Registered number
07580941
Registered Charity Number:
1141704
Joss Searchlight
Report and Financial Statements
31 March 2024
Joss Searchlight
Registered number: 07580941
Registered Charity Number: 1141704
Directors' Report
The directors present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024.
Principal activities
To relieve the needs of children suffering from cancer and their families through the provision of a co-ordinated support service including but not by way of limitation by offering practical and emotional support for families affected by a child's terminal diagnosis
Directors
The following persons served as directors during the year:
Mr N Parkes
Mrs D Parkes
Ms T Elder
Ms J Lewington
Mrs S Sheridan
Directors' responsibilities
The directors are responsible for preparing the report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the directors have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (Financial Reporting Standard 102 and applicable law). Under company law the directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the profit or loss of the company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to:
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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 financial statements;
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business.
The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
In so far as the trustees are aware, there is no relevant information of which the charitable company’s independent examiner is not aware; and the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant information and to establish that the independent examiner is aware of that information.
Disclosure of information to independent examiners
Each person who was a director at the time this report was approved confirms that:
so far as he is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the company's independent examiner is unaware; and
he has taken all the steps that he ought to have taken as a director in order to make himself aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the company's independent examiner is aware of that information.
This report was approved by the board on 30 August 2024 and signed on its behalf.
Mr N Parkes
Director
Joss Searchlight
CEO's Report
Our journey to improve the lives of families affected by childhood brain cancer continues. We find our strength from those we impact, specifically the children in our brain cancer community and their families, fighting brain cancer with incredible strength and bravery every day. As I reflect on the last 13 years leading Joss Searchlight, I remain both inspired and humbled by over 300 brave families personally known to us who have lost their child to this cruel disease.

I extend my endless appreciation to our donors, who provide Joss Searchlight with the means with which to invest in our support services. To our charity partners, I am profoundly thankful for their guidance & leadership, together we navigate the challenges to enhance family lives.

Joss Searchlight’s achievements are also a result of the hard work of many amazing individuals behind the scenes. Their commitment to Joss Searchlight empowers us to invest in programs and research that make a critical difference in the life of families facing child brain cancer. Together, we are a family who seeks hope & promise through working, learning and fighting.

There’s plenty to be proud of again this year. In February 2024 our trustees campaigned at Parliament, together with our charity partners as part of a collaboration to form The National Brain Tumour Strategy. We’re campaigning to shine a light on the urgent need for change and further support for our brain tumour community. During brain tumour awareness month this coming May we’ll be aiming to secure 50,000 + signatures via a petition to hand to Parliament. This will help ensure we get each of the Health Ministers’ attention and highlight that we desperately need a solution that works for everybody affected by a brain tumour – no matter where they live in the UK. Once the letter is handed in, we look forward to receiving the Government’s response & working to improve outcomes for everyone.

We’ve also donated a six figure sum so far as part of a multi-year commitment to fund UK paediatric clinical trails into aggressive child brain cancers. We will be continuing to work under the guidance of The Brain Tumour Charity’s Scientific Advisory Board.
We are only as successful as our community is supportive. We extend our deep gratitude to all who made this a successful year, our volunteers who so lovingly contribute their time, our extended cancer family community and charity partners who support us everyday & the many generous individuals, Charitable Trusts & supporters who have supported our cause.

Our year end to March 2024 was an example of doing our best to move forward. Let’s keep moving forward, letting voices be heard to improve care and cancer treatments and for the children suffering brain cancer today to be promised a healthier tomorrow.

Moving forward is what we do. No matter what the obstacles are in front of us.

Joss Searchlight
Registered number: 07580941
Registered Charity Number: 1E+06
Trustees' Charity Report
CHARITABLE OBJECTS
To relieve the needs of children suffering from cancer and their families through the provision of a co-ordinated support service including but not by way of limitation by offering practical and emotional support for families affected by a child's diagnosis.
The Impact of the cost of living crisis on our organisation:
In 2023/24 we received an increase of 26% to our Helpline with calls being longer & more complex as families struggle to cope with the COL crisis. We've not seen poverty in our brain cancer family community like this before, our hope is that we can continue to help those worse affected. A childhood brain cancer diagnosis can lead to significant inequalities (both short & long term) in a child’s life. Even for survivors there are devastating physical effects from aggressive cancer treatments. Children with brain cancer are especially high risk as they are generally followed up by neuro-oncology specialists rather than receiving the full elements of follow-up care. (The effects on the body vary depending on the brain cancer type & treatments but can include chronic disabilities & neuro-cognitive disorders).

