TOGETHER FOR SHORT LIVES
Providing information to families about the range of care support availableSupporting organisations to continue to offer the highest standards of careRaising and distributing essential funding to care organisationsGiving a powerful voice to children, families and providers, ensuring their views influence Government policy
Objects
THE OBJECTS OF THE CHARITY ARE, AND ARE SPECIFICALLY RESTRICTED TO, PROMOTING, FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT, THE SUPPORT OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE WITH LIFE-LIMITING AND LIFE-THREATENING CONDITIONS AND THEIR FAMILIES, IN SUCH CHARITABLE WAYS AND BY SUCH CHARITABLE MEANS AS THE TRUSTEES THINK FIT, IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT:SUCH CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES HAVE AS FULFILLING LIVES AS POSSIBLE; ANDSUCH CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE RECEIVE THE BEST CARE AT THE END OF LIFE
- ASSOCIATION FOR CHILDREN'S PALLIATIVE CARE (charity 1075541) — merger registered 21/12/2011
- CHILDREN'S HOSPICES UK (charity 1103795) — merger registered 21/12/2011
Financial health, per its FY2025 accounts
The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £546,009 for the year ended 31 March 2025, resulting in total unrestricted funds of £1,645,610. The trustees confirm that these unrestricted reserves are sufficient to cover the estimated close-down costs of £300,000 and maintain the charity as a going concern. The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme and has no disclosed pension deficits.
What the accounts disclose
“The policy states that the charity will maintain reserves such that it always retains sufficient free reserves to cover the close down costs of the organisation. These have been estimated at being £300k.”
“During the year the charity charged its trading subsidiary, Together for Short Lives Trading Limited, £12,316 (2024: £16,246) for management and licensing costs.” — page 59
“Several trustees of Together for Short Lives are also either trustees or employees of member charities. Some of these charity members benefit from grants under the National Fundraising Scheme (NFS), but the trustees do not benefit personally.” — page 59
“During the year the charity charged its trading subsidiary, Together for Short Lives Trading Limited, £12,316 (2024: £16,246) for management and licensing costs.” — page 59
“Several trustees of Together for Short Lives are also either trustees or employees of member charities. Some of these charity members benefit from grants under the National Fundraising Scheme (NFS), but the trustees do not benefit personally.” — page 59
“The charity has one wholly owned subsidiary charity: Together for Short Lives (Trading) Ltd (Company number 06434214), a company which is registered in England and Wales and is used for fundraising activities.” — page 7
Policies the charity declares
- Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
- Campaigns and political activity policy and procedures
- Complaints handling
- Complaints policy and procedures
- Conflicting interests
- Engaging external speakers at charity events policy and procedures
- Financial reserves policy and procedures
- Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
- Internal risk management policy and procedures
- Investing charity funds policy and procedures
- Investment
- Paying staff
- Risk management
- Safeguarding policy and procedures
- Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
- Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
- Social media policy and procedures
- Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
- Trustee expenses policy and procedures
- Volunteer management
From the charity’s annual return (Part A, self-declared)
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/03/2025
- Employees paid over £60,000: 4 (£60,001–£70,000: 2; £70,001–£80,000: 1; £80,001–£90,000: 1)
- Has a trading subsidiary
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/03/2024
- Volunteers: 5
- Government income: £12,675 — grants £12,675 (1); under 1% of the £6,901,670 total gross income on the same return
- Employees paid over £60,000: 5 (£60,001–£70,000: 1; £70,001–£80,000: 3; £80,001–£90,000: 1)
- Has a trading subsidiary
Self-declared on the annual return for the financial year ending 31/03/2023
- Volunteers: 5
- Government income: £82,675 — grants £82,675 (2); 1% of the £6,131,788 total gross income on the same return
