I am delighted that 2025 was another incredible year for Box4Kids, marked by the milestone of welcoming over 25,000 guests to our events. We also celebrated the 15th anniversary of Box4Kids in 2025.
Highlights included our expansion into Motorsport with 10 events, a record-breaking month in which we organised 61 events, and our first participation at the British Motor Show, held at Farnborough International Exhibition Conference Centre.
These special experiences, which bring such joy to children and their families, would not be possible without the generosity of our box donors. I am extremely grateful for their continued support. We were pleased to welcome several new donors in 2025, including Salesforce, AIA and KwikFit.
I continue to be deeply humbled by the bravery and resilience of the children and families we host at Box4Kids events. It is a privilege to provide experiences that create lasting memories and moments of joy during challenging times. I am also hugely grateful to the many fantastic volunteers who dedicate their time to hosting events.
On a personal note, one of my highlights was travelling to Tokyo to watch Katarina Johnson-Thompson, our Patron, and Keeley Hodgkinson, our Ambassador, complete at the World Track & Field Championships, where both proudly secured bronze medals.
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 2025. 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).
The Trust's main focus in the year ending 31 December 2025 was to increase the volume of executive box donations from 2024, to enable more beneficiaries to enjoy a Box4Kids event. Focus was also placed on expanding into new types of events.
The objectives of the Trust are, for the public benefit:
- To promote good health and healthy recreation through sport and education for the benefit of the public at large; and
- To promote and further the care, relief and convalescence of seriously ill, terminally ill and disabled children.
The objectives of the Trust reflect the charity's main focus, Box4Kids.
The Trustees have confirm that they have complied with the requirements of section 4 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission for England and Wales.
Box4Kids Policy
The scheme was established to benefit seriously ill and disabled children by enabling them to attend major sporting and entertainment events around the UK as VIP's in executive boxes. Policy guidelines were created when the scheme began and these guidelines continued to be followed throughout 2025.
With support from appropriate organisations to select deserving young people, Box4Kids continues to be open to children and young people aged 8-18 (aged 6-18 for entertainment and Jockey Club days) who are diagnosed with a physical illness, disease or disability that is serious or life-limiting.
Young people who meet the criteria attend the event with one guest over the age of 18, or up to three guests for Jockey Club days and other events where more space is available.
Children are nominated to attend events by the Barrie Wells Trust's national network of hospitals, hospices, charities and disability groups or through the Trust's website.
Box4Kids
The Barrie Wells Trust is a charitable organisation, founded and funded by entrepreneur and philanthropist Barrie Wells MBE. In 2010, two years after the creation of the Trust, the Box4Kids initiative was launched and has since grown to be the Trust's largest and most successful initiative.
Dedicated to bringing joy and happiness to children living with serious illness and disability, Box4Kids grants guests access to VIP experiences in executive boxes at major UK sporting and entertainment venues. Boxes not only offer superstar treatment, but also provide a safe, comfortable and accessible space for children with complex medical needs.
15 years on from the launch of Box4Kids, we are honoured to continue supporting families by gifting a little magic where it is needed most.
2025 highlights
- 4,099 deserving guests attended Box4Kids events.
- 384 events were delivered across the UK.
- 101 venues hosted events.
- 183 hospitals, hospices and charities nominated children.
- 103 companies, hospices and individuals donated their executive box(es).
- 30 new box donors came onboard with Box4Kids.
- 78 Hosts
2010-2025 highlights
- 25,864 deserving guests attended Box4Kids events.
- 2,524 events were delivered across the UK.
- 171 venues hosted events.
- 217 hospitals, hospices and charities nominated children.
Our Deserving Guests
Box4Kids supports children aged between 6-18 living with serious, sometimes life-limiting illnesses or disabilities. Many of the children who attend our events are in the critical stages of their conditions and Box4Kids helps them and their families to escape the pressures of hospital environments and spend precious family time together, creating cherished memories. By providing an accessible, safe place away from crowds, boxes offer a private space for medical care, as well as creating an environment where children can enjoy VIP events in comfort.
