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2025-09-30-accounts

Annual Report of the Trustees for the year ending 30[th] September 2025

“I feel like I’m growing wings since I started my lessons.” (Reader)

Objects and activities

Read Easy UK’s purpose, as set out in the objects in our governing document, is ‘To advance the education of the adult public in literacy.’

Our vision is that: Every adult who wants to learn to read, can.

We help adults to transform their lives by learning to read. We do this by developing and supporting local groups and training volunteers to provide personalised, one-to-one reading coaching that is free and confidential, both in-person and online. Read Easy UK provides the infrastructure, resources, training, safeguarding and governance guidance that enables local groups to operate effectively.

In the last year we have again increased the number of adults learning to read through our services. An increase of 14% took the number of Readers to 1,844 in the year, with 660 new Readers enrolling with 80 Read Easy groups across England.

We are proud to have reached so many people with support, but need and demand remain high.

Public benefit: In delivering our services, the Trustees have considered the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit set out in section 17 of the Charites Act 2011. Through the activities outlined in the report, the Trustees believe that the charity provides a very substantial public benefit. We endeavour, working with local Read Easy groups across England, to expand our reach to meet the need of adults who want to learn to read. We are delighted to have made strong progress in the year and have ambitious plans.

Volunteers Supporters and Partners

In addition to its employee team, REUK is reliant on the support of 2,245 regular volunteers, an increase of 4% over the previous year, who help Readers in their local communities, through affiliated groups. The Trustees are hugely grateful for this support, without which the Charity could not function.

We are also enormously grateful to all those who support Read Easy UK financially, or with gifts in kind. Without our volunteers and supporters, we would not be able to train coaches, or support Read Easy groups around the country to help people learn to read.

Our developments and achievements in 2024-25

As well as increasing the number of Readers learning to read, during the year we:

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Our Impact

Learning to read changes lives:

We have published a full impact report for the year.

"When I first started, and you said I could do it, I wasn’t sure because, you know, people have said that to me before. I don’t doubt it now. I honestly think it’s going to work this time. I can do it and I’m so happy ." (Reader)

“Just now, I saw this word on the TV and I think it said inheritance. I saw it and thought I can see the different parts of that, so I paused it and wrote it down. I read all the parts and then said I’m sure that says inheritance, and I was right! My coach is going to be so proud of me when I tell her . (Reader)

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Progress against Strategic Plan

Progress against the strategic plan is kept under review by the staff team and by Trustees at regular Board meetings. The current strategy to 2029, with a planned review at the three-year mark, was developed in 2023-24, with input from many different stakeholders, and is available at:

Read Easy Strategy 2024-2029

Strategic Aims

REUK is committed to delivering an excellent service to adults who want to learn to read, and that remains our top priority. Our ten top targets are to:

In the year, we increased Reader numbers and are actively working towards this target in all operational and developmental decisions

We facilitated three Reader Panel events to enable Readers to share their stories and help us with insight to develop and improve our work

Develop our online coaching for Readers who cannot access services locally

We had a 56% increase in the numbers of Readers receiving online coaching, and a 15% increase in the number of groups offering some remote coaching. While these numbers include people who are accessing local services, they include some who are not working locally with their coaches as they are not close to a Read Easy group

17 groups are now coaching more than 30 Readers, and 8 are coaching 25-30 Readers. A further 16 groups are coaching more than 20 Readers

Develop a quality assurance framework that will help groups to provide consistently excellent service

Working with representatives of different groups, we developed our Reader Impact Framework for piloting in 2026

We continue to improve our processes, and since year end, have started a project to specify a CRM system to support all our functions and groups

Strengthen our financial sustainability by diversifying income and carefully managing expenditure.

We continue to be successful in fundraising and are managing expenditure carefully to ensure our financial sustainability. We achieved a higher than forecast surplus, helping us to build healthy reserves. A new Head of Trusts and Philanthropy joined us during the year, bringing good expertise to our fundraising

4

Strengthen our gathering of data and other evidence, to better understand and demonstrate the impact of our work, both nationally and locally

In the year, we introduced questions based on Office for National Statistics data, to help us better understand our Reader demographics. We collect detailed information on Reader progress and success from all groups

Develop a clear communications plan to remove stigma and advertise our services

We carried out a considerable amount of communications planning and activity with volunteer help, recruited a trustee with specialist communications experience and invested in a new senior role, Communications Lead, to raise awareness of our service, and of the numbers of people who are unable to read. Since year end, we have started working with partners on the National Year of Reading (2026), a major national initiative

Prepare to work with more organisations and amplify our advocacy

We continue to work in partnership with Shannon Trust: using their manual and digital versions of Turning Pages for adult Readers. The latter is helping us to increase online delivery. We believe that working in strategic partnership and collaborating on projects will support and/or accelerate the missions of both organisations.