Via our Cost of Living project we were able to collate detailed information regarding the financial impact for families, together with families stories of the difficulties in accessing benefits. The findings illustrated the devastating impact on families. Generally families have described that our resources helped to ease problems & helped to build resilience. Our support services are being highly praised by our cancer family community for tackling the unmet needs. It provides children & their families with ongoing personalised support packages & information which is helping to improve the experience throughout their cancer journey. Families who’ve received support & signposting are on average £5,000 per annum better off helping to ease the pressure. Feedback direct from families & via our community volunteers have informed us that the information, family grants & boxes of essential items have been well received. As the COL crisis continues, we are seeing more families come to us for top-ups of essential household items & hearing about more families turning their heating off to save energy. By providing basic essentials to a family we alleviate some financial pressure, meaning they can put the heating on for a bit longer, or can cook a healthy meal.
We also supported via our online Live Chat engaging with families to establish individual family needs & ensuring families can access the support & information they need both via our direct services & online platforms & signposting to additional sources of support. Volunteers supported the sourcing of goods (essential items) for the family hampers, appealing for shopping vouchers, packing & distribution of hampers/goods to family homes. We promoted our work via our website & via social media to our support groups & 43,000 social media followers.
Joss Searchlight
Registered number: 07580941
Registered Charity Number: 1E+06
Trustees' Charity Report
Our findings from our work are supporting our organisation to work in collaboration with other cancer support charities for a better understanding of the immediate needs faced by families & a strong need for easy to complete benefit forms. Our report is not exhaustive, it simply sheds light on the difficulties faced & makes a case for an increased focus on families affected by childhood brain cancer inequalities. More work is needed to fully describe the inequalities & together with partners we’re work on closing the gaps & promoting changes.
IMPACT ON FAMILIES
Brain cancer families face high financial costs, on average an extra £730 per month. This is an average of 38% of the families monthly income without measuring the wider impact of loss of full time employment & opportunity costs. Over three quarters of families had one parent who had to cease work in order to care for their sick child, in 18% of families both parents had to stop work completely & were completely dependent on benefits for their household income. It’s not uncommon for parents to have feelings of guilt, helplessness & confusion. For struggling parents, coping with the immense challenges of childhood brain cancer, financial worries made the simple act of fun family times very difficult. Parents frequently suffer a poorer quality of life in terms of their own physical and mental health & well-being and in their social relationships. Parents are increasingly asked to fill the void left by staff shortages in the NHS (children’s nurses account for just 6% of the UK’s total nurse population). Families are falling through the ever widening gaps in health and social care & this is putting an immense strain onto these families.This relentless pressure of 24/7 care combined with the financial cost of living crisis is impacting on parent’s wellbeing and mental health.
35% of parents show signs of acute stress
24% of parents have been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
70% of parents have been prescribed anti depressants and/or sleeping pills
Families informed us of:
Loss of employment or reduced hours of work to care for their child.
Increased nutritional food, supplements & medications for the side effects of cancer treatments.
Increased need for specialist medical equipment not funded by the NHS
Increased household bills (extra cost of increased heating to keep a sick child warm & the electricity for increased washing & tumble drying).
The cost of transportation to & from hospital visits & the cost of lodgings,
IMPACT ON FUNDRAISING
Annually we secure significant funding via large events, corporate sponsorship & ticket sales. We also secure further funds via live actions. The cost of living crisis has had a huge impact on the above. However, our double donation Crowd funders have encouraged our regular donors to chip in & has created new donors which has greatly eased the pressure.
Joss Searchlight
Registered number: 07580941
Registered Charity Number: 1E+06
Trustees' Charity Report
The support we put in place to address the COL crisis:
To help relieve the financial & emotional strain Support Workers support families with everything from providing essential healthcare, food & household items, e.g. clothing & bedding & funding specialist equipment. We give support with accessing the right benefits, signpost for financial support as well as giving compassion & simply someone to unburden with. We also increased our psychosocial support services to fill the gaps in support via the NHS.
KEY SERVICES
Via our support work & the families we support we actively listen to ensure the voices & experiences of children, siblings & families are heard. They are instrumental to our support service development. This enables us to share our findings with families, health & education professionals & work to make a difference. We are dedicated to strengthening our understanding of the challenges incurred by families. Via our focus groups of children, siblings, parents, health & education professionals (in addition to existing findings) we’re establishing an extraordinary grasp of what is most needed by families.

