The Stepladder Foundation A Charitable Incorporated Organisation Charity Registration No 1156906 

Trustees’ Report and Accounts For the year ended 30 September 2022 



**The Stepladder Foundation** Trustees’ Report 2021-2022 


## **REFERENCE INFORMATION** 

|Charity Name|The Stepladder Foundation|The Stepladder Foundation|The Stepladder Foundation|
|---|---|---|---|
|Trustees||||
||Louise Francis|||
||Saher Shah|||
||Melis Baysal|||
||Anneliese Amoah|||
||Thea Cooper (appointed 5thJune 2023)|||
|Registration Number|1156906|||
|Chief Executive|Alison Jones|||
|Contact Office|Clanra|||
||Phoenix Lane|||
||Ashurst wood|||
||West Sussex|||
||RH19 3QZ|||
||Telephone:||01342 824178|
||e-mail:||info@thestepladder.org|
||Website:|www.thestepladder.org||
|Independent Examiner|DMC Partnership|||
||Yew Tree House|||
||Lewes Road|||
||Forest Row|||
||East Sussex|||
||RH18 5AA|||
|Bank|The Co-Operative Bank|||
||PO Box 250|||
||Delf House|||
||Southway|||
||Skelmersdale|||
||WN8 6WT|||



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**The Stepladder Foundation** Trustees’ Report 2021-2022 


## Contents 

|1|Summary ......................................................................................................................................... 4|
|---|---|
|2|Objectives and Activities ................................................................................................................. 4|
||2.1<br>Public Benefit Statement ........................................................................................................ 4|
|3|Achievements and Performance in the Year .................................................................................. 4|
||3.1<br>Overview ................................................................................................................................. 4|
|4|Structure, Governance and Management ...................................................................................... 5|
||4.1<br>Governing Document .............................................................................................................. 5|
||4.2<br>Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees ............................................................................ 5|
||4.3<br>Trustee Induction and Training ............................................................................................... 5|
||4.4<br>Risk Management ................................................................................................................... 5|
||4.5<br>Organisational Structure ......................................................................................................... 5|
||4.6<br>Management Committee ........................................................................................................ 5|
|5|Financial Review .............................................................................................................................. 6|
||5.1<br>Funding Sources ...................................................................................................................... 6|
||5.2<br>Investment Policy .................................................................................................................... 6|
||5.3<br>Reserves Policy ........................................................................................................................ 6|
||5.4<br>Plans for Future Periods .......................................................................................................... 6|
|6|Declaration ...................................................................................................................................... 6|
|7|Independent Examiner’s Report ..................................................................................................... 7|
|8|Statement of Financial Activities .................................................................................................... 8|



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**The Stepladder Foundation** Trustees’ Report 2021-2022 


## 1 Summary 

We were delighted to receive a significant donation of £25,000 from Deloitte Digital, which together with a further £3,500, has enabled the Stepladder Foundation to run a programme based in Beale High School, Ilford. 

This report follows the guidance as outlined in the Charity Commission Guidance document CC15c. 

## 2 Objectives and Activities 

## **Purpose and Aim** 

The charity’s purpose is set out in the CIO Constitution: 

- Promotion of Education 

- To advance the education of the public in the subject of enriching GCSE and  'A' level studies. 

- To advance the education of the pupils by providing and assisting in the provision of facilities not required to be provided by the local education authority for education in schools. 

## **The focus of our work** 

During the period of this report the focus of the effort was on the delivery of the programme and further developing the working relationship with Deloitte Digital. 

## 2.1 Public Benefit Statement 

As defined in the constitution: 

For the public benefit to promote the education (including social and physical training) of people under the age of 25 years in such ways as the charity trustees think fit, including by: providing education (including the study of music or other arts), preparing for entry to any occupation, trade or profession on leaving any educational establishment or, as with any charity in the UK whose aims include advancing education of persons under the age of 25 years, by developing their mental, physical and moral capabilities through leisure time activities. 

## 3 Achievements and Performance in the Year 

## 3.1 Overview 

During the period of the report a cohort comprising 30 students recruited from 5 schools in the Ilford area have attended Stepladder sessions and have been supported through the academic year. 

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**The Stepladder Foundation** Trustees’ Report 2021-2022 


Various activities have also taken place including visits to the theatre, Science Museum and a Fitness fun day. 

12 mentors from Deloitte are working well with the students. 

Bi-weekly meetings have been held with the project team at Deloitte Digital to develop the relationship and monthly meetings have been held with mentors to monitor progress. 