Each year we aim to help as many guests as possible to enjoy a VIP day out. In 2025 we invited 4,099 guests to enjoy a VIP Box4Kids experience.
Age range of children in 2025
10 years and under: 38%
11-14 years: 36%
15-18 years: 26%
Gender split
Female 38%, male 62%
VIP Events
Our high-quality events are designed to offer inclusive and accessible experiences for children and families facing childhood illness or disability. From trips to see LFC play at Anfield to enjoying Disney on Ice magic at the O2 Arena, from spellbinding West End theatre shows to adrenaline-packed motorsport, Box4Kids aims to offer unforgettable experiences for every child.
Range of different Box4Kids events in 2025
-Football 33%
-Entertainment 30%
-Equestrian 22%
-Women's sports 7%
-Rugby 4%
-Motorsports 3%
-Other sports 1%
Each year we strive to deliver more Box4Kids events to help more children and families benefit from a memorable day out.
Number of Box4Kids events per year
2018: 167
2019: 181
2020: 40
2022: 323
2023: 376
2024: 440
2025: 384
Money Can't Buy Experiences
A Box4Kids event often offers much more than simply watching a show or match in comfort; it's a true VIP experience. 2025 saw even more incredible experiences, including:
Manchester City FC Blue Carpet Experience
Guests watched up-close as the team walked down the blue carpet, shaking hands and sharing high-fives with all of their favourite players.
Manchester United FC Players' Lounge
Guests visited the VIP Players' Lounge post-match to meet and greet the players, including Team Captain Bruno Fernandes.
Exclusive Tottenham Hotspur FC Training Day
Guests joined the team behind the scenes, watching a training session then chatting with players and receiving autographs.
Our Partners
One of our main goals in 2025 was to reach as many deserving children as possible to attend our VIP Box4Kids events. This has been made achievable through a unique approach to collaboration with our partners, including executive box donors, our nomination network and volunteer hosts.
Our Donors
The Box4Kids mission is made achievable through the generous support of our event donors, who provide the use of their executive boxes for a range of incredible events. We are honoured to work with a wide variety of donors, ranging from large multinational companies to small family-run firms. Our donors offer support for various reasons, their box may be otherwise empty, they may wish to connect with their local community, or they simply wish to give back. Each and every donation, whether for a major UK venue or a smaller, local day out, is fundamental for creating phenomenal experiences for deserving young people and their families.
In addition to our amazing ongoing supporters, we're proud to continue our partnership as an official charity of the Jockey Club for the 10th consecutive year. The Jockey Club had donated numerous fantastic events at all 14 of their iconic UK racecourses. Box4Kids events with The Jockey Club are more than a day at the races, they are a VIP experience filled with money can't buy opportunities, including presenting prizes, visiting the parade ring, trying on silks and choosing the best turned out horse. The partnership has enabled over 5,000 guests to attend Jockey Club events.
Our Nomination Network
Our nomination network of hospitals, hospices, charities and disability groups all dedicate time to nominating children for Box4Kids events. We are pleased to continue working with a range of incredible organisations, including Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, Young Lives vs Cancer and many more.
In 2025 we started to steer nominators, including nurses, doctors and parents, to nominate directly through our website. Not only does this reduce office administrative time, it also clarifies to the nominator that a Box4Kids event is provided by the Barrie Wells Trust, removing the confusion that the event has been organised by the hospital.
Our Volunteers
We are proud to work with a large network of volunteers from across the UK, who dedicate their own time to hosting Box4Kids events. Hosts are a vital part of Box4Kids, ensuring that each event runs smoothly and all guests feel supported, welcomed and truly special throughout their day. In 2025, 78 volunteers helped by giving back their time to host 384 events.
The Trust spent £524,907 (2024 £506,297) during the period against income of £615,030 (2024: £739,019).
