Symposium Mammographicum - Charities report

REGISTERED COMPANY NUMBER: 01886866 (England and Wales)

REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 291982

Report of the Trustees and

Unaudited Financial Statements

for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

for

SYMPOSIUM MAMMOGRAPHICUM

Page

Report of the Trustees

1

to

9

Independent Examiner's Report

10

Statement of Financial Activities

11

Balance Sheet

12

to

13

Notes to the Financial Statements

14

to

18

The Trustees, who are also directors of the charity for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006, present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 December 2024. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of 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).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

Objectives and aims

The charity's objectives and aims are to promote research and to disseminate knowledge about improvements in methods and techniques for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of breast disease - cancer and other disorders.

Significant activities

Conference

The charity's 22nd conference (symposium) is due to take place at the Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth from 9th to 11th July 2025. Much of the planning took place in 2024, with particular reference to the scientific programme and technical exhibition.

The conference programme will consist of the usual keynote addresses and plenary sessions, along with parallel and proffered paper sessions, satellite symposia, workshops and posters.

The Organising Committee for the 2025 event is chaired by Dr Sarah Vinnicombe and vice chair Dr Nisha Sharma, both Trustees. The Committee is made up of Trustees as well as invited members from a range of disciplines to complement the core team and enhance the conference programme.

Working with other organisations

The charity, as part of its enthusiasm to widen the scope of the event, continues to collaborate with the Association of Breast Clinicians to help promote greater exchange of knowledge and debate within the conference.

Although the conference is scheduled to take place in July 2025, Symposium Mammographicum (SympMamm) had a presence at a range of other organisations' events.

SympMamm was included as a badged session on the topic of breast radiology at the UK Interdisciplinary Breast Cancer Symposium (UKIBCS) in Birmingham on 22-23 January 2024. Dr Vinnicombe chaired the session, which included presentations from Dr Nisha Sharma about the role of radiologists in planning loco-regional therapy after neoadjuvant systemic therapy, and Prof Andy Evans about the results of the Mammo-50 trial. Plans are underway to support its next event scheduled for January 2026 in Birmingham.

Similarly, SympMamm had a badged session at the Association of Breast Surgeons conference in Bournemouth, 13-14 May 2024, which included speakers Prof Andy Evans (Mammo-50), Dr Lyn Jones (Fast MRI) and Dr Gerald Lip (Artificial Intelligence).

The charity continued to embed its relationship with the Society of Radiologists in Training (SRT). Training workshops, organised by Ms Samantha Smith, Trustee, were embedded into their programme in Brighton, 23- 24 May 2024. The workshops were supported by colleagues, Ms Libby Loftus and Ms Katie Stabeler-Walker

SympMamm hosted a series of biopsy workshops at the annual UKIO conference in Liverpool, 10-12 June 2024. The organisation of the workshops was led by Ms Claire Borrelli with support from former Trustees, Ms Sue Garnett and Ms Zebby Rees and colleagues Ms Hannah Lewis, Ms Elizabeth Muscat, and Dr Sharooz Mohammidi. Several commercial suppliers kindly supported these workshops by providing ultrasound machines and disposables.

Volunteers

The charity receives support from a number of experts who have joined the COC, who provide additional expertise to develop the scientific programme for the biennial conference. The Trustees are grateful for the time and dedication that the additional COC members contribute, considerably enriching the conference programmes. We are also grateful for the support from former Trustees and colleagues across the radiographic network to help run practical workshops.

ACHIEVEMENT AND PERFORMANCE

Charitable activities

Symposium Mammographicum promotes an Award scheme of up to £2,500 each for radiologists, radiographers or other members of the diagnostic breast team. These can consist either of an Educational Award - to take up a secondment at a recognised centre in the UK or overseas to study a particular aspect of breast imaging practice, or a Research Award - to undertake a small research project related to breast imaging. The aim of the Awards is to support work which will contribute to improvement in the practice of breast imaging in the UK.

The charity also provides bursaries for applicants from outside the United Kingdom, which aim either to facilitate study by an observational clinical attachment in a specialist training centre in the United Kingdom over a period of one or two weeks, or to facilitate attendance at the Symposium Mammographicum conference. The bursary scheme is also now open to certain groups of people within the UK to apply for funding to attend the Symposium or undertake a clinical observation placement. Eligible groups include public/patient representatives, professionals looking to return to work within breast services after a career break, and students interested in entering the breast specialism within the radiography or radiology disciplines.

The Trustees continued to review ways of promoting the Award and Bursary schemes via web-based directories and on the websites of supportive organisations which hold similar objectives to Symposium Mammographicum. This has included support from the Higher Education Institutes to help attract radiography students.