- Employees paid over £60,000: 5 (£60,001–£70,000: 1; £70,001–£80,000: 3; £80,001–£90,000: 1)
- Has a trading subsidiary
In the news
- Center Parcs and Co-op Wholesale raise nearly £100,000 for Together for Short Lives
- Center Parcs and Co-op Wholesale partnership nears £100,000 for Together for Short Lives
- Summer policy roundup 2025 from Ben Ellmer-Dellow – Together for Short Lives
- Lockton announces Together for Short Lives as Charity of the Year
- Interview: Nick Carroll, ceo, Together for Short Lives
- Together for Short Lives appoints Nick Carroll as new chief executive
- Hobbycraft gives children’s hospices a festive makeover as part of new Christmas Ad campaign supporting charity partner Together for Short Lives
- Holly Willoughby thanks Morrisons for raising £10.7m for Together for Short Lives
Leadership, per the charity’s website
- Nick Carroll — Chief Executive Officer
Funders the charity credits
Structured financials (annual return, FY ending 31/03/2025)
Register events
- Received assets from another charity (21/12/2011)
- Received assets from another charity (21/12/2011)
Trustees
- Andrew Heywood Hugheschair
- BRAD MCLEAN
- Dr Lynda Ann Brook
- Jeremy Mark Evans
- Kirsty Murray
- Mark Winston Smith
- Robert William Lightfoot
- Sarah Lorking
- Sarah Morgan
Income and spending
| Financial year end | Income | Spending |
|---|---|---|
| 31/03/2025 | £6.0m | £6.6m |
| 31/03/2024 | £6.9m | £7.6m |
| 31/03/2023 | £6.1m | £6.2m |
| 31/03/2022 | £3.2m | £3.4m |
| 31/03/2021 | £3.2m | £3.2m |
Common questions
Is TOGETHER FOR SHORT LIVES financially healthy?
Per its FY2025 accounts: The accounts state that the charity reported a net deficit of £546,009 for the year ended 31 March 2025, resulting in total unrestricted funds of £1,645,610. The trustees confirm that these unrestricted reserves are sufficient to cover the estimated close-down costs of £300,000 and maintain the charity as a going concern. The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme and has no disclosed pension deficits. Its FY2025 accounts were audited by HaysMac LLP.
Who funds TOGETHER FOR SHORT LIVES?
Funders whose own accounts filings name TOGETHER FOR SHORT LIVES as a grant recipient include THE TRUE COLOURS TRUST, THE PENNIES FOUNDATION, The Brindle Foundation, CARETECH CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, THE SAM AND BELLA SEBBA CHARITABLE FOUNDATION.
Known funders
Government & lottery funding
| Funder | Date | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 19/09/2024 | £20k | Better connecting and supporting families of seriously ill children |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 25/11/2022 | £10k | Supporting the families of terminally ill babies |
| UK government | 01/04/2019 | £20k | Building Connections Fund |
| UK government | 02/01/2019 | £20k | Building Connections Fund |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 26/11/2018 | £50k | Together for Short Lives |
| UK government | 01/04/2018 | £14k | X Factor- Together for short lives |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 20/10/2009 | £421k | The STEPP Project |
| The National Lottery Community Fund | 20/10/2009 | £493k | The Big Study for Life-limited Children & their Families |
Funders of similar charities
| Funder | Similar charities funded | Amount to them |
|---|---|---|
| MATTHEW GOOD FOUNDATION | 1 | £2k |
| THE EDGAR E LAWLEY FOUNDATION | 1 | £2k |
| THE COMMUNITY OF THE FRANCISCAN FRIARS OF THE RENEWAL | 1 | £500 |
| THE KNOLL CHARITABLE TRUST | 1 | £400 |
Charities like this
- SUPPORTING LIVES
- THE RIGHT TO LIFE CHARITABLE TRUST
- TOGETHER LEICESTER
- YOUR VOICE IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
- CHILDREN FIRST DERBY
- TOGETHER FOR MENTAL WELLBEING
Side by side with its peers
| Charity | Income | Top pay band | Staff >£60k | Reserves vs policy | Fundraising cost | Going concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOGETHER FOR SHORT LIVES | £6.0m | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| SUPPORTING LIVES | £134k | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| THE RIGHT TO LIFE CHARITABLE TRUST | £1.2m | £70,001 - £80,000 | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| TOGETHER LEICESTER | £35k | — | — | unclear | — | no doubt |
| YOUR VOICE IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE | £1.2m | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |
| CHILDREN FIRST DERBY | £506k | — | 0 | unclear | — | no doubt |