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2025-03-31-accounts

Trustees’ Annual Report for the period

From 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025

Charity name: The Rowdown Inspire to Aspire Foundation

Charity registration number: 1151220

Objectives and Activities

Objectives and Activities
SORP reference
Summary of the purposes of
the charity as set out in its
governing document		 Para 1.17 The Rowdown Inspire to Aspire Foundation (the
"Foundation" or the "Charity") was established by Gary
Coy, Chair of Trustees, to support the gifted and talented
children at Rowdown Primary School in New Addington, an
area of high deprivation in the London Borough of
Croydon. Mr Coy was previously Chair of Governors at the
school. Following the success of the first few years, the
Foundation has expanded its remit, with the approval of
the Charity Commission, to include pupils from any of the
primary schools based in New Addington. The Foundation
makes financial commitments to provide lessons or club
memberships for individual pupils or small groups.
Summary of the main activities
in relation to those purposes
for the public benefit, in
particular, the activities,
projects or services identified
in the accounts.		 Para 1.17 and 1.19 The Trustees regularly review how the Foundation is
meeting its objectives and how this is for the public
benefit. By providing children with opportunities to
pursue areas of talent that they would not otherwise
have been able to, the Foundation is investing in these
children's future which will be of benefit to the community
at large over the long term. This is especially true of the
Foundation's Tuition Programme which seeks to enable
children from a low-income background to reach the best
selective grammar and independent schools to ensure
they can meet their full potential academically.
Statement confirming whether
the trustees have had regard
to the guidance issued by the
Charity Commission on public
benefit		 Para 1.18 We are of the opinion that we satisfy the Charity
Commission's requirement of operating for the public
benefit.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

SORP reference
Policy on grant making Para 1.38 Grants are made to benefit individual children in pursuit of
their talent. Our main grant programme is to support
children that we have benefited from our Tuition
Programme to achieve places at independent and grammar
schools in order to recognise that some additional costs will
be incurred by their families. Grants are only offered to
children from New Addington or those on Free School
Meals elsewhere in Croydon who have been part of our
Tuition Programme. Grants are for between £500 and
£1,500 and can be used to help towards any school-based
cost such as uniform, lunches, school trips, equipment such
as laptops and residual fees to be paid. These grants are
only offered annually, except in a few special
circumstances, and will be subject to the Foundation having
sufficient clarity of their funding for the period.
Grants are also offered to children that wish to pursue a
sporting or artistic talent. Grants are only made against
recommendation from their primary school and any club or
tutor that is currently teaching them. Grants are renewable
every year against a report from the teacher, coach or club
detailing progress, attendance and enthusiasm.
Policy on social investment
including program related
investment		 Para 1.38 N/A
Contribution made by
volunteers		 Para 1.38 We do not have any paid employees with all operations of
the Foundation undertaken by the Trustees who volunteer
their time without remuneration.
Other

Achievements and Performance

SORP reference
Summary of the main
achievements of the charity,
identifying the difference the
charity’s work has made to
the circumstances of its
beneficiaries and any wider
benefits to society as a whole.		 Para 1.20 Our Tuition Programme continues to be successful.
Including the forthcoming September 2025 entry to
secondary schools, we have helped a total of 92 children
from low income Croydon families reach prestigious local
grammar and independent schools. This represents a life-
changing opportunity for these children who will benefit
from excellent academic learning in addition to a vast array
of extra-curricular activities not on offer at their local
comprehensive schools. This document provides a full
impact assessment of the Tuition Programme.
https://www.rowdownfoundation.org.uk/wp-
content/uploads/2025/05/Rowdown-Foundation-Impact-
Assessment-Sept-2024.pdf
We have five young graduates of our programme now at
universities including Cambridge and three of the top
colleges of London University. Whilst this in itself does not
benefit “society as a whole”, we fully subscribe to the belief
that offering social mobility opportunities will have long-
lasting benefits on society and make the country more
inclusive.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Achievements against
objectives set		 Para 1.41 The 2024 Tuition Programme saw the usual number of 10-11
year old children benefiting from the tuition provided by
Trinity School but the results were disappointing when
compared to previous years, principally due to a reduced
number of financially-supported offers from independent
schools as they struggled with the impact of VAT on school
fees.
https://www.rowdownfoundation.org.uk/wp-
content/uploads/2025/05/Class-of-2024-Results-
Analysis.pdf
Whilst the outlook for independent schools remains unclear,
we appreciate the support that our Foundation receives
from the major Croydon-based schools and look forward to
continuing successes in the future.
Performance of fundraising
activities against objectives
set		 Para 1.41 Fundraising remains difficult for small charities generally and
we are no exception. We have a group of regular donors
that give us some visibility going forward and also receive
one-off donations from individuals. Supporters sometimes
run competitions etc to provide us with donations.
Our main fundraising focus remains charitable trusts. This is
a thankless task for a small charity without the human
resources to write endless applications, many of which are
never even replied to. We therefore focus on a small
number of trusts that have donated before recognising that
this is somewhat risky should those trusts choose not to re-
donate. We regularly update a database of trusts to review
the ones that best fit with our objectives.
Investment performance
against objectives		 Para 1.41 N/A

