TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT JAN - DEC 2024
Progress and Accounts for the Charity
United Through Sport is a UK Registered Charity (number 1102107)
Table of Contents
1. Charity Details
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1.1. Charity Name and Contact Details
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1.2. Charity Trustees for year ending 31[st] December 2024
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1.3. Professional Advisors and Bankers
2. Charity Objectives and Governance
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2.1. Charity Vision and Objectives
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2.2. Management and Governance
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2.3. Funding Policy
3. Charity Achievements and Performance
- 3.1. Achievements for the period
3.2. United Through Sport Beneficiaries 4. Financial Review
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4.1. Financial Policy
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4.2. Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities
5. Independent Examiner’s Report
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5.1. Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
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5.2. Basis of the independent examiner’s report
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5.3. Independent examiner’s statement
6. Financial Activities for Year Ending 31st December 2024
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6.1. Receipts and Payments
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6.2. Statement of Assets and Liabilities
1. Charity Details
1.1. Charity Name and Contact Details
Charity Name:
United Through Sport
Registered Charity Number:
1102107
Correspondence Address:
Hamilton House, 80 Stokes Croft, Bristol, BS1 3QY, United Kingdom.
1.2. Charity Trustees for year ending 31[st] December 2024
Mr David Burton (Chair)
Mrs Amy Whiting Mr Ben Spier
1.3. Professional Advisors and Bankers
Bankers:
CAF Bank, 25 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent, ME19 4JQ.
Independent Examiner: Guadalupe Brockman MAAT AAT Licensed Accountant
2. Charity Objectives and Governance
2.1. Charity Vision and Objectives
United Through Sport is a sports development charity operating on an international basis to support individual and community development in deprived regions throughout the world. The charity works with a reliable and accountable network of vetted grassroots charities and not-for-profit organisations located in specific target countries, through which sponsored programmes are run and managed. United Through Sport works in partnership with these organisations to raise awareness and funds as well as advising on project direction and policy.
The Vision of United Through Sport, as ratified by the charity trustees is as follows:
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To bring people together to play sport, have fun, build friendships and advance community development.
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To develop people to their full potential in:
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Sport
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Education
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Health
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Use sport as a tool for development – through it’s direct benefits, by developing life-skills and addressing critical issues
All projects funded by United Through Sport must fulfil this Vision. The target countries for United Through Sport during the year were South Africa, Argentina and St Lucia.
2.2. Management and Governance
Trustees are elected by the majority vote of the existing trustee body. Additional trustees are introduced to the charity provided it is considered that they bring significant benefit to the organisation through their specific skills and their dedication to the United Through Sport Vision. There is no official limit on trustee numbers, but the body is not expected to rise above three members at present.
The chair of trustees is responsible for the induction of any new trustee which involves awareness of a trustee’s responsibilities, the governing document, administrative procedures, and the Vision of the charity.
The trustees annually review the risks that the charity faces. The friends and members of the charity are currently protected through employers liability and public liability insurance. In addition, the charity works with a trusted network of registered charitable organisations overseas to avoid the risk of irresponsible, fraudulent or criminal use of funds.
2.3. Funding Policy
During the course of 2024, funds were distributed at the point of need. All beneficiary payments were reviewed and approved by unanimous trustee vote.
Funds are allocated in response to requests from trusted organisations responsible for projects in the target countries. Each request must be accompanied by an outline proposal which identifies the cost, benefit and sustainability of the projects requiring funding.
3. Charity Achievements and Performance
3.1. Achievements for the period
We continue to maintain a good impact in the communities of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, with guidance provided to satellite units in St Lucia, Argentina and the introduction of Ghana and Mauritius. These two new countries are financially independent until such a time the global board agrees to support capital growth or ongoing needs. However, they are using the charity name, and other resources to leverage good will in the countries they operate in order to make their divisions sustainable. This is a positive step in delivering our values into more communities that can benefit from it.
2024 income: £000,000
Below is a summary of progress in each programme country.
