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2023-03-31-accounts

Charity registration number 1155305

Company registration number 08460624 (England and Wales)

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Trustees

Mrs C Price Mr C J F Ray Mr C Welsh Mrs J Hunt

Charity number 1155305 Company number 08460624 Registered office Gardners Lane Childrens Centre Gardners Lane Cheltenham Gloucestershire United Kingdom GL51 9JW Auditor Azets Audit Services Epsilon House The Square Gloucester Business Park Gloucester United Kingdom GL3 4AD Bankers Barclays Bank PLC Rutherford way Swindon Village Cheltenham Gloucestershire United Kingdom GL51 9TS Solicitors Harrison Clark Rickerbys LLP c/o Harrison Clark Rickerbys Limited Ellenborough House Wellington Street Cheltenham Gloucestershire United Kingdom GL50 1YD

Senior management team

Mr C Welsh Mrs M Welsh Mrs M McLoughlin Mrs A Campbell Mrs R Nelson Mr J Davies

Executive Head Operational Lead Children's Services Manager Children's Services Manager Early Years Manager Business Manager

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

CONTENTS

Page
Trustees' report 1 - 16
Independent auditor's report 17 - 19
Statement of financial activities 20 - 21
Balance sheet 22
Statement of cash flows 23
Notes to the financial statements 24 - 41

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

The trustees present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1 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

The charity's purpose is set out in the Articles of Association, and Terms of Reference:

The aim of the charity is to provide good quality pre-school education, family support services, targeted support services and some universal provision and to work in partnership with other providers, partners and stake holders to deliver holistic community support through our vision of "Aspire and Achieve".

What we do and why

With partners, we offer a range of services across Cheltenham and Tewkesbury. Some of these are accessible to all families with children whilst some are in place to support those with specific needs. Our overall aim is to help the children and families we work with to achieve their potential together through the provision of support, learning and play opportunities.

How we set our priorities

In 2022/23 our business is split into the following three main areas and our priorities are developed to reflect the distinct needs of each area;

Targeted Family Support

As of April 2017 we were contracted by Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) to deliver a Targeted Family Support Service to the Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Localities. This contract was due to end on 1st April 2022, but has been extended three times and will now end on 1st April 2024

This contract details a number of specific performance indicators we are required to meet and report on. We work to a quarterly monitoring timetable set by GCC and our performance is reviewed by GCC at a performance monitoring review meeting once a quarter.

Early Years Nursery Provision

Our 5 nurseries all operate under the following:

The above guidance/regulations set out very clearly the "Early Years Curriculum" which sets the priorities/ working practices all our settings follow to ensure a high quality of early years education is delivered at all times.

All our settings are inspected by Ofsted which assesses the performance of our nurseries against the above frameworks.

All our settings have now been inspected during the current inspection cycle by Ofsted and all are rated “good”.

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Steps Ahead

Towards the end of 2021 we successfully bid to GCC to deliver the “Steps Ahead Project” in Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and Cotswold Localities. This project commenced in April 2022 and ran until the end of March 2023.

The Project focussed on supporting parents and young children who were particularly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and will have missed out on group support and opportunities to support the development of their new baby.

We received funding of £332,500 to deliver this project.

Consultation

Targeted Family Support

Our quality monitoring system includes service user feedback. This feedback enables us to monitor quality standards across Targeted Family Support and address any concerns that may arise.

As we approach the end of our current Targeted Family Services contract with GCC, we will be involving our staff in helping shape our tender submission for the new Children and Family Centre contract that goes live in April 2024 and this will include small focus groups / staff consultations.

Early Years

As part of our commitment to develop the service we have undertaken a number of surveys with parents focussed around the following areas;

We have also held parent / carers evenings which provide opportunities for parents and carers to meet our Early Years team and discuss their child's progress and any specific issues.

Steps Ahead

As part of our development of this new provision we undertook a number of consultations as set out below;

All the above consultations provide valuable intelligence to enable us to model future service provision, improve quality and set the direction for Aspire Foundation for the next 3 to 5 years.

Data Sources

Data is a vital tool for us and enables us to monitor our service provision, review quality and put in place management actions to address any areas that have been highlighted as causing concern as well as evaluate potential new business opportunities.

Where possible we compared specific centre performance data against the locality as a whole and against the

county. We have throughout 2022/23 used some of the following data sources:

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

How we deliver our aims and public benefit

Following the repositioning of GCC’s Targeted Family Services contract from the 1 April 2017 there has been a significant shift in the type of service provision offered by the Foundation. Aspire Foundation is no longer funded to deliver universal provision and we estimate that we now deliver approximately 85% of targeted services and 15% universal services.

Our services in 2022/23 included:

The Federation has continued to develop strong working relationships with our partners some of whom are based in our centres. These include:

We also support the delivery of some of the services listed below via our centres:

The trustees have paid due regard to guidance issued by the Charity Commission in deciding what activities the charity should undertake and support.

We have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit in our aims and objectives and in planning for our future service provision.

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Fundraising standards

The Trustees confirm that all fund raising activities are compliant with the recognised standards of fundraising code of practice and those set out under charity law.

Trustees have signed up to the Fundraising Regulators voluntary regime to underpin their commitment to ensuring all fundraising activities are compliant.

Achievements and performance

Making a difference

During 2022/23 as Covid-19 restrictions eased, the Foundation began to return to a more “normal” style of service delivery.

Our staff teams continued to be flexible and proactive and we were able to react quickly to the easing of Covid19 restrictions and were able to restart most of the services we ran prior to the pandemic.

The addition of the Steps Ahead project added significantly to the “reach” of the Foundation and engaged with parents and young children who had particularly suffered during Covid-19 due to a lack of support in the community.

Our achievements have been broken down into specific areas and are highlighted below:

Targeted Family Support contract

As part of the Targeted Family Support contract, we have during 2022/2023 achieved the following:

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

During the year our Family Support Team provided one-to-one support, home visits, group work, centre based discussions and support, telephone calls and attended professional meetings such as Child Protection Conferences and Core Group meetings, with a number continuing to be “virtual”.

