The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023.
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the accounts and comply with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and the Statement of Recommended Practice, "Accounting and Reporting by Charities", issued in March 2005.
The charity's objects are:
(1) to promote good health and relieve need by: (i) providing support to persons living with dementia, their families and carers, including by providing advice, support and information; (ii) disseminating information and advice to persons living with dementia/alzheimer, their families and carers in order to improve their understanding and to enhance coping strategies; (iii) raising awareness of the symptoms and needs of persons living with dementia/alzheimer in the wider community; (iv) supporting research that includes the impact of gentle movement and exercise in relation to dementia and alzheimer's; and (v) providing experience-based and bespoke training for carers working with persons living with dementia/alzheimer.
(2) to advance the education of the public about dementia and about care and support for people living with dementia, their families and carers.
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
We continue to run successfully 6 dementia club sessions at various venues in the borough of Barnet All our sessions are very popular and well attended.
The carers group meetings meet every week on Tuesday evenings from 7.00pm to 8.30pm and more people are joining from around the country. People find the sessions so helpful and informative as carers sometimes share their stories and talk about any challenges, issues or even good news which other carers will also find helpful. I also sometimes invite speakers for the carers group for example from the council, legal consultants to talk about Wills and lasting Power of Attorney and also Accountants to provide advice and information for the carers. Our partners - Barnet Carers and WALFINCH also continue to support and work with us.
Our training with Barnet Council has been very successful and people continue to book online and face to face training through Eventbrite. Our members from the carers group have also completed the training and this has helped them to have a better understanding about dementia. Our CPD certified training has been delivered to many organisations, businesses, health organisations, care homes and also face to face training at Bus depots and Fire Stations. Our training is not only providing certificates to organisations confirming that they are ‘Working towards becoming Dementia Friendly’ which is what the Mayor of London is trying to promote but also individuals are receiving certificates to confirm that they are now dementia champions. We have also started to include in the training prevention strategies which provide information on how and what we can do to prevent most diseases to live a healthier life. The increase in strokes and diabetes 2 is a huge concern especially as diabetes can lead to dementia. My training goes into very in-depth details about what foods we should eat, lifestyle changes we can consider. All information in my training is backed by research Papers.
One of our doctors has now retired but continues to attend sessions sometimes. We have another doctor who provides medical advice to our members when required and attends a few of the sessions and takes blood pressures and also hearing checks.
We also continue to provide outings every year which members really look forward to.
I continue to receive referrals every week from Barnet Hospital Springwell Centre and occasionally receive referrals from Social Prescribers at GP surgeries and also from Age UK.
The charity's income is mainly derived from donations received. The statement of Financial Activities shows donations received of £46,312 and a net expenditure over income of £3,757 for the period. The trustees expect an increase in donations in the coming year.
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 equivalent to between three and six month’s 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.
The trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
The charity is a company limited by guarantee without share capital use of "Limited" exemption as established by memorandum and articles incorporated on 11 December 2015 as amended by a special resolution registered at companies house on 18 July 2016.
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:
The Board of Trustees is authorised to appoint new trustees to fill vacancies arising through resignation or death of an existing trustee.
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 trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Dementia Club UK (the charity) for the year ended 31 December 2023.
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.
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:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
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
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.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Dementia Club UK is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Churchill House, 137-139 Brent Street, London, NW4 4DJ.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's [governing document], 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 charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.
The financial statements are prepared in 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.
At the time of approving the financial statements, 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 financial statements.
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
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. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
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.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
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.
General grants received
Activities and events
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration during the year.
Support costs
Administrative expenses
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
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.
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2022- none).