Financial Review

Review of the charity’s
financial position at the end of
the period		 Para 1.21 The Foundation ended the financial year with £13,138 of
cash resources, of which £4,649 was restricted funds. This
represented a cash outflow of £5,251 in the year.
Statement explaining the
policy for holding reserves
stating why they are held		 Para 1.22 Our reserves policy states the charity should hold between
35 and 50% of annual expenditure as reserves. The
£13,138 cash reserves equates to 33.3% of 2024/25 annual
expenditure, slightly outside the policy.
We believe it is acceptable to include restricted funds
within this policy as such funds are largely expendable
within a twelve month period and therefore form part of
our overall cash budgeting process.
Amount of reserves held Para 1.22 £13,138
Reasons for holding zero
reserves		 Para 1.22 N/A
Details of fund materially in
deficit		 Para 1.24 N/A
Explanation of any
uncertainties about the charity
continuing as a going concern		 Para 1.23 As with any charity, fundraising is unpredictable. By
maintaining cash reserves at about one third of annual
expenditure, fundraising shortfalls could lead to an inability
to meet our stated aims. However, this does not represent
any risk to the Foundation as a going concern as we only
make short term commitments and make no guarantees on
longer term grants for the families we support.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

The charity’s principal sources
of funds (including any
fundraising)		 Para 1.47 In 2024/25 we received around £30,000 in donations. Of
this £11,000 was from regular monthly or annual donations
by standing order or direct debit. We also received around
£1,500 of one-off donations from individuals. The
remaining £17,500 was received from three charitable
trusts:
£5,000 Garfield Weston Foundation
£10,000 Hargreaves Foundation
£2,500 Grace Trust
All three have donated before and we would like to thank
them for their continued support of our objectives to
improve social mobility in Croydon.
Investment policy and
objectives including any social
investment policy adopted		 Para 1.46 N/A
A description of the principal
risks facing the charity		 Para 1.46 The two key risks within the Foundation relate to
safeguarding of children and financial matters. With regard
to safeguarding, the Foundation has little direct contact
with the children that receive our support and such contact
is always in the presence of parents or school staff. If
any Trustee or other person appointed by the
Foundation were to have sole, unaccompanied contact
with children, we require them to have the appropriate
checks in place. The Chair holds a current enhanced DBS
check.
Given the increasing income of the Foundation and the
greater influence of external funding, it was decided during
2020/21 to establish a finance committee to oversee all
financial aspects of our operations. The Chair and
Treasurer are members of this committee along with
three other Trustees. The committee sets financial policy,
approve any spending over certain limits and
recommend actions to the Board of Trustees as per its
Terms of Reference. The Finance Committee also reviews
movements across the bank account on a monthly basis
and is provided with a reconciliation to the management
accounts. The risk of the misappropriation of funds is
minimal.
All commitments are short term in nature, requiring only
one month's notice of cancellation with the exception of
the several grants of £500-1,500 which are committed
for the current academic year but budgeted on the
basis of likely amounts claimed. For one such grant, there
is a commitment of £1,500 per annum for five years. The
Foundation's liquidity is checked at least weekly and the
risk of maturing liabilities exceeding available cash is
negligible.
Other

Structure, Governance and Management

Description of charity’s trusts:
Type of governing document Para 1.25 The governing document of the Foundation is its trust deed
dated 24th January 2013 as amended on 7th July 2018.
How is the charity constituted? Para 1.25 We are a registered charity
Trustee selection methods
including details of any
constitutional provisions e.g.
election to post or name of any
person or body entitled to
appoint one or more trustees		 Para 1.25 The board of Trustees is made up of nine individuals all of
which have relevant experience of supporting children,
finance or charity work. The board of Trustees has
responsibility for setting the strategic direction of the
Foundation and for approving and monitoring all financial
aspects. They will also regularly review risk and
governance issues. In running and governing the
Foundation, the Trustees have regard to guidance
issued by the Charity Commission and endeavour to
follow best practice principles.

Additional information (optional)

You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:

Policies and procedures
adopted for the induction and
training of trustees		 Para 1.51
The charity’s organisational
structure and any wider
network with which the charity
works		 Para 1.51 The day-to-day running of the Foundation is delegated to
an Executive Committee made up of four Trustees. The
Chair undertakes the majority of marketing, fundraising,
liaison/co-ordination tasks with financial management
shared with the Treasurer and administration shared with
the Secretary and Treasurer. The Chair produces updates
for the Trustees which are circulated by email on a regular
basis. The Deputy Chair offers liaison with the local
community in particular.
The Trustees are cognisant of balancing demand for the
Foundation's support with its financial and human
resources. It reviews governance and management at each
Annual General Meeting to ensure proper procedures are
in place whereby it can maximise the benefits to the
community it is serving without overstretching its current
resources or put in place plans to increase resources.
Relationship with any related
parties		 Para 1.51 N/A

