REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31 JANUARY 2023 ## FOR CITY ESCAPE Charity Number:1069707 De Claron Ltd 3a The Vale LONDON NW11 8SB ## CITY ESCAPE ## CONTENTS OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the Year Ended 31 January 2023 ||Page| |---|---| |Charity Information|1| |Report of the Trustees|2| |Independent Examiner's Report|7| |Income Expense Account|9| |Balance Sheet|10| |Notes to Financial Statements|11| ## CITY ESCAPE ## CHARITY INFORMATION for the Year Ended 31 January 2023 TRUSTEES: Mrs G Traube Mrs R Just Mrs Y Mandel Mrs I Rosenthal SECRETARY: Mrs G Traube REGISTERED OFFICE: 30 Moresby Road London E5 9LF REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER: 1069707 BANKERS: Natwest Bank, 20 Amhurst Road London E6 1QZ INDEPENDENT EXAMINER: De Claron Ltd Unit A 3 The Vale London NW11 8SB Page 1 ## CITY ESCAPE ## REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the Year Ended 31 January 2023 The trustees present their annual report together with the financial statements of for the 1 February 2022 to 31 January 2023. ## Message from the Chair “More than 1 in 4 of all children in the UK now live in poverty.” Bernados Report, October 2022 “Yesterday, Dad sold my bike to a neighbor so that we can have more money for groceries. What am I going to tell my friends when they want to bike with me after school?” Simon, age 9. So much has changed here in Britain, and in such a short amount of time too. With the cost of living rising to unseen levels, hundreds of local families are struggling to get by, and too many children are lacking the basics. Here at City Escape, we have heard it all directly from our users: From skipping meals to living without heating or warm clothing for the duration of London’s long winters, if life has ever been difficult and anxiety-ridden for our young people, it has just gotten worse. This summer, after the challenging year our young people have experienced, we knew that it was more pivotal than ever to get our young members out of their houses. And thankfully, with the support of our friends, donors, and an incredible team, we were able to do just that! Our getaway this summer took place in a beautiful rural setting where our users enjoyed an extensive range of workshops, trips, and outdoor activities. For many, this is the only ray of light they get all year. The chance to run free, with ample space, in the great outdoors, just letting the stress out of their system in the healthiest manner. One of my proudest moments this year was watching my team respond devotedly and creatively when due to financial considerations, we had to unfortunately cancel our premises rental in the countryside for a large part of the programme. What could only be described as miraculous, my team pulled off a hugely successful day programme for our second week, complete with activities, workshops, and trips. It was unreal to see their dedication to our users! It is these efforts and your unparalleled support that give our users more reasons to count down to the summer. Together, we can make their smiles BIGGER. More real. More often. Goldie Traube Programe Director 1 November 2023 Page 2 ## CITY ESCAPE ## REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the Year Ended 31 January 2023 ## Policies and objectives City Escape aims to improve the lives and opportunities of disadvantaged young people by providing a two-week summer holiday residential programme for financially and socially deprived children from London between the ages of 11 and 16. We take them away from the inner-city streets where they face great risk of engaging in crime, drugs and anti-social behaviour, and care for them in a safe and supportive environment, within refreshing rural surroundings. Being a part of our programme enhances the children's social development and improves their confidence and self-esteem so that they return home invigorated and revitalised – physically, mentally and emotionally; complete with the tools they need to enrich their lives and their future. Structure, Governance and Management - Consitution - The charity is governed by declaration of trust dated 3 May 1998 and is run by the trustees. - Method of appointment or election of Trustees The management of the charity is the responsibility of the Trustees who are elected and coopted under the terms of the Trust deed. - Commitment to quality and best practice With our commitment to quality and best practice, we evaluate and monitor our annual programme to improve effectiveness. Since our charity works with vulnerable children and families, safeguarding is considered the greatest inherent risk in our work. We have a framework of consents, controls, policies and reviews to mitigate the associated risks. All our volunteers are DBS checked and undergo appropriate child safeguarding training. As an established organisation, we have excellent policies and procedures that are reviewed on an annual basis. This leads to smoothly run, safe activities, and sound back up plans if necessary. In setting objectives and planning for activities, the trustees have given due consideration to general guidance published by the charity commission relating to public benefit. ## Achievements and Performance In the last few years here at City Escape, we’ve gotten really good at making great plans, meeting up with crises, tossing out our original plans, and then drawing up new ones. All in a matter of days. After the chaos of Covid subsided and the world slowly chugged back to normal, we made some exciting plans for our users this year. Our plan included a two-week getaway in the summer to a beautiful rural setting where our young people would have the opportunity to participate in an extensive range of workshops, trips, and outdoor