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 memorandum and articles of association (as amended 17 October 2019), 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) (effective 1 January 2019)".
The NMC is the Centre of Excellence for people affected by neuromuscular conditions.
Charitable objects
The objects of the NMC are to promote and provide opportunities for people with a neuromuscular condition to live fuller lives through training, employment and physiotherapy, together with advice and support for themselves and their families and carers.
Mission
The NMC's mission is to work together with people affected by muscle diseases, creating an environment where full potential and positive wellbeing are achieved, through employment, training, support and physiotherapy.
Aims and activities
The NMC aims to be largely user led and to provide a range of services for people affected by muscle disease. Although service users are predominantly from within a 100 mile radius of Winsford, Cheshire, many attend the Centre from across the UK and Europe. The range of services includes:
Physiotherapy assessments
Physiotherapy treatments
Hydrotherapy
Active exercise programmes
Advice and support
Supporting families in transition
Provide personal care
Support and breaks for carers
Training courses in Graphic Design, Animation, Music and Photography
Other Training courses
Employment opportunities in Graphic Design (in the Social Enterprise; NMC Design+Print), Administration and Fundraising.
Provide transport for Students and Employees to enable maximum independence and opportunity.
The unique combination of services provided by the charity are offered directly to individuals and their families across the UK. Where practicable, physical management programmes are tailored to the needs of each individual, depending on their type of dystrophy and physical condition, through regular sessions of physiotherapy and hydrotherapy. As a ‘centre of excellence’ in the physical management of muscular dystrophy and related neuromuscular conditions, the charity offers help and advice to other organisations worldwide.
The charity has established a well-respected graphic design business, NMC Design+Print, in which the variety of skills and talents of the individuals can be employed, developed and rewarded under both salaried and permitted work arrangements. The NMC provides wheelchair-adapted transport for individuals attending the Centre.
NMC strategy for 2024-27
In early 2024 we endorsed our 6 strategic objectives for NMC. These were first developed in 2022 and have now been reviewed. They remain our primary goals;
Objective 1
Provide impactful social and academic opportunities for our community
Objective 2
Enrich the emotional and physical wellbeing of people affected by neuromuscular conditions
Objective 3
Inspire, inform, and enable our community to make an active contribution to society
Objective 4
Develop a thorough understanding of people in our community and respond in tailored ways
Objective 5
Run an effective and professional organisation with excellent governance with sustainability at the core
Objective 6
Increase awareness of MD and NMC and increase our influence
Volunteer help
NMC has a strong group of volunteers working in:
Fundraising - mainly helping at events.
Physiotherapy – helping and supporting the professional Physiotherapists.
Board of Trustees – providing scrutiny, oversight, advice, guidance, and strategic direction.
Also, we have volunteers helping with carpentry, gardening, odd-jobs and building maintenance.
Public Benefit
The charity trustees consider that they have complied with their duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to
have due regard to public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission and that the benefits that the
charity provides are not unreasonably restricted.
Achievements against our goals for 2023-24
Following the pandemic and a lot of staff changes, we will give focus to developing and consolidating the new young team members we now have. We will seek to encourage mentoring. We will seek to strengthen the youth/experience balance. Achieved – the team now comprises a highly productive mix of youth, energy, and experience. There are now good mentors and excellent leadership throughout.
Following the death of the pivotal leader of NMC Design+Print in 2022 we will seek to rebuild, restructure, and refocus the social enterprise for a thriving future. Achieved to a large degree. Rebuilding following such a huge loss is not a swift process.
Succession planning for long service senior staff is a key priority in the coming year. Largely Achieved. A key element of this has been the successful recruitment of a new Chief Executive to replace the current job holder who is retiring after 19 years in the role. In addition, we have developed plans for shorter term and for longer term succession for other key posts.
Explore the provision of accessible accommodation near to the NMC. No significant progress on this issue. It remains a goal in our new Strategic Plan for 2024-27.
Continue to develop and exploit the opportunities provided to NMC Design+Print following the investment in the Laser cutter/engraver. There has been substantial progress in this regard. More opportunities are undoubtedly there still to be tapped.
Hold special events and make investments in key personnel to help the NMC community tackle the personal post-pandemic challenges. These include issues of housing, employment, support, physical and emotional health. Achieved
Improve outdoor accessibility onsite. This includes relaying the car park and re-furbishing and extending accessible paths and boardwalks. Car park refurbishment complete. Path improvements still to complete.
