Life Education East Midlands Limited
(A company limited by guarantee)
Report and Unaudited Financial Statements
Year ending 31 March 2025
Charity number: 1067601 Company number: 03207842
Life Education East Midlands Limited
Report of the trustees
for the year ending 31 March 2025
The trustees present their annual report together with the unaudited financial statements for the year ending 31 March 2025 which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors’ report and accounts for Companies Act purposes.
The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and the 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; FRS 102) issued in October 2019.
Chair’s report
The management team met three times during the year. Following changes to the charity’s governance structure, nine trustee meetings have been held to report on and guide the work of the charity.
I am pleased to report that in 2024-25 the charity has continued to maintain growth, both in terms of school visits and SCARF licences. There was a small decrease in the number of children reached, due to changes in staff numbers, after completing a full year of delivering our programmes to children throughout Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, and Northamptonshire. We visited 337 schools providing workshops for 55,838 children.
I can confirm that at the last AGM held in November 2024 it was proposed and confirmed that Liza Varney be elected as the charity’s CEO. We thank Liza for undertaking this role. Having worked so hard as team manager, we have every confidence that with the support of everyone, the charity will continue to thrive.
Liza has taken full responsibility for all aspects of the charity’s work, reporting to the chair and trustees following a restructure of the charity’s operations, whereby the teams responsible for our two strands of work have been brought together under the CEO’s leadership.
Regretfully, this restructure resulted in the resignation of Susan Archer, a long-standing trustee and Family Learning lead. Sue played a pivotal role in shaping Family Learning, from its inception to its current success. We are deeply grateful for her expertise, dedication, and support, both for the programme itself and for her contributions to the charity’s board and wider community.
During the year, our booking officer Carolyn Sandy also left our employ to pursue new challenges. James Varney has taken on the additional workload and is working hard to recruit new schools across our licensed area.
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Life Education East Midlands Limited
Report of the trustees (continued)
for the year ending 31 March 2025
We are grateful for the continued funding provided through the Sexual Assault and Abuse Services Strategy (SAAS) contract with the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Northamptonshire (PFCC). The contract has significantly contributed to the increase in the number of schools visited.
We also said farewell to Sophie Smart, our educator in Northamptonshire, who returns to school teaching. However, we successfully recruited Susan Bugby, who completed her training as an educator with flying colours. We also welcomed Elizabeth Burton and Kathryn Webster who joined the charity in January, both of whom successfully completed their training to be qualified educators.
Our presence on social media platforms continues to grow within our licensed area, thanks to James Varney’s efforts. We’re grateful to James for driving this growth alongside the additional responsibilities he has taken on this year.
I am grateful to our trustee treasurer, Mathew Phillips, who produces monthly financial reports, enabling us to monitor progress towards our long-term aim of becoming self-sufficient. Matthew has also guided us through a challenging period, following Coram Life Education’s change to the licence fee calculation, which has significantly increased our annual costs. In addition, Matthew provides excellent advice to ensure we continue to go from strength to strength. Thank you Matthew, we are so grateful to have you as a trustee.
I am pleased to report that, following our advertisement on REACH Volunteering, we appointed James Vincent as a trustee in January. James brings valuable experience in marketing and supporting us with our five-year growth plan.
Looking ahead, we face a number of emerging challenges, including the renewal of our Cyber Essentials certification, the procurement of new Family Learning contracts, and the impact of the licence fee increase. With the continued support of our staff, trustees, and community, we are well placed to respond constructively to these developments.
After over 30 years as chair of the charity my tenure is coming to an end at the next AGM, when Wayne Kitchener will take over the role. I am proud of what we have achieved so far, and I wish Wayne well for the future. The charity will be in good hands as we continue to build on our progress.
I will remain committed as a Trustee, working towards our aims and objectives and striving for sustainability, so that even more children in our region can benefit from our workshops and resources.
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Life Education East Midlands Limited
Report of the trustees (continued)
for the year ending 31 March 2025
Finally, I would like to thank all our staff and our trustees for the support and hard work, which has enabled the charity to provide much needed health education throughout the East Midlands. I look forward to working with you all in the coming year.
S C Kitch Chair
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Life Education East Midlands Limited
Report of the trustees (continued)
for the year ending 31 March 2025
Our purposes and activities
The purposes of the charity are:
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to advance the education of children and young people, particularly in respect of the dangers of drugs and addictive materials and substances, primarily by videos and other forms of audio visual material and publications and by using any other means of dissemination and communication of educational material and information;
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to promote and protect the physical and mental health of the public with special reference to children and young people; and
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to provide comfort, care and counselling for the public with special reference to children and young people affected or suffering from illness, disease or sickness with particular regard to conditions consequent upon drug and alcohol abuse and similar social problems.
In all cases in the area and surrounding areas of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Leicestershire.
