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← Growth Path Services

2025-03-31-accounts

GRowfH PATH Impart report Our story in 2025

Front cover: We're thrilled to use young people who have trained with us in our new brand images. Thank you Soomro, Kallum and Ebony.

Vision:

We want to empower young people to break the cycle of poverty by ensuring they’re independently capable of supporting themselves.

Mission:

We exist to support NEET young people aged 16 – 29 to achieve work experience, entry level qualifications and employability skills. Our Introduction to Construction course is designed to be a stepping stone for those most excluded from society to realise their potential and take their first steps towards succeeding in employment.

Values:

Unity - our staff work collaboratively.

Humanity - we are non-judgmental and supportive.

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Growth Path Services’ Theory of change

Vision: We exist to empower young people to break the cycle of poverty by becoming independently capable of supporting themselves.

Non-judgemental, supportive space:

What we provide:

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So young
people can:
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Leading to young people:

Resulting in young people who:

• Independently find and apply for work and training opportunities

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Young people’s outcomes prove we are making a positive difference

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Over
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young people received information, advice and guidance on careers in the construction industry.

young people started the Introduction to Construction course this year.

have completed the course to date with a further 40 progressing.

Of those completing the course:

92% achieved their CSCS Green Card

92%

say they enjoyed the course. With “meeting new people”, “learning new skills” and “getting prepared for work” being the main reasons.

92%

achieved additional accredited

health and safety certificates* which are required by a wide range of employers.

100% have support after course completion.

62%

received assistance applying for training or college places.

74%

are in work or training within 6 months of course completion

*such as Asbestos Awareness, Working at Height, Hazardous Substances and Manual Handling

Case study

X, 16, had experienced a difficult childhood and had moved around a lot. X was estranged from parents and involved with friends who were encouraging him into criminal activity. X proved a charming and helpful member of the team during the Introduction to Construction course but had few prospects for work partly due to a lack of experience and young age.

X had left a college course but still wanted to get a trade. X became a Growth Path Trainee and gained a CSCS card. Completing the traineeship gave X experience and qualifications. Less than 3 months after leaving Growth Path, X is now an Apprentice with Groundswork company M.V.Kelly. A fantastic achievement and a great start to a sustainable and well paid career in construction.

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Services for young people

We have refined, strengthened and improved our course. Every young person completing our 4 week, Introduction to Construction course gets,

Traineeships

We offer 5 Traineeships each year. So far, 8 young people have benefited from the chance to earn whilst they learn. Young people get paid 2 days a week to work alongside our Landscaping Team on professional and community projects.

This enables them to better prepare themselves for work, gain experience and additional qualifications with a special focus on biodiversity and hands on actions to counter climate change.

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What young people on our course say

“I have a support worker, she introduced me to CM, 16 Growth Path and I loved OO it… it’s been a life changer… they’ve helped me achieve things I didn’t think I’d ever achieve because of me having my baby… I’m now employed in a Traineeship and with Taylor Woodrow!”

“When I passed my CSCS card, I got a D, 19 placement at National _ Highways. People who work here really helped and supported me. It stops people taking the mick. It set the precident, be here and try your hardest.”

This is the first time he’s interacted with other people in years.

“If I hadn’t come here, life would still be slow, doing JM, 17 the same things day to day. Not really getting anywhere. If I hadn’t come here, I reckon things would have hindered me for a few years. Coming here has sped things up for me and put me on the right track. I live with my Nan, as I don’t have the best relationship with my mum. Just because you might have a bit of a different home life, you still deserve the same chances as other kids.”

“When I arrive in the UK, I was in year 11 at S, 17 school, but it was Covid 19, and so everything was online. It was hard because English isn’t my first language, and I didn’t have the same amount as coursework as other students. I found out about this charity through the job centre. I had some experience of construction work, but I knew that to work on sites I would need a CSCS card. I felt so good when I passed it. I felt very proud.”

“I’m over the moon. I’ve been offered a full time DK, 19 contract on site now OO which is all thanks to you guys. I’d never have got it without your help. I really enjoyed being here. It’s great to leave thinking I’ve given a bit back too. Helped you shape the way you do things. I’m quite chuffed with the posters.”

October 2024:

“This course is huge J’s Mum for him. Not just for _ work experience but his social skills too. This is the first time he’s interacted with other people in years. He’s really enjoying the course. It’s totally changed the way he thinks about himself.”