Our Common Experiences program indicates that the biggest gaps in childhood brain cancer journeys are within the area of long term recovery. Evidence via our Focus Groups, our community groups & our online support groups illustrated that there is a need for better communications provision & a need for talking/listening projects. This is of key importance as 82% of parents expressed frustration at being handed a bunch of NHS leaflets. We carried out a consultation by engaging with parents & via questionnaires. We identified a need to explore brain cancer families experiences of treatments & social care services. Our BAME community felt enhanced strategies were needed to involve them in a wider national initiative as opposed to targeting locations. We also focused on end of treatment communications. Feedback from our groups indicates that effective communication with NHS professionals is not happening with some 70% of families were not fully aware that their child’s cancer treatments could cause serious late effects. Only a quarter reported that they had received a letter of their child’s cancer treatments. Common goals include better integration into school life, more effective social & educational development. Our findings illustrated that it’s the families as opposed to the care professionals who are assuming most of the burden of care responsibility.

Live Chat’ via our website proved a popular new way for families to reach out for help. Understanding more about how families cope with cancer related stress is enabling us to develop needs driven support services.
Joss Searchlight
Registered number: 07580941
Registered Charity Number: 1E+06
Trustees' Charity Report
Art therapy projects:
We achieved our aims by providing free art kits & workshops to children affected by childhood brain cancer, their siblings & parents to allow them to benefit. These included sketching, paintings, group poems, model making & textiles. Via our online gallery & via partner galleries & events we provided a place for those affected by childhood brain cancer to share their work so that they felt heard, understood & part of the wider cancer community. Under headings of ‘The Real Me’, ‘My Cage, My Love’ ‘Scared to tell you’ & ‘What is sad?’ we created therapeutic group poems & artworks expressing the tragic raw emotions felt by so many. This helps friends, family & the wider cancer community to better understand some of the common experiences & problems children, their siblings & parents have to endure. We also focused on the more uplifting themes of ‘What is a child cancer hero?’ ‘Healing Hands’ & ‘Hope, Dream, Believe’, exploring themes of creating hope. We supported families’ emotional needs giving children with brain cancer, their siblings & parents a space to explore & express their feelings, exploring & challenging communications, processing hurt, developing self awareness & moving towards the changes they need to make to cope with their struggles. Our projects enabled us to continue to reach vulnerable families when they were in a bad way, struggling to cope with lessened ability, disability, learning difficulties (caused by cancer treatments), feelings of isolation as they feel separated from friends & their wider family. Our project was delivered by art therapists & support workers with the collaboration of professional artists. Our volunteers helped to facilitate creative activities by motivating families to explore & develop new skills.

