UPWARDS WITH DOWNS

Registered charity 1158649 · accounts filings on the Charity Commission register

Our Charity activities include providing various activities to promote development for our members such as specialised speech & language therapy, drama, music & signing sessions. We also have regular social events to help promote self esteem & social inclusion. We support families & aim to provide information to both parents/carers & professionals.

Objects

1. TO RELIEVE THE NEEDS OF PERSONS AFFECTED BY DOWNS SYNDROME AND THEIR FAMILIES AND CARERS BY THE PROVISION OF RESOURCES AND SERVICES.2. THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE EDUCATION OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC INTO DOWNS SYNDROME AND OTHER ADDITIONAL NEEDS AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FAMILY.

The charity’s charitable objects and area of benefit, quoted from its governing document as held on the Charity Commission register.

Causes: Education/training · The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives · Disability · website · Get email alerts

Latest income

£25k

Latest spending

£34k

Registered

2014

Accounts read

FY2024

Financial health, per its FY2024 accounts

The accounts state that the charity has no allocated reserves outside of restricted grant funds and identifies a main risk of funding loss, which it mitigates through ongoing fundraising and grant applications. Expenditure for the year was covered by a mix of donations, grants, and service fees, with specific costs detailed for therapy programmes and events.

Automated summary of the FY2024 accounts; the evidenced findings below carry the verbatim passages.

What the accounts disclose

Reserves position: below the charity's own stated reserves policy

“Charity Reserves Outside of the restricted funds specifically used from any grants received, we do not have any allocated reserves.”

Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Going concern: noted by the trustees or auditor

“Main risk identified is a loss of funding. In order to mitigate against this risk, the charity looks at applying for grants and to continue with our regular fundraising events.”

Per its FY2024 accounts as filed with the Charity Commission.

Discloses 3 of 6 completeness components.

Policies the charity declares

In its annual return the charity told the Commission that it has the policies listed below. This is self-declared: it is not verified by the Commission or by this site, and it is not evidence of how a policy works in practice.

Complaints policy and procedures
Internal risk management policy and procedures
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

Public fundraising profile: JustGiving — Upwards with Downs (matched by registered charity number).

Funders the charity credits

Named as funders/supporters on the charity’s own website (the charity’s claim, distinct from accounts-verified grants).

Essex community foundation — “A HUGE thank you to, Essex community foundation, Harlow Educational Trust and Joseph and Lilian Sully Foundation for providing us with grant…” (source page)
Harlow Educational Trust — “A HUGE thank you to, Essex community foundation, Harlow Educational Trust and Joseph and Lilian Sully Foundation for providing us with grant…” (source page)
Joseph and Lilian Sully Foundation — “A HUGE thank you to, Essex community foundation, Harlow Educational Trust and Joseph and Lilian Sully Foundation for providing us with grant…” (source page)

Public profiles (found on the charity’s own website): facebook · instagram

Trustees · trustee networks

Michaela Bakerchair
CRISTINA GRIFFITHS
DAWN OAKES
Peggy Slade

Trustee list from the Charity Commission register (current, not historical).

Operates in: Essex · Hertfordshire

Income and spending

Financial year end	Income	Spending
31/10/2025	£25k	£34k
31/10/2024	£25k	£35k
31/10/2023	£32k	£39k
31/10/2022	£36k	£25k
31/10/2021	£20k	£15k

Common questions

Is UPWARDS WITH DOWNS financially healthy?

Per its FY2024 accounts: The accounts state that the charity has no allocated reserves outside of restricted grant funds and identifies a main risk of funding loss, which it mitigates through ongoing fundraising and grant applications. Expenditure for the year was covered by a mix of donations, grants, and service fees, with specific costs detailed for therapy programmes and events.