Bringing Words to Life Ltd
Financial Statements
For the Year Ended 31 August 2025
Company Registration No. 08366070 Charity Registration No. 1151661
Legal and Administrative Information:
| Name: | Bringing Words to | Life Limited |
|---|---|---|
| Company No. | 08366070 | |
| Charity No. | 1151661 | |
| Trustees: | Stuart Jackson | (Chair) |
| Emma Barnett | ||
| Beth Khalil | (Treasurer) | |
| Jeremy Barnett | ||
| Lauren White | (From 25 February 2025) | |
| Directors: | Stuart Jackson | |
| Emma Barnett | ||
| Jeremy Barnett | ||
| Lauren White | (From 25 February 2025) | |
| Registered Address: | Rowlands Gill Community Centre | |
| Strathmore Road | ||
| Rowlands Gill | ||
| Tyne and Wear | ||
| NE39 1JB | ||
| Bank: | Lloyds Bank PLC | |
| 44 Front Street | ||
| Whickham | ||
| Tyne and Wear | ||
| NE16 4DS | ||
| Structure: | Bringing Words to | Life Ltd is a Company limited by |
| guarantee (Company No. 08366070) and a registered | ||
| Charity (Charity No.1151661). | ||
| Senior Contact: | Melanie Cornish-Fleet – Chief Executive Officer. | |
| Independent Examiner: | Darren Thompson | |
| FutureSkills North | East CIC | |
| 53 Kirkdale | ||
| Spennymoor | ||
| Co. Durham | ||
| DL16 6UH |
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Bringing Words to Life Ltd 2025
Contents:
| 1 | Directors’/Trustees’ Report | Pages 4 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Independent Examiners Report | Page 7 |
| 3 | Statement of Financial Activities | Page 8 |
| 4 | Statement of Assets and Liabilities | Page 9 |
| 5 | Notes to the Accounts | Page 10 |
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Bringing Words to Life Ltd 2025
Trustees’ Report:
The aim of the charity is:
- To advance the education of the public, particularly but not exclusively those residing in Gateshead and surrounding areas by developing key literacy skills with the aim of advancing education and employment prospects and life skills.
Over the last year, Bringing Words to Life has continued to deliver a wider range of activities in and around the North of England.
-
Bringing Words to Life worked with 152 people .
-
Bringing Words to Life delivered over 317 workshops throughout the year.
-
Feedback from participants indicated improved confidence and literacy skills.
Total income for the year was £62,415 (2024: £58,774), primarily driven by grant funding. The charity reported a net surplus of £3,274. Unrestricted funds reduced due to investment in delivery costs, while restricted funding increased in line with project delivery.
Plans for the future:
- To support residents in Gateshead and the surrounding areas with the development of digital literacy skills.
Risk Management:
The Trustees review major risks which the organisation faces, including external factors, governance, and internal operations on a regular basis. The risk management framework adopted by the Trustees considers the likelihood and the impact of risks and reviews the systems and controls in place to reduce or eliminate those risks.
Key risks include reliance on grant funding and capacity to deliver programmes. These are mitigated through diversification of income and use of experienced sessional staff.
Public Benefit Statement:
The Trustees confirm that they have complied with their duty under section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit.
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Bringing Words to Life Ltd 2025
Reserves Policy:
It is the policy of the charity to try and build up unrestricted funds, which are free reserves of the organisation, to a level that equates to approximately 3 months of unrestricted expenditure. This would provide sufficient funds to cover the management and administration support costs and any emergencies that may arise from time to time. The Trustees review this on an annual basis.
At the year end, free reserves were £3,357, which is approximately in line with the target level of three months’ expenditure.
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Bringing Words to Life Ltd 2025
Trustees' Responsibilities:
The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records, which disclose with reasonable accuracy the financial position of the charity enabling them to ascertain the financial position of the company and enabling them to comply with applicable law.
The Trustees are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and, hence, for taking reasonable steps to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities.
For the year ending 31/8/2025 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit under section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The directors acknowledge their responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and for the preparation of accounts.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.
Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by:
Signed: Position: Chair/Trustee Name: Stuart Jackson Date: 9/4/2026 Signed: Obi Position: Trustee Name: Emma Barnett Date: 9/4/2026
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Bringing Words to Life Ltd 2025
Independent Examiners Report:
I report to the charity trustees on my examination of the accounts of the company for the year ended 31[st] August 2025 which are set out on pages 8-10.
Respective Responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner:
As the charity trustees of the company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the company are not required to be audited under part 16 of the 2006 Act, and are eligible for independent examination. I report in respect of my examination of your company’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011. It is my responsibility to:
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Examine the accounts under section 145 of the 2011 Act.
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Follow the procedures laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act; and
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State whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Independent Examiner's Statement:
I have completed my examination. I can confirm no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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Accounting records were not kept in respect of the company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
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The accounts do not accord with those records; or
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The accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act, other than any requirement that the accounts give a “true and fair view” which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
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The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis in accordance with the Charities Act 2011.
