
(103,688)
(56,579)
150,000
(10,729)
82,692
422,937
300,000
736,604
1,459,541
479,516
150,000
747,333
1,376,849|
||412,729
250,000
693,124 1,355,853
422,937
300,000
736,604
1,459,541|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
## **Balance Sheet**
As at 31 March 2024
||**2024**
**2023**|
|---|---|
|Note
**Fixed assets:**
_Tangible assets_
14
**Current assets:**
_Debtors_
15
_Cash at bank and in hand_
**Creditors: amounts falling due within**
**one year**
16
**Net current assets**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Net assets excluding pension liability**
**Funds**
_Unrestricted funds - designated_
_20_
_Unrestricted funds free reserves_
_Restricted fxed asset funds_
19
_Restricted funds_
19|£
£
£
£
592,000
592,000
1,579
455
822,160
945,026|
||823,739
945,481
(59,886)
(77,940)|
||763,853
867,541
1,355,853
1,459,541|
||1,355,853
1,459,541|
||250,000
300,000
412,729
422,937
592,000
592,000
101,124
144,604|
||1,355,853
1,459,541|
The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 31 March 2024.
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved by the trustees on 19th September 2024.
**Dame J E Roberts Trustee**
Company registration number 02328627 (England and Wales)
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## **Statement of Cash Flows**
For the year ended 31 March 2024
||**2024**
**2023**|
|---|---|
|Note
**Cash fows from operating activities**
_Cash (absorbed by)/generated_
_from operations_
24
**Investing activities**
_Invested income received_
**Net cash generated from investing**
**activities**
**Net cash used in fnancing activities**
**Net (decrease)/increase in cash and**
**cash equivalents**
**Cash and cash equivalents at**
**beginning of year**
**Cash and cash equivalents at end of**
**year**|£
£
£
£
(133,472)
153,864
10,606
3,423|
||10,606
3,423
-
-|
||(122,866)
157,287
945,026
787,739|
||822,160
945,026|
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## **Notes to the Financial Statements**
For the year ended 31 March 2024
## **1. Accounting policies**
## **Charity information**
Action for Stammering Children is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales.
sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
The registered office is The Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children, 13 - 15 Pine Street, London, EC1R 0JG.
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.
## **1.2. Going concern**
The Trustees consider that the resources available to the Charity will be sufficient for it to be able to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not contain any adjustments that would be required if the Charity were not able to continue as a going concern.
## **1.1. Accounting convention**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity’s articles of association, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP “Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)” (effective 1 January 2019). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
## **1.3. Charitable funds**
General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the Charity and which have not been designated for other purposes.
Designated funds comprise unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Trustees for particular purposes. The aim and use of each
The financial statements are prepared in
designated fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors which have been raised by the Charity for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
## **1.4. Income**
All income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities when the Charity is legally entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy. Grant income is recognised when there is a firm commitment and certainty that the funds will be received.
Income tax recoverable in relation to
donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation. Income tax recoverable in relation to investment income is recognised at the time the investment income receivable.
## **1.5. Expenditure**
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis and has been included under expense categories that aggregate all costs for allocation to activities. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular activities they have been allocated on a basis consistent with the use of the resources.
Support costs are those costs incurred directly
in support of expenditure on the objects of the Charity. Governance costs are those incurred in connection with administration of the Charity and compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.
## **1.6. Tangible fixed assets**
All assets costing more than £1,500 are capitalised. Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less depreciation.
Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost of fixed assets, less their estimated residual value, over their expected useful lives on the following basis:
- Freehold land and buildings: Over 50 years to an estimated residual value of £592,000
- Office Equipment: 3 years on a straight line basis
## **1.7. Cash and cash equivalents**
Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition of opening of the deposit or similar account.
## **1.8. Financial instruments**
The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value. Fixed assets are recorded at depreciated historical cost.
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## _**Basic financial assets**_
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
Accrued income and tax recoverable is included at the best estimate of the amounts receivable at the balance sheet date.
## _**Basic financial liabilities**_
Creditors are recognised as soon as there is legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay our resources.
## **1.9. Retirement benefits**
The Charity operates a defined pension scheme for employees.
