Annual Report 2024-2025

Annual report 2024–2025

for healthy East London lives

Chair and Chief Executive’s introduction

The 2024/25 financial year was another year of strong performance, reflected both in the level of our grant-making and prudent management of our investment portfolio.

We were delighted to award £21.7m in funding, split between our three partners: £5.0m to Barts Health NHS Trust (Barts Health), £16.6m to the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (FMD) at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and £0.1m to the School of Health and Medical Sciences at City St George’s, University of London (formerly City University).

The value of our investment portfolio was £506m at the year end with available reserves significantly in excess of the minimum level required to meet our operational and funding commitments and preserve the real-terms value of the portfolio. We recognise that we are operating against a backdrop of potentially volatile markets and continued economic uncertainty. However as an endowment, we are able to take a longer view and we remain committed to our strategy of investing for the long term.

We continue to support a broad range of research and healthcare projects through a number of targeted funding schemes. Some key awards this year have included:

• £4.63 million to establish a new centre to tackle high rates of tuberculosis (TB) in East London and deliver “step-changes” in how TB is understood, diagnosed, and treated, helping patients not just in our local community but around the world.

• £0.65m to introduce a new low energy x-ray treatment (contact x-ray brachytherapy) for rectal cancer patients at Barts Health, that can provide a way to kill cancer cells and reduce the size of rectal tumours without the need for surgery.

• £0.65m to establish a nurse-led alcohol and drug liaison service at Newham Hospital to provide patients with support, treatment and help to access ongoing care for alcohol and drug misuse.

• £0.4m to study how short-term exposure to air pollution in London school playgrounds affects children’s lung function and inflammation of the airway that can lead to asthma attacks and problems.

You can find out more about how we are making a difference to the health of people in East London in our impact report (available on our website, renewed in September). We could not have achieved so much in the last year without our highly talented and engaged staff, Board and advisers, partners and supporters. We feel very fortunate to have their support and would like to extend our thanks for all they do.

Stephen Bonnard Chair of Trustees

Fiona Miller Smith CEO

Trustees’ Report

The Trustees present their report, incorporating the strategic report, and the audited financial statements for the year ending 31 March 2025. The introduction from the Chair and Chief Executive on page 1, and the Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities on pages 21 and 22 form part of this report.

The financial statements as at 31 March 2025 and for the year then ended have been prepared under the historical cost convention except for investments which are held at fair value in accordance with applicable United Kingdom Accounting Standards comprising the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) including 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 (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), Charities Act 2011, and the Companies Act 2006.

Who we are and what we do

Vision

Life changing improvements to health for the people of East London.

Mission

A charity with its roots in East London, dedicated to supporting improvements to healthcare and transformative research for local health benefit.

We work in partnership with the NHS, local research institutes and others who can help us achieve our goals and maximise our impact.

Barts Charity 2022–2027 strategic objectives

We wanted our vision and mission to provide the strategic context for each area of our charitable activity and we have used them to frame five strategic objectives for 2022–2027.

Research

We fund high quality and innovative research that enhances our understanding of health and illness and has the potential to improve and/or save lives in East London.

Healthcare

We facilitate transformation to patient care and support for our dedicated NHS staff, primarily focusing our efforts at Barts Health.

Fundraising and communications

We are transforming our approach to fundraising to significantly grow revenue and enable us to achieve our ambitions for our mission.

We aim to inspire greater support by communicating about the people and projects we fund and the impact they make.

Endowment

We manage our endowment to ensure we take full advantage of potential opportunities to deliver our mission, now and in the future.

How we work

We set ourselves high standards for how we operate and aim to maximise the impact we make with our resources.

Our funding principles and focus

To achieve our funding and impact strategic objectives, we will focus our funding:

• where we can create transformational change

• where we can leverage further support for our funded projects

• on projects which cannot be covered by other funders or revenue sources

Our primary focus is on our funding being relevant to, and having an impact in, East London. We expect that much of the activity we support will also have a wider health benefit, both across the UK and potentially globally.

We adhere to robust funding processes to make sure our resources can improve healthcare and transformative research. We also strive to ensure that our funding processes and policies are inclusive and unbiased. We are a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities and can demonstrate high standards of governance around decision processes and monitoring involved in funding.

Review of 2024/25

Our values

We are proud of the work we do. We have created a set of values that express who we are as a charity, the way we want to work and the culture that we want to live and breathe every day.

One Team

We work collaboratively as one team, supporting and respecting each other and embracing diverse experiences and perspectives.

Ambitious

We care passionately about Barts Charity’s mission, empowering each other to constantly improve and achieve our best.

Open

We are honest and transparent, sharing information willingly and encouraging the giving and receiving of constructive feedback.

Accountable

We take pride in doing the right thing and acting with integrity. We take ownership of our actions and learn from our mistakes.

In our 2024 Annual Report we set out our strategic targets for 2024/25. Here, we summarise the progress we’ve made against these:

Strategic aims

Funding – Research/Healthcare delivery

Progress the build of an advanced Clinical Research Facility at The Royal London Hospital and further develop plans for a Barts Breast Cancer Centre at St Bartholomew’s Hospital.

Progress made

• Final building regulation approvals in process, contractor mobilisation and build start aiming for second half of 2025.

• Operational set up of clinical trials research activity underway for Clinical Research Facility opening.

• Exploring alternative options to deliver a Breast Cancer Centre of excellence at Barts Health.

Maintain a significant funding programme in research and healthcare.

• £21.7m granted to healthcare and research projects.

Maintain a potential pipeline of high-quality research and healthcare funding applications beyond this financial year.

Develop a refreshed Intellectual Property policy for Barts Charity funded activities and implement associated processes.

Fundraising and communications

Create ongoing, targeted major gift fundraising portfolio from Funding & Impact pipeline, including the Breast Cancer Centre subject to approval.

• High quality pipeline of short and long term, as well as small and larger, opportunities for funding research and healthcare applications and initiatives developed.

• Refreshed Intellectual Property policy for Barts Charity funded activities launched in autumn with associated processes.

Strengthen fundraising operations to ensure that our data and systems work effectively across all areas of activity.

• A range of projects has been identified for fundraising from the funding pipeline.

• Transitioning to discussing major gifts as part of broader funding vision.

• Common themes being identified to build pipelines around and involve senior volunteers.

• Breast Cancer projects are still under consideration with Barts Health.

• Progress has been made in some key areas including optimising data architecture to reduce manual work and minimise errors including in gift coding and data integration.

• More effective segmentation is allowing for better data-driven decision making.

• The charity’s consent position has been updated and a re-consent procedure undertaken to ensure compliance with regulations.

Continue to build culture of philanthropy with partner institutions through collaboration with senior leadership, comms teams and staff.

• Prioritising staff and patient engagement has raised the charity’s visibility and strengthened ties with the community.

• With support from BH Trust comms and through joint initiatives developed in partnership (such as My Thank You at Whipps Cross Hospital), we’re seeing stronger relationships, greater awareness, and shared impact across Barts Charity and Barts Health.