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South Africa
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United Through Sport Trustees, Report Progrnm ACCI• forY•ar Endlw 31• D•wnkn 2024 HUBS MODEL From the Court to o Coreer PHUMLA'S JOURNEY OF GROWTH athift•d Through Spoil , Ip•d m•.dls¢a¥•i l *k'. OSCHFONTEIN o eai••r. Sport Iruly Is a polhway lo •ndl•ss po%sibllltlo1. Phumlo United Through Sport
United Through Sport Trustees, Report Progrnm ACCI• forY•ar Endlw 31• D•wnkn 2024 BOYS&GIRLS UNITE J¥pKI IOID 14. 140 riciPAMr$ REACHED •ioo% IN SELF COIIFIDENCF o Say Nfj •akerffj JJ Qioo% PQOVEkllNT IN SNTrE4 EQUITV Kt40LEDGE SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE 80 5CWO STLhXMTS OM FU YJ 40 99Y. tsioo% United Through Sport
United Through Sport Trustees, Report Progrnm ACCI• forY•ar Endlw 31• D•wnkn 2024 YOUTH RISING 402 YowtN IklPACIED 66% FÉIIAiE IMPActr 245 your E¥PLOTrTD (wAulKA7ION 38 YOUTH OWNED ZANO'S JOURNEY . Slurtlng wtth ulmost nolhlng. I n•v•r Imaglned th• Academy would grow Into what It Is loday. with Ihe.Tlghl •upport:_ 'v• b•èn ablè t• ¢r•at• opportunltl•s not lusl far young boys. but also lor glrls ond und•rprlvll•g•d play?rs in our Community. S••ing th••• kid* thiivo is th• gr•ot•st r•word." Zano United Through Sport
United Through Sport Trustees, Report Progrnm ACCI• forY•ar Endlw 31• D•wnkn 2024 COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE 'COA VISION 2025 AND BEYOND local sporls ¢b P•r1MINg o¢othDffll¢olV. oIM•1bco, **ff1 tommunll•s. y0 United Through Sport
St Lucia
2024 has been a year of innovation and empowerment for United Through Sport Caribbean. Building on the momentum of previous years, we have expanded our programmes to address not only physical performance but also the mental, emotional, and social well-being of young people across Saint Lucia. From introducing sports psychology workshops for aspiring athletes and coaches, to strengthening our Female Empowerment Programme through self-defence training, and even celebrating our 20th anniversary with a unique contribution to a local school, our impact has continued to grow in both depth and reach.
Our Vision and Mission
Our mission remains clear: to empower children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds by providing access to sports, education, and health services. We believe in sport as a catalyst for transformation—building confidence, resilience, and community connection.
Key Achievements
1. Sports Psychology Workshops for National Athletes and Coaches
This year, we took a groundbreaking step in supporting the mental side of sport by hosting Sports Psychology Workshops at the National Athletics Forum.
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Practical Tools and Methods : The sessions provided athletes and coaches with usable theories, strategies, and mental training exercises designed to boost performance, manage stress, and build resilience.
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Empowering Coaches and Athletes : By equipping national coaches with these tools, we are helping to shape a more supportive and holistic approach to athlete development across Saint Lucia.
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Positive Reception : The workshops were met with enthusiasm and have set the stage for further integration of sports psychology into national coaching structures.
2. Celebrating 20 Years of United Through Sport – Gift to Marchand School
As part of the global celebration of 20 years of United Through Sport , we proudly commissioned and donated a custom portrait to Marchand School .
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A Lasting Legacy : The portrait serves as both an artwork and a symbol of UTS’s ongoing commitment to Saint Lucian schools and communities.
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Community Pride : The donation was warmly received and will stand as a reminder of the power of partnership and shared history.
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Celebrating Two Decades : This gesture highlights our journey of growth from grassroots initiatives to a wide-reaching movement that touches thousands of young lives each year.
3. Female Empowerment Programme – Girls’ Self-Defence Classes
2024 also saw the launch of a new Girls’ Self-Defence Initiative under our Female Empowerment Programme.
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Kickboxing at Corinth School : We introduced kickboxing-based self-defence classes to empower girls with practical skills for confidence, safety, and self-protection.
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Beyond Sport : The programme went beyond physical techniques, opening discussions about self-worth, boundaries, and resilience.
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Impact on Participants : Girls reported feeling stronger, safer, and more confident both inside and outside the classroom.
4. Staff and Coach Training
This year we made a significant investment in the development of our staff, local coaches, and volunteers, ensuring that our programmes remain sustainable and led by skilled professionals.
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Internationally Recognised Qualifications: We organised and delivered an open-water swim coaching workshop, providing internationally recognised qualifications to local participants and UTS staff.
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Capacity Building for Local Leaders: We funded driving lessons, a licence, and a work vehicle for one of our coordinators, empowering him to better serve his community and lead programmes independently.
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Teacher Development : In District 4 (Ciceron & Millet), we trained local P.E. teachers in updated coaching methods and modern theories, directly improving the quality of physical education for hundreds of students.
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Sport-Specific Coaching: We partnered with the Saint Lucia Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) to deliver youth coaching workshops, strengthening grassroots rugby across the island.
5. Goalkeeper Coaching Programme
Recognising the need for specialist training in football, we introduced goalkeeper-specific coaching in 2024.
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Youth Development: Children at the grassroots level received targeted positional coaching to develop their confidence and skills in goal.
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Raising Standards: Our sessions extended to semi-professional clubs and national team players, filling a long-standing gap in football development in Saint Lucia.
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Building a Pathway: This specialised training is creating new opportunities for aspiring goalkeepers, ensuring they receive the same structured development as outfield players.
Challenges and Opportunities
As in previous years, high demand for our programmes has been both our greatest challenge and our biggest opportunity. Our new initiatives in sports psychology and female empowerment have generated strong community interest, creating opportunities for growth but also increasing the need for resources, skilled trainers, and partnerships. We remain committed to meeting this demand sustainably while maintaining the quality of our impact.