The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the Charity. The annual contributions payable are charged to the statement of financial activities.
## **2. Critical accounting estimates and judgements**
Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The Trustees make estimates and assumptions concerning the future.
be any estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year.
## **Key sources of estimation uncertainty**
## _**Depreciation**_
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives. Expected useful life in this calculation is an estimate. A review is required annually to ensure no assets are being depreciated by more than cost, and that consumption is appropriate.
## _**Deferred income**_
Income for projects is deferred where milestones have not been met by the year-end, which is entitlement and where project income is received in advance of contracted date.
## **3. Income from donations and legacies**
||**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**2024**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**2024**
**Total**
**2024**
**Unrestricted**
**Funds**
**2023**
**Restricted**
**Funds**
**2023**
**Total**
**2023**|
|---|---|
|**4.**
**Income from charitable activities**
£
£
£
£
£
£
_Donations and gifts_
133,960
60,922
194,882
261,620
97,980
359,600
_Legacies receivable_
-
-
-
23,563
-
23,563
133,960
60,922
194,882
285,183
97,980
383,163
**Unrestricted Funds**
**2024**
**Unrestricted Funds**
**2023**|£
£
£
£
£
£
133,960
60,922
194,882
261,620
97,980
359,600
-
-
-
23,563
-
23,563|
||133,960
60,922
194,882
285,183
97,980
383,163|
|**5.**
**Income from investments**
£
£
_Book and DVD sales_
1,742
1,689
_Raffe_
1,017
-
2,759
1,689
**Unrestricted Funds**
**2024**
**Unrestricted Funds**
**2023**|£
£
1,742
1,689
1,017
-|
||2,759
1,689|
|£
£
_Bank interest receivable_
10,606
3,423||
The resulting estimates and assumptions will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual results. There are not deemed to
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## **6. Expenditure on raising funds**
||**Unrestricted Funds**
**2024**
**Unrestricted Funds**
**2023**|
|---|---|
|**7.**
**Expenditure on charitable activities**
£
£
**Fundraising and publicity**
_Events and fundraising_
3,770
10,125
_Voluntary income staff costs_
45,631
61,310
49,401
71,435
**2024**
**2023**|£
£
3,770
10,125
45,631
61,310|
||49,401
71,435|
|**Direct costs**
_Costs relating to charitable projects_
_Assessments / clinical work_
_Returners_
_‘Talking Out’ residentials_
_JLA research project_
_ASC stammering support hub_
_Youth panel_
_Stambition mentoring project_
_Schools project_
_Stammering tap project_
_ASC elevator pitch project_
_Other charitable expenditure_
**Share of support and governance costs**
**(see note 9)**
_Support_
_Governance_
**Analysis by fund**
_Unrestricted funds - general_
_Unrestricted funds - designated_
_Restricted funds_|£
£
29,165
45,851
39,117
52,374
-
6,215
58,095
53,102
11,885
3,435
6,078
-
142
-
6,198
6,084
1,234
-
-
3,955
29,987
26,533
336
1,023|
||182,237
198,572
60,561
29,904
19,736
5,672|
||262,534
234,148|
||92,605
125,239
65,527
-
104,402
108,909|
||262,534
234,148|
## **8. Expenditure by charitable activity**
||**Unrestricted**
**2024**
**Designated**
**2024**
**Restricted**
**2024**
**Total**
**2024**|
|---|---|
|_Michael Palin Centre (MPC)_
_‘Talking Out’ residentials_
_ASC elevator pitch project_
_JLA research project_
_Stambition mentoring project_
_ASC stammering support hub_
_Schools project_
_Youth panel_
_Other charitable expenditure_
**Previous year**|£
£
£
£
10,946
-
39,117
50,063
10,946
58,095
-
69,041
21,893
-
29,987
51,880
21,893
-
11,885
33,778
10,946
6,198
-
17,144
16,419
523
5,556
22,498
7,662
1,234
-
8,896
5,473
-
142
5,615