Endowment

Continue to implement revised asset allocation under our investment strategy, including developing responsible investing principles.

Implement the direct property portfolio strategy.

Develop a new reserves policy.

• Progressing with strategic asset reallocation from public to private markets despite market delays. ESG and stewardship considerations are incorporated into the investment process.

• The majority of the direct property portfolio has either been sold in 2024/25 or is listed for sale.

• Deferred to 2025-26

How we work

Invite tenders for Technology provider services and review the Charity’s Information Governance framework.

Improve management of restricted funds including payment processes and potential consolidation of historic funds to promote spend down.

Continue to foster a fair and supportive workplace culture, improving feedback mechanisms and working with external agencies for targeted expert reviews and HR support.

We have been unable to achieve some of our key aims for 2024/25 for the following reasons:

• Working with Barts Health, we aimed to develop a landmark programme to transform their breast cancer services, including the potential build of a new Breast Cancer Centre at St Bartholomew’s Hospital. Despite having a strong clinical case, the design and survey process for the building work required raised significant challenges around the feasibility and total cost of the capital project. Although the project as originally envisaged did not move forward, the funding provided by the Charity on the feasibility work helped bring certainty on the cost and risk profile for Barts Health and the Charity. It also helped accelerate some service improvements. The Charity remains committed to this important clinical area and will continue to work with Barts Health on alternative ways to improve breast cancer outcomes in East London.

• As a result of this decision, our Major Gift fundraising plans have had to pivot away from a major capital campaign and identify alternative

• Tender for new IT managed service provider deferred

• Review of Information Governance framework completed

• External Data Protection Officer appointed

• Spend down of restricted funds against funding awards is ongoing

• Potential for consolidation of funds is kept under review

• £3.6m of permanent endowment fund released for expenditure on Fellowship programme

• Annual staff engagement survey delivered by external partner for first time - high engagement scores in staff surveys

• Externally led review of our recruitment process to make it more inclusive, objective and better evidenced

• Creation of a cross-team Change Management Group to lead discussion on changes to process/ systems

• Benefits review leading to increased provision of annual leave and employer pension contribution

fundraising propositions, which has had an impact upon our level of voluntary income.

• We had hoped that building work for the new Clinical Research Facility at The Royal London Hospital would have started during 2024/25, but compliance with the Building Safety Act 2022 has caused a delay into 2025/26.

• The slow pace of fundraising in private equity markets has delayed our portfolio's transition from public to private markets and meeting target strategic asset allocation in these classes.

Managing the endowment

The management of the endowment is designed to provide financing, alongside voluntary income, for our funding programme. The assets in the portfolio are selected based on the prospects of value accretion in the long run. A managed approach to risk is taken and the Trustees and management work with advisers to provide an appropriate balance of risk against a targeted return.

Strategic aims for 2025/26

The Trustees have delegated investment decision-making to the Investment Committee. The Investment Committee appoints and monitors investment advisers to assist them in managing both financial and property elements of the portfolio. It meets quarterly and reports back to the Trustee board after each meeting.

The Investment Committee has been working with Mercer as its financial investment adviser for four years. Based on a review of our investment beliefs, a revised investment strategy was formulated in 2022. The strategy aims to diversify the overall sources of risk and return. A number of investments were made in new funds during 2024/25 as part of the transition to the target allocation. The Investment Committee appointed Swiss Life Asset Managers as strategic property advisers in 2023 to advise on the property portfolio.

Funding

• Progress the Clinical Research Facility at The Royal London Hospital and consider additional ways to support improved breast cancer outcomes for Barts health patients

• Maintain a significant funding programme in research and healthcare

• Maintain a potential pipeline of high-quality research and healthcare funding applications beyond this financial year

• Develop a new open-access dissemination policy and refresh a policy outlining the expected standard of conduct for those involved in funded activities and implement associated processes

Fundraising and communications

• Create an ongoing, targeted major gift fundraising portfolio and case(s) for support from Funding & Impact pipeline

• Further strengthen fundraising operations to ensure that our data and systems work effectively across all areas of activity

• Build on engagement of Barts Health staff and volunteers to enhance the charity’s reach and visibility

• Grow supporter database through targeted lead generation activity including introduction of WiFi portal acquisition at all hospital sites and rollout of My Thank You.

• Develop website to better showcase the projects we fund and their impact

Endowment

• Continue to implement asset allocation under our investment strategy, including following responsible investing principles

• Develop a new Reserves Policy

How we work

• Commence planning for the 2027-32 strategy

• Consider how we resource and use technology, data management and data analysis including deployment of AI tools

• Replace current payroll service providers and pension providers

• Continue to foster a fair and supportive workplace culture, underpinned by robust governance

Commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)

We remain committed to EDI initiatives because we believe that they make us a stronger organisation. We believe that our commitment to EDI is best demonstrated through action. Our EDI Commitment, Priorities and Definitions are available in full on our website.

Barts Charity’s EDI commitment

We want everyone connected with Barts Charity to feel valued and respected. We will create and sustain a truly inclusive culture where everyone feels they can contribute. We know that this will take action and we must keep working at it.

We recognise that a diverse Barts Charity is not just the right thing to be but will also make us better at what we do. Embracing a breadth of perspectives and experiences will help us to make better decisions and be more effective and impactful in our activity.

We will be transparent about how we deliver on this commitment. We will publish our objectives and report our progress (or lack of it) so that our colleagues, supporters, beneficiaries and stakeholders can hold us to account.

Barts Charity’s EDI priorities

Culture

• To live out our values.

• To encourage and champion an inclusive and aware internal culture through actions and resources.

Governance

• To create, update and keep under review our governance structures, policies and procedures to make sure that EDI is embedded into all of our activities.

Data/insight

• To better capture, monitor and analyse data to develop evidence from which to learn and drive change.

Funding

• To apply unbiased and inclusive funding processes and make sure the activities we fund are inclusive in their design and delivery.

Personnel

• To have diversity across our staff and non-executives who each feel able to realise their full potential and who better reflect the communities we work with and for.

During 2024/25 we have:

• Welcomed students from Tower Hamlets secondary schools for work experience.

• Created a framework to ensure better speaker and guest representation at our fundraising events

• Consulted with Barts Health EDI groups in development of collateral based on hospital sites to ensure that the staff and patient profile is reflected

• We have redesigned our staff recruitment process to reach people from more diverse backgrounds and remove bias in the assessment process

• Run our third annual personnel diversity survey

• Identified system architecture changes which will support better analysis of the diversity data we are collecting on our grant applicants

• Introduced an Expected Standard of Conduct Policy aimed at fostering a respectful, inclusive, safe and professional environment in which the grant activities we fund can be completed to a high standard

• Run a programme of awareness/learning sessions for staff on a variety of EDI issues

Annual personnel diversity survey

We ran our third annual diversity survey in spring 2025, looking at the diversity characteristics of our staff and non-executives. The survey is based on guidelines issued by the organisation Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in Science & Health (EDIS) which draw upon a wealth of studies and research data. The questions and response categories are designed to follow the 2021 census so that we can benchmark the results. These covered age, disability/long-term health condition/impairment, ethnic group, gender, sexual orientation, and religion/belief.

