The trustees (who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of company law) present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
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 governing document, 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 objects of the charity are the relief and care of new babies and their mothers and families, in particular those looked after by the Newcastle Neonatal Service at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, by:
i) the provision of financial or other support for families
ii) the purchase of equipment
iii) the improvement of amenities, facilities, and services
iv) such other charitable means as the Trustees determine
v) promoting and advancing research that relates to babies and families under the care of the Newcastle
Neonatal Service and to publish the useful results of such research
Our Vision:
We want all premature and sick newborn babies and their families living in the North East and North Cumbria to have the best possible chance to thrive.
Our Mission:
We support and champion premature and sick newborn babies and their families, at the Newcastle Neonatal Service and across the North East and North Cumbria.
Our Guiding Values:
Our work is underpinned by the following core values:
Families at the heart of everything we do
Care, support and empower
Listen, engage and respond
Progressive, inclusive and future-focused
Hightlights
In October 2024, we were delighted to launch our new 5-year strategy, after months of collaboration and consultation with families, supporters, staff and board members. The new strategy sets out three key impact goals for the coming five years, including a focus on supporting babies and families to flourish during the first 1001 days and beyond, ensuring babies and families with experience of neonatal care are understood and supported by those providing services, and championing neonatal care as a key driver of positive health and social outcomes in the North East and North Cumbria.
Our achievements are explored in greater depth in our Year in Review report included here.
In 2024/25, Tiny Lives continued to deliver and grow our support for neonatal families, both during their time on the unit and once they return home. Our activities this year directly supported over 850 families on the neonatal unit at the RVI, and more than 230 families through our fast-growing post-discharge services – ensuring care is continuous, responsive, and centred around family needs.
On the Unit: Comfort, Connection and Care
We continued to fund vital roles and services that go beyond NHS provision, including:
A clinical psychologist, providing emotional support for families on the unit and post-discharge.
A neonatal physiotherapist and specialist family support social workers, offering practical and therapeutic help.
Parent and sibling packs, developmental care aids, and other essentials that make a difficult experience more manageable.
We also invested in the neonatal environment and developmental care, including:
40 phototherapy incubator covers to reduce stress and improve neurodevelopmental outcomes for extremely premature babies.
A refreshed unit environment, including inclusive family imagery, to reinforce bonding, dignity and representation.
Beyond the Unit: Expanding Support Closer to Home
We made significant progress in growing our post-discharge offer:
Attendance at our ‘Meet, Chat, Learn’ programme rose by 40%, and we expanded it into more local areas to reach families where they live.
Peer support group attendance increased by 34%, reflecting greater demand for connection and shared experience.
Our counselling service supported more families than ever, with a 7% increase in sessions delivered.
We also launched new groups and experiences, including messy play, swimming lessons, and other classes designed to build confidence, strengthen bonds, and support development.
Mental Health, Loss and Bereavement: Responding with Compassion
Recognising the emotional trauma that can accompany neonatal care, in addition to our counselling and clinical psychology services, we piloted:
The ‘Health Anxiety Handbook’, developed with the clinical psychology service, to help parents manage anxiety post-NICU.
Heartbeat Bears for bereaved families, preserving the sound of a baby’s heartbeat as a lasting source of comfort.
Workforce and Learning
To support those caring for babies and families:
We funded staff to attend the UK National Neonatal Transport Group Conference, bringing national leaning back into local practice.
We supported neonatal professionals to access specialist training in congenital heart disease, building local capacity to care for complex cases.
This year’s achievements reflect a deeper alignment with our new 2024-2029 strategy, especially focusing on:
Helping babies and families flourish during the first 1001 days;
Ensuring families feel understood and supported throughout their journey;
Championing neonatal care as a driver of health and social equity across the North East and North Cumbria.
Thanks to a strong year of fundraising – including two exceptional one-off donations – we are well positioned to invest further in our strategy and reach even more families in the years ahead.
The Board would also like to pass their thanks and appreciation to all Trusts and Foundations who have provided support to Tiny Lives this year, further details of which can be found in more detail in the notes to the accounts.
Tiny Lives does not receive any government funding and fundraising continues to be the principal source of the charity’s income.
Financial Position
Full details of our financial position can be found in the accompanying financial statements attached to this report. The statement of financial activities shows total incoming resources of £853,052.
Designated funds have been utilised ringfence funds for funded staff posts which the charity has committed to. These are detailed in note 18 to the accounts.