3,284
335
-
3,619|
||109,462
66,385
86,687
262,534|
||**Unrestricted**
**2023**
**Designated**
**2023**
**Restricted**
**2023**
**Total**
**2023**|
|_Michael Palin Centre (MPC)_
_JLA research project_
_Stambition mentoring project_
_ASC elevator pitch project_
_‘Talking Out’ residentials_
_Stammering tap project_
_Other charitable expenditure_|£
£
£
£
21,455
-
67,937
89,392
10,728
-
3,435
14,163
13,236
-
-
13,236
14,304
-
26,533
40,837
57,296
-
6,534
63,830
3,631
-
3,900
7,531
4,589
-
570
5,159|
||125,239
-
108,909
234,148|
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**9. Support costs allocated to activities**
**12. Employees**
||**2024**
**2023**|
|---|---|
|_Staff costs_
_Staff expenses_
_Website costs_
_Youth panel_
_Miscellaneous_
_IT costs_
_Accountancy_
_Governance costs_
**Governance costs comprise:**
_Staff costs_
_Audit fees_
_Legal and professional_|£
£
46,174
18,421
3,022
3,013
1,177
1,296
-
1,097
4,233
5,396
2,955
681
3,000
-
19,736
5,672|
||80,297
35,576|
||13,263
-
4,500
4,794
1,973
878|
||19,736
5,672|
## **10. Net movement in funds**
||**2024**|**2023**|
|---|---|---|
||£|£|
|_The net movement in funds is stated_
_after charging/(crediting):_|||
|_Fees payable for the independent_|||
|_examination of the charity’s fnancial_|4,500|4,794|
|_statements_|||
||**2024**
**2023**|
|---|---|
|_The average monthly number of_
_employees during the year was_|Number
Number
3
3|
||**2024**
**2023**|
|The number of employees whose annual remuneration was more than £60,000 is as follows:
**2024**
**2023**
£
£
**Employment costs**
_Wages and salaries_
124,161
115,430
_Social security costs_
7,606
7,676
_Other pension costs_
2,466
2,476
134,233
125,582|£
£
124,161
115,430
7,606
7,676
2,466
2,476|
||134,233
125,582|
|Number
Number
_£60,000 to £70,000_
1
1||
## **Remuneration of key management personnel**
The total amount of employee benefits (including employer pension and national insurance contributions) received by the key management personnel for their services to the Charity was £74,034 (2023: £76,598)
## **13. Taxation**
## **11. Trustees**
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year.
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
Trustee expenses reimbursed in the year totalled £142 (2023: £Nil)
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**14. Tangible fixed assets**
**17. Deferred income**
||**Freehold land and**
**buildings**
**Offce**
**equipment**
**Total**|
|---|---|
|**15.**
**Debtors**
**Cost**
_At 1 April 2023_
_At March 2024_
**Depreciation and impairment**
_At April 2023_
_At 31 March 2024_
**Carrying amount**
_At 31 March 2024_
_At 31 March 2023_|£
£
£
592,000
60,814
652,814|
||592,000
60,814
652,814|
||-
60,814
60,814|
||-
60,814
60,814|
||592,000
-
592,000|
||592,000
-
592,000|
||**2024**
**2023**|
|**16.**
**Creditors**
**Amounts falling due within one year**
_Prepayments and accrued income_|£
£
1,579
455|
||**2024**
**2023**|
|**Amounts falling due within one year**
_Other taxation and social security_
_Deferred income_
_Trade creditors_
_Other creditors_
_Accruals_|Note
£
£
4,111
1,864
17
10,668
10,668
469
-
3,188
726
41,450
64,682|
||59,886
77,940|
||**2024**
**2023**|
|---|---|
|Deferred income is included in the
_Other deferred income_|£
£
10,668
10,668|
||fnancial statements as follows:
**2024**
**2023**|
|**18.**
**Retirement beneft schemes**
£
£
**Deferred income is included within**
_Current liabilities_
10,668
10,668
**Movements in the year**
_Deferred income at 1 April 2023_
10,668
10,668
_Released from previous periods_
(10,668)
_-_
_Resources deferred in the year_
10,668
_-_
**Deferred income at 31 March 2024**
10,668
10,668
**2024**
**2023**|£
£
10,668
10,668|
||10,668
10,668
(10,668)
_-_
10,668
_-_|
||10,668
10,668|
|£
£