Looking Ahead to 2025
In 2025, United Through Sport Caribbean aims to:
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Expand sports psychology support into more schools and clubs.
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Scale up our Female Empowerment Programme, introducing self-defence and personal development workshops in more schools across the island.
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Launch new community partnerships to celebrate health, sport, and culture together.
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Continue building on the strong foundation of our swimming, physiotherapy, and sports coaching programmes to ensure holistic development for all participants.
Conclusion
2024 has been a year of bold new steps for United Through Sport Caribbean. From advancing athlete development through sports psychology, to empowering young women with the confidence and skills of self-defence, to celebrating 20 years of our global mission with meaningful community contributions, we are proud of the progress made. Looking ahead, we are more committed than ever to building a brighter, stronger future for the youth of Saint Lucia and the wider Caribbean.
Thank you for standing with us in this mission.
4. Financial Review
4.1 Financial Policy
For 2024, United Through Sport has taken a low-risk policy to investment. It does have a loan balance of £51,111 at the close of the year.
The charity has a reserves policy to ensure that unreserved cash balances do not fall below £10,000 at any time. This policy will remain in 2024.
At present the charity only supplies payments to beneficiaries for initiatives which are sustainable without a guarantee of future support from United Through Sport. The charity therefore has no fixed future financial commitments to beneficiaries and will offer support on a case-by-case basis until further notice. This implies that the charity’s reserves policy is dictated only by operational expenditure and not by future commitments to beneficiaries.
The charity has a target of distributing 75% of total income to beneficiary projects in-country, with 25% retained for UK administration.
4.2 Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities
Charity law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which show a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and its financial activities for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the trustees are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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state whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
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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 operational existence.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which 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 Charities Act 1993. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Signed on Behalf of the Trustees by David Burton.
Signed:
Date: Oct 2025
5. Independent Examiner’s Report
I report on the accounts of the charity for the year ended 31[st] December 2024, which are set out in Section 6.
5.1 Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
The charity’s Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 43(2) of the Charities Act 1993 (the Act)) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts (under section 43 of the Act);
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to follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission (under section 43(7)(b) of the Act); and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
5.2 Basis of the independent examiner’s report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the charity and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, 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 I do not express an audit opinion on the view given by the accounts.
5.3 Independent examiner’s statement
In the course of my examination, no matter has come to my attention which gives me reasonable cause to believe that in, any material respect, the trustees have met the requirements to ensure that:
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proper accounting records are kept (in accordance with section 41 of the 1993 Act); and
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● accounts are prepared which agree with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirements of the Act; or
Signed: Guadalupe Brockman MAAT
Date: 30th Oct 2025
6. Financial Activities for Year Ending 31st Dec 2024
6.1 Receipts and Payments
| 6.1 Receipts and Payments | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unrestricte | Restricted | Total Funds | Total | |
| d Funds | Funds | 2024 | Funds | |
| £ | £ | £ | 2023 | |
| £ | ||||
| RECEIPTS |
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| General Income |
6,985 | 74,269 | 81,254 | 115523 |
| Online Platform Income (Total Giving) | 3,102 | 9,534 | 12,636 | 2,376 |
| Sales | 4,111 | - | 4,111 | 1,735 |
| Bank Interest | 155 | - | 155 | 249 |
| Total Receipts | 14,353 | 83,803 | 98,156 | 119,883 |
| PAYMENTS |
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| Beneficiary Payments | 483 | 91,128 | 91,611 | 97,475 |
| Development Costs | - | - | - | 5,000 |
| Fees deducted from Income | 116 | 521 | 637 | 465 |
| Marketing and Event Costs | 2,080 | - | 2,080 | 2,027 |
| Personnel Costs | - | 14,039 | 14,039 | 23,506 |
| IT Costs (inc JustGiving) | 216 | - | 216 | 216 |
| Administration Costs | 62 | 3,440 | 3,502 | 3,885 |
| Gift Aid Repayment | - | - | - | - |
| Total Payments | 2,957 | 109,128 | 112,085 | 132,574 |
| LOAN RECEIVED FROM UTS SOUTH | ||||
| AFRICA |
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| Loan Received |
- | 51,111 | 51,111 | 77,778 |
| Loan Repayments | 000 | (49,130) | (49,130) | (26,667) |
| NETSURPLUS |
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| Net of Receipts / Payments |
11,397 | (74,454) | (61,076) | 11,755 |
| Transfer | - | - | 0 | 0 |
| Cash Funds Last Year End | 38,990 | 71,284 | 110,274 | 149,631 |
| Cash Funds This Year End | 50,387 | (3,170) | 47,217 | 110,274 |
6.2 Statement of Assets and Liabilities
| Unrestricted | Restricted | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funds | Funds | 2024 | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| ASSETS |
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| Cash at Bank |
50,387 | (3,170) | 47,217 |
| Total Cash Funds | 50,387 | (3,170) | 47,217 |
| LIABILITIES |
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| Loan from UTS South Africa |
- | 1,981 | 51,111 |
| Total Liabilities | 0 | 1,981 | 51,111 |