At the end of 2025, the Trust had free reserves of £388,284 (2024: £296,944). A decision was taken that the free reserves would increase in 2025 to a minimum of six months expenditure.
The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the Trust is exposed, and are satisfied that systems are in place to mitigate exposure to the major risks.
The development focus for 2026 is to maintain the total number of Box4Kids events and remain at the same operational capacity of staff and infrastructure. We will continue to build on relationships with all existing partners and box donors, whilst also focusing on acquiring new supporters.
In 2026 we will be returning to the Farnborough Airshow, marking a big milestone of 10 years working with FIA.
The Barrie Wells Trust ('the Trust') is a registered charity (number 1131478) and is also a private company limited by guarantee (number 6848662). The Trust's Governing Document is its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 17th March 2009, as amended on 2nd September 2009 and 27th September 2010.
The Trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
The Trust's Articles provide that there shall be no fewer than two trustees at any time. No maximum number of trustees is specified. Trustees are selected carefully in order to bring a range of business knowledge and expertise to the Trust, and each trustee has received a comprehensive briefing on the purpose and aims of the Trust. New trustees will be appointed by the existing trustees. The trustees meet as necessary in order to review the strategy of the Trust and to oversee the Trust's financial position.
Trustees are required to disclose all relevant interests and register them with the Chairman and, in accordance with the Trust's policy, to withdraw from decisions where a conflict of interest arises.
The company's current policy concerning the payment of trade creditors is to follow the CBI's Prompt Payers Code (copies are available from the CBI, Centre Point, 103 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1DU).
The company's current policy concerning the payment of trade creditors is to:
settle the terms of payment with suppliers when agreeing the terms of each transaction;
ensure that suppliers are made aware of the terms of payment by inclusion of the relevant terms in contracts; and
pay in accordance with the company's contractual and other legal obligations.
Trade creditors of the company at the year end were equivalent to XX day's purchases, based on the average daily amount invoiced by suppliers during the year.
Trustee remuneration
Two of the trustees were employed and remunerated by the Trust during 2025, following receipt of approval from the Charity Commission.
The Report of the Trustees report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
I report to the Trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Barrie Wells Trust (the Trust) for the year ended 31 December 2025.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the Trust are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.
Since the Trust’s gross income exceeded £250,000, the independent examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
accounting records were not kept in respect of the Trust as required by section 386 of the Companies Act 2006.
the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the financial statements give a true and fair view, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
the financial statements have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their financial statements in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
The notes on pages 12 to 20 form part of these financial statements.
Barrie Wells Trust is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is F7-F9 1st Floor, City Lab, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PP.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Trust's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" 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)". The Trust is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the Trust. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, [modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value]. 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 Trust 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 Trust has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement, and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably.
Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
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.
Fixed asset investments are initially measured at transaction price excluding transaction costs, and are subsequently measured at fair value at each reporting date. Changes in fair value are recognised in net income/(expenditure) for the year. Transaction costs are expensed as incurred.
At each reporting end date, the Trust 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 Trust has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the Trust's balance sheet when the Trust becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the Trust’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the Trust 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 Trust’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.
During the year the charity reimbursed expenses of £376 to Mr B J Wells (2024: £3,768).
The trustees do incur expenses for hosting events but have elected to pay these themselves so they are not recorded as expenses of the charity.
Ms P L J Rothwell received remuneration of £12,000 (2024: £12,000). Approval was given in 2011 by the Charity Commission for Ms Rothwell's remuneration.
Mr M J C Wells received remuneration of £34,943 (2024: £33,920). Approval was given in 2021 by the Charity Commission for Mr Wells' remuneration.
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
The Trust operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the Trust in an independently administered fund.
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.
During the year the Trust entered into the following transactions with related parties:
Donations made by Mr B J Wells without any conditions attached totalled £352,561 for the year (2024: £458,400).
At the balance sheet date the amount due to Mr B J Wells was £nil (2024: £nil).
The Trust had no material debt during the year.