Evidenced Based Programmes

The Foundation ran the following Evidenced Based Courses during 2022/2023

Healthy Relationship Healthy Family – Group and 1:1 / Solihull Approach – Group and 1:1 /Adult ACE’s / Bump Start – 1:1 / Best Start – 1:1

Note : Due to Covid Restrictions in 2021/22 a number of courses were held 1:1 or virtually.

Early Years

As part of the Early Years provision, we have had the following numbers on our roll during the academic years shown below.

2020-21 2020-21 2021-22 2021-22 2022-23 2022-23
Programme **2 Year Olds ** 3-4
Year
Olds
**2 Year Olds **		 3-4
Year
Olds
**2 Year Olds **		 3-4
Year
Olds
Gardners Lane 17 31 19 49 8 51
Hester's Way 20 40 25 35 34 33
Noah's Ark 15 23 8 24 7 25
Oakwood 11 56 16 48 14 55
Rowanfield 18 49 13 68 23 91
Total 81 199 81 224 86 255

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

During 2022/23 we have also achieved the following:

Aspire Foundation Early Years SEND May 2023

Nursery SaLT My Plan My Plan+ EHCP Area
of
Need*		 Total
on
roll
Total
SEND		 % SEN
GL 5 8 2 2 x
pending		 8 x C&I
1x S/P		 59 10 17%
HW 17 9 10 1
2 x
pending		 16 x C&I
2 x SEMH
1 x S/P		 67 19 28%
NA 2 5 3 1
1x pending		 7 x C&I
1x S/P		 32 8 25%
OW 14 3 10 1
8 x
pending		 14 x C &I
1 x SEMH		 68 13 19%
RF 7 13 3 3
1 x pending		 13 x C&I
2 x C&L
5 x SEMH		 85 20 24%
Totals 45 38 28 20 58 x C&I
2 x C&L
8 x SEMH
2 x S/P		 311 70 22.5%

*Areas of Need

Communication and Interaction continues to be the greatest Area of Need, with 58 children being identified across the settings. This represents 83% of the total children with SEND and 19% of the total of children on roll.

All SENDCos and EY staff liaise with the Reception teachers and SENDCos of receiving schools to support transition for all pre-school children, including those with SEND. This includes opportunities for observation, information sharing and invitations to attend TAC and Review meetings.

We have also during 2022/23 achieved the following:

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Other Areas

Continued to explore other business and funding opportunities to expand the Foundation's business interests. This included:

Our Impact

In addition to the Targeted Family Support Work, Steps Ahead Project and Early Years provision we also achieved the following footfall / visits shown below across the Foundation sites by adults and children accessing Universal or targeted provision / services. The figures for 2022/23 are a significant improvement on those reported in 2021/22 and reflect the gradual return to more “normal” service delivery following the Covid-19 pandemic.

The breakdown is shown by centre below:

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

These visits were achieved by adults or children attending the following services/provisions:

Universal provision

Targeted Provision

Steps Ahead

The Aspire Steps Ahead programme engaged with 1,596 children with 4,843 sessions attended across the three districts: Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and Cotswolds.

In addition, Aspire received 60 referrals since March 2022, 77 families received support and at the end of March 2023, 43 families had closed to Steps Ahead Early Intervention and Prevention Support.

Financial review

Main Funding Streams

The main sources of funding for the Foundation are currently:

Local Government funding continues to be under significant pressure and with the increasing cost of living pressures, budgets will remain under strain for the foreseeable future, with difficult choices having to be made.

The pressure on existing budgets and the fact that the Targeted Family Services contract is due to finish in its current format at the end of March 2024, means it is essential that the Foundation continues to explore new business opportunities to broaden its business portfolio. This proactive approach will minimise risks associated with the majority of the Foundations income coming from Gloucestershire County Council by way of grants and contract income at the present time.

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

We are continuing to explore potential new partnerships to support joint bidding for new contracts and this area will continue to be prioritised in 2023/24 and could open up new markets for the Foundation that link with its aims and charitable objectives.

The Foundation has a good level of reserves to minimise any impact of a drop in funding over the short term and will consider the use of some of its reserves to develop new business opportunities as a way to create a sustainable funding base moving forward.

Directors continue to take a pro-active approach to supporting the business and its charitable aims and objectives and continued to support specific initiatives such as Healthy Relationships, Steps Ahead and Covid-19 recovery.

Directors took a decision to subsidise some elements of the Targeted Family Support Contract during the year as the funding from GCC was insufficient to continue to meet existing expenditure levels and ensure that Aspire was able to pass on in full the agreed NJC pay award. To achieve this Directors agreed to waive the management fee normally associated with the Targeted Family Services Contract.

This decision meant that were able to continue to deliver services that are much valued and needed in the communities we operate in.

This approach will continue in 2023/24 as Directors are committed to providing services in line with our charitable objectives within the communities, we deliver services in.

This decision will also ensure that Aspire is in as good a position as possible to submit a successful tender when the GCC Children and Family Centre tender is issued.

Coronavirus Impact 2022/23

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to reduce although it has still had some impact on the business. Expenditure continues to remain high on cleaning products etc, as a result of increased cleaning regimes and the need to ensure adequate supplies of cleaning materials / anti-bacterial products. The current “cost of living crisis” is also impacting on our costs and we are seeing significant increase in core cleaning products which is creating budget challenges.

We continue to experience staff absences as a result of Covid-19, and this is particularly an issue in Early Years where we have had to use zero hours and agency staff to cover absences to ensure that we can maintain statutory staffing ratios

Income and expenditure

The Foundation's income was relatively stable during the year as our income from the Targeted Family Services contract and Early Years provision was broadly as expected. The addition of the Steps Ahead project added an additional income stream in 2022/23 although this is only a one-year project.

The “cost of living crisis” has impacted the organisation, both in terms of increased costs for goods and services and a pay award for all staff in line with the NJC award that was approved by Unions in 2022/23. Directors agreed to implement this pay award in full, even though it resulted in a significant increase in staffing costs. The Foundation's staff are its key asset and Directors felt that the pay award should be awarded in full, to support staff through the current financial difficulties and keep our pay structure in line with Gloucestershire County Council or there was a risk we would lose staff to other organisations. Directors agreed the use of reserves to fund these exceptional costs if required.

