Financial report From our Treasurer

REPORT FROM OUR TREASURER

The unaudited trustees’ Report and Financial Statements for 2020 show that in spite of the Covid-19 pandemic income held up remarkably well and charitable expenditure increased.

In my report in the September issue of this newsletter I warned that inevitably income from our own and others’ fundraising events and training-related donations would be likely to be adversely affected for the foreseeable future. This was indeed the case for the remainder of the year and the outlook remains very uncertain.

Worst hit were the events organised by our many loyal supporters. They often involve physical challenges which simply were not possible with all the restrictions. Our own fundraising team lost some major events but showed great ingenuity in replacing them with online activities which were tremendously well supported. For most of the year our training courses for universities, colleges, schools and employers had to go online as well. They continued to attract much-needed donations but unsurprisingly at a lower level than normal. It was therefore very timely that we saw a significant increase in income from donations from charitable trusts and from individuals, perhaps in recognition of the growing number of people suffering from poor mental health as a result of the pandemic.

With that in mind the trustees proceeded with their plans to increase charitable spending and to prepare the Trust for further expansion by digitalising its operations and rebranding its public profile. At the same time additional staff have been recruited to try to fill the huge gap left by the retirement of Lady Waller as Head of Fundraising, to whom the Trust is hugely indebted for her immense contribution to its success. I am sure that when the Waller family set it up they could never have imagined that it would grow to the size it is today.

2021 is going to be another challenging year and as ever the trustees are acutely aware that almost all the Trust’s income is given voluntarily and that it cannot be taken for granted. They are therefore tremendously grateful to all those who continue to support its work.

The modest investment losses I reported in September have all been recovered.

In setting the budget for 2021 the trustees have made reasonable and prudent assumptions as to income but have planned a material increase in charitable expenditure on the basis that the resultant deficit will be funded from reserves.

The trustees’ Report and Financial Statements for 2020 will be approved by the trustees and filed with the Charity Commission by the end of May. Further details will be given in the next newsletter but if you would like a copy please contact the Trust’s office or email hello@charliewaller.org.

ROBIN BOOTH FCA TREASURER

A HUGE THANK YOU!

Now, more than ever, we are hugely grateful to our Fundraising Committee for helping to keep our income strong. As mentioned in the last newsletter we have recently said goodbye to Sue Shenkman and Louise Black; Booie de Selincourt and Imy Barrow have also retired after many years of sterling work. Enormous thanks to Mia West who has taken on the role of Chair.