Chairman’s Report research arena. In March 2012, I would like to take this opportunity we organised our ninth international to thank Samantha Cameron for MY FIRST 12 MONTHS AS CHAIR It was always our ambition to mark workshop entitled ‘Why do some graciously hosting the Epilepsy OF EPILEPSY RESEARCH UK HAVE the 20th anniversary of Epilepsy brains seize? Molecular, cellular and Research UK reception at 10 Downing COINCIDED WITH OUR 20TH Research UK with a grant round of network mechanisms’ where fifty Street in May 2012 that rounded off our ANNIVERSARY AND OUR MOST this magnitude, but to have realised experts from around the world anniversary year. This event, together SUCCESSFUL YEAR TO DATE. it in the current economic climate is a gathered to consider the key with the Gala Ball in October 2011, Credit for that goes to my tremendous achievement. This success differences between normal were highlights of a momentous twelve predecessor as Chair, Professor Helen allowed us to fund five new project functioning brains and those that months for Epilepsy Research UK, with Cross, for her excellent stewardship grants, two fellowship grants and one periodically exhibit spontaneous both well attended by our loyal and of the charity over the past six years, project grant extension at a total cost of seizures. The proceedings of the committed supporters. We owe a huge the staff of Epilepsy Research UK for £1,189,332. As always, these awards workshop will be published in debt of gratitude to our supporters for a continuing dedication to the cause their continuing hard work, and the covered a broad spectrum of research the highly prestigious Journal of of epilepsy research that has enabled remarkable efforts of our donors and focused on the causes, prevention and Physiology later in the year. We also us to flourish as a charity over the past supporters, who selflessly commit treatment of epilepsy. Together with the remain committed to supporting the fifteen grants that were ongoing during twenty years. I very much hope that the their time and energy to the cause UK Epilepsy Research Network 2011-2012, our portfolio of funded next twenty years will see even greater of epilepsy research. I thank you (UKERN), which aims to bring together all for your valued contributions. research now exceeds £3 million. successes for Epilepsy Research UK scientists and clinicians from across and even more significant advances This year we reached a significant In addition to our primary objective of the country to identify research in the treatment of epilepsy. It is my milestone in awarding over £1 million funding epilepsy research, we continue priorities and help deliver large-scale job, as Chair, to set us on course to in research grants for the very first time. to encourage collaboration within the studies that will make major advances achieve that objective. in our understanding of epilepsy. UKERN is growing in stature and its With these new grants and the fifteen research annual forum is now a regular fixture in projects that were ongoing during the year, our the research community’s calendar as portfolio of funded research now exceeds £3 million. a key event for fostering collaboration Dr Graeme Sills funding research changing lives in 2012 and refining research ideas. Chair of Trustees a huge thank fundraising you to all our supporters We marked our 20th anniversary with two very special events. Over 150 people attended our to a huge variety of activities to raise Gala Ball in October at The Grange money on our behalf, from organising St Paul’s Hotel in the heart of London car boot sales to trekking up Mount The Banks Group raised over £3,000 when Sam & Zac Slocombe at the Simon Lambracos trekked Supporters of the Michael Alton Memorial Fund with guests enjoying a memorable Everest. Many people took on such to Everest Base Camp. at the London Big Fun Run raising £1,200. they adopted ERUK as their charity of the year. Big Fun Run in Milton Keynes. evening of champagne, food, music challenges specifically to raise money and dancing. We were very fortunate for our memorial funds which were to have donated some exceptional as always incredibly well supported auction prizes such as a named raising over £100,000. This money appearance in an Ian Rankin will fund Professor Terry’s research novel which helped raise £65,000. described overleaf. We rounded off our anniversay year Legacies made a huge contribution to with a reception at 10 Downing Street our work this year and we are always hosted by Samantha Cameron where so grateful to be remembered in this guests were invited to celebrate our way. We would like to thank everyone achievements over the past twenty for their support that made our 20th years and to look to a future where