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Who we support

Where young people live:

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How young
18%
24% Age on arrival: people find us
16 Friend/Family
17 Job Centre
18 Support/Social/
19-24 Youth Offending Officers
32%
26% Online
School or College
Ethnicity
White Asian or Asian British
White and Black Caribbean Bangladeshi
White
White and Asian Indian
Irish African
Any other White background Caribbean
Black, Black British, Caribbean or African Pakistani
Lozells Newton Erdington Gravelly Hill kingstanding Sutton Coldfield Selly Oak Kings Heath Alum Rock Pheasley Chelmsley Wood Stirchley Perr Barr HIgh Gate Sparkbrook Kings Norton Stechford, Lea Hall Falcon Lodge Handsworth Hall Green, Solihull Smethwick Winston Green, Soho Wylde Green Willenhall Bordsley, Small Heath Shard End Sheldon Acocks Green Hodge Hill Coleshill Castle Vale Northfield Witton Aston Birchfield BIllesley Rubery
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68%

77%

100%

have experienced adverse childhood experiences with 25% experiencing 4 or more ACEs putting them at considerable risk statistically of unemployment, committing crimes, poor health and suicide.

have no qualifications with 41% never having sat a single exam

are NEET, not in education, employment or training

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What other organisations say about us

Youth unemployment is more than an economic statistic; it’s a social emergency… Growth Path is making a tangible, positive difference in breaking the cycle of poverty and disadvantage.

Deputy Police Crime Commissioner for Birmingham, Wasim Ali.

“We have been impressed with:

Reach: targeting young people who are NEET, extremely economically deprived, and live very chaotic, challenging lives.

Youth led: The project was designed in response to direct feedback from the young people they seek to serve, and within project delivery you can see how the needs of young people are shaping it on a daily basis. They are agile and adapt their approach ensuring young people are at the heart of their work.

Scalability: Its clear from our conversations that there is potential for scaling this project so that more young people could benefit. We know that there is a defined gap in existing services for this age group and the need for this type of project has increased.”

Lindsay Marsden,

Head of Foundation, Energy Saving Trust

An organisation that knows exactly what it wants to do. Achieving a lot with a small team. Well positioned to succeed. Leadership has the traits of a high performing team. Willing to adapt and change to achieve the best outcomes for young people.

Our Pilotlighters conclusions.

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Landscaping services

We have developed our landscaping services to provide more work experience opportunities for young people and derive a better income for the charity.

We've increased our commercial customer base to generate more regular work and profit. Customers include, apartment buildings, care homes, landlords, community organisations and Churches. We are able to provide them with cost effective work that aligned with their budgets and ethical aims.

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Commercial
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Residential
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Left - Midlands Metropolitan Hospital. Right - Installing paving, fencing and turf at a residential property.

Clients feedback:

“The Growth Path team have done fantastic work on our site this week. They have been efficient, conscientious and done the highest quality work. We've made it tricky for them as we made changes to what we'd asked for along the way, but they have been responsive and patient - very friendly in fact. A tremendous team that are a real pleasure to work with!” Kate De Right of Spectra, whom we helped to create a new green space at Midlands, Metropolitan Hospital.

“Thank you so much for all you’ve done for mom. Whilst mom was at home it gave her much pleasure seeing the young people working and learning a skill and of course looking at the end result. They were/are a credit to Growpath with all of them being very polite and amiable." Keith Brookes

178

unique residential customers in 2024 Completed over 400

jobs in total

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Links with industry

This year, in response to young people's needs, we developed closer links with industry at every level within our organisation. This ensures young people have direct opportunities for site experience and employment on course completion and our training is closely aligned with industry requirements.

Taylor Woodrow

This has been a hugely successful partnership. Taylor Woodrow have established regular work experience placements for young people, leading to paid contracts for several. Plus, their Site Supervisors deliver regular "My Life In Construction" talks and provided Train the Trainer experiences for staff.

Mace Dragados - through their social value program they paid for us to become CHAS accredited.

Kier - invited us to speak at industry events such as Civil Engineers Social Value Conference which helped us develop useful contacts and spread the word about our charity.

Construction Trustees

We’ve secured three new Construction Trustees. One with knowledge of Social Value strands in Construction, one with experience of Construction contracts and one who is an Apprentice in the Construction industry and has experience of onboarding young people.