The main activities undertaken in relation to these purposes are:
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providing specialist programmes to schools relating to the purposes of the charity;
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delivering family learning courses for parents, grandparents and carers.
The trustees consider that the charity’s activities during the year satisfy the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
Achievements and performance
In the year ending 31 March 2025, the charity delivered programmes to 337 (2024: 259) participating primary schools in the East Midlands and surrounding areas reaching 55,838 (2024: 55,986) young people between ages 3 and 11. Programmes delivered include SCARF Live online, Health & Wellbeing (Life Base & Life Space), Mental Wellbeing, RSE and BCyberwise to total 521 (2024: 522) school days.
During the year, the charity delivered 86 courses (2024: 67), supporting 520 adult learners (2024: 399). This work was made possible through funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency, secured via Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council. The funding was awarded following formal commissioning processes through Community and Family Learning (Nottingham City) and Inspire Learning (Nottinghamshire County).
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Life Education East Midlands Limited
Report of the trustees (continued)
for the year ending 31 March 2025
Financial review
The net assets of the charity at 31 March 2025 were £180,063 (2024: £203,651). The trustees are satisfied that the charity’s assets are available and adequate to fulfil its obligations in relation to its funds.
Reserves policy
The charity’s reserves target is 6 months’ expenditure, currently £189,202. Reserves at the year end were near this level and deemed adequate to meet the charity’s operational needs.
Reference and administrative details
Registered name: Life Education East Midlands Limited Charity number: 1067601 Company number: 03207842 Registered office: 128 Ramsey Drive Arnold Nottingham Nottinghamshire NG5 6SD
Directors and trustees
The directors of the charitable company (the charity) are its trustees for the purpose of charity law. The trustees and officers serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:
S C Kitch Chair W A Banner A D Gamble Secretary S A Archer (resigned 31 December 2024) C M Litowczuk (resigned 27 March 2025) M A R Phillips P Bain (resigned 28 October 2024) S Buller (resigned 31 July 2024) R J Roberts (resigned 8 October 2024) D Brown R McDermott (resigned 21 October 2024) J G Sinclair (resigned 7 October 2024) W Kitchener J P K Vincent (appointed 27 January 2025 and resigned 13 October 2025)
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Life Education East Midlands Limited
Report of the trustees (continued)
for the year ending 31 March 2025
Structure, governance and management
Governing document
Life Education East Midlands Limited is a company limited by guarantee governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association adopted on 5 June 1996, as amended on 9 March 2022, 12 May 2022 and 28 March 2024. It is registered as a charity with the Charity Commission. Anyone over the age of 18 can become a member of the Company and there are currently 6 members (13 in 2024), each of whom agrees to contribute £1 in the event of the charity winding up.
Appointment of trustees
As set out in the Articles of Association, at every annual general meeting, one-third (or the number nearest to one-third) of the trustees retires from office by rotation. Those trustees due to retire by rotation are those who have been longest in office since their last appointment or reappointment. Trustees retiring by rotation are eligible for re-election. New trustees may be appointed by ordinary resolution on the recommendation of existing trustees.
Trustees’ responsibilities in relation to the financial statements
The trustees (who are also the directors of Life Education East Midlands Limited for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing a trustees’ annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Company law requires the 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 the group and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable group for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable UK accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
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prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in business.
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Life Education East Midlands Limited
Report of the trustees (continued)
for the year ending 31 March 2025
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 the group and hence taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Small company provisions
This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies exemption.