Trustees received a number of bursary requests which were reviewed at their December 2024 Board meeting. Taking account of the financial constraints, the charity was able to award bursaries to three people to attend the conference in July 2025.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Principal funding sources

The Charity's principal sources of funding are the registration fees, exhibitors' payments and sponsorship of the symposia, all within the biennial conference.

Investment policy and objectives

The Trustees regularly monitor the return on the savings accounts, noting the interest rates and potential access to the reserves, and take a balanced approach given the degree of risk in arranging conferences. Following the Trustees' considered review of investments from mid-2015 to late 2016, with guidance from investment advisors (Sanlam), it was decided to maintain the current investment profile, with the caveat that regular benchmarking studies to compare interest rates would be undertaken to maximise the return. Such a review was undertaken in 2017 from which Trustees supported the transfer of funds from the then current saving facilities to different banks which offered more attractive interest rates. This exercise was completed in autumn 2017. Performance would be subject to review to ensure that the charity was able to secure a competitive return on investment, balanced against risk and accessibility of its reserves. This aspect is considered by the Trustees at each Board meeting, as part of the incorporation of the longer-term financial view as a standing item. In September 2024, Trustees agreed to open a second, interest-bearing, 40 day notice savings account to help maximise interest whilst retaining flexibility in managing the charity's reserves. This transfer took place in September 2024.

Reserves policy

The Trustees are conscious of the need to optimise the level of reserves the charity has at its disposal. In considering the level, attention has focused on the charity's operational needs, noting the significant up-front costs (and resultant potential risk) in setting up a conference. Regard was also paid to the perception of risk and the effects that external influences could have on income (for example, delegate numbers, exhibition size and income, venue costs, economic climate, reputation), mindful of the charity's objects and their continuing relevance. A summary review of the Reserves Policy was undertaken in 2017 and a detailed review was completed in 2021 to reflect the change in circumstances arising from the pandemic. A review of the policy will take place in 2025.

Financial Management Review

Trustees have a robust set of measures to provide greater clarity on the charity's standing and financial status, in tandem with the reserves policy and strategy. The measures include the adoption of longer-range forecasting over a two-year cycle at each meeting, to help provide assurance and highlight any risks from potential imbalances between income and expenditure, informed by experience from past cycles. In addition, to help minimise running costs to the charity, Trustees now alternate their quarterly meetings between meeting in person and using online video conferencing. Trustees are grateful to fellow Trustee, Ms Burch, for enhancing the way financial information is now being presented.

FUTURE PLANS

Strategic

Arrangements for the Bournemouth International Centre in Bournemouth to host the 22nd Symposium Mammographicum conference from the 9th to 11th July 2025 progressed. An Organising Committee was established in December 2023, with Dr Sarah Vinnicombe as Chair and Dr Nisha Sharma as Vice-Chair.

The Committee is made up of Trustees as well as invited experts from a range of disciplines to complement the core team and enhance the conference programme. The close collaboration with the Association of Breast Clinicians continues, with them organising their own sessions in parallel to the main SympMamm programme. The programme will also build on the multi-disciplinary element, and incorporate a physics training event, together with practical workshops.

Plans continue to work with similar organisations to help raise the charity's profile. This will include having a presence at the Society of Radiologists in Training and UKIO conferences in 2025.

Membership / Supporters scheme

Trustees continued to review the current arrangements and considered a range of ways to encourage financial support for Symposium Mammographicum, which included options for setting up a supporters' network. The charity's website was updated with information about how people could support Symposium Mammographicum, establishing PayPal and JustGiving links to receive donations as well as describing ways to leave a legacy via a will.

The Trustees are grateful for the continuing support from Members, (typically former Trustees) particularly with ongoing support for some of the collaborative work with other educational bodies such as the Society of Radiologists in Training.

Operational

Trustees appointed Profile Productions to organise the charity's 2025 conference in Bournemouth, following the success of the 2023 event.

The charity appointed Sandison Lang & Co to provide an independent examination of their annual report and accounts, with effect from 1 January 2024. This proposal was supported at the Annual General Meeting on the 18 September 2024

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

The charity is a company limited by guarantee as defined by the Companies Act 2006 and is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association.

