## The Stepladder Foundation A Charitable Incorporated Organisation Charity Registration No 1156906 

Trustees’ Report and Accounts For the year 1 Oct 2024 to 30 Sep 2025 



**The Stepladder Foundation** Trustees’ Report 2024-2025 


## **REFERENCE INFORMATION** 

|Charity Name|The Stepladder Foundation|The Stepladder Foundation|The Stepladder Foundation|
|---|---|---|---|
|Trustees||||
||Louise Francis|||
||Saher Shah|||
||Melis Baysal|||
||Anneliese Amoah|||
||Thea Cooper (Chair)|||
|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 2024-2025 


## Contents 

|1|Summary......................................................................................................................................... 4|Summary......................................................................................................................................... 4|
|---|---|---|
|2|Objectives and Activities................................................................................................................. 4||
||2.1<br>Public Benefit Statement........................................................................................................ 4||
|3|Achievements and Performance in the Year.................................................................................. 4||
|4|3.1<br>Overview................................................................................................................................. 4<br>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 2024-2025 


## 1 Summary 

We were delighted to once again receive a significant donation of £25,000 from Deloitte Digital, albeit very late in the programme schedule. This donation enabled the Stepladder Foundation to run a programme based in Beal High School, Ilford and using facilities in the Redbridge Central Library. 

A graduation event was held at the Deloitte building in Central London for the 2023-2025 cohort and also the 2021-2023 cohort . 

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. 

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**The Stepladder Foundation** Trustees’ Report 2024-2025 


## 3 Achievements and Performance in the Year 

## 3.1 Overview 

During the period of the report a cohort comprising 30 students recruited from 7 schools in the East London area have attended Stepladder sessions and have been supported through the academic year. Various activities have also taken place including visits to the theatre, Science Museum, Galleries and a Shakespeare orientation experience. 

12 mentors from Deloitte have worked well with the students. 

Bi-weekly meetings have been held by trustees, CEO, Staff and students 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 (Chair) 

The trustees can be in place for up to four years; this period was extended due to Covid. However, given the changes to the way Stepladder will operate in 2025-2026 the makeup of the Trustee Board will be reviewed to ensure it remains aligned to the organisation’s needs. 

## 4.3 Trustee Induction and Training 

No new trustees were appointed over the period, and no specific training need was identified for the existing trustees. However, the chair of Trustees who is experienced and qualified, carried out orientation work with the others, to ensure quality. 

## 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 (Higher level DBS) checks. 

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

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**The Stepladder Foundation** Trustees’ Report 2024-2025 


## 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 5 and 8 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. 

## 5 Financial Review 

## 5.1 Funding Sources 

Funding was provided as shown in the table below: 

|**Donations**<br>CORMACK AA<br>LOCALGIVING LTD<br>THE ERNEST INGHAM<br>DELOITTE DIGITAL<br>**Total**|**£**<br>**500**<br>**201**<br>**1,000**<br>**25,000**<br>**26,701**|
|---|---|



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 

The current economic climate is challenging, and Stepladder is unlikely to receive further funding from Deloitte Digital. There are potential opportunities with two supporters raising funds by running the London Marathon in 2026, but the approach for 2026 is to focus on targeted events for a limited number of schools and to provide support for the 2023-2025 cohort as they progress with their A- Level studies. A working party is investigating the feasibility of offering the Stepladder approach through online modules. 

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**The Stepladder Foundation** Trustees’ Report 2024-2025 


## 6 Declaration 

The trustees declare that they have approved the report above. 

Signed: Dated: 12/01/2026 

Chair of Trustees 

Thea Cooper 

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**The Stepladder Foundation** Trustees’ Report 2024-2025 


## 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 2025** 

I report to the trustees on my examina�on of the accounts of the above charity for the year ended 30 September 2025. 

## **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  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Dated   02/06/2026 

## **Robert Brown FCA** 

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

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**The Stepladder Foundation** Trustees’ Report 2024-2025 


## 8 Statement of Financial Activities 

## **The Stepladder Foundation (Charity No 1156906) Receipts and Payments Account For the Year Ended 30 September 2025** 

|**Receipts**<br>Donations<br>Refunds<br>Interest<br>**Payments**<br>Charitable activities<br>Net of receipts/(payments)<br>Total Funds brought forward<br>Total Funds carried forward|**2025**<br>**£**<br>26701<br>7<br>0<br>26708<br>16645<br>10063<br>5952<br>16015|**2024**<br>**£**<br>12294<br>115<br>99|
|---|---|---|
|||12508|
|||14424|
|||-1916|
|||7868|
|||5952|



## **The Stepladder Foundation (Charity No 1156906) Statement of Assets and Liabilities As of 30 September 2025,** 

|Cash Funds<br>Total Funds carried forward|**2025**<br>**£**<br>16015<br>16015|**2024**<br>**£**<br>5952|
|---|---|---|
|||5952|



The Charity has given no guarantees on any potential liabilities at the date of the Statement of Assets and Liabilities 

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**The Stepladder Foundation** Trustees’ Report 2024-2025 


There is no debt outstanding at the date of the Statement of Assets and Liabilities which is secured by an express charge on any assets of the charity. 

## **Approved on behalf of the Trustees by:** 


…………………………………………………………………………. 

**Thea Cooper** 

**Dated: 12/01/2026** 

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