Reserves policy
In line with Charity Commission guidelines, the trustees have a reserves policy to ensure the long-term sustainability of the charity. This policy stipulates that the charity will maintain unrestricted reserves equivalent to at least six months operating costs.
The reserves, designated funds and contracted commitments are reviewed annually in conjunction with the budgeting process and adjustments are made as needed to reflect changes in the charity’s activities, funding environment and risk profile. The trustees believe that maintaining adequate reserves, designated funds and provisions for contractual obligations is essential to safeguard the charity’s ability to operate effectively and to provide continuity of services to our beneficiaries.
In 2025/2026, Tiny Lives will continue to grow and expand our activities in line with the 2024 – 2029 strategy. Tiny Lives heartland is in the North East, supporting families from across the North East and north Cumbria.
We will continue to work closely with the RVI funding our core services and enabling new activities which support the principles of family integrated care. We will continue to explore opportunities to strengthen support for families across the family health pathway, including foetal medicine and transitional care.
We aim to expand our support for neonatal families in areas within the Northern Neonatal Network and establish opportunities to work in collaboration with others to provide appropriate support where it is less readily available. We have recognised the need to prioritise support for neonatal families who do not speak English as a first language, and those who have no recourse to public funds.
We will invest in staff training, systems and processes to improve access to our support for families and neonatal staff who engage with the charity, as well as internally.
The charity is registered as a charitable company limited by guarantee and was incorporated under its Memorandum of Association on 6 August 2012, commencing activity on 1 September 2013. The charitable company is constituted under its Memorandum of Association and is a registered charity (number 1150178). The Articles of Association have been approved by the Charity Commission.
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 the signature of the financial statements were:
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:
Trustees are appointed to maintain a balance of six clinical and six non-clinical trustees, from a variety of backgrounds. Appointments are made following an agreed process and ratified by the Board of Trustees. All new trustees follow an induction programme as set out in our Governance Policies document.
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 are responsible for setting the strategic direction of the charity and its overall management, under the terms of the Articles of Association. Effective day to day management is delegated to the Chief Executive. Quarterly board meetings are held to discuss strategy and performance, and to consider funding decisions.
Risk Management
The Board receive an update on risk at each meeting and review the risk register in detail annually, unless events dictate a more immediate detailed review. The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the charity is exposed, in particular the financial and operational risks, and are satisfied that systems and procedures are in place to mitigate our exposure to major risks.
Staff reviews
Staff salaries are reviewed annually. Salaries for new posts are benchmarked against similar local charities.
Pay policy for senior staff
No trustee received renumeration for their contribution to Tiny Lives during 2024/2025. The salary of the Chief Executive is reviewed annually in line with the rest of the staff team.
Related parties and co-operation with other organisations
Any connection between a trustee or senior manager of the charity with a supplier must be disclosed to the full board of trustees in the same way as any other contractual relationship with a related party. In the current year, no such related party transactions were reported.
The trustees, who are also the directors of The Tiny Lives Trust for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements 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 financial statements, 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 financial statements; and
- prepare the financial statements 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 financial statements 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.
In accordance with the company's articles, a resolution proposing that Robson Laidler Accountants Limited be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a General Meeting.
The Trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of The Tiny Lives Trust (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2025 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
certain disclosures of trustees' remuneration specified by law are not made; 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.
The risk of material misstatement due to error or fraud has been assessed in conjunction with how internal controls may mitigate any such risk. These controls are reviewed as part of the audit by performing systems walkthroughs to ensure they are operating effectively. Analytical review and substantive testing is also performed on all material balances and therefore any instances of non-compliance should be identified or considered as insignificant. In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud, the audit engagement team;
obtained an understanding of the nature of the industry and sector, including the legal and regulatory framework, in which the charity operates and how the charity complies with that legal and regulatory framework
inquired with management and those charged with governance about their own identification and assessment of the risks of irregularities, including any know actual, suspected or alleged instances of fraud
discussed with management and those charged with governance any non-compliance with laws and regulations and how fraud might occur including assessments of how and where the financial statements may be susceptible to fraud.
The risk of management override of controls was also considered an area of potential misstatement due to fraud. Audit procedures performed included testing of manual journal entries and other adjustments and evaluating the business rationale in relation to significant, unusual transactions and transactions entered into outside the normal course of business.
There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above and the primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of irregularities including fraud rests with management. As with any audit, there remained a risk of non-detection of irregularities, as these may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations or the override of internal controls.