We had a high response rate of 89% (82 responses out of 92, comparing to 78% in 2023/24) with very low use of the ‘prefer not to say’ option. This suggests respondents felt comfortable confirming their personal details in the survey. For reasons of information governance, we do not store the responses, and so the survey is a snapshot of the Charity’s personnel diversity at a single point in time. As a small organisation, it can be challenging to report data about diversity in case it compromises anonymity for those who report in very low numbers. Therefore, we do not publish the results in full.

The Charity remains most unrepresentative for people identifying as Black/ African/Caribbean/ Black British, especially amongst non-executives. There is also very low representation of people reporting a disability/long term health condition. About half of the staff have some form of caring responsibility.

We are very conscious of the importance of diversity and inclusion across our personnel and want to ensure that our recruitment processes are not acting as a block to wider representation. During 2024/25 we undertook a formal review of our recruitment process using an external EDI adviser, with the aim of encouraging a wider range of applicants and removing the potential for bias. The new process has been in place since January 2025 and we will monitor if it has the effect of increasing staff diversity over time.

2025/26 EDI plan

Our plans for 2025/26:

ACTION

Culture

• Work experience programme with Tower Hamlets secondary school children

• Continue to consider how the breadth of the East London population we serve is better reflected in the case studies we use to communicate about our funding

• Consultation with BH EDI working groups on any significant propositions / materials with large public and staff visibility

Data/Insight

• Run a fourth annual personnel diversity survey

• Continue to collect diversity data for applicants and implement database changes required to improve analysis of applicant diversity survey results

• Use applicant survey data for Scheme reviews accordingly and aim to ensure our funding processes are inclusive, fair, and free from bias

• Use social media analytics to reach a more diverse digital audience

Funding

• Continue to develop funding policies and processes that further support creating an inclusive and fair organisational culture where we fund

• Develop a public statement of commitment to and activities associated with patient and public involvement and engagement in funding activities

Personnel

• Implement the new inclusive recruitment process to reach people from more diverse backgrounds and remove potential for bias

The above actions involve all teams and will be incorporated into their delivery plans. These will be assessed mid-year (October) and year end (March), and we will report our progress against each action.

Finance Review

Review of financial performance

Our financial strategy is to manage and grow our investment assets and voluntary income to support annual grant giving and operating activities for the long term. The net assets as of 31 March 2025 increased by £3m to £415m (2024: £412m).

In reviewing the performance of our investments, we consider the total return of the portfolio, both income and capital. By showing the total return, which combines both income generated by our assets and the associated capital gains/losses, as opposed to separating these out, we see the full picture of our finances.

We use this concept as a basis for addressing the two basic principles of our financial strategy:

• To provide for long-term stability and liquidity sufficient for the funding of the charity’s annual grant-making and other operating activities.

• To largely maintain the value of the charity’s portfolio in real terms so that it can make funding awards in the long term.

The Statement of Financial Activities shows that, during the financial year, the charity received income of £12.9m, (2024: £14m), of which £10.7m was unrestricted (2024: £10.9m). Gains on investment assets was £19.2m (2024: £39.1m). Though the charitable expenditure decreased over the same period to £19.2m (2024: £33.6m) the charity is on track to grant £150m over the five-year period 2022-27. The proportion of noncharitable activities spending relative to total expenditure increased to 17.96% (2024:10.5%). The increase in the ratio was primarily on account of the reduction in charitable expenditure during the year compared to the previous year.

As stated above, and as shown in the Statement of Financial Position, the charity’s net assets were £415m (2024: £412m). The endowment funds, despite recording realised and unrealised gains during the year, decreased in value due to transfers to General funds. General funds have consequently increased as a result of the transfers. Restricted funds reduced in value partly because we used some for charitable expenditure.

In terms of assets and liabilities, the charity’s fixed assets reflect office refurbishments.

Investment review

The value of the charity’s investments decreased by £14m to £506m over the 12-month period to 31 March 2025 primarily due to withdrawal to fund charitable expenditure.

The majority of equity markets experienced positive returns over the 12-month period to 31 March 2025, with emerging market equities outperforming developed market equities. Returns within fixed income markets, however, were mixed. The second quarter of 2024 saw inflation rates largely soften towards central banks' targets for most developed market economies and in the third quarter central banks were prompted to loosen monetary policy amid the macroeconomic backdrop of cooling inflation, labour markets and slowing wage growth. However, uncertainty around the US election and tensions in the Middle East sparked temporary volatility in financial markets in August.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, developed market central banks continued to cut interest rates and market sentiment continued to be driven by the soft-landing narrative in the US, despite uncertainty around policies under a new presidency. However, following the election, US equities outperformed, while emerging market equities and other regional markets faced pressure from tariff-related concerns. News of DeepSeek’s “cheap” artificial intelligence model, European politics and tariffs were the key themes driving markets in the first quarter of 2025. Global equities ended the first quarter of 2025 with negative returns, driven by US equities, and growth concerns weighed on risk assets.

The long-term target for the portfolio is an average total return of Consumer Price Index (CPI) +4.5% per year (net of fees) over a rolling threeyear period and an annualised return in excess of the portfolio’s blended benchmark.

The Charity performed in line with the broader market during the financial year with the portfolio returning 5.1%, net of fees, versus the blended benchmark return of 5.0%.

Though the long-term target for the portfolio is a total annualised return of CPI +4.5% over rolling three-year periods, the Investment Committee recognises that, given the high inflationary environment over recent years, this will be a challenging target to achieve over the shorter term.

3-year period to 31 March 2025

Investment performance is monitored quarterly by our Investment Committee with the assistance of our investment advisors, Mercer, who provide advice and monitoring services for the financial portfolio.

Reserves

The Charity holds assets in funds, each type of which dictates how the funds may be disbursed:

Endowment funds: there are a number of segregated individual personal endowments which are usually created in the form of a trust that limits the use of both the original capital and any investment gains attached to them. There is also an aggregated expendable endowment fund – these funds, and gains arising from them, can be applied generally by the Trustees to deliver the Charity’s objectives. The value of the aggregated expendable endowment, as at 31 March 2025, was £329.6m (2024: £385.6m).

Restricted funds are amounts given with a restriction agreed between the donor and the Charity that specifies the area of the Charity’s work that will be supported. Barts Charity has a large number of these funds supporting the many areas of the Barts Health NHS Trust’s work.

All other funds held by the Charity form the general funds. However, Trustees may choose (and have chosen) to set aside designated funds to make sure a particular objective is given prominence. Trustees may remove a designation if they choose.

Reserves policy

Given the nature of the Charity’s activities and our grant-making strategy the Trustees have determined that the reserves policy, taken in conjunction with spending and long-term investment policies, is intended to deliver the following objectives:

• Provide for long-term stability and liquidity sufficient for the funding of the charity’s annual grant-making and other operating activities, without jeopardising broader investment objectives.