Approved by the trustees on 24 November 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
S C Kitch Chair
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Life Education East Midlands Limited
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees
for the year ending 31 March 2025
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Life Education East Midlands Limited (“the charity”) for the year ending 31 March 2025.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity's trustees (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiner’s statement
Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, which is one of the listed bodies.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
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the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
| Katherine Threadgold, ACMA, CGMA Independent examiner Date: 24.\1.25 K.11TinrendAA |
Address: | Address: Aecimeront Road vddin ale Nottingham G6RW |
|---|---|---|
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Life Education East Midlands Limited
Statement of financial activities (including income and expenditure accounts)
for the year ending 31 March 2025
| Unrestricted | Restricted) | Total) | Total) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **) funds) ** | **funds) ** | funds) | funds) | ||
| **2025) ** | **2025) ** | 20255 | 2024) | ||
| Notes | **£) ** |
**£) ** | £) | £) | |
| Income from: | |||||
| Donations | 3 | 5,948) | 5,450) | 11,398) | 6,897) |
| Charitable activities | 4 | 330,082) | -) | 330,082) | 329,341) |
| Investment income | 5 | 6,544) | -) | 6,544) | 2,735) |
| Other income | 6 | 6,792) | -) | 6,792) | 8,613) |
| Total income | 349,366) | 5,450) | 354,816) | 347,586) | |
| Expenditure on: | |||||
| Charitable activities | 7 | 372,954) | 5,450) | 378,404) | 365,443) |
| Total expenditure | 372,954) | 5,450) | 378,404) | 365,443) | |
| Net (expenditure)/income | |||||
| and net movement in funds | (23,588) | **-) ** | (23,588) | (17,857) | |
| Reconciliation of funds: | |||||
| Total funds brought forward | 202,198) | 1,453) | 203,651) | 221,508) | |
| Total funds carried forward | 178,610) | 1,453) | 180,063) | 203,651) | |
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Life Education East Midlands Limited
Balance sheet
as at 31 March 2025
| **2025) ** | **2024) ** | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | **£) ** | **£) ** | |
| Fixed assets: | |||
| Tangible assets | 11 | 9,136) | 12,752) |
| Total fixed assets | 9,136) | 12,752) | |
| Current assets: | |||
| Debtors | 12 | 58,530) | 60,592) |
| Cash at bank | 183,390) | 178,374) | |
| Total current assets | 241,920) | 238,966) | |
| Liabilities: | |||
| Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year | 13 | 70,993) | 48,067) |
| Net current assets | 170,927) | 190,899) | |
| Total assets less current liabilities | 180,063) | 203,651) | |
| Total net assets | 180,063) | 203,651) | |
| The funds of the charity: | |||
| Restricted funds | 1,453) | 1,453) | |
| Unrestricted funds | 178,610) | 202,198) | |
| Total charity funds | 15 | 180,063) | 203,651) |
The company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to small companies subject to the small companies regime.
Approved by the trustees on 24 November 2025 and signed on their behalf by:
S C Kitch Chair
M A R Phillips Treasurer
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Life Education East Midlands Limited
Notes on the accounts
1 Accounting policies
Basis of preparation
The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the 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 (FRS 102) issued in October 2019, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006. The charity constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102.
These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts.
Going concern
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern.
Fund accounting
Unrestricted funds are available to spend on activities that further any of the purposes of charity. Designated funds are unrestricted funds of the charity which the trustees have decided at their discretion to set aside to use for a specific purpose. Restricted funds are donations which the donor has specified are to be solely used for particular areas of the charity’s work.
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. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:
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Income from donations and grants is recognised when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity.
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Income from charitable activities is recognised once the charity has provided the related goods or services or met the performance related conditions.
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Interest income is recognised when receipt is probable and the amount receivable can be measured reliably.
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Life Education East Midlands Limited
Notes on the accounts (continued)
Expenditure
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.
All expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. All expenses including support costs and governance costs are allocated or apportioned to the applicable expenditure headings.
Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.
Tangible fixed assets
Individual fixed assets costing £1,500 or more are capitalised at cost and are depreciated over their estimated useful economic lives on a straight line basis as follows:
Asset category Useful economic life Life space 5 years
Debtors
Trade and other debtors are recognised at the settlement amount due after any trade discount offered. Prepayments are valued at the amount prepaid net of any trade discounts due.
Cash at bank and in hand
Cash at bank and cash in hand includes cash and short term highly liquid investments with a short maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition or opening of the deposit or similar account.
Creditors and provisions
Creditors and provisions are recognised where the charity has a present obligation resulting from a past event that will probably result in the transfer of funds to a third party and the amount due to settle the obligation can be measured or estimated reliably. Creditors and provisions are normally recognised at their settlement amount after allowing for any trade discounts due.
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Life Education East Midlands Limited
Notes on the accounts (continued)
Financial instruments
The charity only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.
Pensions
Employees of the charity are entitled to join a defined contribution scheme. The charity contribution is restricted to the contributions disclosed in note 8. The defined contribution scheme is independently administered. The charity has no liability beyond making its contributions and paying across the deductions for the employee’s contributions.
2 Legal status
The charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £1 per member of the charity.
3 Income from donations
| Income from donations | |
|---|---|
| Donations and gifts Total |
2025) 2024) £) £) 11,398) 6,897) |
| 11,398) 6,897) |
In 2025 of the income from donations, £5,450 (2024: £nil) was attributable to restricted funds.
4 Income from charitable activities
| School programmes1 Family learning programmes2 Total |
Unrestricted) funds) Unrestricted) funds) 2025) 2024) £) £) 235,663) 231,442) 94,419) 97,899) |
|---|---|
| 330,082) 329,341) |
1 Includes Sexual Assault and Abuse Services Strategy (SAAS) Programme Funding awarded by The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Northamptonshire of £91,201 (2024: £84,600). 2 Funds awarded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency.
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Life Education East Midlands Limited
Notes on the accounts (continued)
5 Investment income
All of the investment income of £6,544 (2024: £2,735) arises from money held in interest bearing deposit accounts.