Through the National Year of Reading, we are working with partners to raise awareness of the numbers of adults who cannot read and hope to increase awareness of our coaching and engage new volunteers.

Financial Review

During the year, REUK continued to grow, thanks to new income and continued support from longer-term supporters. We are very grateful to trusts and foundations, corporate supporters and individual donors who have all contributed to our financial position during the year.

Results: Total income was up by 7% to £462,798 (2023-24: £431,401), all of which has been, or will be, used for the running and development of the charity.

Expenditure was down by 13% to £383,981 (2023-24: £440,563). This decrease was part of a planned expenditure review.

Overall, the Trustees consider financial performance during the year to have been strong in the challenging operating context of the cost-of-living crisis. The Trustees monitor the charity’s financial position carefully and regularly.

5

Donations: Income during the year was made up of grants from a range of trusts and foundations, individual donations, community support, partnerships, Gift Aid and the annual subscriptions and training income from REUK’s affiliated groups. We are extremely grateful to everyone who supports Read Easy’s work, and would like to acknowledge the substantial support of:

The 1947 Club John Laing Charitable Trust A. and R. Haigh The Julia Rausing Trust The Adrian Swire Charitable Trust Man Group PLC Charitable Trust The Alice Ellen Cooper-Dean Charitable Foundation Marsh Charitable Trust Anonymous Donor Trust The Michael and Anna Wix Charitable Trust The Ardwick Trust The Patrick and Helena Frost Foundation Barratt Foundation The Rest-Harrow Trust The Champaca Fund, a donor-advised fund RS Brownless Charitable Trust administered by the Asia Community Foundation The Dulverton Foundation The Simon Gibson Charitable Trust The Foyle Foundation The Sir James Reckitt Charity Gallagher Matched Giving 2024 The Souter Charitable Trust The George A Moore Foundation Susanna Peake Charitable Trust Girdlers Company Charitable Trust The Valentine Charitable Trust Hadrian Trust The Vandervell Foundation The John Horseman Trust

Reserves policy: The Trustees have considered their obligations in respect of their commitments to the members and employees of Read Easy UK, as well as its other stakeholders, and believe that reserves should represent a minimum of three and maximum of nine months’ operating costs. This is required to ensure adequate working capital for the smooth and efficient operation of the organisation. Read Easy UK has set and monitors its reserve requirement with reference to budgeted expenditure, and the following numbers outline the reserves levels achieved with reference to year end actual expenditure:

2024-25
Unrestricted funds at YE £129,449
Average monthlyexpenditure £31,998
Unrestricted funds in terms of months of
operating cost
4.05

Investment policy: The charity does not currently hold investment funds. Reserves are placed in interest bearing accounts to provide maximum income with easy access, to support Read Easy’s ongoing activities.

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Structure, Governance and Management

Governing Document : Read Easy UK is registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in England and Wales (No. CE000307, Registered Charity No. 1151288). The articles of Association were adopted on 19 March 2013. Members of Read Easy UK are Trustees under the rules of the Charity Commission. Read Easy UK has informal links with other organisations, and a commercial agreement with The Shannon Trust for use of its reading materials, Turning Pages. It has 80 affiliated groups across England which are legally independent organisations but which operate under the Read Easy name.

Recruitment, Appointment and Induction of Trustees : All Trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from Read Easy UK. Any expenses reclaimed from the charity are set out in Note 8 to the accounts. New Trustees are appointed through open recruitment processes.

Risk management: The Trustees have conducted a review of the major risks to which the charity is exposed at a national and local level and have established a risk management framework which covers these risks, and controls and policies are in place to manage them. Since year end, an Audit and Risk Committee, a committee of the Board, has been established to undertake a regular review of risks, providing additional focus and depth. All identified risks are monitored closely by the CEO and senior staff and are reviewed by Trustees on a quarterly basis.

Organisation structure : Read Easy UK has a Board of Trustees, which can be up to 12 members, which meets five times a year and which is responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the charity. At the year end, the Board had nine Trustees from a variety of professional backgrounds relevant to the work of the charity. The Trustees in office during the period and at the date of this report are set out on page 3. A new Chair of Trustees and one other new Trustee were appointed this year, and one Trustee retired from the Board.