• Maintain the value of the Charity’s portfolio in real terms so that it can continue to make funding awards in the long term. The Trustees wish to ensure the right balance between funding transformational projects over the next five-ten years and ensuring a meaningful role for the long term.

For these objectives, the Trustees have determined that the value of reserves should be deemed to be the amount(s) held in the Charity’s investment portfolio.

The Charity annually sets a minimum reserve level it considers necessary to maintain in order to achieve this balance between current and future activity. As at 31 March 2025, this minimum reserve level adjusted annually for inflation is £401m (2024: £392m).

The level of total reserves as at 31 March 2025 was £506m (2024: £520m) therefore the Trustees consider that the Charity has sufficient funds to continue its charitable activities into the future.

If reserves go below or are projected to come within 5% of the minimum level, Trustees will consider the level of spending and grant-giving in light of the prevailing market conditions and outlook. It is not expected that the Charity would react to short term volatility. The reserve, spending and long-term investment policies are reviewed at

least annually and adjusted if necessary. A review of the methodology underlying the Reserves Policy is being undertaken in FY 25/26.

Responsible investing

Barts Charity believes that it is right to consider environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in investment decisions, in order to identify material risks as well as to earn sustainable, longterm returns. The Charity also recognises that long-term sustainability issues, including climate change, present risks and opportunities that increasingly may require explicit consideration. We believe that it is possible to invest with a positive impact without reducing investment returns. Areas of particular interest include improving societal health care outcomes.

As a result, ESG (including but not limited to climate change) and stewardship considerations are integrated in the investment process. This includes selecting new investment managers and monitoring the existing ones, and an ongoing review of the portfolio’s ESG characteristics compared to relevant benchmarks and peers. During the year under review, Barts Charity also reviewed the voting and engagement activities of the listed equity managers. When we appoint new investment managers, the Charity believes it is important to consider the level of diversity, including (but not limited to) gender across the manager’s investment team. The Charity has no direct investments in tobacco stocks. The Charity monitors exposure to tobacco through pooled funds, including passive index trackers as well as actively managed strategies, aiming to have less than 1% of equities in tobacco companies (i.e. approximately half or less vs the aggregated equity benchmark).

We have a strategic equity exposure achieved through investment in pooled equity funds. The Charity has made an allocation to a Sustainable Global Equity Fund. This aims to provide a positive tilt across a broad range of ESG factors, including reducing carbon emissions, relative to investment in a traditional global equity fund. We follow the principles set out in the Charity Commission’s guidance (CC14) and ensure our investment decisions align with our ethical standards.

Going concern statement

The preparation of the accounts for the year ending 31 March 2025 has been undertaken on the basis that Barts Charity is a going concern.

As part of the assessment of the going concern basis of the Charity, scenario analysis and a multi-year projection of reserve levels has been undertaken. This has demonstrated that the Charity is expected to hold sufficient assets to meet its reserve policy levels, as set out above. Our portfolio is sensitive to movements in investment values, but it still has sufficient liquidity to enable the charity to meet its obligations and is able to meet its planned grant commitments without being a forced seller of assets. Based on these assessments, the Trustees have determined the Charity to be a going concern and the basis of the preparation of the annual report and accounts on a going concern basis is therefore appropriate.

Public benefit

The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit when reviewing Barts Charity’s aims and objectives and in planning future activities and setting the grant-making policy for the year. The Trustees consider that our charitable activities for the improvement of healthcare are all for the public benefit.

Fundraising policy

We are very grateful to our supporters, who contribute significantly to our work. They give generously in terms of donations and carrying out fundraising activities in our community. We aim to fundraise in a way that is compelling, respectful and in-keeping with our values.

The Charity is registered with the Fundraising Regulator and is committed to adhering to the Code of Fundraising Practice. We are also members of the Institute of Fundraising and refer to their best practice guidance. Our own practice and policies make sure that no individual, including vulnerable people, are put under undue pressure to make a donation. In the year to 31 March 2025, 1,641 people and organisations supported us through donations or fundraising and we received no complaints related to fundraising. We have refreshed our privacy statement in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). This and our complaints policy are freely available on our website.

Risk Management

Our Trustees have adopted a Risk Management Policy and regularly review the major risks to which Barts Charity is exposed. Risks are assessed by their likelihood and impact, and also their velocity (speed to impact). Where appropriate, systems and procedures have been established to mitigate risks, and these are also reviewed regularly. The risks and mitigations are recorded in risk registers which are reviewed regularly by the senior management team and the Finance and Audit Committee.

The major strategic risks and principal mitigations on 31 March 2025 are set out below.

Risk Actions to manage the risk

Funding

Financial pressures, alongside changing strategic focus, for NHS and University research sector impacts partner ability to develop cases for support and, in the longer term, support sustainability.

Fundraising

Economic pressures, with continued cost of living challenges and investment volatility – individuals/corporations may be less able or willing to give

Communications

A more politicised environment around healthcare funding and cost pressures may cause us reputational risk by association.

Endowment

Period of market volatility means that the endowment does not generate the target annual return and potentially results in a fall in value of the portfolio.

How we work

We suffer financial/reputational loss as a result of a cyber security incident/data breach.

• Strong stakeholder and sector engagement to understand impact of pressures, how they affect funding programme and to maintain open dialogue and partnership with Barts Health and QMUL as new plans and strategies develop

• Introduce new philanthropy proposition and broaden senior volunteer base

• Keep focus on supporters with a personal connection to the hospitals

• Regular communications with Barts Health NHS Trust senior team

• Close relations with Barts Health’s communications teams

• Regular dialogue with potential major donors

• Investments are spread across diverse asset classes, reducing risk and strengthening the portfolio against market fluctuations.

• Part of the portfolio has been allocated to property, private debt, and fixed income that provide steady contractual income

• Investments are made with a long-term view. The charity has a significant buffer above the minimum reserve level and can withstand periods of lower return without impacting the operations or funding.

• Additional cyber security safeguards have been put in place in partnership with our Technology partners. Penetration testing of technology infrastructure is carried out regularly.

• Information Governance framework review completed and changes implemented.

• Working on organisation-wide approach to adoption of AI tools

Structure, Governance & Management

Constitution

Barts Charity is a company limited by guarantee (registration number 07168381) and a registered charity in England and Wales (registration number 212563). It is governed by Articles of Association most recently updated on 12 December 2016. It is fully independent of the Department of Health and Social Care and regulated only by the Charity Commission.

The Board has assessed its governance against the Charity Commission’s Governance Code for larger charities and is pleased to report high levels of compliance against the suggested standards. An area of continued focus for the Board is to ensure that the Charity is representative of its grantees and the communities it serves across both staff and non-executives.

Charitable purposes

Our charitable purposes relate to hospital services (including research), or to any other part of the health service associated with any hospital as our Trustees think fit. In practice, we focus our support for improvement and innovation in healthcare on the Barts Health group of hospitals and FMD. We also support the School of Health & Medical Sciences at City St George's, University of London. We carefully consult with representatives of our grantee organisations to make sure they are aligned with our strategic priorities and to secure the greatest impact from our funding. But we retain our independence to act in the best interests of Barts Charity and the community we serve.