Refurbish the two old bathrooms/toilet to provide new facilities that incorporate modern design and maximise opportunities for people to be as independent as possible. The refurbished toilets to also offer a chance for people to see what might be helpful at home. Achieved completely.
Develop a new Fundraising Strategy to reflect changes in society, the marketplace for events, our changed capacity, and the end of our long running Spirit of Christmas fundraising event. Lots of scoping has been undertaken. A new strategy is emerging but not yet completed.
Fundraising performance
Trust and corporate income £177k
Community donations £158k
Events income £73k
Statutory income £614k
Design+Print income £101k
Donors to NMC can be assured that we comply with the regulatory standards for fundraising. The charity adheres to the Code of Fundraising Practice in all its fundraising activities. Through this guidance, policies and working practices relating to working with vulnerable supporters, handling complaints and ethical considerations are in place.
NMC does not sub-contract elements of its fundraising activities to marketing agencies and undertakes all its correspondence and contact with donors in-house.
The charity received no fundraising complaints during the year. Complaints are dealt with in line with our complaints policy, with most serious complaints escalated to our Trustees so they can consider lessons to be learnt.
NMC has safeguarding policies in place to protect vulnerable people. Our fundraisers (both staff and third party) are familiarised with these to ensure the correct procedures are in place.
NMC’s financial performance has been satisfactory as we continue to build back post-pandemic..
The NMC has some assets in the form of the building it has on land leased from Cheshire West and
Chester Council but no up to date valuation is available.
NMC holds no other substantial asset beyond its minibuses, day to day office, physio and IT
equipment.
NMC has consistently maintained total unrestricted reserves at 3 month running costs throughout
2023-24.
Reserves policy
NMC recognises the need to build and maintain adequate reserves, to ensure that the charity has a financial buffer proportionate to its normal scale of operations. In doing so, this will reduce the financial risk to the charity and help ensure that its services are sustainable.
The policy sets out a goal of staying above the following thresholds:
1. A minimum amount of total unrestricted reserves of £500,000
2. A minimum amount of net current assets of £260,000 of which cash and marketable investments must not be less than £180,000
The overall total is equivalent to approximately 4 months of annual spend and approximately 6 months of annual payroll. The Trustees believe that this is a reasonable and proportionate "buffer" to retain against the risk of unseen problems.
The current reserves level is £1,367,002 with free reserves being £602,748, restricted reserves being £11,837 and designated reserves being £40,000.
Risk management
A register of risks is maintained and reviewed regularly by the Trustees.
The following risks have been identified as the most significant for the charity:
Financial sustainability; recognising that maintaining income levels is essential to the charity’s financial sustainability. The charity continues to monitor the risks associated with its diverse voluntary income streams
Reputation and brand; the charity monitors the risks associated with all aspects of reputation and has put in place strategies to reach and engage with beneficiaries and other organisations.
Recruitment and retention of staff: the charity aims to be an organisation where staff are supported and developed and where employees have a sense of fulfilment. During the year all managers participated in a bespoke management development programme to extend their skills.
Plans for 2024-25
Upgrade and extend the outside paths to enable people to explore the meadow and gardens in all seasons safely.
Develop the new Employment and Careers service so it achieves all that we have planned for it in terms of placing people in work/work experience, preparing for work, and helping people stay in work by adapting to changes in condition.
Prepare NMC for a Britain in Bloom application and maximise involvement of our community as well as local volunteers in developing a flourishing and attractive garden.
Develop a new fundraising strategy to reflect changing times and the end of our long running Spirit of Christmas event.
Develop an accommodation offer for those travelling long distances to NMC. The accommodation could also offer accessible holiday options and a place to try out independent living.
The arrival, induction and successful handover to the new Chief Executive will be an important element of the plans for the charity in the year ahead.
We plan to upgrade and modernise our heating system and install additional solar power generation to reduce our energy consumption and increase the sustainability of our provision.
The Neuromuscular Centre (NMC) is a registered charity, incorporated as a company limited by guarantee. The charity registration number is 1023606 and the company registration number is 2806607. The NMC has a wholly owned dormant subsidiary, NMC Trading Limited.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year were:
Appointment of trustees
The charity appointed its Board of Trustees from 1 April 2012. As vacancies arise new Trustees are appointed.
