## **Charity registration number 1141805 (England and Wales)**
**Company registration number 07381665**
## **HANDSWORTH ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS**
# **(COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE)**
**ANNUAL REPORT AND UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**
## **HANDSWORTH ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS (COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION**
**Trustees** Shamala Louise Antonio Edward Mark Edmead Ivora Ferreira - Bean Dr Bogusia Matusiak-Varley Olabimpe Olukemi Odubanjo Sarah Louise Smith Parveen Talwar Alison Taylor Eddie Wright **Charity number** 1141805 **Company number** 07381665 **Principal address** Welford Primary School Welford Road Birmingham B20 2BL **Independent examiner** Mohammed Yaseen ACCA Soho House 362 - 364 Soho Road Birmingham B21 9QL
## **Trustees**
**HANDSWORTH ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS (COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) CONTENTS**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Trustees report|1 - 2|
|Independent examiner's report|3|
|Statement of financial activities|4|
|Balance sheet|5|
|Notes to the financial statements|6 - 11|
**HANDSWORTH ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS (COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note1 to the financial statements and comply with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006 and "Accounting and Reporting by 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)" (effective 1 January 2019).
## **Objectives and activities**
Handsworth Association of Schools was formed in 1999 and became a constituted organisation at that time with its own accounts and constitution. On 20th September 2010 the Association became incorporated as a company limited by guarantee and went on to gain charitable status in May 2011.
The association is constituted:
- to advance education of children, young people and families through school improvement and the advancement of learning opportunities;
- to advance education in environmental education, healthy lifestyles and the safety of young people;
- promote good citizenship, community cohesion and equal opportunities;
- provide facilities for recreation and other leisure-time occupations in the interests of social welfare;
- to help young people develop their capacities, skills and capabilities to enable them to participate more fully to society as mature and responsible adults;
- and to promote adult education and family learning opportunities;
The Charity currently summarises its work under three priority objectives:
- Empowering Children and Young People through Social Action
- Providing Support to Families
- Supporting Schools Improvement
## **Achievements and performance**
The work of the charity is locally focused on the neighbourhoods and communities of West Birmingham, centred on Handsworth.
## **A challenging but successful year**
2024-25 was a difficult year in which we returned a financial deficit for the first time in 5 years. This was primarily caused by unexpected loss of income from after Birmingham City Council on the reduction of its Early Help offer as part of a major rationalisation of its services due to its own financial position. The trustees agreed to maintain our staffing and commitment to vulnerable children and families. We have since secured new funding from the NHS Fairer Futures Fund for a children’s wellbeing project running from January 2025 to December 2027.
Our diverse range of achievements and impact in 2024-25 include:
Our Holiday Activities & Food Projects across 5 sites in Easter, Summer, and Winter Holidays, benefitting over 1,000 children from families receiving free school meals, with brilliant activities and nutritious meals.
Our Young People’s Parliament benefitting over 100 young people with hands-on experience of tackling real local issues impacting on their lives, including welcoming migrants, climate change, air pollution, and global crises.
Our Carbon Reduction Awareness Programme benefited over 150 young people from 12 schools, measuring footprints and proving by action, how individual and collective action can create big change.
Our Family Support & Food Hub is a lifeline for families facing poverty, temporary accommodation, illness, or barriers to basic support, providing food and essentials for 70 or more families each week.
Our School Improvement Networks offer school staff vital space to learn from each other in SEND, pastoral care, Early Years, and business management. Our partnership with local schools is unique in Birmingham and rare across the UK, and we thank them for continuing to engage in work that goes well beyond the school gates, impacting our children, young people and families, and building stronger more resilient citizens and communities.
- 1 -
**HANDSWORTH ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS (COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) TRUSTEES REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **Structure, governance and management**
The charity is controlled by its governing document, a deed of trust, and constitutes a limited company, limited by guarantee, as defined by the Companies Act 2006.
The governance of the charity lies with the trustees who are to oversee the work being carried out by the Management Committee. All trustees give their time voluntarily and received no remuneration or other benefits. New trustees are appointed by the existing trustees and there is currently no policy in place which outlines the duration of which a trustee must serve.
The board meets formally each quarter and holds an annual general meeting each Autumn. Task groups and subgroups of the Board of Trustees are convened as required.
The trustees, who are also the directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:
Shamala Louise Antonio Edward Mark Edmead Ivora Ferreira - Bean Siobhan Bridget Harper-Nunes (Resigned 27 November 2024) Dr Bogusia Matusiak-Varley Olabimpe Olukemi Odubanjo Sarah Louise Smith Parveen Talwar Alison Taylor Eddie Wright
## **Risk Management Policy**
The trustees have a duty to identify and review the risks to which the charity is exposed and to ensure appropriate controls are in place to provide reasonable assurance against fraud and error. The trustees must ensure that they take a proactive role in reviewing the risks facing the charity in order to minimise exposure to these. This is imperative for the future of the Association in order to maintain the current level of charitable activity.