Trustees set the overall strategy of the REUK and work with the Chief Executive to develop policy, as well as oversee and monitor business activities. The day-to-day running of the charity is delegated to the Chief Executive, who is responsible for: personnel management and recruitment; income generation, partnership development; capacity building; project development; horizon scanning, delivery of strategic objectives and implementation of policies and campaigns. The Chief Executive is responsible for managing the activities of staff and volunteers. REUK’s staff team during the year averaged 12 employed staff, having decreased from 8.11 full time equivalent staff to 7.13 full time equivalent staff.

When I’m on the bus, I can read the school plaques and the street signs. I look at things differently and notice words everywhere.” (Reader)

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Stat•ment of Trustees. responsibilitles The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees, Annual Report and the financial statements in ac¢ordance with applicable law and United ￿'ngdOM Accounting Stsndard8 (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). Law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial yèar. which give a true and fair view of the charity and of the incoming resouros and application of resources of the charity for that year. In preparing these financial statements the Trustees are required to.. sdect suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; observe the methods and principles in the Charities SORP: make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; State whether applicable UK Accounting StarKlards have been followed. subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements.. and prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it 1$ inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operation. The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial posrtion of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with th8 Charities Act 2016 and the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 and the provisions of the trust deed. They ar8 also responsible for safeguarding the a$$ets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The charity's Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under Section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2016) and that an independent examination is required. Signed on behalf of the Trustees by: Ms A Tlncknell Trustee Date.. Ms P Koulouri TTu$ts8 &2 Juh¢- 2026 .1 feel so happy because I've got a pencil and I can write fhings down. I'm like 8 little kid. It's maklng me so happy. I want to wrlte a letter to overyone.. (Reader)

Read Easy UK

Financial statements

For the year ended 30 September 2025

Charity number 1151288

9

Read Easy UK

Legal and administrative information

Registered charity number: 1151288
Principal address: Kenton House
Oxford Street
Moreton-in-Marsh
Gloucestershire
GL56 0LA
Trustees: Ms A Tincknell (appointed during year)
Ms P Koulouri
Ms H James (appointed during year)
Ms C O’Connor
Mr P Espinasse (resigned during year)
Ms S Erasmus
Mrs E Hopes
Ms H Ayles
Mr PJ Mugford
Mr CJ Bale
Chief Executive: Mrs C Priddon
Bankers: CAF Bank Limited
25 Kings Hill Avenue
West Malling
Kent
ME19 4JC
Independent examiner: Asad Noorani FCA
Tayabali Tomlin
Kenton House
Oxford Street
Moreton-in-Marsh
Gloucestershire
GL56 0LA

10

Read Easy UK

Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees of Read Easy UK

We report on the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 30 September 2025.

This report is made solely to the charity’s trustees, as a body, in accordance with the terms of our engagement. Our work has been undertaken so that we might compile the financial statements that we have been engaged to compile, report to the charity’s trustees that we have done so, and state those matters we have agreed to state to them in this report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charity’s trustees as a body, for our work or for this report.

Respective responsibilities of the council members and reporting Accountants

The charity’s trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The charity’s trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year (under section 144 of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act), and that an independent examination is needed.

It is our responsibility to:

Basis of opinion

Our examination was carried out in accordance with 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 accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required for an audit, and consequently we do not express an audit opinion on the accounts.

Independent examiner’s statement

In connection with our examination, no matter has come to our attention:

Asad Noorani FCA Tayabali Tomlin Kenton House Oxford Street Moreton-in-Marsh Gloucestershire GL56 0LA

19 February 2026

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Read Easy UK

Statement of Financial Activities

For the year ended 30 September 2025

Incoming resources
Incoming resources from generated funds:
Voluntary income
Affiliation fees and subscriptions
Investment income
Training income
Sundry income
Total incoming resources
Resources expended
Cost of generating funds:
Fundraising activities
Governance
Charitable activities:
Volunteer support costs
Administration costs
Total resources expended
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward
Unrestricted
fund
346,103
43,569
1,117
29,214
75
420,078
(39,032)
(2,694)
(271,444)
(24,800)
(337,970)
82,108
47,341
129,449
Restricted
funds
42,720
-
-
-
-
42,720
-
(46,011)
-
(46,011)
(3,291)
34,847
31,556
2025
Total funds
388,823
43,569
1,117
29,214
75
462,798
(39,032)
(2,694)
(317,455)
(24,800)
(383,981)
78,817
82,188
161,005
2024
Total funds
372,475
22,180
1,289
34,425
1,032
431,401
(48,330)
(8,860)
(340,460)
(42,913)
(440,563)
(9,162)
91,350
82,188