Trustee induction and training
Newly appointed trustees receive comprehensive induction including training on their duties and responsibilities under company and charity law and also an induction into the activities, operational plans and financial performance of the charity.
Organisation
The Board of Trustees is ultimately responsible for the management of the Neuromuscular Centre. The Board will meet quarterly. A Chief Executive, with delegated authority, is appointed by and accountable to the trustees for managing the day-to-day operations of the NMC and the delivery of operational plans.
The remuneration arrangements for all staff are reviewed annually by the Chair of Trustees and Chief Executive having benchmarked pay levels in the relevant employment roles and sectors and mindful of changes to the UK cost of living indices. The Trustee Board approve the overall remuneration settlement as part of the annual budget setting.
In accordance with the company's articles, a resolution proposing that BWM be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a General Meeting.
Small company provisions
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to small companies within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.
On behalf of the board of trustees
The trustees, who are also the directors of NeuroMuscular Centre for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the accounts in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company Law requires the trustees to prepare accounts for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.
In preparing these accounts, the trustees are required to:
- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
- observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
- state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the accounts; and
- prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation.
The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the accounts comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of NeuroMuscular Centre (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2024 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
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 Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity 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.
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of 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.
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit:
the information given in the trustees' report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared, which includes the directors' report prepared for the purposes of company law, is consistent with the financial statements; and
the directors' report included within the trustees' report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors' report included within the trustees' report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
the trustees were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies' exemptions in preparing the trustees' report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.
As explained more fully in the statement of trustees' responsibilities, the trustees, who are also the directors of the charity for the purpose of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.
Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows:
the engagement partner ensured that the engagement team collectively had the appropriate competence, capabilities and skills to identify or recognise non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
we identified the laws and regulations applicable to the company through discussions with directors and other management;
we focused on specific laws and regulations which we considered may have a direct material effect on the financial statements or the operations of the company, including the Companies Act 2006, taxation legislation and data protection, anti-bribery, employment and health and safety legislation;
we assessed the extent of compliance with the laws and regulations identified above through making enquiries of management and inspecting legal correspondence; and
identified laws and regulations were communicated within the audit team regularly and the team remained alert to instances of non-compliance throughout the audit.
We assessed the susceptibility of the company’s financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:
making enquiries of management as to where they considered there was susceptibility to fraud, their knowledge of actual, suspected and alleged fraud; and
considering the internal controls in place to mitigate risks of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations.
To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:
performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships;
tested journal entries to identify unusual transactions;
assessed whether judgements and assumptions made in determining the accounting estimates were indicative of potential bias; and
investigated the rationale behind significant or unusual transactions.
In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to:
agreeing financial statement disclosures to underlying supporting of documentation;
reading the minutes of meetings of those charged with governance; and
enquiring management as to actual and potential litigation and claims.
There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the directors and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.
Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.
Other matters
This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and the charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Fundraising events
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Fundraising events
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.
All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
The NeuroMuscular Centre is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales and a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. The registered office is Woodford Lane West, Winsford, Cheshire, CW7 4EH.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's Memorandum and 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.
The accounts are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The accounts have been prepared on the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
The financial statements do not incorporate the results, assets and liabilities of the charity's wholly owned subsidiary, NMC Trading Limited. Consolidated accounts have not been prepared as these would not be materially different from the single entity financial statements as presented. The subsidiary ceased to trade on 1 April 2012 and has remained dormant throughout the period.
At the time of approving the accounts the Trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus, the Trustees continue to adopt the ‘going concern’ basis of accounting in preparing the accounts.
Funds held by the charity are:
Unrestricted general funds - these are funds which can be used in accordance with the charitable objects at the discretion of the trustees, with due regard to the reserves policy as described in the Trustees' Report.
Designated funds - these are funds set aside by the trustees out of unrestricted general funds for specific future purposes.
Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements.
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.
Income from donations and grants, including capital grants, is included in income when these are receivable, except as follows:
When donors specify that donations and grants given to the charity must be used in future accounting periods, the income is deferred until those periods.
When donors impose conditions which have to be fulfilled before the charity becomes entitled to use such income, the income is deferred and not included in income until the preconditions for use have been met.
Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset.
Income is deferred only when the charity has to fulfil conditions before becoming entitled to it or where the donor has specified that the income is to be expended in a future period.
