**Trustees’ Annual Report and Statement of Accounts** ## **OGCancerNI** **For period ended 31 December 2023** NI 107492 1 ## **Table of Contents** |Governance Arrangements|3| |---|---| |Information and Administration|3| |Objectives and Activities|4| |Risk Management|8| |Risk Position of OGCancerNI|9| |Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of OGCancerNI|10| 2 NI 107492 ## **Governance Arrangements** OGCancerNI (OGC) is a registered charity with the Charities Commission of NI (CCNI) established specifically to help patients and families affected by Oesophago-gastric cancer within Northern Ireland. The remit of the Trustees of the charity is outlined within the governing document, our Constitution. We aim to support the Constitution by establishing a Governance Handbook in 2024/25. ## **Background** OGCancerNI was set up in 2018 specifically to benefit patients and families affected by Oesophago-gastric cancer. ## **Governance Structures and Documents** ## **Information and Administration** OGCancerNI Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research Queen’s University 97 Lisburn Road Belfast BT9 7AE Email: info@ogcancerni.com Phone: 07568 157450 NI 107492 3 ## **Trustees** Please see below a list of the Trustees of OG Cancer NI for the period ended 31 December 2023: - ➢ Helen Setterfield, Chair of the Board of Trustees - ➢ Paul Alexander, Trustee, Hon Treasurer - ➢ Helen Hall, Trustee, Hon Secretary - ➢ Stewart Dickson MLA, Trustee - ➢ Lorraine Pinkerton, Trustee - ➢ David Setterfield, Trustee - ➢ Andrew Kennedy, Trustee - ➢ Mairead McGonagle, Trustee Following the three Trustees' resignations in 2022, we sought new Trustees to fill the relevant posts. We are pleased to add Andrew Kennedy and Mairead McGonagle to our Board of Trustees. Andrew Kennedy, brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our Board as an Upper GI Surgeon and Clinical Director of Emergency, GI & Endocrine Surgery. Ms McGonagle has enhanced our board with her experience working with charities and general banking. ## **Objectives and Activities** OG Cancer NI has three main objectives, as listed below: ## **Support** To support patients and carers affected by Oesophago-Gastric Cancer ## **Communication** To communicate the early signs and symptoms of Oesophago-Gastric Cancer to promote early intervention ## **Advocate** To work in partnership with healthcare providers to be patient advocates and promote best outcomes. NI 107492 4 ## **Public Benefit Statement** As listed on the CCNI website, our Public Benefit Statement is as follows: Direct Benefits Flowing from the organisation's purposes are: - ➢ An improvement in the quality of life for patients, families and carers affected by Oesophago-Gastric (Oesophageal and Stomach) Cancer - ➢ Patients and carers are supported, improving holistic wellbeing through their cancer journey. - ➢ Access to the latest medical technology for the treatment of patients - ➢ Increased awareness of the early signs and symptoms of Oesophago-Gastric cancer leading to earlier intervention, thus improving survival rates. - ➢ Improved patient pathway as a result of advocacy - ➢ Increased funding for research and projects to improve patient outcomes. The benefits identified can be demonstrated by: - ➢ Improvement in survival rates, reference The NI Cancer Registry, which provides up-todate statistics for NI. - ➢ Through the awareness campaigns, an increase in the number of patients coming forward for treatment at an early stage - ➢ positive feedback from patients, families, carers and medical staff - ➢ the use of equipment provided by funding from OGCancer NI - ➢ through training of medical staff and better use of equipment and resource There is no harm arising from any of the purposes. The charity's main beneficiaries are: patients, carers & families affected by oesophago-gastric cancers. There is no private benefit flowing from any of the purposes. To achieve these objectives throughout the period ended 31 December 2023, we undertook several activities: NI 107492 5 ## **Mobile Unit** In early 2022, OGCancerNI were successful with the Community Lottery Fund for an OGCancerNI Mobile Unit and associated costs. The aim of the Mobile Unit (Ford Transit Van) was to travel throughout Northern Ireland, raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of Oesophageal and Stomach cancers and of the services provided by OGCancerNI. During 2023, the OGCancerNI Mobile Unit attended 25 + events throughout Northern Ireland. These events varied from Country/ Agricultural Shows to Men’s Health Days, Wellbeing Meetings and Training events. This is a considerable increase of events attended in 2023 compared with 2022. ## **Comfort packs** As