## **Financial review**
Reserves policy
The trust adopted a reserves policy in October 2022 and this was implemented for the accounts to 31st March 2025.
At 31 March 2025 free reserves totalled £55,849.
## **Public benefit**
The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake.
## **Grant making policy**
Handsworth Association of Schools does not have a grant making policy. Any grants it administers on behalf of Birmingham City Council or other funders, have their own specific grant guidelines. The Association has individual Terms of reference for all individual grants.
The trustees report was approved by the Board of Trustees.
E Wright E Wright (Dec 19, 2025 20:20:01 GMT)
## **Trustee**
19 November 2025
- 2 -
**HANDSWORTH ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS (COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF HANDSWORTH ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS**
I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of Handsworth Association of Schools (the charity) for the year ended 31 March 2025.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the trustees of the charity you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.
Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act 2011.
## **Independent examiner's statement**
Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000, the independent examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of the Association of Chartered Certified 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 that in any material respect:
- 1 accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 386 of the Companies Act 2006.
- 2 the financial statements do not accord with those records; or
- 3 the financial statements do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the Companies Act 2006 other than any requirement that the financial statements give a true and fair view, which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
- 4 the financial statements 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 financial statements 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 financial statements to be reached.
## M Yaseen
M Yaseen (Dec 16, 2025 14:40:15 GMT)
## **Mohammed Yaseen ACCA**
Soho House 362 - 364 Soho Road Birmingham B21 9QL 19 November 2025
- 3 -
## **HANDSWORTH ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS (COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT**
## _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2025**
**2025**
**Notes**
**£**
**£**
**Income from:**
Activities for generating
funds
**2**
50,665
251,594
Investments
**3**
15
-
**Total income**
50,680
251,594
**Expenditure on:**
Charitable activities
**4**
63,609
315,775
**Total expenditure**
63,609
315,775
Net gains/(losses) on
investments
**8**
3,283
-
**Net income/(expenditure) and**
**movement in funds**
(9,646)
(64,181)
**Reconciliation of funds:**
Fund balances at 1 April 2024
65,495
259,580
**Fund balances at 31 March**
**2025**
55,849
195,399|**Total**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2025**
**2024**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
302,259
60,792
317,177
15
15
-
302,274
60,807
317,177
379,384
59,600
310,883
379,384
59,600
310,883
3,283
10,987
-
(73,827)
12,194
6,294
325,075
53,301
253,286
251,248
65,495
259,580|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
377,969
15|
|---|---|---|
|||377,984
370,483|
|||370,483|
|||10,987|
|||18,488
306,587|
|||325,075|
The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year. All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.
- 4 -
## **HANDSWORTH ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS (COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) BALANCE SHEET**
## _**AS AT 31 MARCH 2025**_
|**Notes**
**Fixed assets**
Tangible assets
**10**
Investments
**11**
**Current assets**
Debtors
**12**
Cash at bank and in hand
**Creditors: amounts falling due within**
**one year**
**13**
**Net current assets**
**Total assets less current liabilities**
**Net assets excluding pension liability**
**The funds of the charity**
Restricted income funds
Unrestricted funds|**2025**
**£**
27,909
113,914
141,823
(77,380)|**£**
43,431
143,374
186,805
64,443
251,248
251,248
195,399
55,849
251,248|**2024**
**£**
52,346
142,564
194,910
(58,367)|**£**
48,441
140,091|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||188,532
136,543|
|||||325,075|
|||||325,075|
|||||259,580
65,495|
|||||325,075|
The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 31 March 2025.
The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved by the trustees on 19 November 2025
E Wright E Wright (Dec 19, 2025 20:20:01 GMT)
## **Trustee**
Company registration number 07381665 (England and Wales)
- 5 -
**HANDSWORTH ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS (COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **Charity information**
Handsworth Association of Schools is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Welford Primary School, Welford Road, Birmingham, B20 2BL.
## **1.1 Accounting convention**
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's governing document, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "Accounting and Reporting by 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)" (effective 1 January 2019). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
## **1.2 Going concern**
At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
## **1.3 Charitable funds**
Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.
Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors or grantors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.
Endowment funds are subject to specific conditions by donors that the capital must be maintained by the charity.
## **1.4 Income**
Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.
Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.
Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset.
- 6 -
**HANDSWORTH ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS (COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **1 Accounting policies**
## **(Continued)**
## **1.5 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. Central staff costs are allocated on the basis of time spent, and depreciation charges are allocated on the portion of the asset’s use.
## **1.6 Tangible fixed assets**
Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.
Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:
Fixtures and fittings 20% on cost Computers 20% on cost Motor vehicles 20% on reducing balance
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.
## **1.7 Investments**
Investments held as fixed assets are revalued at mid-market value at the balance sheet date and the gain or loss taken to the Statement of Financial Activities.