Additionally, we successfully collaborated with The Brain Tumour Charity to provide works from children & families for the ‘TIME’ art exhibition which is being staged at The Business Design Centre, London. Time will be open to the public to help everyone better understand the journey taken by patients, loved ones, supporters, clinicians & researchers when they’re living with a brain tumour or supporting a family who’s received a diagnosis.
Joss Searchlight
Registered number: 07580941
Registered Charity Number: 1E+06
Trustees' Charity Report
Treatments for rare brain tumours
Amazing progress has been made with many child cancers, e.g. children with leukaemia now have survival rates 80% (compared with just a 20% survival rate in the 1970’s) This is due to the multi million pounds research. Development funding that was made available to child leukaemia. Joss Searchlight are dedicated to the funding of clinical research into the most rare & devastating brain tumours in children, along with improved diagnostics, treatment & care. In 2023 Joss Searchlight made a £150,000 pledge to fund childhood glioma research. Our research strategy focuses on what matters to families living with DIPG/DMG. We will fund science of the highest quality that has potential to deliver.
Our research funding is designated for developing treatments that are less toxic to children & to finding treatments for brain tumours to extend & improve life & hopefully prevent aggressive tumours in the future. We’ve donated a six figure sum to this important work. Our financial support, together with collaboration with other cancer organisations, charities & advocacy groups is making a significant contribution towering improving the outcomes for children with brain tumours. Brain cancer are the biggest disease related killer of our children.
In Spring 2024 new treatment was approved for rare paediatric brain tumours, which demonstrates the impact of early stage research. Though this treatment will affect a small population (around 30-60 children a year), this represents real progress, as it’s the first treatment to be approved by NICE in decades. NICE has approved the use of dabrafenib and trametinib for use in children aged between 1-17 with low and high-grade gliomas that have a BRAF V600E mutation. The current standard of care is radiotherapy & chemotherapy, which are not always effective for these types of tumours & can have brutal side effects. The new treatment is taken in tablet & liquid form so can be administered at home with few side effects as well as less time spent in hospital.

The combination medication is the first targeted treatment to be made available on the NHS for paediatric gliomas. The two drugs work together to block the growth signal coming from the mutant BRAF protein, slowing or even stopping the tumour from growing.

Clinical trials show that this treatment has the potential to:

• Improve five-year survival
• Offer fewer treatment related side effects
Joss Searchlight
Registered number: 07580941
Registered Charity Number: 1E+06
Trustees' Charity Report
Public benefit:
The charity acknowledges its requirement to demonstrate clearly that it must have charitable purposes or ‘aims’ that are for the public benefit. Details of how the charity has achieved this are provided in the trustees' report. The trustees confirm that they have paid due regard to the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit before deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
Financial sustainability:
Our work is sustainable due to our incredible volunteers raising funds to increase our income. We have also worked hard to ensure that we secure multiple year donations from a small number of charitable trusts and foundations.
Financial review:
The charity received total income of £117,988, the cost of raising funds was £42,112 (including Professional, Consultancy fees & VAT)
Risk assessment:
The trustees actively review the major risks which the charity faces on a regular basis and believe that maintaining the free reserves stated, combined with the annual review of the controls over key financial systems carried out on a annual basis will provide sufficient resources in the event the adverse conditions. The trustees have also examined other operational and business risks which they face and confirm that they have established systems to mitigate the significant risks.
Reserves policy:
The trustees have considered the level of reserves they wish to retain, appropriate to. The charity’s needs. This is based on the charity’s size and the level of financial commitment held. The trustees aim to ensure the charity will be able to continue. To fulfil its charitable objectives even if. There is a temporary shortfall income or unexpected expenditure. The trustees will endeavour not to aside funds unnecessarily.

The policy is to ensure free reserves for 6 months of expenditure. Joss Searchlight is very dependent on. Its own fundraising efforts. The. Trustees ensure that the reserves are regularly checked and keep the reserves policy under quarterly review.