**Defned contribution schemes**
_Charge to proft or loss in respect of_
_defned contribution schemes_
2,466
2,476||
The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund. The amounts payable at the year end were £481 (£2023: £Nil)
**Annual Report 2023/24**
**Annual Report 2023/24**
66
67
**19. Restricted funds**
## **Specialist Assessments and Therapy**
||**At 1 April**
**2023**
**Incoming**
**resources**
**Resources**
**expended**
**Transfers**
**At 31 March**
**2024**|
|---|---|
|_Freehold Pine Street (fxed asset)_
_Training room extension (fxed asset)_
_Assessments / clinical work_
_ASC stammering support hub_
_JLA research project_
_ASC elevator pitch project_
_Stammering tap project_
_ASC youth panel_
_Michael Palin Centre_
**Previous year**|£
£
£
£
£
350,000
-
-
-
350,000
242,000
-
-
-
242,000
40,361
60,922
(43,790)
-
57,493
34,210
-
(18,598)
-
15,612
22,464
-
(11,885)
-
10,579
42,967
-
(29,987)
-
12,980
400
-
-
-
400
1,030
-
(142)
-
888
3,172
-
-
-
3,172|
||736,604
60,922
(104,402)
-
693,124|
||**At 1 April**
**2022**
**Incoming**
**resources**
**Resources**
**expended**
**Transfers**
**At 31 March**
**2023**|
|_Freehold Pine Street (fxed asset)_
_Training room extension (fxed asset)_
_Assessments / clinical work_
_‘Talking Out’ residentials_
_JLA research project_
_ASC elevator pitch project_
_Stammering tap project_
_ASC youth panel_
_Michael Palin Centre_|£
£
£
£
£
350,000
-
-
-
350,000
242,000
-
-
-
242,000
48,426
93,882
(67,937)
200
74,571
2,534
4,000
(6,534)
-
-
25,899
-
(3,435)
-
22,464
69,500
-
(26,533)
-
42,967
4,300
-
(3,900)
-
400
1,600
-
(570)
-
1,030
3,074
98
-
-
3,172|
||747,333
97,980
(108,909)
200
736,604|
Funds are being used to provide access to specialist consultations provided by the Michael Palin Centre (MPC).
## **Stammering Tap Project**
Funds were used to create a new animation film aimed at parents in partnership with Hear in Hull.
## **ASC Elevator Pitch Project**
Funds are being used to refine and develop the charity’s brand strategy and visual identity.
## **Talking Out Ltd.**
Funds contributed towards the cost of delivering the residential stammering courses in North Yorkshire.
## **Youth Panel**
Funds are being used to support the advocacy work of the ASC Youth Panel.
## **ASC Stammering Support Hub**
Funds are being used to establish a new omni-channel support service.
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
## **JLA Research Priorities Project**
These funds are being used for the James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership into Developmental Childhood Stammering.
**Annual Report 2023/24**
**Annual Report 2023/24**
68
69
## **20. Unrestricted funds - designated**
## **Talking Out Residentials**
These are unrestricted funds which are material to the charity’s activities.
||**At 1 April**
**2023**
**Resources**
**expended**
**Transfers**
**At 31 March**
**2024**|
|---|---|
|_Michael Palin Centre_
_‘Talking Out’ residentials_
_Mentoring programme_
_ASC stammering support hub_
_Schools project_
_Capacity building_
_Forces fund_
**Previous year**|£
£
£
£
50,000
-
(50,000)
-
75,000
(58,095)
58,095
75,000
25,000
(6,198)
(3,802)
15,000
50,000
-
-
50,000
50,000
(1,234)
1234
50,000
50,000
-
-
50,000
-
-
10,000
10,000|
||300,000
(65,527)
15,527
250,000|
||**At 1 April**
**2022**
**Resources**
**expended**
**Transfers**
**At 31 March**
**2023**|
|_Michael Palin Centre_
_‘Talking Out’ residentials_
_Mentoring programme_
_ASC stammering support hub_
_Schools project_
_Capacity building_|£
£
£
£
150,000
-
(100,000)
50,000
-
-
75,000
75,000
-
-
25,000
25,000
-
-
50,000
50,000
-
-
50,000
50,000
-
-
50,000
50,000|
||150,000
-
150,000
300,000|
Funds are designated to running two residential stammering courses and one online course for teenagers who stammer.