activities. But then, only a short time before the getaway we were forced to realise that our reduced income this year meant we were still too far away from our project budget and our wonderful plans were starting to collapse into a heap. Once thing we knew without a doubt: cancelling was not an option - our users needed this project and had been looking forward to it all year. We made the swift, calculated decision to decrease the residential part of the programme to only five days, implementing the rest of the project as a local day-programme which would significantly reduce our expenses. Page 3 ## CITY ESCAPE ## REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the Year Ended 31 January 2023 Almost immediately, our team got right to work and we were successful in moving the entire second week of our program over to a local venue with all activities, workshops, and new trips in place. Thankfully, our users enjoyed an amazing two weeks, filled with trips, activities, and empowering programs that filled them up for the year ahead. ## Project Details Our project took place between the 15th August 2022 – 28th August 2022 and included 116 children and young people and 23 volunteers. The residential part of the programme was held at the spectacular, expansive campus of the St Joseph's College located in Ipswich, Suffolk where the children were able to take part in a rich and diversified programme of activities. After a healthy breakfast, we began each day with an interactive professionally-run workshop which varied daily and focused on different areas such as teaching effective communication skills, managing emotions, drama and art workshops, confidence building sessions and music groups. The workshops concluded with a short fun activity and the children then sat down to a warm, nutritious meal. Every afternoon the participants took part in a refreshing outdoor activity which included plenty of hiking opportunities, sports games, trampolining, a visit to the beach and cycling. In the evening after supper, our volunteer social heads directed a night activity which provided unique opportunities for connecting together and facilitating firm friendships to form. Every young person played an active role in our programme planning and delivery and we regularly consulted with them regarding different ideas for the project. Throughout the programme, the children were involved by presenting ideas, creating songs, and producing artwork during workshops and activity sessions. All this involvement created a harmonious atmosphere with all involved feeling a great sense of achievement and empowerment. Our on-site support worker was available throughout the project for these young people to approach and was instrumental in providing vital encouragement for the participants. We hope to cement the valuable friendships and emotional gains made over the fourteen days spent together by continuing to deliver periodic virtual workshops and encouraging our participants and volunteers to maintain the relationships formed. ## Our Impact The benefits of our summer holiday programme are manifold, including both short- and longerterm benefits. These often extend beyond individual children’s lives onto their family relationships and engagement with their local community. These benefits are detailed below: - A positive summer holiday environment - these vulnerable young people are able to taste the - - enjoyment and freedom of childhood within an encouraging environment rather than have to while away their summer holidays within the boredom of their crowded homes, or face the dangers from outdoors. Reduced isolation - our project enables integration of different marginalised groups from the community to connect with new friends and sympathetic adults, so that positive and - supportive friendships can develop. This likewise results in improvements in social and communication skills. Page 4 ## CITY ESCAPE ## REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the Year Ended 31 January 2023 - Providing new experiences, raising aspirations and broadening horizons - For children and young people whose experience of the world is defined and confined by poverty, extending - - their physical horizon is incredibly important. This is achieved through our expansive rural location coupled with our wide range of activities, workshops and outdoor trips. Leadership and organisational abilities - as a result of being involved in all stages of planning, organising and decision making both prior and during our programme the children - and young volunteers develop vital skills and improved self-esteem often leading to new hobbies and pathways to employment. - Improved health and wellbeing – due to their immersion in a healthy way of life, including diet and life style, and the incentive we provide them to encourage themselves and each - - other to continue this new way of life together with friends and family on their return home. A stronger community – our project greatly improves community cohesion and identity. We - empower the young people to set themselves on a happier and more successful track in life. This enables them to overcome their current disadvantage and grow up to become active and productive members of the community. ## Funding activities / Income generation The cost-of-living crisis is having an immediate effect on our organisation. Our income levels have been largely reduced as many of our past benefactors are currently not in a position to support us, which is intensified by the high competition we face within outside funding sources. This financial setback combined with the increased cost of living expenses which has caused a significant rise in our annual running expenses, is making delivering our programme considerably more challenging. Our