The trustees are unconcerned by the surplus level held at 31st March 2024 given that in addition to the above, allowing for income fluctuations, the trustees plan to commit substantial funds to raise further awareness of brain tumours and in collaborations with The Brain Tumour Charity and other cancer charities to fund UK paediatric clinical trials.
Joss Searchlight
Registered number: 07580941
Registered Charity Number: 1E+06
Trustees' Charity Report
Governing document:
Joss Searchlight is a company limited by guarantee without share capital use of 'Limited' exemption, governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association as amended on 3 November 2011. It is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission. Members of the charitable company guarantee to contribute amounts not exceeding £1 to the assets of the charitable company in the event of winding up.
Recruiting & appointing trustees:
Trustees are known to us and have ‘lived’/direct experience of caring for a child with cancer, two have experience of working as consultants at Macmillan Cancer Support, one as an employee within Cancer Research.
Volunteers:
We have a total of 44 wonderful volunteers who support the work of our charity,. Volunteers contribute greatly to the charity by:
1 Creating awareness of childhood brain cancer, e.g. delivering publications to treatment centres and promoting messages online.
2 Support Services - organising activities, e.g. art therapy sessions, meeting with families to offer support, delivering toys, art materials, cleaning materials and other support items. Creating and delivering small remembrance gifts, e.g. to families who lost a child to brain cancer.
3 Working with our focus groups to establish ‘common experiences’ and what helps to build resilience.
4 Evaluating how well health, education and social services listen to children with brain cancer and their families.
5 Event planning and delivery, e.g. our Christmas Ball for 300 guests
FUTURE PLANS:
Our key priorities include:
Looking for opportunities to expand our support services to give families access to care services and resources.
Conducting continuing evaluation to the development of the information for families on our website & ensure we’re meeting their needs.
To continue to collaborate with The Brain Tumour Charity & other associated charities to complete a 5 year research program into aggressive paediatric brain cancers. We also plan to continue to collaborate with collective voices & plan to link with The Brain Tumour Charity regarding their art exhibitions & ongoing awareness.
Joss Searchlight
Registered number: 07580941
Registered Charity Number: 1E+06
Trustees' Charity Report
Support Services
Central to our support is for every child with a brain tumour to be properly cared for & supported at home with their families whenever possible & to have involvement in all decisions.
Communications
Via communications we plan to focus on long-term care support, especially regarding late effects leading to disabilities. We need to establish common services needed by groups of children with chronic needs & disabilities. We plan to further develop our supportive services for families of children with brain cancer to provide information, more opportunities for advocacy, peer support, & specialist services We are developing a stronger public voice for families on key issues & developing communication tools to improve communication of our impact. We need to continue our campaign to raise awareness of the pressure on families with the cost of living crisis & of families having increased expectations to deliver 24/7 support with little help.
The charity has established nationwide connections with cancer charities & hospices, all united by a common objective: collaboration, the exchange of communications, successful strategies. By harnessing our connections, we aim to strengthen our impact & enhance our support. We strive to maintain regular communication & provision to families, promote interaction between parents, families & signpost to other organisations. We further aim to increase public awareness of childhood brain cancer.