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 proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: D W Thompson
Date: 1/4/2026
Darren Thompson FutureSkills North East CIC 53 Kirkdale Spennymoor Co. Durham DL16 6UH
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Bringing Words to Life Ltd 2025
Bringing Words to Life Ltd
Statement of Financial Activities
1 September 2024 – 31 August 2025
| Restricted | Unrestricted | 2025 | 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Income: | |||||
| Grants | 3 | 39,580.00 | - | 39,580.00 | 29,444.00 |
| Sales | 4 | - | 22,835.00 | 22,835.00 | 29,030.00 |
| Other income | - | - | - | 300.00 | |
| Total Income: | 39,580.00 | 22,835.00 | 62,415.00 | 58,774.00 | |
| Expenditure: | |||||
| Premises costs | - | 1,520.00 | 1,520.00 | 1,562.00 | |
| Insurance | - | 218.00 | 218.00 | 241.00 | |
| Office costs | 5 | 2,000.00 | 4,941.00 | 6,941.00 | 5,709.00 |
| Travel expenses | 500.00 | 1,007.00 | 1,507.00 | 2,289.00 | |
| Sessional worker costs | 6 | 27,300.00 | 20,627.00 | 47,927.00 | 39,247.00 |
| Professional fees | 7 | - | 375.00 | 375.00 | 2,075.00 |
| Loan repayment | - | 653.00 | 653.00 | 668.00 | |
| Other costs | - | - | - | 850.00 | |
| Total Expenditure: | 29,800.00 | 29,341.00 | 59,141.00 | 52,641.00 | |
| Surplus/Deficit for the period: |
9,780.00 | (6,506.00) | 3,274.00 | 6,133.00 | |
| Funds brought forward 1st September 2024: |
- | 13,407.00 | 13,407.00 | 7,274.00 | |
| Funds carried forward 31st August 2025: |
9,780.00 | 6,901.00 | 16,681.00 | 13,407.00 |
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Bringing Words to Life Ltd 2025
| ~~GG~~ | ~~GG~~ | 2025 ~~GG~~ |
2024 ~~GG~~ |
|---|---|---|---|
| ~~es~~ | Notes ~~es~~ |
£ ~~es~~ |
£ ~~es~~ |
| Current assets: ~~es~~ ~~Gs~~ |
~~es~~ ~~Gs~~ |
~~es~~ ~~Gs~~ |
~~es~~ ~~Gs~~ |
| ~~es~~ ~~a~~ |
~~es~~ | ~~es~~ | ~~es~~ |
| Cash at bank and in hand ~~es~~ ~~a~~ |
~~es~~ | 16,681.00 ~~es~~ |
13,407.00 ~~es~~ |
| ~~a~~ ~~GG~~ |
~~GG~~ | ~~GG~~ | ~~GG~~ |
| Total current assets: ~~es~~ |
~~es~~ | 16,681.00 ~~es~~ |
13,407.00 ~~es~~ |
| ~~GG~~ | ~~GG~~ | ~~GG~~ | ~~GG~~ |
| Liabilities: ~~es~~ |
~~es~~ | ~~es~~ | ~~es~~ |
| Loan ~~Ge~~ |
~~Ge~~ | 3,544.00 ~~Ge~~ |
4,197.00 ~~Ge~~ |
| ~~es~~ ~~a~~ |
~~es~~ | ~~es~~ | ~~es~~ |
| Total liabilities: ~~a~~ |
3,544.00 | 4,197.00 | |
| ~~a~~ ~~Ge~~ ~~a~~ |
~~Ge~~ | ~~Ge~~ | ~~Ge~~ |
| Net assets: ~~Ge~~ ~~a~~ ~~a~~ |
~~Ge~~ | 13,137.00 ~~Ge~~ |
9,210.00 ~~Ge~~ |
| ~~a~~ ~~a~~ ~~a~~ |
|||
| ~~a~~ ~~a~~ ~~a~~ |
|||
| The funds of the charity: ~~a~~ ~~a~~ ~~a~~ |
|||
| ~~a~~ ~~a~~ ~~a~~ |
|||
| Restricted funds ~~a~~ ~~a~~ ~~a~~ |
9,780.00 | - | |
| Unrestricted funds ~~a~~ ~~a~~ ~~a~~ |
3,357.00 | 9,210.00 | |
| ~~a~~ ~~a~~ |
|||
| Total funds: ~~a~~ ~~GO~~ |
8 ~~GO~~ |
13,137.00 ~~GO~~ |
9,210.00 ~~GO~~ |
For the financial year in question the company was entitled to exemption under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
No members have required the company to obtain an audit for the year in question in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The directors acknowledge their responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and for the preparation of accounts.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime.
Signed: Position: Chair/Trustee Name: Stuart Jackson Date: 9/4/2026 Signed: Position: Trustee Name: Emma Barnett Date: 9/4/2026
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Bringing Words to Life Ltd 2025
Bringing Words to Life Ltd
Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31[st] August 2025
| 1 | The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis in accordance with the Charities Act 2011. |
|---|---|
| 2 | Bringing Words to Life is a Registered Charity (Charity No. 1151661) and a Company Limited by Guarantee (Company No.08366070). |
| 3 | This includes: •£14,800 – National Lottery Community Fund (Awards for All). •£10,000 – Bernicia. •£2,000 – The Hedley Foundation. •£9,780 – Community Foundation Tyne and Wear. •£3,000 – The Barbour Foundation. |
| 4 | Income generated through contracts and service level agreements. |
| 5 | Office costs include stationery, IT, and consumables. |
| 6 | This includes expenditure on a sessional worker to deliver programmes. The charity did not have any paid employees during this period. |
| 7 | This includes: •Accountancy - £375.00. |
| 8 | Funds available to the charity as at 31stAugust 2025. |
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Bringing Words to Life Ltd 2025