Coronavirus Impact 2023/24

We are not expecting any impact as a result of Covid-19 in 2023/24, although this will be kept under review should the situation change.

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Income and expenditure

We are expecting our major streams of income from the Targeted Family Services contract and Early Years provision to remain relatively stable as far as we are aware until 31 March 2024. We have received a 3% uplift in Targeted Family Services contract and have been advised that there will be an increase in Early Years funding from September 2023 as a result of the Government’s announcement of additional investment in Early Years and Childcare in the last budget. The exact impact of this announcement is still to be confirmed.

With these increases the Foundation has a degree of financial stability for the short term up to the end of the current Targeted Family Services contract, which has now been extended to 31 March 2024.

In terms of expenditure, we are anticipating budgets to be significantly impacted by the ongoing “cost of living” crisis both in terms of increased costs for goods and services and further potential pay awards where we expect the trend of increases above 5% to continue. Directors are keen to implement pay awards to ensure staff are rewarded appropriately and that salaries keep in line with competitors and recognise the pressures on families’ budgets.

We will be amending some of the focus of our provision to reflect the change in direction by Gloucestershire County Council to provide some more “universal” type provision and explore opportunities for partnership working / joint delivery. Directors are supportive of this change as we believe this approach will be in the new contract when put out to tender. This change now, will help ensure we are “contract ready” when the tender process opens.

In view of the stability of funding over the short term the Directors are of the view that the Foundation remains a going concern until at least 31 March 2024.

The tender for the new Children and Family Centre Contract, issued by Gloucestershire County Council was released in September 2023. Aspire will be bidding for two LOTS, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury and Stroud and Cotswolds. If successful this will see an expansion in the size of the organisation as a number of staff will TUPE into Aspire and the funding will increase by approximately £750,000 per annum. The contract is being offered for 5 years with an option to extend for a further two plus two years.

The closing date for submission of tenders is the 27th October 2023, and successful bidders will be advised midJanuary 2024, with the contract commencing on the 1st April 2024.

Planning is underway to review the business model of the Foundation to establish what changes would need to be made should our tender be unsuccessful and significant changes in income occur. This planning includes downsizing the organisation as well as expanding, should we be successful in our approach to secure new business opportunities.

Reserves Policy

At the end of financial year 2022/23 the Foundation is holding unrestricted funds (reserves) of £1,867,624 of which £596,000 relates to the pension surplus and £1,271,624 to general unrestricted funds.

The Directors consider a reserve level of £1,000,000 to be appropriate for financial year 2023/24, which would enable sufficient funds to be available to meet the identified risks / investment opportunities outlined below.

The Directors have reviewed the charity’s requirement for reserves in light of the main risks to the organisation. The reserves are required to meet the following:

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

The current level of reserves is £0.27m above the required amount set by Directors although Directors have agreed that it is prudent to hold this amount in reserve until the outcome of the Children and Family Centres tender is known.

Restricted funds carried forward at 31 March 2023 were £134,677 (2022: £28,190), resulting in total funds carried forward of £2m.

Risk Management

On behalf of the Directors the Senior Leadership Team undertakes a Risk Management review on a regular basis and has developed a Business Recovery / Continuity Plan.

The charity is aware of the vulnerability posed by reliance of a single funder (Gloucestershire County Council) and is continually exploring new business opportunities to minimise this risk.

Internal control risks are minimised by the implementation of procedures for authorisation of all transactions and projects. Procedures are in place to ensure compliance with Health and Safety for staff, volunteers and visitors to the Centres. Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment procedures are fully adopted as outlined by Gloucestershire County Council and Gloucestershire Safeguarding Board policy statements.

The financial management of the Targeted Family Services contract is reviewed by Gloucestershire County Council. Furthermore, the Foundation as a whole is subject to an annual audit under Charity SORP requirements by an independent firm of auditors, which provides an additional level of external scrutiny.

Future plans and priorities

The Foundation's Business Plan for 2021/22 has been reviewed and an updated Business Plan for 2023/24 has been developed and approved by Directors covering the following five areas:

Our Business Plan priorities are as follows.

Priority 1: Consolidate and develop Early Years Provision

We aim to achieve

Priority 2: Deliver high quality Family Support Services

We aim to achieve

Priority 3: Take opportunities to extend the range of services we provide

We aim to achieve

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Priority 4: Positive impact for children, families and communities

We aim to achieve

Each target above is supported by a priority card in our Business Plan that details the work that will be undertaken to support the delivery of our stated aims and indicators that will measure how successful we have been.

Financial year 2023/24 will be a pivotal year for the Foundation during which we will know if we have been successful in our tender for the new Children and Family centres contract, which will shape the future of the organisation.

We are bringing on stream 2 new nurseries which will increase our nursery portfolio to 7 sites and strengthen our position in this area.

Finally, the existing Executive Head Teacher and Operational Lead are retiring in the summer and this will see a significant change in the management team at Aspire. A new Executive Head Teacher has been appointed and will take up post on the 1 September 2023 and a decision on the replacement for the Operational Lead will be considered once the outcome of the contract tender process is known.

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Structure, governance and management

Governing document

The organisation is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 25 March 2013 and registered as a charity on 13 January 2014. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objectives and powers of a charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association.

In the event of the company being wound up members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £10.

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:

Mrs C Price

Mr C J F Ray

Mr C Welsh Mrs J Hunt

Recruitment and Appointment of Management Committee

The directors of the company are also the charity trustees for the purpose of charity law and under the company’s Articles are known as Members of the Management Committee.

All Members of the Management Committee give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity. Any expenses reclaimed are set out in the accounts.

The Management Committee delegates the strategic planning and oversight of the charity to named Strategic Leads.

The membership of the Board of Directors is broad with the skills, experience and understanding of education, social care, family education and partnership working. A skills matrix is used to support recruitment and ensure a balance of skills is maintained. An induction pack and induction training are provided on appointment.

The Board of Directors approves appointments.

The Board of Directors ensures that the processes and systems are in place to enable the charity to deliver its objectives and acts as the decision-making body. The Board of Directors delegates strategic planning and oversight to the Executive Head, Operational Lead and Senior Management Team.