Our enhanced website is expanding our reach, growing our audience & promoting more digital activity. We have consolidated online articles on wellbeing to help families navigate the cancer journey. The content in the family sections are informed by the needs & issues faced by families & by the health professional community.
‘Common Experiences’ Program
By addressing the key learnings from the support sessions we are able to create a strong foundation to develop future support services.
Key Aims:
1. To shed light on relatively ignored issues and make the case for an increased focus on childhood brain cancer inequalities.
2. Provide high-quality follow-up care that addresses the social & socioeconomic impacts of a childhood brain cancer diagnosis, as well as the physical and psychological late effects.
Joss Searchlight
Registered number: 07580941
Registered Charity Number: 1E+06
Trustees' Charity Report
It’s Good to Talk Films
As part of our ‘It’s Good to Talk’ Support we plan to create films & media to find the positivity through the adversity of childhood brain cancer. Our key aims are to look at experiences & perception of children. To explore ages, developmental stages, emotional & social strengths, family dynamics & to seek more information regarding their care. To provide a greater insight into the experiences needed to improve health & education care providers ability to better align their support with the need & perspectives of families. To strengthen connections & relationships with other charities & partners & enhance collaborations. To better understand the influences of ethnicity & culture & help create strategies to address inequalities.
Clinical Research
We plan to continue to collaborate with large cancer organisations to provide funding for rare childhood brain tumours over the long term. Our financial support, together with collaboration with other cancer organisations, charities and advocacy groups will make a contribution towards improving the outcomes for children with rare brain tumours including DIPG/DMG.
Joss Searchlight supports the discovery of new knowledge to advance paediatric research into childhood brain tumours, with a focus on the deadliest of all tumours DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pons Glioma) /DMG which kills 100% of all children suffering from it.
Our research strategy focuses on what matters to families living with DIPG/DMG. We will fund science of the highest quality across the world that has the potential to deliver for DIPG/DMG sufferers.
Key Areas of Interest
Make improvement in the knowledge of treatment late effects, quality of life & survivorship; Advancing approaches to diagnosis; Development of brain cancer healing approaches & reduction of chemical toxin in treatment.
We’re delighted to be one of the UK partners involved in a collaborative network with the objective of improving outcome for children with newly diagnosed, high-risk brain tumours (including diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma & high-grade gliomas). This 5 year research will conduct small, scientifically-rational, pilot. studies. To assess incorporating promising new therapies into established frontline therapeutic regimes.
The key aims are to : Provide a detailed & accurate genetic profile of a brain tumour; To investigate how well selected therapies in the TARGET trial work; To examine the reasons why some child patients respond to treatment & some don’t; To increase the knowledge about paediatric high-grade gliomas; To collect data that will benefit individual child patients.
“We believe the research we’re doing is cutting edge, it’s pioneering in terms that we’re actually focusing very much on high risk brain tumours. We now have examples where we have studied specific targeted drugs that block pathways that lead to the growth of some brain tumours. Recent clinical trials may lead to these replacing conventional chemotherapy”
Professor Darren Hargrave - University College, London
“For the first time we are not simply trying things that have already failed in adult brain tumours”. Professor Chris Jones - Institute of Cancer Research
Joss Searchlight
Independent Examiners report
to the members of Joss Searchlight
Opinion
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charitable company for the year ended 31 March 2024, set out on pages 14 to 27.
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 company 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.
Responsibilities and Basis of Report
As the charity’s trustees of the charitable company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the charitable company 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 your charitable company’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the ‘2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
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:
1) accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
2) the accounts do not accord with those records; or
3) the accounts 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 accounts 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 accounts to be reached. However, I would like to draw your attention to the related party disclosure in Note 13 on pages 23.
A Edwards FCCA
Independent Examiner 2 Meadow Court
for and on behalf of High Street
Burrows & Edwards Limited Witney
Independent Examiner Oxfordshire
30 August 2024 OX28 6ER
Joss Searchlight
Income Statement
for the year ended 31 March 2024
Notes 2024 2023
£ £
Income from generated funds:
Charitable activities 3 117,988 111,453
Charitable Grants (51,200) (50,700)
Direct charitable expenditure (60,679) (60,972)
Expenditure on raising funds (886) (12,490)
Support and governance costs (12,686) (5,722)
Operating loss 4 (7,463) (18,431)
Interest payable 6 (248) (487)
Loss on ordinary activities before taxation (7,711) (18,918)
Tax on loss on ordinary activities - -
Loss for the financial year (7,711) (18,918)
Joss Searchlight
Statement of Comprehensive Income
for the year ended 31 March 2024
Notes 2024 2023
£ £
Loss for the financial year (7,711) (18,918)
Other comprehensive income
Total comprehensive income for the year (7,711) (18,918)
Joss Searchlight
Statement of Financial Position
as at 31 March 2024
Notes 2024 2023
£ £
Fixed assets
Tangible assets 7 6,093 10,830
Current assets
Stocks 8 470 470
Debtors 9 3,500 3,500
Cash at bank and in hand 122,081 128,214
126,051 132,184
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 10 (2,763) (2,763)
Net current assets 123,288 129,421
Total assets less current liabilities 129,381 140,251
Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year 11 (6,358) (9,517)
Net assets 123,023 130,734
Capital and reserves
Profit and loss account 12 123,023 130,734
Total equity 123,023 130,734
