TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT 2026
The Trustees of Aspire and Reach present their Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2026. The Trustees confirm that the report complies with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011, the Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) constitution, and the applicable Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) for charities.
OUR AIMS
Aspire and Reach is a long-established Charitable Incorporated Organisation dedicated to raising aspirations, improving wellbeing, and creating opportunities within disadvantaged communities across the West Midlands.
Our unique approach combines Sport, Education, and Mentoring to empower children, young people, and vulnerable adults to achieve positive outcomes and become active members of their communities.
The charity operates under a Declaration of Trust signed in March 2014 and a scheme sealed by the Charity Commission on 30 June 2014.
Our charitable objectives are:
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To promote healthy recreation, particularly through Martial Arts including Karate and Jiu-Jitsu.
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To provide mentoring and guidance for young people and vulnerable adults.
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To advance education, particularly in the areas of IT skills and foreign languages.
Through our programmes, we aim to develop confidence, resilience, motivation, discipline, and social skills while fostering inclusion and community engagement.
OUR OBJECTIVES
Throughout the year, the Trustees continued to focus on objectives that reflect the charity’s mission and long-term vision:
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Increasing participation in regular physical activity among young people.
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Improving confidence, self-esteem, and emotional wellbeing.
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Expanding our reach into underserved and harder-to-engage communities.
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Continuing support programmes and workshops for existing beneficiaries.
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Providing pathways into further support services, education, and training opportunities.
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Strengthening partnerships with schools, voluntary organisations, and local community groups.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
During 2025–2026, Aspire and Reach experienced significant growth in both impact and service delivery. We continued to strengthen our programmes and respond to increasing levels of need within the local community.
Expansion of Our Homeless Support Programme
We proudly delivered the third year of our Hot Food for the Homeless initiative. Continued funding support from Cadbury World enabled us to increase the number of hot meals prepared and distributed to rough sleepers and individuals facing housing insecurity across Wolverhampton.
Demand for the service continued to rise throughout the year, with an increasing number of service users presenting from outside the region, including London. This highlighted the growing pressures faced by vulnerable individuals and reinforced the importance of sustained community support.
Additional unrestricted funding from the Albert Hunt Trust strengthened the programme further by helping us build capacity and respond more effectively to demand.
New Horizon Martial Arts and Mentoring Development
Funding support from The National Lottery Community Fund through the Reaching Communities / Active Horizons Programme enabled the continued expansion of our Martial Arts and Mentoring provision for children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The programme combines structured Martial Arts training with mentoring and personal development support to address issues linked to inequality, antisocial behaviour, and low confidence.
This initiative has now become our flagship programme, delivered in partnership with Wolverhampton City Council and local primary and secondary schools. The programme launch was attended by the City Mayor, local Members of Parliament, and high-profile MMA athletes and instructors, helping raise awareness of the positive impact of youth engagement through sport and mentoring.
Through this work, participants developed:
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Greater confidence and self-discipline
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Improved emotional regulation
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Better social interaction and teamwork skills
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Increased engagement with education and positive activities
Mentoring in Schools
Our school-based mentoring programme continued to grow during the year through collaboration with Merridale Primary School and other educational settings.
Working closely with school staff and pupil referral units, we delivered holistic support that combined life coaching, mentoring, and Martial Arts activities. Schools reported positive improvements in behaviour, attendance, emotional wellbeing, and classroom engagement among participating pupils.
Improving Youth Facilities
Through funding received from the Better Youth Spaces Fund (SIB), Aspire and Reach secured £6,567 to improve training facilities for young people. The funding enabled the purchase of new training mats, creating a safer and more professional environment for participants within our Martial Arts programme.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
During the financial year, Aspire and Reach received funding and support from a number of organisations, including:
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Cadbury World for the Hot Food for the Homeless project
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The Albert Hunt Trust to strengthen homeless outreach provision
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The City of Wolverhampton Council for VE Day community celebrations
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Better Youth Spaces Fund (SIB) to improve facilities within our Martial Arts programme
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The National Lottery Community Fund to support our Martial Arts and Mentoring Programme over a five-year period
Total income for the year amounted to £40,415.63, representing a significant increase compared with the previous financial year.
Total expenditure for the year was £37,341.35, as detailed within the accompanying financial statements.
The Trustees remain committed to identifying sustainable funding opportunities to ensure the continued growth of the charity and its ability to respond to emerging community needs.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
There were no significant changes to the charity’s governance structure during the year.
The Trustees remain committed to maintaining high standards of governance, transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement across all areas of the organisation.
Aspire and Reach continues to recruit volunteers and provide work experience opportunities, particularly through its Holiday Programmes and youth activities. This approach helps strengthen community ownership, develop local skills, and encourage long-term community participation.
The Trustees would like to thank all volunteers, funders, partner organisations, and supporters for their continued commitment and contribution throughout the year.
Aspire and Reach
Income and Expenditure Account for Year Ended 31 March 2026
| Income Loan Transfers/Interest Grants Donations Total Incoming Resources Expenditure Equipment Instructors/Mentors Staff Salaries Marketing Lettings Volunteers Food/Drinks Admin Logistics/Other Total Resources Expended Net Income for the Year Total at 1 April 2025 Total Funds at 31 March 2026 |
Unrestricted £ Restricted £ 2026 £ £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00 £1.64 £1.64 £0.00 £39,465.86 £39,465.86 £0.00 £948.13 £948.13 |
|---|---|
| £0.00 £40,415.63 £40,415.63 |
|
| £0.00 £6,647.97 £6,647.97 £0.00 £880.00 £880.00 £0.00 £11,318.00 £11,318.00 £0.00 £2,527.04 £2,527.04 £0.00 £560.67 £560.67 £0.00 £30.00 £30.00 £0.00 £3,363.63 £3,363.63 £967.53 £3,534.91 £4,502.44 £0.00 £7,511.60 £7,511.60 |
|
| £967.53 £36,373.82 £37,341.35 |
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| -£967.53 £4,041.81 £3,074.28 £2,173.63 £4,774.60 |
Balance Sheet at 31 March 2025
| Fixed Assets | - | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Assets | |||
| Bank and Cash | £3,074.28 | ||
| Current Liabilities | - | ||
| Creditors: (Amounts due within one Year) | - | ||
| Net Asset | £ | 3,074.28 |
|
| Funds | |||
| Unrestricted Funds | -£967.53 | ||
| Restricted Funds | £4,041.81 | ||
| Total Funds | £ | 3,074.28 |
|
| Signed: | (Chair) | ||
| Date: 30 April 2026 |
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report
Report to the trustees/ Charity Name ASPIRE members of AND REACH
On accounts for the year 2025 - 2026 Charity no 1157641 ended (if any) Set out on pages 2
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31/03/2026.
Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation of basis of report the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act, and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
I have completed my examination and can confirm that:
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Accounting records were maintained in accordance with Section 130 of the Act;
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The accounts are in agreement with the accounting records;
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Appropriate receipts and invoices were retained in support of payments made; and
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No matters of material significance came to my attention during the examination.
I have no concerns to report and have not identified any additional matters arising from the examination that should be brought to attention in order to ensure a proper understanding of the accounts.
1 June 2026
Signed: Paula Francisca Date: 08/06/2026 Name: Paula Francisca
Relevant professional Assistant accountant qualification(s) or body (if any): 28 Vauxhall Avenue Address: WV1 4TA
IER
Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners.
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .