Trustees’ Annual Report for the period:
01/08/2018 to 31/07/2019
Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR)

Reference and administration details

Charity name

 Dumfries & Galloway ME and Fibromyalgia Network
Other names charity is known by DGMEFM Network
Registered charity number SC030641
Charity’s principal address Thistledew
Albert Street
Dalbeattie
DG5 4JP

Names of the charity trustees on date of approval of Trustees’ Annual Report

Trustee name Office (if any) Dates acted if not for whole year Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any)
1 Craig Woods Chairman
2 Paul Thompson Treasurer
3 Lesley Grieve Secretary Existing trustee, secretary from 4/10/18
4 Nancy Wilson
5 Kim Jakobsen  

Names of all other charity trustees during the period, if any, (for example, those who resigned part way through the financial period)

Name Dates acted if not for whole year
N/A

Structure, governance and management

Type of governing document

 The Network is a charitable unincorporated association and the purpose and administration arrangements are set out in our constitution.

Trustee recruitment and appointment

 The Network trustees are appointed by the members at our Annual General Meeting.

Objectives and activities

Charitable purposes

 To support the needs of people in Dumfries & Galloway who suffer with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), Fibromyalgia (FM) & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

Summary of the main activities in relation to these objects
  • Raise awareness of the issues surrounding these illnesses.
  • Offer support to any person suffering with any of these illnesses or any matter concerning them.
  • Facilitate a mutual support network.
  • Enable access to transport, shops, public buildings, education and any other public facility for any person suffering with any of these illnesses.
  • Act as a central point for representative consultation between people with these illnesses and other agencies, including Dumfries & Galloway Council and NHS Dumfries & Galloway.
  • Gather and provide information about all aspects of these illnesses.

Achievements and performance
Summary of the main achievements of the charity during the financial period:

Membership:

  • 18 (nett) new members of Facebook page.  Total 251 at 31st July.  Nett increase of 8%.
  • Total 370 full members at 31st July (excluding Facebook only) – nett increase of 12 or 3.4%.

Support to members:

  • Facebook – mutual support between members and from the committee for page members.
  • Website info continues to expand with the informative monthly blog and a meetings calendar.
  • Postal Newsletter x 3 – with increasing member contributions.
  • Monthly meetings in Dumfries (12) with themed discussions, some including speakers and including gentle yoga, pharmacy services talk, reflexology demonstration and mindfulness.
  • 10 pop-up social meetings – Castle Douglas (4), Stranraer (1), Lockerbie (3) and Dumfries (2).
  • Support to individuals in phone calls and messages.
  • A lending library service of ME/FM books for loan to members.

NHS liaison:

  • A presentation on Fibromyalgia to health development team in Nithsdale.
  • Contributed via the Scottish Health Council to informing the new Neurological Standards for the NHS in Scotland.
  • Meeting with Project Manager, Transforming Health & Social Care in Wigtownshire.
  • Preparing a ‘Case for Change’ to take to the Health Board and Localities.

Promoting the Network more widely in the region: 

  • Meeting with MSP, continued contact with other MSPs.
  • Distribution of leaflets and contact cards to all members for local issue.

Financial Review
Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves The Network had unrestricted reserves of £4,418 as at 31st July 2019.

This level of reserves should allow the Network to continue its charitable activities for a further 12 months and allow for any fall in income.

Details of any deficit

  N/A
Donated facilities and services (if any) N/A

Other Information
 None

Declaration

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s)
Full name(s) Craig Alun Woods
Position (e.g. Chair) Chairman
Date 27th August 2019

Dumfries & Galloway ME and Fibromyalgia Network
Scottish Charity Number SC030641

Receipts and Payments Account for the year ended 31st July 2019

Unrestricted Funds
(£)		 Restricted Funds
(£)		 Total 2019
(£)		 Total
2018
(£)
Receipts
Donations
Fundraising
Grants
Gift Aid
Bank Interest
Other		 1,790
47
0
311
0
0		 0
0
0
0
0
0		 1,790
47
0
311
0
0		 1,103
135
0
229
0
0
Total Receipts 2,148 0 2,148 1,467

Payments
Cost of fundraising: 6 0 6 2
Total Cost of fundraising 6 0 6 2
Payment for charitable activities:
Postage
Stationary and printing (newsletter etc)
Travel Expenses
Room hire
IT
Publicity
Sundry (leaflets, cards etc)		 532
184

0
15
162
0
30

 0
0

0
0
0
0
0		 532
184

0
15
162
0
30

 601
209

86
0
35
173
90
Total Payments for charitable activities 923 0 923 1,194
Governance costs:
Preparation of annual accounts and IE
Advertising of AGM		 30
0		 0
0		 30
0		 40
0
Total Governance costs 30 0 30 40
Total Payments 959 0 959 1,236
Surplus / (deficit) for year before transfers
Transfers between funds		 1,189
0		 0
0		 1,189
0		 231
0
Surplus / (deficit) for year 1,189 0 1,189 231

Dumfries and Galloway ME Network
Scottish Charity Number SC030641

Statement of Balances as at 31st July 2019

2019 (£) 2018 (£)
Bank and cash in hand
Opening balance
Surplus / (deficit) for year		 3,229
1,189		 2,998
231
Closing balance 4,418 3,229
Reserves
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds		 4,418
0		 3,229
0
Closing balances 4,418 3,229
Other Assets (Unrestricted Fund)
Computer equipment 62 64

All funds are unrestricted
Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf

Paul Thompson (Treasurer)
Date: 27th August 2019