A system of delegated powers is operated to enable the implementation of the overall strategy and day to day responsibility for the provision of the services rests with the Executive Head Teacher and Operational Lead.

The Operational Lead is responsible for ensuring that the charity delivers the services specified and that the key performance indicators are delivered. The Children Services Managers, Early Years Manager and Business Manager have the responsibility for the day to day operational management of the Centres, individual supervision of the staff teams and also ensuring that the teams continue to develop their skills and working practices in line with good practice.

Induction and Training

Directors are familiar with the work undertaken by the charity and are encouraged to regularly participate in training to:

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Key Management Remuneration

Foundation pay is in line with the support staff/executive reward band grading structures. Members of staff receive an annual increment unless there are performance issues or if they have reached the top of the pay scale.

Staff Development

Aspire Foundation is committed to support the continuous professional development of its staff and produces a “training programme” annually that reflects the organisational needs and the professional development needs of staff. These needs are identified via annual performance monitoring and then prioritised against available resources as part of the budget build process.

The training programme is also informed by the “Wellbeing” strategy and the Staff Wellbeing Group to ensure that the Federation provides resources to meet the needs identified.

Related Partnerships

In so far as it is complimentary to the charity’s objectives, the charity is guided by both national and local policies and arrangements. At a National level the guidance and outcomes are based on the Early Years Foundation Stage / Ofsted Statutory Framework.

At a local level the guidance and objectives are provided by Gloucestershire County Council Commissioners, Cheltenham Community Partnership, Local Health Authority and Community and Voluntary Associations.

The representation of local organisations and participation in local partnerships has proved invaluable to the charity in establishing improved links with in the community.

Statement of trustees' responsibilities

The trustees, who are also the directors of Aspire Foundation (formerly known as Gardners Lane and Oakwood Federation) for the purpose of company law, are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company Law requires the trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year.

In preparing these financial statements, the trustees are required to:

The trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Disclosure of information to auditor

Each of the trustees has confirmed that there is no information of which they are aware which is relevant to the audit, but of which the auditor is unaware. They have further confirmed that they have taken appropriate steps to identify such relevant information and to establish that the auditor is aware of such information.

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

TRUSTEES' REPORT (INCLUDING DIRECTORS' REPORT) (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

The trustees' report was approved by the Board of Trustees.

Mr C Welsh

Trustee Dated: 14 November 2023

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT

TO THE TRUSTEES OF ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Aspire Foundation (formerly known as Gardners Lane and Oakwood Federation) (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2023 which comprise the statement of financial activities, the balance sheet, the statement of cash flows and the notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion, the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charity in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED)

TO THE TRUSTEES OF ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit:

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the trustees' report. We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

Responsibilities of trustees

As explained more fully in the statement of trustees' responsibilities, the trustees, who are also the directors of the charity for the purpose of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the trustees either intend to liquidate the charitable company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https:// www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED)

TO THE TRUSTEES OF ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

Extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above and on the Financial Reporting Council’s website, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud.

We obtain and update our understanding of the entity, its activities, its control environment, and likely future developments, including in relation to the legal and regulatory framework applicable and how the entity is complying with that framework. Based on this understanding, we identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. This includes consideration of the risk of acts by the entity that were contrary to applicable laws and regulations, including fraud.

In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, including fraud, we designed procedures which included:

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditors' 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 charitable company and the charitable company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Katherine Parkin (Senior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf of Azets Audit Services

.........................

Chartered Accountants Statutory Auditor

Epsilon House The Square Gloucester Business Park Gloucester United Kingdom GL3 4AD

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Current financial year
Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
2023
2023
Notes
£
£
Income from:
Donations and legacies
3
24,146
75,145
Charitable activities
Targeted Family Support
4
1,367,664
-
Early Years Provision
4
893,451
-
Other facilities & services
4
84,442
-
Steps Ahead
4
-
353,189
Other trading activities
5
12,626
-
Investments
6
3,176
-
Total income
2,385,505
428,334
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
7
9,758
-
Charitable activities
Targeted Family Support
8
1,283,710
58,773
Early Years Provision
8
1,218,442
-
Other facilities & services
8
105,594
-
Steps Ahead
8
-
263,074
Total charitable expenditure
2,607,746
321,847
Total expenditure
2,617,504
321,847
Net (expenditure)/income for the year/
Net (outgoing)/incoming resources
(231,999)
106,487
Other recognised gains and losses
Actuarial gain on defined benefit pension schemes
1,884,000
-
Net movement in funds
1,652,001
106,487
Fund balances at 1 April 2022
215,623
28,190
Fund balances at 31 March 2023
1,867,624
134,677		 Total
2023
£
99,291
1,367,664
893,451
84,442
353,189
12,626
3,176
2,813,839
9,758
1,342,483
1,218,442
105,594
263,074
2,929,593
2,939,351
(125,512)
1,884,000
1,758,488
243,813
2,002,301		 Total
2022
£
111,475
1,380,344
721,516
66,413
-
12,323
32
2,292,103
9,118
1,263,698
1,033,903
152,256
-
2,449,857
2,458,975
(166,872)
816,000
649,128
(405,315)
243,813

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (CONTINUED) INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

The statement of financial activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 2006.

Prior financial year

Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
2022
2022
Notes
£
£
Income from:
Donations and legacies
3
24,146
87,329
Charitable activities
Targeted Family Support
4
1,380,344
-
Early Years Provision
4
721,516
-
Other facilities & services
4
66,413
-
Other trading activities
5
12,323
-
Investments
6
32
-
Total income
2,204,774
87,329
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
7
9,118
-
Charitable activities
Targeted Family Support
8
1,195,193
68,505
Early Years Provision
8
1,033,903
-
Other facilities & services
8
152,256
-
Total charitable expenditure
2,381,352
68,505
Total expenditure
2,390,470
68,505
Net (expenditure)/income for the year/
Net (outgoing)/incoming resources
(185,696)
18,824
Other recognised gains and losses
Actuarial gain on defined benefit pension schemes
816,000
-
Net movement in funds
630,304
18,824
Fund balances at 1 April 2021
(414,681)
9,366
Fund balances at 31 March 2022
215,623
28,190		 Total
2022
£
111,475
1,380,344
721,516
66,413
12,323
32
2,292,103
9,118
1,263,698
1,033,903
152,256
2,449,857
2,458,975
(166,872)
816,000
649,128
(405,315)
243,813