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to small companies within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 and with the Financial Reporting Standard 102 Section 1A smaller entities.
For the financial year ended 31 March 2021 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006.
No notice has been deposited under section 476 of the act requesting the company to obtain an audit.
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for ensuring that the company keeps accounting records which comply with section 386 and for preparing accounts which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company as at the end of the financial year and of its surplus or deficit for the financial year in accordance with the requirements of sections 394 and 395 and which otherwise comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to accounts, so far as applicable to the company.
Mr N Parkes
Director
Approved by the board on 30 August 2024
Joss Searchlight
Statement of Changes in Equity
for the year ended 31 March 2024
Designated Restricted Unrestricted Total
Funds Funds Funds
£ £ £ £
At 1 April 2022 25,000 - 124,652 149,652
Loss for the financial year (18,918) (18,918)
Transfer between funds 115,000 (115,000) -
At 31 March 2023 140,000 - (9,266) 130,734
At 1 April 2023 140,000 - (9,266) 130,734
Loss for the financial year (7,711) (7,711)
Transfer between funds - - -
At 31 March 2024 140,000 - (16,977) 123,023
Joss Searchlight
Statement of Cash Flows
for the year ended 31 March 2024
Notes 2024 2023
£ £
Operating activities
(Loss)/profit for the financial year (7,711) 49,487
Adjustments for:
Interest payable 248 487
Depreciation 5,243 2,816
Decrease in stocks - 2,218
Decrease in debtors - 6,853
Decrease in creditors - (1)
(2,220) 61,860
Interest paid (248) -
Cash (used in)/generated by operating activities (2,468) 61,860
Investing activities
Payments to acquire tangible fixed assets (506) (3,154)
Cash used in investing activities (506) (3,154)
Financing activities
Repayment of loans (3,159) (1,475)
Cash used in financing activities (3,159) (1,475)
Net cash (used)/generated
Cash (used in)/generated by operating activities (2,468) 61,860
Cash used in investing activities (506) (3,154)
Cash used in financing activities (3,159) (1,475)
Net cash (used)/generated (6,133) 57,231
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 April 128,214 70,983
Cash and cash equivalents at 31 March 122,081 128,214
Cash and cash equivalents comprise:
Cash at bank 122,081 128,214
Joss Searchlight
Notes to the Accounts
for the year ended 31 March 2024
1 Summary of significant accounting policies
Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with FRS 102, The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland.
Turnover
Turnover is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable, net of discounts and value added taxes. Turnover includes revenue earned from the sale of goods and from the rendering of services. Turnover from the sale of goods is recognised when the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods have transferred to the buyer. Turnover from the rendering of services is recognised by reference to the stage of completion of the contract. The stage of completion of a contract is measured by comparing the costs incurred for work performed to date to the total estimated contract costs.
Intangible fixed assets
Intangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulative amortisation and any accumulative impairment losses.
Tangible fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulative depreciation and any accumulative impairment losses. Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets, other than freehold land, at rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset evenly over its expected useful life, as follows:
Freehold buildings over 50 years
Leasehold land and buildings over the lease term
Plant and machinery over 5 years
Fixtures, fittings, tools and equipment over 5 years
Investment property
Investment property is initially recognised at cost and then subsequently measured at fair value. Changes in value are recognised in profit or loss.
Investments
Investments in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures are measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. Listed investments are measured at fair value. Unlisted investments are measured at fair value unless the value cannot be measured reliably, in which case they are measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. Changes in fair value are included in the profit and loss account.
Stocks
Stocks are measured at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell. Cost is determined using the first in first out method. The carrying amount of stock sold is recognised as an expense in the period in which the related revenue is recognised.
Debtors
Short term debtors are measured at transaction price (which is usually the invoice price), less any impairment losses for bad and doubtful debts. Loans and other financial assets are initially recognised at transaction price including any transaction costs and subsequently measured at amortised cost determined using the effective interest method, less any impairment losses for bad and doubtful debts.
Creditors
Short term creditors are measured at transaction price (which is usually the invoice price). Loans and other financial liabilities are initially recognised at transaction price net of any transaction costs and subsequently measured at amortised cost determined using the effective interest method.
Taxation
A current tax liability is recognised for the tax payable on the taxable profit of the current and past periods. A current tax asset is recognised in respect of a tax loss that can be carried back to recover tax paid in a previous period. Deferred tax is recognised in respect of all timing differences between the recognition of income and expenses in the financial statements and their inclusion in tax assessments. Unrelieved tax losses and other deferred tax assets are recognised only to the extent that it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits. Deferred tax is measured using the tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date and that are expected to apply to the reversal of the timing difference, except for revalued land and investment property where the tax rate that applies to the sale of the asset is used. Current and deferred tax assets and liabilities are not discounted.
Provisions
Provisions (ie liabilities of uncertain timing or amount) are recognised when there is an obligation at the reporting date as a result of a past event, it is probable that economic benefit will be transferred to settle the obligation and the amount of the obligation can be estimated reliably.
Foreign currency translation
Transactions in foreign currencies are initially recognised at the rate of exchange ruling at the date of the transaction.