## **ASC Stammering Support Hub**
Designated funds will be used to support the first year of the new omni-channel support service.
## **Schools Project**
Funds will be used for the scoping and design phases of the schools project.
## **Capacity Building**
Funds designated for an income-generating post for one-year.
## **Mentoring Programme**
Designated for a third cohort of adolescents who stammer
## **Michael Palin Centre**
Designated for activity not otherwise funded by the NHS
**Annual Report 2023/24**
**Annual Report 2023/24**
70
71
## **21. Unrestricted funds**
The unrestricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants which are not subject to specific conditions by donors and grantors as to how they may be used. These include designated funds which have been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees for specific purposes.
||
|
|---|---|
||**At 1 April**
**2023**
**Incoming**
**resources**
**Resources**
**expended**
**Transfers**
**At 31 March**
**2024**|
|_General funds_
**Previous year**|£
£
£
£
422,937
147,325
(142,006)
(15,527)
412,729|
||**At 1 April**
**2022**
**Incoming**
**resources**
**Resources**
**expended**
**Transfers**
**At 31 March**
**2023**|
|**22.**
**Analysis of net assets between funds**
£
£
£
£
_General funds_
479,516
290,295
(196,674)
(150,200)
422,937
**Unrestricted funds**
**2024**
**Restricted funds**
**2024**
**Total**
**2024**|£
£
£
£
479,516
290,295
(196,674)
(150,200)
422,937|
||**General**
**Designated**|
|**At 31 March 2024**
_Tangible assets_
_Current assets / (liabilities)_|£
£
£
£
-
-
592,000
592,000
412,729
250,000
101,124
763,853|
||412,729
250,000
693,124
1,355,853|
||**Unrestricted funds**
**2023**
**Restricted funds**
**2023**
**Total**
**2023**|
||**General**
**Designated**|
|**At 31 March 2023**
_Tangible assets_
_Current assets / (liabilities)_|£
£
£
£
-
-
592,000
592,000
422,937
300,000
144,604
867,541|
||422,937
300,000
736,604
1,459,541|
## **23. Related party transactions**
During the year the charity received donations of £466 (2023: £7,644) from Trustees and related parties of the charity.
## **24. Cash generated from operations**
||**2024**
**2023**|
|---|---|
|_(Defecit) / surplus for the year_
**Adjustments for**
_Investment income recognised in_
_statement of fnancial activities_
**Movements in working capital**
_(Increase) / decrease in debtors_
_(Decrease) / increase in creditors_
**Cash (absorbed by) / generated from**
**operations**|£
£
(103,688)
82,692
(10,606)
(3,423)
(1,124)
13,814
(18,054)
60,781|
||(133,472)
153,864|
## **25. Analysis of changes in net funds**
The charity had no material debt during the year.
**Annual Report 2023/24**
**Annual Report 2023/24**
72
73
## **The Charity, Trustees and Advisers**
For the year end 31 March 2024
**Trustees Company Registered Number** Dame Jane Roberts – Chair 02328627 David Broom – Honorary Treasurer & Vice-Chair Alison Lowton – Company Secretary **Charity Registered Number** Anya Paul 801171 Archna Rahulan Felicity Baker **Company Status** Joe Allen A company limited by guarantee Juliet Leach Natalie Carver **Day-to-Day Management** Richard Murray The trustees delegated day-today management to the Charity’s Stephen McAteer Chief Executive Ria Bernard Vicky Slonims (retired – March 2024) Zain Ghani
## **Registered Office**
## **Independent Examiners**
Critchleys First Floor, Park Central 40-41 Park End Street Oxford OX1 1JD
Action for Stammering Children Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children 13-15 Pine Street London EC1R 0JG
## **Bankers**
Lloyds Pall Mall St James’s London SW1Y 4BE
**Annual Report 2023/24**
**Annual Report 2023/24**
74
75
Action for
Stammering
Children