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Read Easy UK Balance Sheet AI 30Seplember 2025 202S 2024 N￿e T4n8lble ¥￿ets 7.881 Current asjets Debtors Cash at bank 4828 161 J77 4,604 80.481 Credl¢ors: mouLts f#lling due withln olle y￿r 10,778 Net curreD¢ 0gJets 153869 74,307 Tot1 less currellt Il*bllltleJ 82,188 Reprwepted by: General reserve Balance brought forward 81188 91.350 (Deficit} I Surplus for the y 7V17 (9.162) Balance urrled fornArd 82,188 Signed on behalf of the trustees by: Ms A Tincknell Tn￿le Ms P Koulouri Date. lÉ &-£o Z• ZG 29 13

Read Easy UK

Notes to the Financial Statements

1 Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The financial statements of the charity, which is a public benefit entity under FRS 102, have been prepared in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) '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 2015)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland' and the Charities Act 2011. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

Tangible fixed assets

Depreciation is provided at the following annual rates in order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life.

Computer and office equipment – 25% on reducing balance

Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when they are receivable and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.

Resources expended (note 9)

Resources expended are recognised in the period in which they are incurred. Charitable expenditure comprises those costs incurred by the charity in the delivery of its activities and services for its beneficiaries. It includes both costs that can be allocated directly and those of an indirect nature necessary to support them.

Investments

Investments are valued annually at market value. Gains or losses are taken to the Statement of Financial Activities. Investment income has been taken into account on an accruals basis.

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Read Easy UK

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

For the year ended 30 September 2025

2
Tangible fixed assets
Cost
At 1 October 2024
Additions
Disposals
At 30 September 2025
Depreciation
At 1 October 2024
Charge for year
Eliminated on disposal
At 30 September 2025
Net book values
At 30 September 2025
At 30 September 2024
3
Debtors: amounts falling due
within one year
Other debtors
£
£
Computer
Total
& Office
Equipment
26,809
26,809
2,166
2,166
-
-
28,975
28,975
18,928
18,928
2,511
2,511
-
-
21,439
21,439
7,536
7,536
7,881
7,881
2025
2024
£
£
4,828
4,604
4,828
4,604

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Read Easy UK

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

For the year ended 30 September 2025

4 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Other creditors
5
Unrestricted Funds
General unrestricted fund
At 1 October 2024
Incoming resources
Outgoing resources
At 30 September 2025
6
Restricted Funds
General restricted fund
At 1 October 2024
Incoming resources
Outgoing resources
At 30 September 2025
East of England
At 1 October 2024
Incoming resources
Outgoing resources
At 30 September 2025
2025
£
12,736
12,736
2024
£
10,778
10,778
£
47,341
420,078
(337,970)
129,449
£
10,586
1,440
(10,829)
1,197
£
-
10,000
(4,500)
5,500

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Read Easy UK

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

For the year ended 30 September 2025

6 Restricted Funds (continued)

South Region
At 1 October 2024
Incoming resources
Outgoing resources
At 30 September 2025
South West Region
At 1 October 2024
Incoming resources
Outgoing resources
At 30 September 2025
London and South East Region
At 1 October 2024
Incoming resources
Outgoing resources
At 30 September 2025
North East and Yorkshire Region
At 1 October 2024
Incoming resources
Outgoing resources
At 30 September 2025
£
17,709
15,000
(17,418)
15,291
£
-
3,000
(3,000)
-
£
-
500
(500)
-
£
6,552
12,780
(9,764)
9,568

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Read Easy UK

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

For the year ended 30 September 2025

7 Employees

The average number of employees during the year was 13 (2024 - 14).

8 Trustees’ expenses

During the year no payments were made to trustees except in respect of direct reimbursement of expenses in line with our expenses policy, this totalled £470.

9 Resources expended

Resources expended
Cost of generating funds:
Fundraising activities
Fundraising salary costs
Charitable activities:
Volunteer support costs
Administration costs
Salaries
2025
£
828
38,204
39,032
2025
£
48,207
24,800
271,942
344,949

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