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

BALANCE SHEET

AS AT 31 MARCH 2023

Notes
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
14
Current assets
Debtors falling due after one year
15
Debtors falling due within one year
15
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due within
one year
16
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
Net assets excluding pension surplus/(deficit)
Defined benefit pension
surplus/(deficit)
17
Net assets
Income funds
Restricted funds
20
Unrestricted funds
General unrestricted funds
Pension reserve		 2023
2022
£
£
£
£
-
-
-
279,000
148,007
126,214
1,339,667
1,070,331
1,487,674
1,475,545
(81,373)
(99,732)
1,406,301
1,375,813
1,406,301
1,375,813
1,406,301
1,375,813
596,000
(1,132,000)
2,002,301
243,813
134,677
28,190
1,271,624
1,347,623
596,000
(1,132,000)
1,867,624
215,623
2,002,301
243,813

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 14 November 2023.

Mr C Welsh Trustee

Company Registration No. 08460624

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Notes
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash generated from/(absorbed by)
operations
25
Investing activities
Interest received
Net cash generated from investing
activities
Net cash used in financing activities
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash
equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year		 2023
£
£
266,160
3,176
3,176
-
269,336
1,070,331
1,339,667		 2022
£
£
(28,828)
32
32
-
(28,796)
1,099,127
1,070,331

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

1 Accounting policies

Charity information

Aspire Foundation (formerly known as Gardners Lane and Oakwood Federation) is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Gardners Lane Childrens Centre, Gardners Lane, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL51 9JW, United Kingdom.

The charitable company's registered number can be found on the Legal and Administrative Information page.

In the event of the charity being wound up, the liability in respect of the guarantee is limited to £10 per member of the charity.

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 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 where required.

1.4 Incoming resources

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 from government and other grants, is recognised when the charity has entitlement to the funds, any performance conditions attached to the grants have been met, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

Income from trading activities includes income earned from fundraising events and trading activities to raise funds for the charity. Income is received in exchange for supplying goods and services in order to raise funds and is recognised when entitlement has occurred.

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

1 Accounting policies

(Continued)

Interest on funds held on deposit is included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably by the charity; this is normally upon notification of the interest paid or payable by the Bank.

No amount is included in the financial statements for volunteer time in line with the SORP (FRS 102). Further detail is given in the Trustees' Annual Report.

1.5 Resources expended

Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, 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 accounted for on an accruals basis and has been classified under headings that aggregate all cost related to that category. Where costs cannot be directly attributed to particular headings they have been allocated to activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources. Irrecoverable VAT is charged against the category of resources expended for which it is incurred.

Support costs are those functions that assist the work of the charity but do not directly undertake charitable activities. Support costs include office costs, finance, personnel, payroll and governance costs which support the charity's programmes and activities. These costs have been allocated between cost of raising funds and expenditure on charitable activities. The bases on which support costs have been allocated are set out in the notes to the financial statements.

1.6 Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets costing £1,000 or more are capitalised and 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:

Leasehold improvements 5 years ICT equipment 4 years

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 Impairment of fixed assets

At each reporting end date, the charity reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).

1.8 Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

1 Accounting policies

(Continued)

1.9 Financial instruments

Financial instruments are recognised in the charity's balance sheet when the charity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Basic financial assets

Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.

Basic financial liabilities

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of operations from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Derecognition of financial liabilities

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the charity’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

1.10 Provisions

Provisions are recognised when the charity has a legal or constructive present obligation as a result of a past event, it is probable that the charity will be required to settle that obligation and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation.

The amount recognised as a provision is the best estimate of the consideration required to settle the present obligation at the reporting end date, taking into account the risks and uncertainties surrounding the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the amount expected to be required to settle the obligation is recognised at present value. When a provision is measured at present value, the unwinding of the discount is recognised as a finance cost in net income/(expenditure) in the period in which it arises.

1.11 Employee benefits

The costs of short-term employee benefits are recognised as a liability and an expense, unless those costs are required to be recognised as part of the cost of stock or fixed assets.

The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.

Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

1 Accounting policies

(Continued)

1.12 Retirement benefits

Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.

The cost of providing benefits under defined benefit plans is determined separately for each plan using the projected unit credit method, and is based on actuarial advice.

The change in the net defined benefit liability arising from employee service during the year is recognised as an employee cost. The cost of plan introductions, benefit changes, settlements and curtailments are recognised as incurred.

The net interest element is determined by multiplying the net defined benefit liability by the discount rate, taking into account any changes in the net defined benefit liability during the period as a result of contribution and benefit payments. The net interest is recognised in income/(expenditure) for the year.

Remeasurement changes comprise actuarial gains and losses, the effect of the asset ceiling and the return on the net defined benefit liability excluding amounts included in net interest. These are recognised immediately in other recognised gains and losses in the period in which they occur and are not reclassified to income/(expenditure) in subsequent periods.

The net defined benefit pension asset or liability in the balance sheet comprises the total for each plan of the present value of the defined benefit obligation (using a discount rate based on high quality corporate bonds), less the fair value of plan assets out of which the obligations are to be settled directly. Fair value is based on market price information, and in the case of quoted securities is the published bid price. The value of a net pension benefit asset is limited to the amount that may be recovered either through reduced contributions or agreed refunds from the scheme.

1.13 Taxation

The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 256 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.

2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements

In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

(Continued)

Key sources of estimation uncertainty

Defined benefit pension scheme

The present value of the Local Government Pension scheme defined benefit liability depends on a number of factors that are determined on an actuarial basis using a variety of assumptions. The assumptions used in determining the net cost (income) for pensions include the discount rate. Any changes in these assumptions, which are disclosed in the Retirement benefit schemes note, will impact the carrying amount of the pension liability. Furthermore a roll forward approach which projects results from the latest full actuarial valuation performed at 31 March 2022 has been used by the actuary in valuing the pensions liability at 31 March 2023. Any differences between the figures derived from the roll forward approach and a full actuarial valuation would impact the carrying amount of the pension liability.