Organisational structure

The charity's Trustees met four times in 2024, to manage its affairs, ensuring that its work is in line with its mission and aims, providing a strategic overview of the running of the conference and associated activities, finance and budget monitoring, investments, succession planning, and receiving and reviewing of award and bursary applications. Running consecutively, the Conference Organising Committee (COC) met four times, chaired by Trustee Dr Sarah Vinnicombe with fellow Trustee Dr Nisha Sharma as its Vice-Chair. The expertise of the Trustees is augmented on the COC by the appointment of

- Mrs Asmaa Al-Allak, Consultant Breast Surgeon, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

- Dr Monika Banerjee, Trainee Radiologist, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust

- Ms Lucy Cielecki, Consultant Radiographer in Breast Imaging, Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust

- Ms Noelle Clerkin, Deputy Breast Service Manager, Belfast Breast Unit

- Ms Kaye Day, Mammography Assistant Practitioner, Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals NHS Trust

- Dr Elisabetta Giannotti, Consultant Breast Radiologist, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

- Dr Zoe Goldthorpe, Associate Specialist Breast Clinician, Director, Somerset Breast Screening, Vice President, Association of Breast Clinicians

- Ms Helen Taylor, Service Lead Breast Imaging, Superintendent Radiographer, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The COC for the 2025 conference will continue until the end of the organising cycle in September 2025 and will be superseded by a new COC in December 2025 to support the 2027 conference.

In addition, the charity continued to work closely with the Association of Breast Clinicians, represented by Dr Cathy Coleman, who is also a Trustee of Symposium Mammographicum.

The Symposium attracts members of the medical, nursing and allied health professions, and associated staff, nationally and internationally. Manufacturers of medical equipment are invited for the purpose of presenting their own expertise and information and learning from the like presentation of others.

Trustees

There were no appointments or resignations made during the year.

Dr Patsy Whelehan continued in her role of Chair of Trustees and Dr Michael Michell as the charity's President. The Trustee Board remains cognisant of the need to review succession planning, a topic discussed at board meetings on a regular basis. Discussions regarding the charity's constitution have been ongoing, with Trustees agreeing in principle to adopt an updated Memorandum and Articles of Association (constitution) at their Board meeting on the 7th June 2024. The revisions brought it in line with best governance practice and included the provision of creating the role of Co-Chair of Trustees to formalise the sharing of responsibilities. The new constitution was presented to the members at the Annual General Meeting on the 18th September 2024, and supported unanimously. Trustees agreed to appoint Mr Oliver Morrish to be Co-Chair from this date, alongside Dr Whelehan.

It was with great sadness that current and former Trustees noted the death of Mr Reg Davis in February 2024 at the age of 93. A founding member, Reg had served as a Trustee for over 25 years until he stood down in 2007.

Risk management

The Trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. During the year, Trustees have continued to review risks by updating and refining the Risk Register, which has led to:

- assessing contract risk

- further reviewing the Reserves Policy

- assessing the Investment Policy

- reviewing safeguards against fraudulent activity by those with access to the charity's bank accounts

- continuing regular monitoring of income, expenditure, and effective management of the biennial symposia.

The Risk Register is reviewed formally on an annual basis and financial risks are considered at each meeting.

Fraud and Ethics Policy

Following a review of the Charity Commission's best practice guidance on Fraud, Anti Bribery and Ethics. The Charity continues to follow its policy, developed in 2017, which will be due for review in 2025

It is noted that Trustees and the Company Secretary already receive training and guidance regarding fraud, bribery, conflicts of interest and safeguarding by virtue of their professional roles in the National Health Service.

Complaints Policy

Following a review of the Charity Commission's best practice guidance, a Complaints Policy was developed and agreed in March 2019.

Document Retention Policy

A policy to regularise documents managed and retained by the Secretary was established in June 2022, in terms of paper and electronic records, along with the appropriate measures for secure disposal of records falling outside the statutory / best practice retention periods.

Governance

As part of the review of its constitution, Trustees reviewed and adopted a range of policies during 2024 to enhance good practice. These included: Fundraising, Anti-bullying, Grievance, Confidentiality, Conflicts of Interest, Safeguarding, Financial Controls and Whistle-blowing. In addition, role descriptions for Trustee, Chair, President, and Treasurer were formalised.

Legislation

The Trustees were mindful of potential changes to the data protection regulations (GDPR) and considered the changes in charity legislation under the Charities Act 2022.

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Registered Company number

01886866 (England and Wales)

Registered Charity number

291982

Registered office

2 St. Mary's Road

Tonbridge

Kent

TN9 2LB

Trustees

Dr M J Michell President

Dr P Whelehan Chair (co-chair from 18 September 2024)

Ms C Bailey

Mrs C Borrelli

Ms A Burch

Dr C Coleman

Dr R Deb

Dr R Given-Wilson

Prof M D Halling-Brown

Prof N Healy

Ms S McKellar

Dr C Mercer

Mr O W E Morrish Co-chair from 18 September 2024

Dr E O'Flynn

Mr D P L Ribet

Dr N Sharma

Ms S Smith

Dr M Telesca

Dr S Tennant

Dr S Vinnicombe

Company Secretary

Mr A Tillbrook resigned 25 March 2024

Dr D Ribet appointed 25 March 2024

Independent Examiner

Mr Ryan Cottington ACA

Sandison Lang Limited

2 St Marys Road

Tonbridge

Kent

TN9 2LB

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

Approved by order of the board of Trustees on 25 September 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

O W E Morrish - Trustee

Independent examiner's report to the trustees of Symposium Mammographicum ('the Company')

I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2024.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity's trustees of the 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 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 charity'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.