6 Other income
| Sundry income Total |
Unrestricted) funds) Unrestricted) funds) 2025) 2024) £) £) 6,792) 8,613) |
|---|---|
| 6,792) 8,613) |
7 Expenditure on charitable activities
| Staff costs (note 8) Office, travel and other expenses Insurance Licence fees Direct Parenting costs Depreciation Total |
Unrestricted) funds) Unrestricted) funds) 2025) 2024) £) £) 295,339) 288,831) 41,859) 31,804) 4,309) 3,932) 14,331) 12,927) 18,950) 24,333) 3,616) 3,616) |
|---|---|
| 378,404) 365,443) |
8 Staff costs
| Wages and salaries Social security costs Pensions (defined contribution scheme) Total |
Unrestricted) funds) Unrestricted) funds) 2025) 2024) £) £) 269,768) 263,856) 17,579) 16,821) 7,992) 8,154) |
|---|---|
| 295,339) 288,831) |
No employees had employee benefits in excess of £60,000 (2024: none).
The trustees were not paid or received any other benefits from employment in the year (2024: £nil) neither were they reimbursed expenses during the year (2024: £nil).
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Life Education East Midlands Limited
Notes on the accounts (continued)
No trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2024: £nil).
9 Staff numbers
The average monthly head count during the year was 12 staff (2024: 12) and the average monthly number of full-time equivalent employees during the year was 10 (2024: 10).
10 Corporation Taxation
The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.
11 Tangible assets
| 11 Tangible assets |
|
|---|---|
| Cost At 1 April 2024 Additions Disposals At 31 March 2025 Depreciation At 1 April 2024 Charge for the year Disposals At 31 March 2025 Net book value At 1 April 2024 At 31 March 2025 12 Debtors Trade debtors Other debtors Prepayments and accrued income Total |
Equipment) Total) £) £) 18,080) 18,080) -) -) -) -) |
| 18,080) 18,080) |
|
| 5,328) 5,328) 3,616) 3,616) -) -) |
|
| 8,944) 8,944) |
|
| 12,752) 12,752) |
|
| 9,136) 9,136) |
|
| 2025) 2024) £) £) 45,441) 48,295) -) 310) 13,089) 11,987) |
|
| 58,530) 60,592) |
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Life Education East Midlands Limited
Notes on the accounts (continued)
13 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
| Trade creditors Accruals and deferred income Taxation and social security Total |
2025) 2024) £) £) 8,203) 8,152) 48,103) 20,678) 14,687) 19,237) |
|---|---|
| 70,993) 48,067) |
14 Deferred income
Deferred income arises when we have an obligation to transfer future goods or services to a customer for which we have received consideration.
| Balance as at 1 April Amount released to income Amount deferred in year Balance as at 31 March |
2025) 2024) £) £) 20,631) 19,200) (20,631) (19,200) 45,603) 20,631) |
|---|---|
| 45,603) 20,631) |
15 Analysis of charitable funds
Unrestricted funds
| Balance at) | Balance at) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 April) | 31 March) | ||||
| **2024) ** | **Income) ** | **Expenditure) ** |
**Transfers) ** | **2025) ** | |
| **£) ** | **£) ** | **£) ** |
**£) ** | **£) ** | |
| General | 202,198) | 349,366) | (372,954) | -) | 178,610) |
| Total | 202,198) | 349,366) | (372,954) | -) | 178,610) |
| Restricted funds | |||||
| Balance at) | Balance at) | ||||
| 1 April) | 31 March) | ||||
| **2024) ** | **Income) ** | **Expenditure) ** |
**Transfers) ** | **2025) ** | |
| **£) ** | **£) ** | **£) ** |
**£) ** | **£) ** | |
| Ashby | 1,132) | -) | -) |
-) | 1,132) |
| Melton | 321) | -) | -) |
-) | 321) |
| Leics/Rutland | -) | 5,450) | (5,450) | -) | -) |
| Total | 1,453) | 5,450) | (5,450) | -) | 1,453) |
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Life Education East Midlands Limited
Notes on the accounts (continued)
Name of restricted fund Description, nature and purposes of the fund Ashby To subsidise Ashby Schools Melton To subsidise Melton Schools Leics/Rutland To subsidise Leicestershire & Rutland Schools
16 Analysis of net assets between funds
| Fixed assets Current assets Current liabilities Total Fixed assets Current assets Current liabilities Total |
Unrestricted) funds) Restricted) funds) Total) funds) 2025) 2025) 2025) £) £) £) 9,136) -) 9,136) 240,467) 1,453) 241,920) (70,993) -) (70,993) |
|---|---|
| 178,610) 1,453) 180,063) |
|
| Unrestricted) funds) Restricted) funds) Total) funds) 2024) 2024) 2024) £) £) £) 12,752) -) 12,752) 237,513) 1,453) 238,966) (48,067) -) (48,067) |
|
| 202,198) 1,453) 203,651) |
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