At the end of each reporting period foreign currency monetary items are translated at the closing rate of exchange. Non-monetary items that are measured at historical cost are translated at the rate ruling at the date of the transaction. All differences are charged to profit or loss.
Leased assets
A lease is classified as a finance lease if it transfers substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership. All other leases are classified as operating leases. The rights of use and obligations under finance leases are initially recognised as assets and liabilities at amounts equal to the fair value of the leased assets or, if lower, the present value of the minimum lease payments. Minimum lease payments are apportioned between the finance charge and the reduction in the outstanding liability using the effective interest rate method. The finance charge is allocated to each period during the lease so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability. Leased assets are depreciated in accordance with the company's policy for tangible fixed assets. If there is no reasonable certainty that ownership will be obtained at the end of the lease term, the asset is depreciated over the lower of the lease term and its useful life. Operating lease payments are recognised as an expense on a straight line basis over the lease term.
Pensions
Contributions to defined contribution plans are expensed in the period to which they relate.
2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements
No significant accounting estimates and judgements have had to be made by the trustees in preparing these financial statements.
3 Analysis of turnover 2024 2023
£ £
Charity Shop/Ebay Shop - -
Fundraising income 117,988 111,453
117,988 111,453
By geographical market:
UK 117,988 111,453
4 Operating profit 2024 2023
£ £
This is stated after charging:
Depreciation of owned fixed assets 5,243 2,097
5 Staff costs 2024 2023
£ £
Wages and salaries - -
Social security costs - -
Other pension costs - -
- -
Average number of employees during the year Number Number
Administration (including Trustees) 6 6
6 6
6 Interest payable 2024 2023
£ £
Bank loans and overdrafts 248 487
7 Tangible fixed assets
Equipment Fixtures and Fittings Motor Vehicles Total
At cost At cost At cost
£ £ £ £
Cost or valuation
At 1 April 2023 19,965 4,128 4,500 28,593
Additions 339 167 - 506
At 31 March 2024 20,304 4,295 4,500 29,099
Depreciation
At 1 April 2023 10,608 2,880 4,275 17,763
Charge for the year 4,779 464 - 5,243
At 31 March 2024 15,387 3,344 4,275 23,006
Carrying amount
At 31 March 2024 4,917 951 225 6,093
At 31 March 2023 9,357 1,248 225 10,830
8 Stocks 2024 2023
£ £
Donated goods and good for distribution 470 470
9 Debtors 2024 2023
£ £
Other debtors 3,500 3,500
10 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 2024 2023
£ £
Bank loans 1,863 1,863
Trade creditors 900 900
2,763 2,763
11 Creditors: amounts falling due after one year 2024 2023
£ £
Bank loans 6,358 9,517
12 Profit and loss account 2024 2023
£ £
At 1 April 130,734 149,652
Loss for the financial year (7,711) (18,918)
At 31 March 123,023 130,734
Designated Funds:
Brain tumour research 50,000 50,000
Raising awareness 12,000 12,000
Support work activities 20,000 20,000
Holiday grant programme - -
Unrestricted funds 41,023 48,734
123,023 130,734
13 Related party transactions
It was agreed at the charity's outset that Dianne Parkes, Director, would work as fundraiser due to her experience in fundraising and her knowledge of the organisation. This is considered to be a payment for provision of services and consent from the Charity Commission was obtained in 2013.
During the financial year the amount of consultancy fees paid (via the company Absolute Works Ltd of which D Parkes is a Director) was £38,746 inclusive of VAT. (2022/23 £33,123 inclusive of VAT).
Note: the charity occupies a large 2 storey building owned by two of the directors rent free. The Board of Directors consider it reasonable to reimburse the Directors for a portion of the electricity and heating, internet and telephone/helpline costs that they have paid personally.
14 Presentation currency
The financial statements are presented in Sterling.
15 Legal form of entity and country of incorporation
Joss Searchlight is a private company limited by guarantee and incorporated in England.
16 Principal place of business
The address of the company's principal place of business and registered office is:
Registered office:
Station House
15 Station Lane
Witney
OX28 4BB
Principal place of business:
Station House
15 Station Lane
Witney
OX28 4BB
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