Mr Ryan Cottington ACA

Sandison Lang Limited

2 St Marys Road

Tonbridge

Kent

TN9 2LB

25 September 2025

2024

2023

Unrestricted

funds

Total funds

Notes

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donations and legacies

-

25,000

Charitable activities

Educational and academic

-

280,028

Investment income

2

2,738

1,293

Total

2,738

306,321

EXPENDITURE ON

Charitable activities

Educational and academic

16,505

306,579

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

(13,767

)

(258

)

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

120,376

120,634

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

106,609

120,376

2024

2023

Unrestricted

funds

Total funds

Notes

£

CURRENT ASSETS

Debtors

5

33,560

4,665

Cash at bank

171,033

118,645

204,593

123,310

CREDITORS

Amounts falling due within one year

6

(97,984

)

(2,934

)

NET CURRENT ASSETS

106,609

120,376

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES

106,609

120,376

NET ASSETS

106,609

120,376

FUNDS

7

Unrestricted funds

106,609

120,376

TOTAL FUNDS

106,609

120,376

The charitable company is entitled to exemption from audit under Section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 for the year ended 31 December 2024.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 in accordance with Section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for

(a)	ensuring that the charitable company keeps accounting records that comply with Sections 386 and 387 of the Companies Act 2006 and

(b)

preparing financial statements which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company as at the end of each financial year and of its surplus or deficit for each 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 financial statements, so far as applicable to the charitable company.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with and delivered in accordance with the special provisions applicable to small charitable companies subject to the small companies regime.

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Trustees and authorised for issue on 25 September 2025 and were signed on its behalf by:

Dr P Whelehan - Trustee

1.	ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of preparing the financial statements

The financial statements of the charitable company, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

Income

All income is recognised in the Statement of Financial Activities once the charity has entitlement to the funds, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Expenditure

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, 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 accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to the category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

Grants offered subject to conditions which have not been met at the year end date are noted as a commitment but not accrued as expenditure.

Taxation

The charity is exempt from corporation tax on its charitable activities.

2.	INVESTMENT INCOME

2024

2023

£

Deposit account interest

2,738

1,293

3.	TRUSTEES' REMUNERATION AND BENEFITS

There were no trustees' remuneration or other benefits for the year ended 31 December 2024 nor for the year ended 31 December 2023.

Trustees' expenses

Trustees expenses consist of the following:

Trustee meetings - £829

Re-imbursement of gifts - £62.50

4.	COMPARATIVES FOR THE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES

Unrestricted

funds

£

INCOME AND ENDOWMENTS FROM

Donations and legacies

25,000

Charitable activities

Educational and academic

280,028

Investment income

1,293

Total

306,321

EXPENDITURE ON

Charitable activities

Educational and academic

306,579

NET INCOME/(EXPENDITURE)

(258

)

RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS

Total funds brought forward

120,634

TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD

120,376

5.	DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2024

2023

£

Trade debtors

-

2,784

VAT

-

1,481

Prepayments

33,560

400

33,560

4,665

6.	CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

2024

2023

£

VAT

12,385

-

Other creditors

3,800

2,880

Accruals and deferred income

81,799

54

97,984

2,934

7.	MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

Net

movement

At

At 1/1/24

in funds

31/12/24

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

120,376

(13,767

)

106,609

TOTAL FUNDS

120,376

(13,767

)

106,609

Net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

2,738

(16,505

)

(13,767

)

TOTAL FUNDS

2,738

(16,505

)

(13,767

)

Comparatives for movement in funds

Net

movement

At

At 1/1/23

in funds

31/12/23

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

120,634

(258

)

120,376

TOTAL FUNDS

120,634

(258

)

120,376

Comparative net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

306,321

(306,579

)

(258

)

TOTAL FUNDS

306,321

(306,579

)

(258

)

A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined position is as follows:

Net

movement

At

At 1/1/23

in funds

31/12/24

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

120,634

(14,025

)

106,609

TOTAL FUNDS

120,634

(14,025

)

106,609

A current year 12 months and prior year 12 months combined net movement in funds, included in the above are as follows:

Incoming

Resources

Movement

resources

expended

in funds

£

Unrestricted funds

General fund

309,059

(323,084

)

(14,025

)

TOTAL FUNDS

309,059

(323,084

)

(14,025

)

8.	RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES

There were no related party transactions for the year ended 31 December 2024.