previously noted, we conducted a successful trial of providing Comfort Packs to the patients of Ward 2North, Belfast City Hospital, in 2021/22. After reviewing the trial outcomes, particularly the feedback from patients, Trustees agreed to continue to provide these packs as a support mechanism for those patients who had undergone surgery. During 2023, we sought a funding partner for the provision of the materials in the Comfort Packs; however, we were unsuccessful in our endeavours. The current items contained within the Comfort Packs are: Tissues, Hand gel, Lip salve, Shower gel, Deodorant, Aromatherapy, TicTacs, a Notebook, a Pen, £10 CHAT (hot beverage cafe) voucher and a Charity Information leaflet. During 2023, we provided between 4 and 6 Comfort Packs to Ward 2North patients each month (between 48 and 72 for the 2023 year). It is the intention of Trustees to review the materials contained within the Comfort Packs, continue to provide these to patients and seek Corporate Partnership or funding, ensuring this support service can be maintained in the future. ## **Wellbeing Meetings** In 2023, we hosted three Wellbeing Meetings for all OGCancerNI patients, carers and medical professionals. These meetings were held in the Springtime in the Lisburn Civic Centre, during Autumn in the Great Hall, Queen’s University, Belfast and Wintertime in the Foyle Arena, L’ Derry. After a review of our Wellbeing meetings in 2022, due to the withdrawal of many COVID-19 protocols and patient demand, Trustees agreed that an additional Wellbeing meeting was required in the North West area of Northern Ireland during 2023. To assist with the expense of the Wellbeing meetings, Trustees sought funding to support these events and successfully secured £3000 funding from the Halifax Foundation. The demand for these events is well documented, with 90 attendees at the Spring Wellbeing Meeting, 72 at the Autumn Wellbeing Meeting, and 30 at the Winter Wellbeing Meeting. It is the intention of Trustees to continue to provide three Wellbeing Meetings in 2024, with future sources of funding to be investigated. 6 NI 107492 ## **Information Stand** Thankfully the reduction of COVID-19 protocols within the Belfast City Hospital has allowed for the return of the OGCancerNI Information Stand in the hospital's foyer on a Tuesday morning. Tuesday is the day of the weekly clinics for new patients of oesophageal and gastric cancers. Beginning in September 2023, we hosted 15 Information Stands during the remaining months of 2023. These stands are manned by trained OGCancerNI volunteers, who are current/ previous oesophageal and gastric cancer patients, carers and family members of those affected by OG cancer. These volunteers are passionate about providing support to newly diagnosed patients. This results in our Information Stand being one of our main support services heavily relied on and popular with volunteers. ## **Information Banner for the OG Clinic held in City Hospital** Whilst adapting to COVID-19 protocols, particularly within the Hospital it had been previously agreed that we could display an OGCancernI Information Banner in the hospital. Since the COVID-19 protocols have been reduced in the hospital the banner has also remained. ## **New Diagnostic Tool Implementation throughout Northern Ireland** In response to delays in endoscopy for surveillance of Barrett’s oesophagus due to COVID-19, the health service across Northern Ireland participated in a study of a capsule sponge device called the DELTA project. OGCancerNI hosted a all group meeting in 2022 to progress the activities required for the DELTA project to begin. The capsule sponge is a less invasive alternative to endoscopy and involves swallowing a capsule the size of a vitamin pill attached to a string. After several minutes, the capsule dissolves in the stomach and a small sponge emerges, which is then withdrawn up the oesophagus over a few seconds, sampling cells from the whole oesophageal lining. The aim of the DELTA project was to assess whether capsule sponge testing was a safe alternative to endoscopy and could reduce waiting lists. Between June 2022 and March 2023, 258 patients across Northern Ireland underwent testing of their Barrett’s oesophagus using the capsule sponge. Several patients were found to have worrisome features requiring additional treatment to prevent the potential development of oesophageal cancer. The trial was an outstanding success, and the results will be published soon. Already, a subsequent, more extensive study called BEST4, supported by OGCancerNI, is in development to not only use the capsule sponge to monitor patients with an existing diagnosis of Barrett’s oesophagus but also to detect new