Non-executives and committees

Barts Charity acts through its Board of Directors (who are known as Trustees). As of 31 March 2025, there were 12 Trustees. Since then, three Trustees have reached the end of their terms. All Trustees give of their time freely and no Trustee remuneration is paid. Details of Trustee expenses and related transactions are disclosed in Notes 12 and 13 to the accounts. Trustees are required to disclose all relevant interests and register them with the Company Secretary and, in accordance with the Charity’s policy, withdraw from decisions where a conflict of interest arises.

Power to appoint new Trustees lies with the existing Board, in accordance with the provisions

of our Articles of Association. All Trustees are appointed for a fixed term of not more than three years, renewable to a maximum of nine years in total. Exceptionally, the Board may decide to extend this maximum term for a Trustee in appropriate circumstances.

The Board has established a series of committees so that much of the Charity’s detailed governance work can be conducted by groups of Trustees and specialist members with the most relevant experience and expertise. Committee membership is confirmed annually. Specialist committee members who aren’t Trustees are appointed annually, renewable up to a total term of five years. All new Trustees and committee members have an induction programme which enables them to become familiar with key constitutional and operating documents, meet senior Trustees and management, and tour the hospitals that we work with.

The Board and each committee conduct an annual review of their performance in accordance with the Charity’s Performance Review Policy against a checklist of questions. These cover matters such as objects, terms of reference, relationship with executive, documentation, conduct of meetings and skill set.

The Board has established a Scientific Review Panel to supplement the peer review of research grant applications. We are fortunate to be able to call on a team of eminent scientists from across the UK with appropriate expertise relative to the subject matter of the applications. They meet to discuss the full applications and submit their views and recommendations to the Grants Committee for its consideration. Final decision-making authority rests with the Grants Committee for funding requests up to £650,000 and with the Board for requests over this amount.

In addition, the Charity Executive has established Everyday Impact and Advancing Healthcare Panels comprising Barts Health staff members to support our Everyday Impact Grant and Advancing Healthcare Small Grant funding schemes. The Panels provide real world experience and review of healthcare applications under these schemes which provide grants of up to £50,000. Final decision-making authority rests with the Executive for funding requests in these schemes.

Management arrangements

The Trustees delegate the management of the charity to the staff team led by the Chief Executive and the Senior Management Team (SMT). The Chief Executive has been in post since May 2016.

Staff remuneration

Staff remuneration is closely scrutinised to ensure that we can attract and retain the best talent, while keeping salaries aligned with the market. When we introduce a new role or undertake a mid-year pay review, we use a live salary database run by specialist reward consultants to reference the benchmark salary range for the role. The benchmark is compiled using a number of factors. These include comparable sectors, the nature and seniority of the role (job rank), our location, number of employees and turnover. We use the range from median to upper quartile mean.

We review all staff salaries every year taking into consideration inflation and data from comparable foundations and the wider third sector. We check the proposed increase against the benchmark for each role to ensure that annual pay awards stay in line with the market. Increases are applied from 1 April each year. The Charity reserves the discretion not to award an increase, especially when an employee’s salary is already at the top of their benchmark range. The same principles apply to the pay of the SMT, which is approved by the Appointments & Remuneration Committee.

Pension

The Charity operates a non-contributory individual money-purchase scheme for all eligible members of staff, contributing the equivalent of 10% of pensionable salary to each employee’s fund. Employees can additionally choose to make employee contributions to their pension as a deduction from their salary with a salary sacrifice option. The scheme is fully compliant with autoenrolment regulations.

Reference and administrative details for

Barts Charity

Registered and principal office

12 Cock Lane

London

EC1A 9BU

Company registered number: 07168381

Charity registered number: 212569

Non-executives - includes changes up to date of signing

Trustees

Andy Bruce, Chair (to 31 March 2025)

Steve Bonnard, Chair (from 1 April 2025; trustee from 30 September 2024)

Sally Flanagan (to 31 May 2025)

Professor Catherine Godson

Ian Hart, Deputy Chair

Dr Richard Lewis

Jean Murphy

Nimesh Patel

Prof Sarah Purdy (from 1 January 2025)

Dr Thomas Round (to 31 March 2025)

Dr Lorna Williamson OBE

Rt Hon Jacqui Smith (ex officio Trustee, Chair of Barts Health NHS Trust to 4 July 2024)

Prof Ian Jacobs (ex officio Trustee, Chair of Barts Health NHS Trust from 1 March 2025)

Appointments and Remuneration Committee

Andy Bruce, Chair (to 31 March 2025)

Steve Bonnard, Chair (from 1 April 2025)

Sally Flanagan (to 31 May 2025)

Ian Hart

Nimesh Patel

Finance and Audit Committee

Nimesh Patel, Chair

Ian Hart

Dr Richard Lewis

Mohammad Memon

Grants Committee

Dr Lorna Williamson (Chair)

Professor Mirela Delibegovic

Professor Catherine Godson

Professor Sarah Purdy OBE

Professor Kanchan Rege Thrasher

Dr Thomas Round (to 31 March 2025)

Dr Ultan McDermott

Investment Committee

Sally Flanagan, Chair (to 31 May 2025)

Steve Bonnard (from 30 September 2024)

Andy Bruce (to 31 March 2025)

Philip Glaze

Ian Hart (Chair from 1 June 2025)

Jean Murphy

Senior Management Team

Fiona Miller Smith, Chief Executive

Fiona Bickley, Chief Operating Officer

Victoria King, Director of Funding and Impact

Ilia Ralphs, Director of Fundraising (to 25 June 2025)

Prabhakar Sundaresan, Director of Finance and Resources

Advisers

Bank

National Westminster Bank plc 1 Princes Street

London

EC2R 8BP

Auditor

Moore Kingston Smith LLP

9 Appold Street

London

EC2A 2AP

Legal Advisers

Broadfield UK LLP (formerly BDBPitmans LLP)

One Bartholomew Close

London

EC1A 7BL

Taylor Wessing LLP

5 New St Square Holborn London

EC4A 3TW

Hogan Lovells International LLP

Atlantic House

Holborn Viaduct

London

EC1A 2FG

HR Benefits Advisers

Anderson Financial Management Ltd

Saville Court

11 Saville Place

Bristol

BS8 4EJ

Property Advisers

Swiss Life Asset Managers UK Ltd

55 Wells Street

London

W1T 3PT

Workman LLP

80 Cheapside

London

EC2V 6EE

Investment Advisers

Mercer 1 Tower Place

West Tower Place

EC3R 5BU

Global Custodian

The Northern Trust Company

50 Bank Street

Canary Wharf London

E14 5NT

Insurance Brokers

Willis Towers Watson Ltd

51 Lime Street

London

EC3M 7DQ

Statement Of Trustees’ Responsibilities

The charity trustees (who are also the directors of Barts Charity for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing a trustees’ annual report, strategic report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that period. In preparing the 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;

• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to 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 taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charitable company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Statement as to disclosure to our auditors

In so far as the trustees are aware at the time of approving our trustees’ annual report:

• there is no relevant audit information needed by the auditor in connection with preparing their report, of which the Auditor is unaware; and

• the trustees have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information.