Reference and Administrative details

Charity name The Rowdown Inspire To Aspire Foundation
Other name the charity uses The Rowdown Foundation; RITA
Registered charity number 1151220
Charity’s principal address Operating Address:
Brasted, Westcott Road
Dorking, Surrey RH4 3EA

Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity

1
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5
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20		 Trustee name Office (if any) Dates acted if not
for wholeyear		 Name of person (or body) entitled
to appoint trustee(if any)
Gary Coy Chair & Member of Finance Committee
Marion Burchell Deputy Chair
Janet Parsons Treasurer & Member of Finance Committee
Melanie Hartley Secretary
Martin Bibby Chair of Finance Committee
Kathryn Gee Secretary of Finance Committee
Jill O’Neill Member of Finance Committee
Paula Greenwood
Sarah Nias

Declarations

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees

Signature(s)
Full name(s)
Position (eg Secretary, Chair,
etc)
Date
Gary Coy Jill O’Neill

Chair

THE ROWDOWN INSPIRE TO ASPIRE FOUNDATION 1151220 CC16a Receipts and Payments Accounts For the period from Apr-24 to Mar-25

Section A Receipts and payments

Section A Receipts and payments
A1 Receipts Unrestricted
funds
to the nearest £
14,175
3,361
503
202
-
-
-
-		 Restricted
funds
to the nearest £
16,000
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Endowment
funds
to the nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 Total funds
to the nearest £
30,175
3,361
503
202
-
-
-
-		 Last year
to the nearest £
Donations 14,175 16,000 - 30,175 41,207
Fundraising 3,361 - - 3,361 2,259
Gift Aid 503 - - 503 4,100
Other Income 202 - - 202 50
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total(Gross income for AR) 18,240 16,000 - 34,240 47,616
-
-		 -
-		 -
-		 -
-
A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table).
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total receipts
A3 Payments
18,240 16,000 - 34,240 47,616
1,195
21,504
278
60
720
-
-
-
-		 -
15,735
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 -
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-		 1,195
37,238
278
60
720
-
-
-
-
Cost of Generating Funds 1,195 - - 1,195 470
Grants 21,504 15,735 - 37,238 34,175
Insurance 278 - - 278 268
Bank Charges 60 - - 60 60
Independent Examination Fee 720 - - 720 480
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
- - - - -
Sub total 23,756 15,735 - 39,491 35,453
-
-		 -
-		 -
-		 -
-
A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see
~~table)~~
- - - -
- - - -
Sub total - - - - -
Total payments
Net of receipts/(payments)
A5 Transfers between funds
A6 Cash funds last year end
Cash funds this year end
23,756 15,735 - 39,491 35,453
- 5,516 265 - - 5,251 12,162
- - - - -
14,005 4,384 - 18,389 6,227
8,489 4,649 - 13,138 18,389

Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period

Categories
Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all
the trustees
B5 Liabilities
B3 Investment assets
B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use
B2 Other monetary assets
B1 Cash funds		 Details Details Unrestricted
funds
to nearest £		 Unrestricted
funds
to nearest £		 Restricted
funds
to nearest £		 Restricted
funds
to nearest £		 Endowment
funds
to nearest £
CAF Bank 8,489 4,649 -
- - -
- - -
Signature
Details
Details
Details
Total cash funds
(agree balances with receipts and payments account(s))
Details		 8,489 4,649 -
OK
Unrestricted
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
Fund to which
asset belongs
Fund to which
asset belongs
Fund to which
~~liability relates~~
Print Name		 OK
Restricted
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
Cost (optional)
-
-
-
-
-
Cost (optional)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Amount due
~~(optional)~~
-
-
-
-
-		 OK
Endowment
funds
to nearest £
-
-
-
-
-
-
Current value
(optional)
-
-
-
-
-
Current value
(optional)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
When due
~~(optional)~~
Date of
approval
Jill O'Neill 25/09/2025
Gary Coy 25/09/2025

Independent examiner's report on the accounts

Section A Independent Examiner’s Report

Report to the trustees/
members of
On accounts for the year
ended
Set out on pages
Responsibilities and
basis of report		 Charity Name
The Rowdown Inspire To Aspire Foundation		 Charity Name
The Rowdown Inspire To Aspire Foundation		 Charity Name
The Rowdown Inspire To Aspire Foundation
31stMarch 2025 Charity no
(if any)		 1151220
1 to 12
(remember to include the page numbers of additional sheets)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above
charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended31/ 03 / 2025.
As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the
accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011
(“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out
under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I
have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission
under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.

Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:

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.

Signed:
Name:
Relevant professional
qualification(s) or body
(if any):
Address:

 25thSeptember
2025
James Bray
FCCA
Constable Court
62 Dene Street, Dorking
RH4 2DP

Oct 2023

1

IER

Section B Disclosure

Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight material matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).

Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .

Oct 2023

2

IER