The present value of the defined benefit obligation is less than the fair value of plan assets as at 31 March 2023 and therefore the defined benefit plan is in a surplus position. An entity can only recognise a plan surplus to the extent that it is able to recover the surplus either through reduced contributions in the future or through refunds from the plan. The plan surplus has therefore been restricted as seen in the Retirement benefit scheme note.

3 Donations and legacies

Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
2023
2023
£
£
Donations and gifts
-
5,963
Grants receivable
-
69,182
Donated goods and
services
24,146
-
24,146
75,145
Grants receivable for
core activities
Thriving Communities -
GCC
-
9,880
Cheltenham Household -
CBC
-
26,882
Tewkesbury Household -
TBC
-
7,500
COMF - GCC
-
(7,267)
HAF - GCC
-
24,110
DAF - GCC
-
5,600
Other
-
2,477
-
69,182		 Total
Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
2023
2022
2022
£
£
£
5,963
-
1,337
69,182
-
85,992
24,146
24,146
-
99,291
24,146
87,329
9,880
-
5,796
26,882
-
18,813
7,500
-
-
(7,267)
-
21,999
24,110
-
33,731
5,600
-
-
2,477
-
5,653
69,182
-
85,992		 Total
2022
£
1,337
85,992
24,146
111,475
5,796
18,813
-
21,999
33,731
-
5,653
85,992

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

4 Charitable activities

Sales within charitable activities
Services provided under contract
Analysis by fund
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds		 Targeted
Family
Support
2023
£
-
1,367,664
1,367,664
1,367,664
-
1,367,664		 Early Years
Provision
Other facilities
& services
Steps Ahead
2023
2023
2023
£
£
£
893,451
84,442
-
-
-
353,189
893,451
84,442
353,189
893,451
84,442
-
-
-
353,189
893,451
84,442
353,189		 Total
2023
£
977,893
1,720,853
2,698,746
2,345,557
353,189
2,698,746		 Targeted
Family
Support
2022
£
2,080
1,378,264
1,380,344
1,380,344
-
1,380,344		 Early Years
Provision
Other facilities
& services
2022
2022
£
£
721,516
66,413
-
-
721,516
66,413
721,516
66,413
-
-
721,516
66,413		 Total
2022
£
790,009
1,378,264
2,168,273
2,168,273
-
2,168,273

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

5
6
7		 Other trading activities
Unrestricted
Unrestricted
funds
funds
2023
2022
£
£
Other trading activities
12,626
12,323
Investments
Unrestricted
Unrestricted
funds
funds
2023
2022
£
£
Interest receivable
3,176
32
Raising funds
Unrestricted
Unrestricted
funds
funds
2023
2022
£
£
Fundraising and publicity
Support costs
5,960
5,868
Trading costs
Other trading activities
490
-
Support costs
3,308
3,250
Trading costs
3,798
3,250
9,758
9,118		 Other trading activities
Unrestricted
Unrestricted
funds
funds
2023
2022
£
£
Other trading activities
12,626
12,323
Investments
Unrestricted
Unrestricted
funds
funds
2023
2022
£
£
Interest receivable
3,176
32
Raising funds
Unrestricted
Unrestricted
funds
funds
2023
2022
£
£
Fundraising and publicity
Support costs
5,960
5,868
Trading costs
Other trading activities
490
-
Support costs
3,308
3,250
Trading costs
3,798
3,250
9,758
9,118
-
3,250
3,250
9,118

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

8 Charitable activities

Staff costs
Recruitment advertising
Training
Travel
Equipment
Printing & stationery
Catering & hospitality
Professional fees
Agency staff costs
Share of support costs (see note 9)
Share of governance costs (see note 9)
Analysis by fund
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds		 Targeted
Family
Support
Early Years
Provision
Other
facilities &
services
Steps Ahead
2023
2023
2023
2023
£
£
£
£
933,793
897,596
78,847
221,048
1,522
-
173
76
1,324
3,967
-
3,907
19,958
-
-
29,250
30,660
37,284
-
8,153
-
1,065
-
-
7,871
5,300
-
640
-
-
-
-
-
71,327
-
-
995,128
1,016,539
79,020
263,074
340,229
198,867
26,134
-
7,126
3,036
440
-
1,342,483
1,218,442
105,594
263,074
1,283,710
1,218,442
105,594
-
58,773
-
-
263,074
1,342,483
1,218,442
105,594
263,074		 Total
2023
£
2,131,284
1,771
9,198
49,208
76,097
1,065
13,811
-
71,327
2,353,761
565,230
10,602
2,929,593
2,607,746
321,847
2,929,593		 Targeted
Family
Support
Early Years
Provision
Other
facilities &
services
2022
2022
2022
£
£
£
841,995
817,249
135,651
1,496
826
-
6,948
1,264
-
11,210
-
-
37,513
21,750
-
-
-
-
13,835
4,986
-
2,086
-
-
-
25,909
-
915,083
871,984
135,651
342,233
159,688
16,298
6,382
2,231
307
1,263,698
1,033,903
152,256
1,195,193
1,033,903
152,256
68,505
-
-
1,263,698
1,033,903
152,256		 Total
2022
£
1,794,895
2,322
8,212
11,210
59,263
-
18,821
2,086
25,909
1,922,718
518,219
8,920
2,449,857
2,381,352
68,505
2,449,857

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

9
Support costs
Support
costs
Governance
costs
£
£
Staff costs
301,659
-
Repairs & maintenance
16,997
-
Rent, rates & utilities
45,758
-
Hygiene & refuse
12,040
-
IT & telephony
46,381
-
Insurance
19,761
-
Agency staff costs
35,124
-
Recharged wages &
salaries
52,205
-
Professional fees
43,012
-
Marketing & other
1,369
-
Audit fees
-
8,635
Accountancy
-
2,159
574,306
10,794
Analysed between
Fundraising
5,960
-
Trading
3,116
192
Charitable activities
565,230
10,602
574,306
10,794
10
Net movement in funds
Net movement in funds is stated after charging/(crediting)
Operating lease charges		 2023Support costs Governance
costs
£
£
£
301,659
279,009
-
16,997
44,641
-
45,758
32,158
-
12,040
8,031
-
46,381
50,956
-
19,761
17,322
-
35,124
-
-
52,205
51,778
-
43,012
37,513
-
1,369
5,760
-
8,635
-
6,545
2,159
-
2,544
585,100
527,168
9,089
5,960
5,868
-
3,308
3,081
169
575,832
518,219
8,920
585,100
527,168
9,089
2023
£
7,629		 2022
£
279,009
44,641
32,158
8,031
50,956
17,322
-
51,778
37,513
5,760
6,545
2,544
536,257
5,868
3,250
527,139
536,257
2022
£
5,862

11 Trustees

None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year other than those disclosed in the Related party transactions note.