## 4 Structure, Governance and Management 

## 4.1 Governing Document 

The charity is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) and was registered on the 2nd May 2014. 

## 4.2 Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees 

The trustees who served during the year were: 

- Louise Francis 

- Saher Shah 

- Melis Baysal 

- Anneliese Amoah 

- Thea Cooper (appointed 5[th] June 2023) 

The trustees can be in place for up to four years, due to Covid period this is now under review. Trustees meet as a minimum four times a year. 

## 4.3 Trustee Induction and Training 

The current trustees are scheduled to receive face to face training in summer 2023 when a new chair has been appointed. This will be in accordance with our trustee code of practice. 

The definition and creation of policy and procedure in this area is to be developed. 

## 4.4 Risk Management 

There is a risk register and where appropriate, systems or procedures have been established to mitigate the risks the charity faces, notably for Child Protection and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. 

The charity is insured for public liability as the need arises. 

## 4.5 Organisational Structure 

The organisation is small. Apart from the trustees there is an Operations Team which for this year comprised the CEO, between 3 and 7 facilitators per session and a part-time administrator. 

## 4.6 Management Committee 

The operational management meet monthly to review the performance of the programme and ensure good governance. The Chief Executive has delegated authority for operational matters. 

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**The Stepladder Foundation** Trustees’ Report 2021-2022 


## 5 Financial Review 

## 5.1 Funding Sources 

Funding was provided as shown in the table below: 

## **Donations** 

|THE GOOD SHEPHERD<br>ERNEST INGHAM CHARITY<br>STRIPE<br>MFBL Ltd<br>Deloitte Digital<br>**Total**|**£**<br>1,000<br>500<br>16<br>2,000<br>25,000<br>**28,516**|
|---|---|



There are no custodian trustees. 

There are no “grant-making” nor investment activities. 

## 5.2 Investment Policy 

For the period of the this report no investments were made. 

## 5.3 Reserves Policy 

The operating reserve listed at the end of the reporting year is in line with the anticipated spend for the remainder of the current Programme. This allocation complies with the Reserves Policy 

## 5.4 Plans for Future Periods 

Stepladder is further developing the association with Deloitte Digital and will complete the current programme in October 2023. A new programme is planned to run from September 2023 through to 2025. 

## 6 Declaration 

The trustees declare that they have approved the report above. 

Signed Date 24/ 07/2022 

Chair of Trustees 

Thea Cooper 

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**The Stepladder Foundation** Trustees’ Report 2021-2022 


## 7 Independent Examiner’s Report 

## **Report to the Trustees of The Stepladder Foundation (Charity No 1156906)** 

## **On the Accounts for the Year Ended 30 September 2022** 

I report to the trustees on my examina�on of the accounts of the above charity for the year ended 30 September 2022. 

## **Responsibili�es and basis of report** 

As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the prepara�on of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Chari�es Act 2011 (“the Act”). 

I report in respect of my examina�on of the Trust’s accounts carried out  under sec�on 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examina�on, I have followed the applicable Direc�ons given by the Charity Commission under sec�on 145(5)(b) of the Act. 

## **Independent examiner’s statement** 

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

- accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or 

- the accounts do not accord with the accounting records 

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. 

**Signed** Estelle Sherlock 

**Dated** 25 July 2023 

## **Estelle Sherlock  MA, BSC, FCA, CTA** 

DMC Partnership Limited Yew Tree House Lewes Road Forest Row East Sussex RH18 5AA 

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The Stepladdèr Foundatlon
Trustees. Report 2021-2022
The Stepladder Foundation (Charlty No I1569￿)
Receipts and Payments Account
Forthe Year Ended 30 September 2022
2022
2021
Re¢elpts
Donations
28,516
2,638
Payments
Charitable activities
27,348
5,125
Net of ￿CeIpts/[PayMents)
1.167
12,4871
Total Funds brought forward
8,282
10,769
Total Funds carried forward
9.450
8.282
The Stepladder Foundatlon Icharfty No 11569061
Statement of A55et5 and Lk4bilities
As at 30 Sepiember 2022
2.022
2.021
Cash Funds
9,450
8,282
Total Funds carried forward
9.450
8.282
The Charity has given no guarantees on any potential liabilities at the date of the Statement of Assets
and Liabilities
There 15 no debt outstanding at the date of the Statement of Assets and Liabilities which is secured
an express ¢haf8e on any assets of the charity.
Approved on behalf of the Trustees bv:
fAea eoaper
Thea Cooper
Dated: 24 July 2023