This Trustees' report, incorporating the Strategic Report, was approved by the Board of Trustees of Barts Charity on 10 July 2025 and signed on its behalf.

Stephen Bonnard Chair of Trustees

Date: 10 July 2025

Independent auditor’s report to the members of Barts Charity

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Barts Charity ( the charitable company’) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Statement of Financial Position, the Cash Flow Statement 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 FRS 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:

• give a true and fair view of the state of the charitable company’s affairs as at 31 March 2025 and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including its income and expenditure, for the year then ended;

• have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and

• have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

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 charitable 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.

Conclusions related to going concern

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 charitable company'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 there is 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 the audit:

• the information given in the strategic report and the trustees’ annual report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

• the strategic report and the trustees’ annual report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charitable company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic report or the trustees’ annual report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where 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.

Responsibilities of Trustees

As explained more fully in the trustees’ responsibilities statement set out on page 18, the trustees (who are also the directors of the charitable company for the purposes 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 charitable company’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.

Auditor’s Responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

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 aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

As part of an audit in accordance with ISAs (UK) we exercise professional judgement and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:

• Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.

• Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purposes of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the charitable company’s internal control.

• Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by the trustees.

• Conclude on the appropriateness of the trustees’ use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the charitable company’s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the financial statements or, if such

disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may cause the charitable company to cease to continue as a going concern.

• Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether the financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.

We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.

Explanation as to what extent the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of noncompliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below.

The objectives of our audit in respect of fraud, are; to identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements due to fraud; to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the assessed risks of material misstatement due to fraud, through designing and implementing appropriate responses to those assessed risks; and to respond appropriately to instances of fraud or suspected fraud identified during the audit. However, the primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of fraud rests with both management and those charged with governance of the charitable company.

Our approach was as follows:

• We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory requirements applicable to the charitable company and considered that the most significant are the Companies Act 2006, the Charities Act 2011, the Charity SORP, and UK financial reporting standards as issued by the Financial Reporting Council.

• We obtained an understanding of how the charitable company complies with these

requirements by discussions with management and those charged with governance.

• We assessed the risk of material misstatement of the financial statements, including the risk of material misstatement due to fraud and how it might occur, by holding discussions with management and those charged with governance.

• We inquired of management and those charged with governance as to any known instances of non-compliance or suspected non-compliance with laws and regulations.

• Based on this understanding, we designed specific appropriate audit procedures to identify instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. This included making enquiries of management and those charged with governance and obtaining additional corroborative evidence as required.

There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above. We are less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations that are not closely related to events and transactions reflected in the financial statements. Also, the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery or intentional misrepresentations, or through collusion.

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 any party other than the charitable company and charitable company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Luke Holt (Senior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf of Moore Kingston Smith LLP, Statutory Auditor

6th Floor 9 Appold Street London EC2A 2AP

Date: 17 July 2025

Statement of Financial Activities

(incorporating an income and expenditure account) for the financial year ended 31 March 2025

Statement of Financial Position

as at 31 March 2025

Company registration number 07168381.

The Notes on page 25 to 43 form part of these financial statements.

Steve Bonnard Chair of Trustees

Date: 10 July 2025

Nimesh Patel Chair of Finance and Audit Committee

Cash Flow Statement

for the year ended 31 March 2025

The Notes on page 25 to 43 form part of these financial statements.

Financial statements

for the year ended 31 March 2025

Notes to the accounts

1 Accounting policies

Barts Charity is a private company limited by guarantee and does not have share capital. The liability of members is limited to £1.

It is a charitable company registered in England (company number 07168381, charity number 212563) and its registered office is 12 Cock Lane, London, EC1A 9BU.

The following accounting policies have been used consistently in dealing with items which are considered material to the charity’s financial statements.

A. Accounting convention

The financial statements have been prepared under the historic cost convention, with the exception of investments and heritage assets, which are included at market value.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard 102 applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102), the Companies Act 2006 and the Charities Act 2011. The Charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.

These financial statements are presented in pounds sterling (GBP), as that is the currency in which the majority of the charity’s transactions are denominated. The financial statements are presented to rounded to the nearest thousand pounds.

B. Going concern

The preparation of the accounts for year ended 31 March 2025 has been undertaken on the basis that Barts Charity is a going concern. The Charity currently meets day to day working capital requirements through its existing cash facilities. In conjunction with the Charity’s investment advisors modelling has been undertaken incorporating expected asset values of the portfolio in stressed scenarios and net spending over the next 10 years.

This has demonstrated that the Charity is expected to hold sufficient assets to meet its reserve policy levels. Whilst the Charity’s portfolio is sensitive to movements in investment values, it still has sufficient liquidity to meet its obligations and can meet its planned grant commitments without being a forced seller of assets.

Based on these assessments the Trustees have not identified any material uncertainties relating to going concern. The Trustees have therefore determined the Charity to be a going concern and the basis of the preparation of the annual report and accounts on a going concern basis is therefore appropriate.

C. Accounting estimates and judgements

In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees have made judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of the Charity’s accounting policies and the reported assets, liabilities, income and expenditure and the disclosures made in the financial statements. These estimates and judgements are continually reviewed and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

The key judgements and estimates are:

a. Valuation of property

A full property valuation is undertaken tri-annually with an annual desktop valuation in the years between. A full property valuation was completed for 2023/24 by Knight Frank LLP, Chartered Surveyors, (refer to Note 1, Section J). The valuation has been prepared using a fair value basis, being the price that would be received to sell an asset, in an orderly transaction, between market participants at the measurement date.

b. Valuation of private equity and private credit investments

Due to the nature of private investments, there is no quoted market price for the funds. The value at the balance sheet date is deemed to be the most recent valuation from the private investment group, adjusted for those cashflows up to and

including the balance sheet date. This is then reviewed in light of valuations which become available post the balance sheet date up to the date the financial statements are approved.

c. Allocation of income, expenses and gains / losses to restricted and endowment funds

Expenses are charged on an actual basis for restricted and endowment funds.

Donation income is charged to restricted funds on an actual basis. Investment income is charged to the relevant restricted and unrestricted funds in relation to the endowments funds on a proportionate basis.

Gains and losses are allocated across all funds types on a proportionate basis on the value of the funds at the start of the year.

d. Valuation of accrued dividend income

Dividend income from the Charity’s investments is accrued at the year-end, in line with historical and commercial expectations.

e. Heritage assets

Heritage Assets are not depreciated but are revalued every five years. The last valuation was completed by Gurr Johns in January 2024. Any surplus or deficit on revaluation is credited or debited to the Statement of Financial Activities.

D. Fund structure

a. Restricted funds

These are funds for which a legal restriction exists over their use and related income is restricted to the purpose of the fund.

b. Endowment funds

(i) Permanent endowment funds

These are funds where the capital is held in perpetuity, but the related income may be used for unrestricted or restricted purposes, as specified by the donor.