anniversary year such a huge success. we are able to make even greater This year we funded over £1 million of strides in epilepsy research. research, we aim to do this and more Throughout the year our supporters in the future and your support is vital Rachael Pearman ran the The 20th Anniversary Ball was a Beccy Foster and Alex McColm taking part in the Edinburgh Marathon 10K event excelled themselves in committing in helping us achieve that goal. British 10K raising over £1,400. great success raising over £65,000. with friends and family for the Daniel McColm Memorial Fund raising £3,371.30. income 8% 1% financial summary 22% Individuals £400,367 12% It is very gratifying to report that the year Legacies £1,040,243 that marked our 20th anniversary was also our most successful year to date Fundraising events £214,084 with income exceeding £1.8 million. Trusts & companies £152,861 57% This record income allowed us to Fundraising and governance costs Interest £24,424 allocate over £1 million pounds to were generally unchanged from the research projects for the first time in our previous year while other charitable £1,831,979 Graeme Sills, Samantha Cameron, Helen Cross Mabel Cates parachuted history. The increase in income was expenditure increased slightly due and Leigh Slocombe at 10 Downing Street. to raise over £300. attributable to a number of significant to the organisation of our biennial legacies that were received during the scientific workshop. year. Whilst we should not expect to Having been able to allocate 1% expenditure 13% receive a similar figure next year, we are over £1 million to research projects confident that the programme of legacy to mark our 20th anniversary,we are 73% marketing we have implemented in keen to replicate this achievement Research grants £1,189,332 recent years will ensure that legacies on a regular basis. Therefore, we are a major source of income for have taken the decision to invest Research activities £219,274 13% years to come. Income from charitable this year’s surplus monies in an trusts was also up considerably on extensive donor development Fundraising costs £213,259 last year due primarily to the Waterloo campaign with the aim of increasing Foundation’s support of Professor our donorbase of regular supporters. Governance £19,175 Pal’s research project. Other areas of By doing so we hope to develop a fundraising continued to perform well base of regular income which will £1,641,040 and our 20th anniversary ball was a help us fund in excess of £1 million great success, raising over £65,000. on an annual basis. Michael Clay and friends doing the The pupils of Widney Junior School Coast to Coast Cycle raising over £500. raised £2,175 during their charity week. trustee list Financial summary for the year ended 31st March 2012 trustees’ auditors’ Unrestricted Restricted Total Total PRESIDENT Mrs Jeanette Atkinson Funds (£) Funds (£) 2012 (£) 2011 (£) statement statement Professor Alan Richens Professor Helen Cross INCOME (retired September 2011) The financial information on this page As auditors for Epilepsy Donations 453,052 100,000 553,052 519,913 TRUSTEES Professor Liam Gray is a summary extracted from the Research UK we have reviewed Fundraising events 214,084 - 214,084 200,932 accounts of Epilepsy Research UK the summarised accounts and Dr Graeme Sills Professor John Jefferys (appointed as Chairman September 2011) Legacies 1,040,243 - 1,040,243 346,706 for the year ending 31st March 2012. consider that they are consistent Miss Sarah May Mr Barrie Akin Research Activities 176 - 176 2,447 with the full accounts on which Professor Mark Richardson The summarised accounts may not The Rt Hon Mr David Cameron MP Interest 24,424 - 24,424 14,097 we gave our opinion. Professor Leone Ridsdale contain sufficient information for a full Professor Helen Cross (appointed November 2011) Research grants not required - - - 76,094 understanding of the financial affairs of (retired as Chairman September 2011) Dr Graeme Sills the charity. For further information, the Mr John Hirst TOTAL INCOME 1,731,979 100,000 1,831,979 1,160,189 (retired as Chairman September 2011) full annual accounts, the auditors’ report A Davies ACA Professor Mike Kerr Dr Stephanie Schorge EXPENDITURE on those accounts and the trustees’ Senior Statutory Auditor Mr Simon Lanyon (appointed November 2011) Research grants committed 1,089,429 99,903 1,189,332 703,202 annual report should be consulted. F A Magee & Company Mrs Mary Manning Dr Ingram Wright Research activities 216,860 2,414 219,274 191,184 Copies of these can be obtained from Wimbourne House Dr Lina Nashef Dr Sameer Zuberi the Epilepsy Research UK, PO Box 3004, Fundraising 213,259 - 213,259 211,538 4-6 Pump Lane, Hayes, UB3 3NB Mr Paul Newman London W4 4XT.