Our work complements the industry: From 2019-2024, employment within the construction industry fell by over 14% (350,000 workers), mainly due to an aging workforce. Therefore replacing departing, older workers through offering disadvantaged young people a real chance to succeed in this industry, is vital for the health of the wider community.

huge skills gap and real need to recruit young people

Joann Malin Burke, Kier Construction

Photos L-R: Site Supervisor Matt, delivering his “Day in the Life” talk,

Growth Path Trainee Charlotte working on the Sprint site.

Charlotte and new Trustee/ Taylor Woodrow, Apprentice Maisie Haddock-Garey on site.

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Young People Leading and Influencing

Board Level

We have a wide range of skills and experience on the Board. This includes, 2 young Trustees, one of whom is an Apprentice in the Construction industry. We feel it’s important to have young people influence our organisation at every level and they are placed at the heart of all our decision making.

Young People

We gather information on young people’s experiences, feelings and needs in a variety of ways including;

It is directly as a result of the feedback we heard from young people that we;

Set up Traineeships Added Resilience Training to the course Added Masterclasses, particularly in demand was Bricklaying and Paving Improved links with industry to provide better onward employment prospects Are trying to expand our Traineeship programme with Bham City Council. Keep the Introduction to Construction course short.

interviews with over 100 NEET

young people every year

Daily journals for each young person on our Introduction to Construction course. Weekly 121’s with every young person

on our course.

Entrance and exit interviews with

every young person.

Keeping in touch with young people through phone calls at 1,3,6 and 12 months after they complete the course.

We also speak to young people’s support workers and families to ensure we get a rounded picture of their situation.

Working alongside young people daily, means our Training staff speak to them regularly. Trends in what young people are saying is fed back and discussed at monthly staff meetings.

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Highlights of the year

High Sheriff, Doug Wright, giving awards to young people and meeting new Trustee Othman Usman.

Deputy Police Crime Commissioner, Wasim Ali speaking at our AGM in September.

MP Paulette Hamilton, Meeting Trainees and Staff on a biodiversity project in Brookvale Park.

Deputy Mayor and Deputy Councillor Sharon Thompson presenting Growth Path CEO Anya Sanchez, with Community Environment Award for biodiversity work in Brookvale Park including planting over 20,000 bulbs and wildflowers.

Accreditation

CITB

We became a CITB accredited training centre enabling us to provide the Health and Safety CITB course required to get a CSCS Card to our young people. We will start in 2025 to promote courses to external candidates providing a potential new income stream. In the meantime it greatly reduces our training costs for each young person as external trainers were charging us almost £200 p.p.

CHAS

We achieved CHAS Gold standard accreditation. It proves we are recognised by the industry as meeting the gold standard of safety, ethics and quality.

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Our funders

Eric Vincent Trust Grantham Yorke Trust Grimmit Trust Heart of England WMCA Green Grant

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Forvis Mazars Foundation UK
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Growth Path Services (Formerly Kingstanding Regeneration Trust)

Annual Report and unaudited Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2025

Charity registration number: 1149785 (England and Wales)

Company registration number:

06527314

Growth Path Services ( | Annual Report and unaudited Financial Statements

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Legal and Administrative Information

Trustees Mrs Denise Peach (Chair)
Mr Alastair Cook
Mrs Susan Byrne
Mr Ryan Singh (Dep Chair)
Mr Othman Usman (Appointed 25 September 2024)
Cllr Jane Jones (Appointed 25 September 2024)
Mr Matthew Peniket (Appointed 24 March 2025)
Ms Maisie Haddock-Garey (Appointed 24 March 2025)
Charity number (England and Wales) 1149785
Company number 06527314
Registered offce Growth Path Services
Brookvale Park
Erdington
Birmingham
England
B23 7AG
Independent examiner BK Plus Limited
Churchfeld House
36 Vicar Street
Dudley
West Midlands
England
DY2 8RG
Bankers The Co-operative Bank
Colmore Row
Birmingham
B33BA

Growth Path Services ( | Annual Report and unaudited Financial Statements

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Contents

Trustees’ report ........................................................................................................16-17 Independent examiner’s report ................................................................................. 18 Statement of financial activities ................................................................................ 19 Balance sheet ................................................................................................................. 20 Notes to the financial statements .......................................................................21-29

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Growth Path Services

Company Registered Number: 06527314 Charity Registered Number: 1149785

1 Cottage, Brookvale Park, Erdington, Birmingham B23 7AG

Tel: 0121 439 6780 Email: hello@krtbirmingham.co.uk Website: www.krtbirmingham.co.uk