ASPIRE AND REACH
TRUSTEES ANNUAL REPORT 2023
The Governors of Aspire and Reach Charity present their annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023 and confirm they comply with the requirements of the Charities Act 1993, as amended by the Charities Act 2006, the trust deed and the Charities SORP 2005.
OUR AIMS
The Charity operates under a Declaration of Trust dated and signed in March 2014 and a scheme which was sealed by the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales on 30 June 2014 which included the regulations for appointment of trustees.
Aspire And Reach is a well-established Charitable Incorporated Organisation that is committed to raising people’s aspirations and hopes in areas of under privileged communities in the West Midlands, offering a unique package that links the benefits of Sports, Education and Mentoring.
The objects of the Charity are:
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(1) The promotion of community participation in healthy recreation in particular by the provision of facilities for participating in the sports in specific of karate, Jiujitsu and other Martial Arts Sports.
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(2) Mentoring support to young people and vulnerable adults, the services can be combined with sports
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(3) To advance the education of the public in the West Midlands in particular but not exclusively in foreign languages and IT skills
We aim, through our work, to provide a sound service to children and young people. We seek to provide a structured personal development environment that improves our member’s capabilities, competences, skills and foremost their undiscovered potential. We promote social and interpersonal skills, moral compass and physical development of our members through exercise, communication skills and mentoring. We provide an educational environment where each member can develop and fulfil his or her potential, building their self-confidence, motivation, drive, and inculcating a desire to contribute to the wider community. In so doing, we prepare our members for the opportunities, responsibilities and experience of current and later life.
OUR OBJECTIVES
Our objectives are set to reflect our primary aims and the ethos of the Charity. It is important to us that we maintain and enhance the success of the Charity in bringing change through personal development and community cohesion. This objective is, however, set in the context of the broader goals we set for the Charity and its beneficiaries. In setting our objectives and planning our activities our Trustees have given careful consideration to the Charity Commission’s general guidance on public benefit and in particular to its supplementary public benefit guidance on advancing physical and mental health and education of the public.
Our key objectives for the year included further development of last year’s aims:
To increase beneficiaries’ level and length of fitness and reduce idle time;
To improve Children’s and Young People’s self-esteem and confidence;
To broaden our services and extend the range of options to spread out to a vast community, particularly those who are hard to reach;
To provide continuing assistance to our beneficiaries already in receipt of support through courses/workshops;
To increase the provision of exit routes through signposting or referring to other agencies or services;
To develop our ‘Programme Links’ programme of co-operation and joint working with local Voluntary Sector Organisations;
To consolidate and expand our Holidays Activity programme, which we run on behalf of the City of Wolverhampton Council
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
Our Trustees are responsible for setting a strategy for achieving the objectives they have set. The focus of our strategy is on the development of our beneficiaries, their continued improvement of motivation and self-esteem to further contribute towards our community welfare.
In taking forward our strategy we:
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Review and benchmark the Charity syllabus, support practices and results;
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Ensure the range of activities available to our members is stimulating and challenging;
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Invest in service choice and the subsequent infrastructure of our Charity;
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Trailblazer - hubs of weekly FREE sessions to non-sportive young people (often in schools)
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Co-operate and share resources with local charities;
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Expand the Holiday Activity Programme to other geographic areas of Wolverhampton
The past nine years we have been partially successful in securing funding for projects supported by the National Lottery, Local Authority and other organisations, where we managed to reach a considerable number of members of our community. The reminiscent effects of COVID-19 has
presented itself with interesting opportunities to reach out to more members of our local community. We have secured a modest amount of funding sponsored by the national government through the National Lottery.
Nevertheless, we have continuously seeking funding although unsuccessful, we have managed to brainstorm and rethink on different ways to overcome our difficulties. The remaining cash we’ve used for administrative expenses which has allowed us to keep the minimum operational level. Young people have been up to the challenge and have found the volunteer activities to be both beneficial and fulfilling. This opportunity provided to local young people renewed hope, motivation and has engaged the community which has helped to build on community cohesion.
In addition, a great deal of time, thought and effort was spent in promoting projects in collaboration with local schools, initially at a Primary level but we have now reached secondary schools as well.
Most recently, we have been approached by more schools and people’s referral Unit staff keen to work with us on our Mentoring and Martial Arts Programme.
Since Easter 2022, we have delivered the Holiday Activity Programme on behalf of the Wolverhampton City Council in partnership with the Department of Education, which has been very successful among the young people who attended, their parents and carers and have been advocated by the Wolverhampton City Council to apply for similar Holiday Programmes.
We continuously recruit volunteers or other people onboard for work experience purposes, particularly on our Holidays Programme.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
Total receipts of restricted funds for the year was £ 30,581.70 and restricted funds was £ 2,166.83 as per Financial Statements.
We have received a small grant from National Lottery and subsequent small grants from the city of Wolverhampton Council. Our organisation have been more prolific on the previous years.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
We do not have any changes to report regarding the structure, governance and management team.
We have kept the same structure as at our inception nine years ago.
Aspire and Reach
Income and Expenditure Account for Year Ended 31 March 2023
| Income Loan Transfers/Interest Grants Donations Total Incoming Resources Expenditure Equipment Instructors/Mentors Marketing Lettings Transport Food/Drinks Admin Other Total Resources Expended Net Income for the Year Total at 1 April 2022 Total Funds at 31 March 2023 |
Unrestricted £ Restricted £ 2023 £ £200.00 £0.00 £200.00 £4,810.40 £0.00 £4,810.40 £0.00 £39,440.10 £39,440.10 £979.37 £0.00 £979.37 |
|---|---|
| £5,989.77 £39,440.10 £45,429.87 |
|
| £326.32 £0.00 £326.32 £308.00 £22,859.34 £23,167.34 £271.19 £490.00 £761.19 £120.00 £10,489.00 £10,609.00 £0.00 £2,395.00 £2,395.00 £0.00 £5,037.66 £5,037.66 £415.15 £1,053.48 £1,468.63 £547.43 £1,939.71 £2,487.14 |
|
| £1,988.09 £44,264.19 £46,252.28 |
|
| £4,001.68 -£4,824.09 -£822.41 £9,108.90 £9,108.90 |
|
| £13,110.58 -£4,824.09 £8,286.49 |
Balance Sheet at 31 March 2023
| Fixed Assets | - | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Assets | |||
| Bank and Cash | 8,286.49 | ||
| Current Liabilities | |||
| Creditors: (Amounts due within one Year) | - | ||
| Net Asset | £ | 8,286.49 |
|
| Funds | |||
| Unrestricted Funds | 13,110.58 | ||
| Restricted Funds | - | 4,824.09 |
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| Total Funds | |||
| £ | 8,286.49 |
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| Signed: | (Chair) | ||
| Date: 30 April 2023 |