When donors specify that donations and grants, including capital grants, are for particular restricted purposes, which do not amount to preconditions regarding entitlement, this income is included as restricted funds when receivable.
Voluntary income includes discretionary grants for projects, goods and services where no service agreement or contract exists.
Other grants, which have particular service requirements and which are provided in accordance with a contract or service level agreement are included in the Statement of Financial Activities under the heading Charitable Activities.
Interest is included when receivable by the charity.
Expenditure reflects all amounts paid and accrued during the year. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is reported as part of the expenditure to which it relates. All costs are allocated between the expenditure categories of the Statement of Financial Activities (SOFA) on a basis designed to reflect the use of the resource.
Raising funds
These represent costs incurred in seeking voluntary contributions and do not include the costs of disseminating information in support of the charitable activities.
Charitable expenditure
Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly to such activities and those costs of an indirect nature necessary to support them. Support costs are allocated across the activities on the basis of expenditure incurred for each of the activities.
Governance costs
These represent costs associated with meeting the constitutional and statutory requirements of the charity and include the audit fees and costs linked to the strategic management of the charity.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Individual fixed assets costing £1,000 or more are capitalised at cost, including any expenses of acquisition.
Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost less estimated residual value of each asset over its expected useful life, as follows:
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
Fixed asset investments are stated at cost less provision for diminution in value.
At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts.
The charity has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received, if material.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
The charity offers defined contribution pension arrangements to an employers’ portable scheme. Contributions are charged in the financial statements as incurred.
Taxation
The charity benefits from various exemptions from taxation afforded by tax legislation and is not liable to corporation tax on income or gains falling within those exemptions. Recovery is made of tax deducted from qualifying income and from receipts under Gift Aid.
The charity is also able to partially recover Value Added Tax. Expenditure that is not recoverable by the charity is recorded in the accounts inclusive of VAT.
In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
There are no critical accounting estimates or judgments included in these accounts.
Fundraising events
Income within charitable activities
Income within charitable activities
Other income
Other income relates to a Feed-in Tariff (FIT) payment received from the charity's energy provider.
Costs of generating donations and legacies and events
Promotion
Utilities and communications
Travel
Printing
Maintenance
Insurance and general expenses
Support costs are allocated on the basis of time spent/usage.
Governance costs are split equally between activities.
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration during the year (2023: £nil) and no trustees were reimbursed expenses (2023: none).
The analysis of auditor's remuneration is as follows:
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
Redundancy payments of £nil (2023: £17,130) were paid in the year.
All tangible assets are used in functions of the charity and are shown at written down cost. All material assets are used for direct charitable activities. The leasehold land and buildings are subject to a lease that has recently been renewed and will expire in August 2077.
Details of the charity's subsidiary at 31 March 2024 are as follows:
Deferred income is included in the financial statements as follows:
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 charge to the statement of financial activities in respect of defined contribution schemes was £56,402 (2023: £63,359).
Income
Expenditure
Income
Expenditure
Physiotherapy fund - a core service of the NMC, this fund ensures the department has modern equipment with which to provide innovative and specialist treatments.
Support worker fund - this role provides a range of services including equipment and adaptation advice, guidance on benefits and work assistance, and emotional support in times of need.
Transition & Development Fund – meeting the growing demand from younger people, NMC now provides services to support them into adulthood, with independence, work readiness and personal growth being key aims.
The Bathroom project renovated the Centre's toilets and showers, replacing 25 year old facilities with the latest, state of the art equipment to provide maximum comfort for our visitors and inspiration for members of our community who may need to adapt their homes as a consequence of their condition.
£40,000 has been designated in the year to fund the costs of resurfacing the Centre's car park which will be done in 2024/25.
At 31 March 2024 the charity had capital commitments as follows:
The above capital commitment relates to work carried out at the Centre car park. This amount has been set aside at the year end as a designated fund, see note 23.
At the reporting end date the charity had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:
The remuneration of key management personnel, is as follows.
As at 31 March 2023, there is a creditor balance owing to the wholly owned subsidiary NMC Trading Limited of £9 (2023: £9).
There were no other related party transactions.
No guarantees have been given or received.
The Neuromuscular Centre is incorporated under the Companies Act as a company limited by guarantee. The liability of the members is limited to £1.