## **2 Income from activities for generating funds**
|**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2025**
**2025**
**£**
**£**
Activities for generating
funds
50,665
251,594
**Activities for generating funds**
Annual subscriptions
28,953
-
Grant income
-
251,594
Minibus hire
11,191
-
Training
900
-
Other income
9,621
-
50,665
251,594|**Total**
**Unrestricted**
**Restricted**
**funds**
**funds**
**2025**
**2024**
**2024**
**£**
**£**
**£**
302,259
60,792
317,177
28,953
34,848
-
251,594
-
317,177
11,191
14,430
-
900
7,185
-
9,621
4,329
-
302,259
60,792
317,177|**Total**
**2024**
**£**
377,969|
|---|---|---|
|||34,848
317,177
14,430
7,185
4,329|
|||377,969|
- 7 -
**HANDSWORTH ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS (COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **3 Income from investments**
|||**Unrestricted**|**Unrestricted**|
|---|---|---|---|
|||**funds**|**funds**|
|||**2025**|**2024**|
|||**£**|**£**|
||Interest receivable|15|15|
|**4**|**Expenditure on charitable activities**|||
||**Charitable**|**Charitable**|
|---|---|---|
||**Expenditure**|**Expenditure**|
||**2025**|**2024**|
||**£**|**£**|
|**Direct costs**|||
|Projects|331,607|314,281|
|Minibus|7,611|17,916|
|Training|12|270|
|YPP|3,861|1,626|
||343,091|334,093|
|**Share of support and governance costs (see note 5)**|||
|Support|36,293|36,390|
||379,384|370,483|
|**Analysis by fund**|||
|Unrestricted funds|63,609|59,600|
|Restricted funds|315,775|310,883|
||379,384|370,483|
- 8 -
**HANDSWORTH ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS (COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **5 Support costs allocated to activities**
|Depreciation
Equipment expensed
Bank fees
Advertising & Marketing
Rent, rates and insurance
Light and heat
Telephone and broadband
Printing and office expenditure
Repairs
Entertainment
Professional fees
Staff training
Sundry
Governance costs
**Analysed between:**
Charitable activities|**2025**
**£**
4,337
658
-
3,869
7,524
1,727
767
4,379
3,283
778
1,942
354
2,295
4,380
36,293
36,293|**2024**
**£**
932
-
5
770
6,997
6,195
687
6,264
2,408
850
2,096
1,073
3,733
4,380|
|---|---|---|
|||36,390|
|||36,390|
## **6 Trustees**
None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year.
## **7 Employees**
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
|**Employment costs**
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs|**2025**
**Number**
20
**2025**
**£**
195,051
12,204
6,853
214,108|**2024**
**Number**
21|
|---|---|---|
|||**2024**
**£**
225,967
9,697
3,674|
|||239,338|
There were no employees whose annual remuneration was more than £60,000.
- 9 -
## **HANDSWORTH ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS (COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **8 Gains and losses on investments**
||**Unrestricted**|**Unrestricted**|
|---|---|---|
||**funds**|**funds**|
||**2025**|**2024**|
|Gains/(losses) arising on:|**£**|**£**|
|Revaluation of investment properties|3,283|10,987|
## **9 Taxation**
The charity is exempt from taxation on its activities because all its income is applied for charitable purposes.
## **10 Tangible fixed assets**
|**Fixtures and**
**fittings**
**Computers**
**£**
**£**
**Cost**
At 1 April 2024
9,018
5,942
Additions
6,725
-
At 31 March 2025
15,743
5,942
**Depreciation and impairment**
At 1 April 2024
734
2,774
Depreciation charged in the year
3,149
1,188
At 31 March 2025
3,883
3,962
**Carrying amount**
At 31 March 2025
11,860
1,980
At 31 March 2024
8,284
3,168
**Investments**
**Fair value**
At 1 April 2024
Net gains or losses through fair value adjustments
At 31 March 2025|**Motor**
**vehicles**
**£**
61,335
-
61,335
24,346
7,398
31,744
29,591
36,989|**Total**
**£**
76,295
6,725|
|---|---|---|
|||83,020|
|||27,854
11,735|
|||39,589|
|||43,431|
|||48,441|
|||**2025**
**£**
140,091
3,283|
|||143,374|
## **11 Investments**
- 10 -
**HANDSWORTH ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS (COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)** _**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025**_
## **12 Debtors**
|**Amounts falling due within one year:**
Trade debtors
Other debtors|**2025**
**£**
23,398
4,511
27,909|**2024**
**£**
47,132
5,214|
|---|---|---|
|||52,346|
## **13 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**
|**Creditors: amounts falling due within one year**|||
|---|---|---|
|Other taxation and social security
Trade creditors
Other creditors|**2025**
**£**
7,080
308
69,992
77,380|**2024**
**£**
5,930
4,739
47,699|
|||58,368|
## **14 Deferred income**
Deferred income comprises grants received in advance of delivering the services required by the conditions of the grants.
|Balance as at 1 April 2024
Amount released in the year
Amount deferred in the year
Balance as at 31 March 2025|**2025**
**£**
32,300
32,300
55,618|
|---|---|
||**55,618**|
## **15 Related party transactions**
There were no disclosable related party transactions during the year (2024: £420).
- 11 -