beneficiaries are all financially or socially disadvantaged children from BAME communities who live within the economically deprived inner-city areas of Hackney and Haringey. Most participants can only make a small contribution to the cost, if at all, and the charity therefore depends heavily on grants from third parties to finance its activities, particularly as the cost of renting premises in the summer is exceedingly high. This year, as a first, we were forced to reduce the scope of our activities because of a significant decrease in our income. Three grant applications that we were relying on were unsuccessful and we simply did not have the funds to deliver our summer programme as originally planned. We are taking immediate action now to ensure that the needs of our users are met in the best possible way and are taking several steps so we can keep our organisation running effectively and sustainably. These steps include; initiating local fundraising events, recruitment of more local volunteers, reducing staff members on our payroll, soliciting donated equipment and food and securing more pro bono/reduced rates on our activities and trips. We would like to make special mention of the substantial and generous support we received from Awards 4 All and the Hackney Community Team, amongst our other many valuable supporters and community donors . Page 5 ## CITY ESCAPE ## REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES for the Year Ended 31 January 2023 ## Plans For The Future - The current cost of living crisis has taught us to intensify our strategic partnerships and local networking capabilities so as to more easily and accurately identify those vulnerable young people who could most benefit from our programmes. This particular project has been - - the platform for widening the target group for our organisation and adapting our priorities to target additional disadvantaged young people who may have previously not been prioritised for a place on our programme - City Escape would like to help even more children and young people be included in our future summer programmes. This will primarily depend on raising more funds. We hope to - - develop new fundraising strategies so as to widen our database of potential funders, as well as to run local fundraising activities so as to raise the scope of local donations from within the community. - We will develop our programme and innovate effectively so as to provide for the up-andcoming needs of the disadvantaged children most effectively. We will improve on our - monitoring and evaluation methods. We will also establish a user council where the children and young people will play an even greater role in the actual decision making throughout the entire project planning and delivery. - We would like to progress towards receiving a quality mark from the London Youth which we - - hope to achieve during the upcoming year. - Our vision is that during their time spent planning and directing our programme, we will - - provide the opportunity for our group of young volunteers to achieve AQA accreditation on Teamwork and Leadership Skills. This will help them for future employment prospects. This report was approved by the trustees and signed on their behalf by: ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Trustee Name:Goldie Traube Signature: Date: 1 November 2023 Page 6 ## INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S UNQUALIFIED REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF CITY ESCAPE for the Year Ended 31 January 2023 ## Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of City Escape I report on the accounts of the Charity for the year ended 31 January 2023, which are set out on pages 6 to 10. This report is made solely to the charity's trustees, as a body, in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 and regulations made under section 154 of that Act. My work has been undertaken so that I might state to the charity's trustees those matters that I am required to state to them in an Independent examiner's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, I do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity's trustees as a body, for my work or for this report. The financial statements have been presented in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts using the Financial Reporting Standards applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) effective 1 January 2019. This has been done in order for the accounts to provide a true and fair view of the charity's financial position. ## Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner The charity's trustees are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements, and they consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act) and that an independent examination is needed. ## It is my responsibility to: - examine the financial statements under section 145 of the Act; - follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act; and - - state whether particular matters have come to my attention. ## Basis of Independent examiner's report My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the financial statements presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the financial statements, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the financial statements present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below. ## Independent examiner's statement In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention: 1. which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in any material respect the requirements - to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Act; and to prepare financial statements which accord with the accounting records, Accounting - and Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and in other respects comply with the accounting requirements of the Act. Page 7 ## INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S UNQUALIFIED REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF CITY ESCAPE for the Year Ended 31 January 2023 2. to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding financial statements to be reached. De Claron Ltd. 3a The Vale LONDON NW11 8SB 1 November 2023 Page 8 ## CITY ESCAPE STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES for the Year Ended 31 January 2023 |INCOMING RESOURCES