(ii) Expendable endowment funds

These funds represent donations received by the hospitals of Barts Health NHS Trust prior to 5 July 1948 (the date on which the NHS was established). The income and capital are available for such expenditure related to sections 220(3) and 220(5) and paragraph 10(1) of Schedule 4, of the National Health Service Act 2006 (see c(i) below).

c. Unrestricted funds

These funds and their related income are available for use at the discretion of the Trustees for general charitable purposes relating to the following:

i.

General

Sections 220(3) and 220(5) and paragraph 10(1) of Schedule 4 of the National Health Service Act 2006: To hold the property on trust for such purposes relating to hospital services (including research), or to any other part of the health service associated with any hospital, as the person holding the property thinks fit.

ii. Designated

The Trustees have chosen to earmark these funds for specific areas within the general charitable purposes.

E. Income

Income is recognised when the Charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the item(s) of income have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Donations are accounted for as income when received.

Legacy income is recognised when three criteria are met: entitlement is established, receipt of the income is probable and it can be reliably measured. Where legacies have been notified to Barts Charity and the criteria for income recognition have not been met, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset and disclosed, if material.

Rental income from investment properties is reported as operating leases and the lease incentives are amortised on a straight-line basis.

Dividend income from the Charity’s investments is accrued in line with historical and commercial expectations.

F. Expenditure

All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. Direct costs of raising funds, charitable activities and support costs are charged to the relevant category or activity, according to the area to which the expenditure relates. Support costs incurred that relate to more than one cost category are apportioned, based on full time equivalent staff numbers in each area. Charitable activities include grants that have been approved during the year.

G. Grant commitments

Grant commitments are recognised when the following conditions have been fulfilled: (1) the receipt of necessary approvals for the grant from the Trustees, and (2) the communication of the approval to the grant recipient. Grants are discounted to reflect the time value of money, if this is considered material to the financial statements.

H. Fixed assets

Fixed assets (tangible or intangible) are capitalised when a separable asset can be identified with a value of £10,000 or more (exclusive of irrecoverable VAT), and where the estimated useful life of the asset (without the need for additional spend) can be estimated as three years or more.

a. Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets are included in the Statement of Financial Position at cost less accumulated depreciation. Assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable, and any impairments are shown as reducing both the initial cost and brought forward depreciation.

Depreciation is charged on a straight line basis to support costs over their estimated useful lives. Fixtures, fittings and equipment are depreciated over the shorter of five years or the remaining lease term for the office premises.

b.

Intangible fixed assets

Intangible fixed assets are included in the Statement of Financial Position at cost less accumulated amortisation. Assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable, and any impairments are shown as reducing both the initial cost and brought forward amortisation.

Amortisation is charged on a straight line basis to support costs over their estimated useful lives. IT software is considered to have a useful life of five years.

I. Heritage Assets

Heritage assets are capitalised and include: art collections, historic archives, sculptures, ceramic surgical instruments, uniforms, teaching materials, and other items.

They are reported on the balance sheet at their insured values, which are based on replacement values in the retail market or, where appropriate,

in the second-hand retail market with items of a similar nature, age, condition and quality.

They are not depreciated but are revalued every five years, with the last valuation completed by Gurr Johns in January 2024.

Any surplus or deficit on revaluation is credited or debited to the Statement of Financial Activities. Assets are reviewed regularly for significant damage and appropriate remedial works are carried out wherever possible to preserve the assets or prevent further deterioration.

J. Investments

Quoted investments are stated at market value at the year-end date. Asset purchases and sales are recognised at the date of trade. Unquoted pooled financial investments are valued based on the number of units held and the price per unit provided by the custodian or fund manager.

These net asset valuations are calculated independently by third party administrators and are subject to annual audit. Private investments are held through funds managed by private investment groups. As there is no identifiable market price for private investment funds, these funds are included at the most recent valuations from the private investment groups and adjusted for cash flows if the valuation is not available at the balance sheet date.

The annual market valuation of Barts Charity's investment properties has been carried out in accordance with the current editions of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Valuation – Global Standards, incorporating the International Valuation Standards and the RICS UK National Supplement. The valuations were carried out by Knight Frank LLP, Chartered Surveyors, who have been instructed as our external valuer to value Barts Charity’s freehold and long leasehold interests at 31 March 2024. They have reported their opinion of the aggregate of the values of Barts Charity's interest in the individual buildings. The Trustees are of the view that the fair value as at 31 March 2024 is not materially different from that as at 31 March 2025.

K. Realised and unrealised gains and losses on investment assets

Realised and unrealised gains and losses on investment assets are included in 'gains and losses on investment assets' within the Statement of Financial Activities.

L. Debtors

Short term debtors are measured at transaction price, less any impairment. Loans receivable are measured initially at their fair value, net of transaction costs, and are measured subsequently at amortised cost, using the effective interest method, less any impairment.

Long term debtors are defined as fully recoverable amounts outstanding for more than 12 months at the balance sheet date.

M. Creditors

Short term creditors are measured at the transaction price. Other financial liabilities, including bank loans, are measured initially at fair value, net of transaction costs, and are measured subsequently at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

N. Cash

Cash is represented by cash in hand and deposits with financial institutions repayable without penalty on notice of not more than 24 hours.

Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments that mature in no more than three months from the date of acquisition and that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash with insignificant risk of a change in value.

O. Financial instruments

Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at their transaction value and subsequently measured at their fair value, as at the balance sheet date using the closing quoted market price.

The Statement of Financial Activities includes the net gains and losses arising on revaluation and disposals throughout the year.

The Charity does not acquire put options, derivatives or other complex financial instruments directly. Where individual investment managers have discretion to use financial instruments, valuation is in line with market practice.

P. Pension contributions

The cost of employer contributions to the NHS Pension Scheme and the Defined Contribution Scheme are charged to the Statement of Financial Activities.

Certain past and present employees are covered by the provisions of the NHS Pensions Scheme. Details of benefits payable under these provisions can be found on the NHS Pensions Website (www. nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-pensions). The scheme is an unfunded, defined benefit scheme, preparing its own statements, that covers NHS employers, general practices and other bodies allowed under the direction of the Secretary of State, in England and Wales. The Scheme is not designed to be run in a way that would enable NHS bodies to identify their share of the underlying scheme assets and liabilities. Therefore, the scheme is accounted for as if it were a defined contributions one: the cost to an NHS body of participating in the scheme is taken as equal to the contributions payable to the scheme. Applicable rates for employee contributions for the NHS Pension Scheme was 12.5% for 2024/25 (13.5% for 2023/24). Employer contributions were 14.38% for both 2024/25 and 2023/24.

Employees employed after 1 April 2011 can choose to belong to a Defined Contribution Scheme which is a Group Personal Pension Scheme. For the year ended 31 March 2025, the rates of employer contribution for the Defined Contribution Scheme were 10% for SMT and 8% for other staff (unchanged from the year ended 31 March 2024). Employee contributions are voluntary.