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

12
Auditor's remuneration
Fees payable to the charity's auditor and associates:
Audit of the charity's annual accounts
Non-audit services
All other non-audit services		 2023
£
6,476
2,159		 2022
£
6,545
2,544

13 Employees

Number of employees

The average monthly number of employees during the year was:

Number of employees
The average monthly number of employees during the year was:
Teachers & Early Years
Community Family Support
Management, Admin & Finance
Premises staff		 2023
Number
35
36
21
1
93		 2022
Number
39
32
18
1
90

The number of persons employed, expressed as a full time equivalent, was as follows:

Teachers & Early Years
Community Family Support
Management, Admin & Finance
Premises staff
Employment costs
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs		 2023
Number
26
31
15
1
73
2023
£
1,941,720
161,907
329,316
2,432,943		 2022
Number
26
28
10
1
65
2022
£
1,604,965
126,676
342,263
2,073,904

There were no employees whose annual remuneration was £60,000 or more (2022 - none).

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

14
Tangible fixed assets
Leasehold
improvements
ICT equipment
£
£
Cost
At 1 April 2022
152,405
83,280
At 31 March 2023
152,405
83,280
Depreciation and impairment
At 1 April 2022
152,405
83,280
At 31 March 2023
152,405
83,280
Carrying amount
At 31 March 2023
-
-
At 31 March 2022
-
-
15
Debtors
2023
Amounts falling due within one year:
£
Trade debtors
11,849
Other debtors
108,000
Prepayments and accrued income
28,158
148,007
2023
Amounts falling due after more than one year:
£
Other debtors
-
Total debtors
148,007		 Total
£
235,685
235,685
235,685
235,685
-
-
2022
£
72,780
-
53,434
126,214
2022
£
279,000
405,214

There is a fixed charge over the other debtors balance. This is in relation to any future potential liabilities arising under the Local Government Pension Scheme.

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

16 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Other taxation and social security
Trade creditors
Other creditors
Accruals		 2023
£
36,290
-
22,511
22,572
81,373		 2022
£
29,144
2,363
20,249
47,976
99,732

Deferred income is included in the financial statements as follows:

Deferred income
Deferred income at 1 April 2022
Resources deferred during the year
Amounts released from previous years
Deferred income at 31 March 2023		 2023
£
-
-
-
-		 2022
£
3,036
-
(3,036)
-

Income received during the period specific to events to be held during future periods has been deferred accordingly.

17 Retirement benefit schemes

Defined contribution schemes

The charity operates a defined contribution pension scheme with Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Ltd for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the charity in an independently administered fund.

The charge to the SoFA in respect of defined contribution schemes was £80,465 (2022: £61,858).

Defined benefit schemes

The charity's employees belong to one defined benefit pension scheme: the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) . It is a multi-employer defined benefit scheme.

The latest actuarial valuation of the LGPS related to the period ended 31 March 2022.

Contributions amounting to £10,264 were payable to the scheme at 31 March 2023 (2022: £10,101).

Funding policy

The LGPS is a funded defined benefit pension scheme, with the assets held in separate trustee-administered funds. The total contribution made for the year ended 31 March 2023 was £126,000 (2022 - £123,000), of which employer's contributions totalled £95,000 (2022 - £93,000) and employees' contributions totalled £31,000 (2022 - £30,000). The agreed contribution rates for future years are 0% for employers and employees will vary between 5.5% and 12.5% according to salary banding.

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

17 Retirement benefit schemes (Continued)
Key assumptions
2023 2022
% %
Discount rate 4.75 2.75
Expected rate of increase of pensions in payment 2.95 3.15
Expected rate of salary increases 3.45 3.45
Mortality assumptions
The assumed life expectations on retirement at age 65 are:
2023 2022
Years Years
Retiring today
- Males 21.6 21.7
- Females 24.9 24.1
Retiring in 20 years
- Males 21.1 22.6
- Females 25.8 25.8
Amounts recognised in the profit and loss account:
2023 2022
£ £
Current service cost 218,000 240,000
Net interest on defined benefit liability/(asset) 33,000 38,000
Total costs 251,000 278,000
Amounts taken to other comprehensive income:
2023 2022
£ £
Actual return on scheme assets 211,000 (324,000)
Less: calculated interest element 138,000 95,000
Return on scheme assets excluding interest income 349,000 (229,000)
Actuarial changes related to obligations (2,553,000) (587,000)
Effects of changes in the amount of surplus that is not recoverable 320,000 -
Total costs/(income) (1,884,000) (816,000)

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

17 Retirement benefit schemes (Continued)
The amounts included in the balance sheet arising from the charity's
obligations in respect of defined benefit plans are as follows:
2023 2022
£ £
Present value of defined benefit obligations 3,935,000 6,127,000
Fair value of plan assets (4,851,000) (4,995,000)
(Surplus)/deficit in scheme (916,000) 1,132,000
Restriction on scheme assets 320,000 -
Total (asset)/liability recognised (596,000) 1,132,000
Movements in the present value of defined benefit obligations:
2023
£
Liabilities at 1 April 2022 6,127,000
Current service cost 218,000
Benefits paid (59,000)
Contributions from scheme members 31,000
Actuarial gains and losses (2,553,000)
Interest cost 171,000
At 31 March 2023 3,935,000

The defined benefit obligations arise from plans which are wholly or partly funded.