Grants Received
2
Donations
Interest Received
3, 4
TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES
CHARITABLE PROGRAMS
Premises Expenses
Transport And Travel
Recreational Trips
Food And Kitchen Supplies
Workshop & Activities
Volunteer Expenses
ADMINISTRATING EXPENDITURES
Advertising
Accountancy & Admin
Fundraising
Insurance
Total Resources Expended
NET MOVEMENTS IN FUNDS FOR THE YEAR
FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD
TOTAL FUNDS CARRIED FORWARD|£
£
Restricted
Unrestricted
Funds
Funds
£
£
19,410
7,300
28,275
19,410
35,575
54,985
9,885
5,625
8,862
3,796
7,665
128
295
338
146
-
36,741
-
(17,331.43)
35,575
18,244
16,720
34,964
31.01.2023|£
£
Restricted
Unrestricted
Funds
Funds
£
£
15,640
29,900
63,788
15,640
93,688
109,328
41,111
25,105
8,627
17,897
10,794
1,738
2,021
246
-
279
107,816
-
(92,176.29)
93,688
1,512
15,208
16,720
31.01.2022| |---|---|---| Page 9 ## CITY ESCAPE BALANCE SHEET for the Year Ended 31 January 2023 **----- Start of picture text -----**
31.01.2023 31.01.2022
£ £ £ £
FIXED ASSETS - -
CURRENT ASSETS
- -
Debtors
Cash in hand and at bank 34,964 16,720
34,964 16,720
CURRENT LIABILITIES
- -
Short term Creditors
- -
NET CURRENT ASSETS 34,964 16,720
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 34,964 16,720
FUND ACCOUNT
Funds 34,964 16,720
**----- End of picture text -----**
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Trustee Name:Goldie Traube Signature: Date: 1 November 2023 Page 10 ## CITY ESCAPE ## Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 January 2023 - 1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES - 1.1 Basis of preparation of financial statements The financial statements have been prepared to give a 'true and fair' view of the charity's financial position. The historical cost convention has been used with items recognised at cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant notes to these accounts. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice; Accounting and Reporting by Charities in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS102) effective from 1 January 2019 and the Charities Act 2011. City Escape constitutes a public benefit entity as defined by FRS 102. - 1.2 Fund accounting General funds are unrestricted funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes. Restricted funds ere funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors or which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes. The costs of raising and administering such funds are charged against the specific fund. The aim and use of each restricted fund is set out in the notes to the financial statements. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deed of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation. - 1.3 Income - All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably - 1.4 Expenditure - Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Charitable activities and Governance costs are costs incurred on the charity's educational operations, including support costs and costs relating to the governance of the charity apportioned to charitable activities - 1.5 Interest receivable - Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the Bank. Page 11 ## CITY ESCAPE ## Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 January 2023 - 1.6 Cash at Bank and in hand - Cash at bank and 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. - 1.7 Liabilities and provisions Liabilities are recognised when there is an obligation at the Balance sheet date as a result of a past event, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefit will be required in settlement, and the amount of the settlement can be estimated reliably. Liabilities are recognised at the amount that the charity anticipates it will pay to settle the debt or the amount it has received as advanced payments for the goods or services it must provide. Provisions are measured at the best estimate of the amounts required to settle the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the provision is based on the present value of those amounts, discounted at the pre-tax discount rate that reflects the risks specific to the liability. The unwinding of the discount is recognised within interest payable and similar charges ## 1.8 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 with the exception of bank loans which are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. ## 2. INCOME FROM DONATIONS AND LEGACIES |3.
CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
4.
RESTRICTED FUNDS|£
£
£
2023
2023
2023
Restricted
Unrestricted
Funds
Funds
Total
£
£
£
19,410
35,575
54,985
£
£
2023
Summer
CHARITABLE PROGRAMS
Project
Premises Expenses
9,885
Transport And Travel
5,625
Recreational Trips
8,862
Food And Kitchen Supplies
3,796
Workshop & Activities
7,665
Volunteer Expenses
128
35,962
National Lottery Awards 4 All England
Hackney Small Grant|£
2022
Total
£
109,328
£
2022
Summer
Project
41,111
25,105
8,627
17,897
10,794
1,738
105,271
9,810
9,600
19,410| |---|---|---| Page 12 ## CITY ESCAPE ## Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 January 2023 5. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Accruals and deferred income £ £ 2023 2022 - - Page 13