cases of Barrett’s in the community. The aim is to diagnose many more cases of Barrett’s oesophagus so that patients can be monitored to prevent the development of cancer and provide evidence to support the introduction of a national screening programme for Barrett’s oesophagus and oesophageal cancer. OGCancerNI will remain a supporter of this project in line with our key charitable objectives. NI 107492 7 ## **CHAT vouchers** During 2022, Trustees agreed to add a CHAT (hot beverage cafe) voucher to the OGCancerNI Comfort Packs provided to patients in Ward 2North after surgery. We trialled this voucher in 2022 at £5.00, and it was welcomed not only by the patient but also by visiting family members. Once reviewed in early 2023, Trustees took the decision to increase the amount of the voucher to £10.00, considering the financial hardships individuals were undertaking, given the economic climate. ## **Risk Management** Our Risk Management has gone from strength to strength in 2023, with the addition of a new Trustee, Mariead McGonagle, who attended a NICVA Trustee Risk Management Training event. Mariead’s training and insight have been invaluable, with decisions taken to establish new policies within the chairty to assist with identifying and managing risk. ## **Requirement for Fundraising and Social Media Officer** As previously noted in our Annual Monitoring Returns, we have recruited a permanent Charity Administrative Officer. Given the charity's growth over the last few years, the Trustees are reviewing the need for another contracted team member in 2024. ## **Impact of Covid-19** With the reduction of Covid-19 protocols during 2023, we have returned to face to face meetings and the reinstatement of the Information Stand at the Belfast City Hospital. Whilst we remain vigilant with social interacting events, providing health warnings before events and providing antiseptic hand sanitiser, we welcome the return to social events. 8 NI 107492 ## **Risk Position of OGCancerNI** ## **Financial Position of OGCancerNI** A review of the charity’s financial position is carried out regularly throughout the period by all Trustees. The Treasurer provides monthly updates to Trustees at scheduled meetings. As of 31 December 2023, the OGCancerNI bank account total was £89,103.29 ## **Summary of Financial Position** Trustees are satisfied with the total of the OG Cancer NI bank account for the period ended 31 December 2023. We are content with the level of spend on operational costs and charitable objectives for the period. ## **Trustees’ Signatures of Approval** Helen Setterfield ## **Helen Setterfield, MBE** **Chair of the Board of Trustees, OG Cancer NI Date: 26th September 2024** NI 107492 9 ## **Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of OGCancerNI** I report on the accounts of the Trust for the year ended 31 December 2023, which are set out in Appendix 1. ## **Respective responsibilities of charity trustees and examiner** As the charity’s trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008. It is my responsibility to: - examine the accounts under section 65 of the Charities Act; · follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Commission under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act; - state whether particular matters have come to my attention. ## **Basis of independent examiner’s report** I have examined your charity accounts as required under section 65 of the Charities Act and my examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland under section 65(9)(b) of the Charities Act. My examination included a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also included consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as charity trustees concerning any such matters. My role is to state whether any material matters have come to my attention giving me cause to believe: 1. That accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 63 of the Charities Act; 2. That the accounts do not accord with those accounting records; 3. That the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of the Charities Act; 4. That there is further information needed for a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. NI 107492 10 ## **Independent examiner’s statement** I have completed my examination and have no concerns in respect of the matters (1) to (4) listed above and, in connection with following the Directions of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland, I have found no matters that require drawing to your attention. ## **Independent Examiners Signature of Approval** **Brian Rice FCA Chartered Accountant 20 Saintfield Road, Crossgar, Downpatrick, BT30 9HY Date: 26th September 2024** NI 107492 11