Financial statements

for the year ended 31 March 2025 Notes to the accounts 2. Income

2.1. Income from donations and legacies

ended 31 March 2025

In addition to the legacy income recognised above, Barts Charity is aware of legacies totalling approximately £237k (£405k in 2023/24) which do not meet the SORP recognition criteria at the year end, but are expected to become receivable in future years.

Government grants received during the year relates to income received from the Medical Research Council in support of our Fellowship Programme. All conditions of the grants have been fulfilled. The income has been fully spent in the year. Year ended 31 March 2024

2.2. Income from investments

Financial statements

for the year ended 31 March 2025 Notes to the accounts

3. Expenditure

3.1. Total expenditure

Financial statements

for the year ended 31 March 2025

Notes to the accounts

Year ended 31 March 2024

Although Barts Charity maintains regular contact with grant-holders, there are occasions when planned

is not

and the related grant accrual is reversed.

Financial statements

for the year ended 31 March 2025

Notes to the accounts

3.2. Direct charitable expenditure by institution

4.1. Analysis of staff costs

Financial statements

for the year ended 31 March 2025

Notes to the accounts

4.2. Higher paid employees

The following number of employees received emoluments falling within the ranges indicated:

Key management personnel (the senior management team of the charity) received aggregate employee

(£777,922 in 2023/24).

5. Operational fixed assets

Financial statements

for the year ended 31 March 2025

Notes to the accounts

6. Heritage assets

Paintings, prints and drawings include two William Hogarth paintings which have been valued at £4m and £3.5m respectively (£4m and £3.5m in 2023/24). Other heritage assets include clocks, barometers, works of art, sculptures, ceramics, glass, silver and gold. Heritage Assets are not depreciated but are revalued every five years with the last valuation completed by Gurr Johns, auctioneers and valuers, in January 2024.

All heritage assets at 31 March 2025 are included within the endowment fund (31 March 2024: all heritage assets are included within the endowment fund).

Financial statements

for the year ended 31 March 2025

Notes to the accounts

7. Investments

7.1. Analysis of fixed asset investments

Fixed asset investments

/ (withdrawals) into / (from) portfolio

Short term investments are held within the investment portfolio, predominantly to fund private investment capital calls and are shown separately in the table above, to distinguish from other investments.

Financial investments held at 31 March 2025 include 14 unit trust funds, representing 76% of the total value, and 38 separate private investments (in 2023/24 16 unit trust funds representing 81% and 39 separate private investments).

At the year end, Barts Charity had undrawn commitments to private equity funds of £69m, which are expected to be called at various future dates, whilst the current investments in private equity funds will be expected to be realised by a return of capital. The carrying value of the private equity investments of £108m reported above represents the valuations of the funds at 31 March 2025, as provided by relevant fund managers and/or as computed by our global custodian. However, it is not possible for the Trustees to liquidate these investments prior to the future return of capital.

Financial statements

for the year ended 31 March 2025

Notes to the accounts

7.2. Analysis of gains and losses on revaluation and disposal of investment assets

Year ended 31 March 2025 Year ended 31 March 2024

8. Current assets

8.1. Analysis of debtors

(31 March 2024: £0.3m).

Financial statements

for the year ended 31 March 2025 Notes to the accounts

8.2. Cash at the bank and in hand

9. Creditors due in one year

Amounts falling due within one year as at 31 March:

As our grant awards do not give us an unconditional right to defer disbursements, all grant creditors are shown as due within one year. However, based on past experience, the grants are active for longer than one year.

Deferred income represents rent billed to tenants in advance for the first quarter of the following financial year.

Financial statements

for the year ended 31 March 2025

Notes to the accounts 10. Funds

10.1. Funds – Year ended 31 March 2025

Endowment funds

Unrestricted funds

Designated funds

Financial statements

for the year ended 31 March 2025

Notes to the accounts

10.2 Funds – Year ended 31 March 2024

Unrestricted

Financial statements

for the year ended 31 March 2025

Notes to the accounts

10.3 Funds (additional)

Endowment funds

Note 1, Section D provides further details of the permanent endowment fund structure. There were no other income, expenditure or transfers in 2024/25. Expenses have not been charged to the permanent endowment funds. Due to the historic nature of these, there is no certainty that the terms of the trust of the endowed gift would allow this. In conjunction with ongoing works to consider the provenance of these funds, we continue to review this methodology.

Restricted funds

Note 1, Section D provides further details of the restricted fund structure. There was no allocation of investment income or expenses to the funds in 2024/25, given that they are funded from readily available cash. The Charity is continuing a review of its restricted funds at hospital sites. The target is to consolidate these into fewer funds with more flexible purposes at each site in order to promote more effective expenditure. This work is ongoing.

Details of significant restricted funds

Name of fund

Cardiac

Nature and purpose of fund

Treatment of and research into cardiac disease

Margaret Centre Provision of palliative care at the Margaret Centre (Whipps Cross Hospital)

Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology unit (Whipps Cross Hospital)

IBD Research Research into Crohns' disease

Details of significant designated funds

Name of fund

Nature and purpose of fund

Cardiac Investigation and treatment of heart diseases including the advancement of scientific and medical education and research

Expenditure will be made from a restricted or designated fund when a grant award is made that meets the criteria of the relevant restriction or designation.

Transfers between funds

Transfers between funds represent:

• a release of expendable endowment funds to general funds as allowed by the terms of the expendable endowment;

• a release of permanent endowment funds to restricted funds as approved by the Charity Commission;

• transfers between restricted, general and designated funds to utilise grant writebacks on restricted or designated funds, against other awarded grants which meet the restrictions or designations;

• transfers from general funds to restricted funds to cover overspends on restricted funds; and

• the reversal of prior year transfers of general funds to restricted funds to cover overspends on restricted funds where subsequent restricted income has been received.

Financial statements

for the year ended 31 March 2025

Notes to the accounts

10.4 Prior year distribution of net assets

11. Notes to the cash flow statement

11.1 Net cash used in operating activities

Financial statements

for the year ended 31 March 2025

11.2 Analysis of changes in cash and cash equivalents

12. Trustee transactions

Premiums for Trustee indemnity insurance were paid by the Charity on the part of Trustees totalling £11,194 (2023/24: £11,194).

13. Related party transactions

The total amount of related party donations made, without conditions, was £7,767 (2023/24: £7,260).

The total amount of related party donations made with conditions was £Nil (2023/24: £2,536).

During the year Barts Charity made revenue and capital grants (net of writebacks) to Barts Health NHS Trust of £3.1m (2023/24: £21.2m).

Operating leases 14.1 Operating lease income

Barts Charity generates income from leasing out space within its investment properties. The future minimum lease

receivable under non-cancellable operating leases are:

Barts Charity was committed to making the following payments under non-cancellable operating leases:

Financial statements

for the year ended 31 March 2025

Notes to the accounts

15. Net (expenditure) / income for the year

E: hello@bartscharity.org.uk

T: 020 7618 1717 Registered charity no. 212563 Registered company no. 07168381 www.bartscharity.org.uk