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.
Use of our report
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.
Investments
Raising funds
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
Investments
Raising funds
The Tiny Lives Trust is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 19 Amethyst Road, Newcastle Business Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 7YL, United Kingdom.
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 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.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
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.
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 from trading activities include income earned from fundraising events and trading activities to raise funds for the charity. Income is received in exchange for supplying goods and services in order to raise funds and is recognised when entitlement has occurred.
No amount is included in the financial statements for volunteer time in line with the SORP (FRS 102). Further detail is given in the Trustees' Report.
Investment income relates to interest earned through holding assets on deposit.
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.
Support costs are those that assist the work of the charity but do not directly represent charitable activities and include office costs, governance costs and administrative payroll costs. They are incurred directly in support of expenditure on the objects of the charity and included project management carried out at Headquarters. Where support costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings the have been allocated to the cost of raising funds and expenditure on charitable activities on a basis consistent with use of the resources.
Expenditure is accounted for an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all costs related to the category. Expenditure is recognised where there is legal or constructive obligation to make payments to third parties, it is probable that the settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the expenditure incurred.
Grants payable to third parties are within the charitable activities. Where unconditional grants are offered the grant is recognised when they are awarded . Where grants are conditional relating to performance then the grant is accrued when the conditions have been met.
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
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.
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. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
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.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
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.
Grants
Raising funds
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The key management personnel of the charity comprise the trustees, and the Chief Executive. The total employee benefits of the key management personnel of the charity were £75,766 (2024 - £72,099).
The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
The restricted funds of the charity comprise the unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used.
Tiny Lives were delighted to a receive a grant from the Postcode Community Trust - Millionaire Street Grant, which is funded entirely by the players of the Postcode Lottery. Funds from this were directed to our Meet, Chat, Learn programme, our parent- baby development sessions.
The Hospital Saturday Fund awarded a grant towards the cost of the vCreate License. This web-based platform enables nurses to record and send video updates of newborns to parents, allowing them to access these clips anytime, from any internet-connected device. This continuous video diary documents the baby's progress and helps parents take a more active, participatory role in their child's care.
The Schuh Trust kindly awarded funds so that we could provide Water Confidence Sessions to our neonatal families.
W A Handley Charity Trust granted funds which Tiny Lives directed towards our counselling service for families.
The David & Ruth Lewis fund made a grant donation to the ‘First Days’ support package which babies and families receive when they are first admitted to the neonatal unit. The package provides practical, emotional and financial support, and includes a pair of miniboos, an initial support meeting with the Tiny Lives Family Support Worker, access to the Hardship Fund for those most in need, a Parking Permit, a Parent Admission Pack, and a Sibling Pack for those neonatal babies with a brother or sister. These items and activities enables family bonding, reduces trauma and improves emotional wellbeing.
Sally Waters made an in-memory donation that Tiny Lives have directed towards our Books for Babies initiative.
Travelling Spoon, a small local business, raised funds towards parent hardship travel.
A donation was received in 23/24 from Lowes Financial Management Ltd to fund parent packs. Parents receive a pack upon admission to the Unit. Each family receives one pack, which is full of useful bits and pieces to help make the initial transition to the Neonatal Unit a little easier.
In both 2023 and 2024 the iam property group selected Tiny Lives as their Charity of the Year. The funds raised in the 2023 partnership was restricted to providing 7hrs additional social work support on the Neonatal Unit. In 2024 their fundraising was to support the baby development project which directed funds towards the provision of equipment and a specialist staff post to support the healthy development of babies who spent time on the Neonatal Unit at Newcastle upon Tyne’s, Royal Victoria Infirmary. We are delighted to say that they have pledged to continue their support throughout 2025 with their funds raised are being restricted to the bereavement work Tiny Lives conducts.
A grant was awarded by the Co-Op Local Community Fund in both 22/23 and 23/24 to fund our Peer Support activities both on and off the neonatal unit.
Tiny Lives continues to receive regular donations from the Gardner fund, these funds contribute to the expressing room and breastfeeding initiatives on the ward.
For the third consecutive year TT2 Ltd contributed funds to the Tiny Lives Transport Scheme, helping to ensure parents can spend time with their poorly baby.
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.
Resources expended
Transfers
Staff posts- The staff posts designated fund represents our committed expenditure to posts for families on the ward.
Property costs - The fund relates to costs set aside for property maintenance.
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:
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2024 - none).
The charity had no material debt during the year.