Movements in the fair value of plan assets:

Fair value of assets at 1 April 2022
Interest income
Return on plan assets (excluding amounts included in net interest)
Benefits paid
Contributions by the employer
Contributions by scheme members
At 31 March 2023		 2023
£
4,995,000
138,000
(349,000)
(59,000)
95,000
31,000
4,851,000

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

17 Retirement benefit schemes

(Continued)

The fair value of plan assets at the reporting period end was as follows:

Equity instruments
Property
Cash
Bonds		 2023
£
3,201,660
582,120
48,510
1,018,710
4,851,000		 2022
£
3,496,500
349,650
149,850
999,000
4,995,000

18 General unrestricted funds

Movement in funds Movement in funds
Balance at Incoming Resources Balance at Incoming Resources Balance at
1 April 2021 resources expended 1 April 2022 resources expended 31 March 2023
£ £ £ £ £ £ £
Unrestricted
funds 1,348,319 2,204,774 (2,205,470) 1,347,623 2,385,505 (2,461,504) 1,271,624

19 Pension reserve

The income funds of the charity include the following pension reserve which has been set aside out of unrestricted funds by the trustees:

Balance at
1 April 2021
£
Pension
reserve
(1,763,000)
(1,763,000)		 Resources
expended
Actuarial gains
and losses
Balance at
1 April 2022
£
£
£
(185,000)
816,000
(1,132,000)
(185,000)
816,000
(1,132,000)		 Resources
expended
Actuarial gains
and losses
31
£
£
(156,000)
1,884,000
(156,000)
1,884,000		 Balance at
March 2023
£
596,000
596,000

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

20 Restricted funds

The income funds of the charity include restricted funds comprising the following unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust for specific purposes:

Movement in funds Movement in funds Movement in funds Movement in funds
Balance at Incoming Resources Balance at Incoming Resources Balance at
1 April 2021 resources expended 1 April 2022 resources expended
31		 March 2023
£ £ £ £ £ £ £
Thriving
Communities 8,297 5,796 (6,936) 7,157 9,880 (1,182) 15,855
Other
restricted
funds 1,069 6,990 (2,653) 5,406 4,560 (3,935) 6,031
Cheltenham
Household - 18,813 (19,681) (868) 26,881 (26,013) -
HAF - 33,731 (24,502) 9,229 27,990 (19,173) 18,046
COMF - 21,999 (14,733) 7,266 (7,266) - -
Tewkesbury
Household - - - - 7,500 (6,612) 888
DAF - - - - 5,600 (1,855) 3,745
Steps Ahead - - - - 353,189 (263,077) 90,112
9,366 87,329 (68,505) 28,190 428,334 (321,847) 134,677

Thriving Communities - funded by Gloucestershire County Council to support delivery of projects that help people, including carers, to stay well and to live independently for as long as possible

Cheltenham Household - funded by Cheltenham Borough Council to support households in the most need

HAF - Holiday Activity and Food programme funded by Gloucestershire County Council

COMF - Contain Outbreak Management Fund from Gloucestershire County Council to support the Covid response

Tewkesbury Household Support Fund – Part of the Governments drive to support low income families during the cost of living crisis.

DAF – Disability Access Fund - Allocated on an individual child basis, and spans financials years whilst the child is attending our settings.

Steps Ahead – A government initiative to support young children and families as we emerge from the Covid-19 Pandemic.

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

21
Analysis of net assets between funds
Unrestricted
funds
Restricted
funds
2023
2023
£
£
Fund balances at 31
March 2023 are
represented by:
Current assets/(liabilities)
1,271,624
134,677
Provisionsand
pensions
596,000
-
1,867,624
134,677		 Total
Unrestricted
funds
2023
2022
£
£
1,406,301
1,347,623
596,000
(1,132,000)
2,002,301
215,623		 Restricted
funds
Total
2022
2022
£
£
28,190
1,375,813
-
(1,132,000
28,190
243,813		 Restricted
funds
Total
2022
2022
£
£
28,190
1,375,813
-
(1,132,000
28,190
243,813
243,813

22 Financial commitments, guarantees and contingent liabilities

Other than operating lease commitments referred to below, the charitable company has no other financial commitments, guarantees or contingent liabilities (2022 - £nil).

23 Operating lease commitments

At the reporting end date the charity had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:

Within one year
Between two and five years		 2023
£
1,906
-
1,906		 2022
£
7,629
1,975
9,604

24 Related party transactions

Remuneration of key management personnel

The remuneration of key management personnel is as follows.

2023 2022
£ £
Aggregate compensation 127,359 104,746

ASPIRE FOUNDATION (FORMERLY KNOWN AS GARDNERS LANE AND OAKWOOD FEDERATION)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

24 Related party transactions

(Continued)

Charles Welsh, a trustee of the charity, is also Executive Headteacher of Gardners Lane Primary School. During the period, the charity made a payment to Gardners Lane Primary School of £27,006 (2022 - £28,338) in connection with reimbursement of part of his salary, given the services and time he provides to the charity.

Further purchases totalling £29,892 (2022 - £32,530) were made from Gardners Lane Primary School in respect of IT services. The charity also recharged costs totalling £41,393 (2022 - £33,791) to Gardners Lane Primary School in respect of Business Team and other services provided. At the year end the balance owed by Gardners Lane Primary School to the charity totalled £Nil (2022 - £31,907).

The charity recharged costs totalling £40,948 (2022 - £33.927) to Oakwood Primary School in respect of Business Team and other services provided. Purchases totalling £3,748 (2022 - £4,807) were made from Oakwood Primary School in respect of IT and other services. At the year end the balance owed by Oakwood Primary School to the charity totalled £Nil (2022 - £31,927).

25 Cash generated from operations
Cash generated from operations 2023 2022
£ £
Surplus for the year (125,512) (166,872)
Adjustments for:
Investment income recognised in statement of financial activities (3,176) (32)
Difference between pension charge and cash contributions 156,000 185,000
Movements in working capital:
Decrease/(increase) in debtors 257,207 (58,813)
(Decrease)/increase in creditors (18,359) 14,925
(Decrease) in deferred income - (3,036)
Cash generated from/(absorbed by) operations 266,160 (28,828)

26 Analysis of changes in net funds

The charity had no debt during the year.