NORTH EAST CHILD POVERTY TRUST
Charity registration number 1161174
Trustees’ Annual Report (including Directors’ report) for the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025
Registered address
c/o Northern Housing Consortium, Hope Street Xchange, 1-3 Hind Street, Sunderland, SR1 3QD
Introduction
This Report and Accounts covers the period from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.
Objectives and activities
The purposes of the Trust are as set out in the governing document to mitigate and relieve child poverty in the North- East of England by
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Raising awareness of the issue of child poverty.
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Improving knowledge and understanding of the causes and consequences of, and solutions to, child poverty.
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Working collaboratively with public services, voluntary bodies, employers, and young people to address child poverty.
Trustees have given due consideration to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit under the requirements of the Charities Act 2011.
As noted in last year’s report, Trustees undertook a review to produce a new strategy. This work was completed in March 2024. Ambitious for our children and young people confirmed the Trust’s core objectives should remain unchanged. In delivering the Trust’s mission the following strategic objectives were set:
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Alignment of activities with the regional strategy on tackling child poverty published in February 2024 by the North East Child Poverty Commission under the title No Time to Wait: an ambitious blueprint for tackling child poverty in the North East .
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Raise funds to support community based, practical activities to address child poverty.
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Work in partnership as a facilitator and enabler and deliver activities through others rather that become a direct service provider.
Trustees have developed an Action Plan to implement the new strategy.
Activities in 2024-25
During the financial year 2024–2025, the North East Child Poverty Trust did not receive any income. This marks a significant change from the previous reporting year, when NECPT received £130,174 in funding from the National Lottery Community Fund.
The result of the absence of new income was a reliance on prior year reserves, using them to complete or maintain commitments related to prior funding programmes.
Most of this year’s expenditure was covered using restricted funds, which were fully utilised by year-end.
NECPT now operates with a modest unrestricted cash reserve of £2,421, but without any new income, its ability to fund future operations is significantly limited. Unless new grant funding or donations are secured, the Trust may face difficulty maintaining or initiating projects in the upcoming year.
Financial review
On 31 March 2025 the Trust had a bank balance of £2,421 which is fully unrestricted reserves.
The financial position reflects a transitional year for the Trust. As a result of the financial position, NECPT is actively engaged in seeking new funding, especially grant opportunities aligned with the charity's objectives. An obvious source for us is to re-engage with past funders such as the National Lottery Community Fund. In the short term we may look to strengthen fundraising efforts including donations, partnerships, or community engagement initiatives.
There are no uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern. The Trustees are satisfied that the level of reserves is suitable for the charity at this time and will continue to hold small unrestricted reserves pot with most of the reserves specifically allocated to relieve child poverty.
The trustees would like to acknowledge and thank Home Group for the use of One Strawberry Lane for all trustee meetings throughout the year.
Structure, governance, and management
The Charitable Incorporated Organisation is governed by its Constitution. There were no significant changes to governance arrangements. One Trustee resigned and was replaced following a recruitment process.
The Trustees during the period were:
| Trustee name | Office |
|---|---|
| Sean Laws | Chair (apptd. May 204) |
| Satty Rai | Secretary |
| Jane Streather | (Resigned June 2025) |
| Philippa Gardiner | Treasurer |
| Amy Richardson | |
| John Downes | (Apptd. March 2025) |
| Thomas Sutton | (Apptd, March 2025) |
| Lewis Roberts | |
| Jim Coulter | Chair (resigned May 2024) |
| Jackie McHanwell | (Resigned September 2024) |
| Karen Deen |
Trustees reviewed the skills matrix used to assess learning and development needs and individual Trustees updated their profiles. The findings will be used to assist future recruitment to ensure the Trust continues to have a diverse, skilled and experienced Board.
Funds held as custodian
No funds were held as custodian Trustees on behalf of others.
Plans for future periods
The trust is actively seeking funding opportunities for future activities and will maintain the themes it articulated in the last Annual Report as it goes forward:
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To work in partnership and deliver through others with emphasis on supporting and enabling local communities.
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To strengthen the relationship with the North East Child Poverty Commission in fulfilment of our shared aim to tackle and eliminate child poverty.
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To emphasise the importance of communicating and sharing learning and emphasise the importance of impact for people.
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To explore gaps in provision and opportunities to promote innovative practice.
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To develop initiatives in the region acknowledging the widespread existence of child poverty.
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• To identify funding sources to enable the Trust’s support work to continue and secure delivery through partnerships based on a shared vision.
Approved by the Board on 08/08/2025 and signed on their behalf by the trustees:
.............................................................. Sean Laws (Chair)
Philippa Gardiner (Treasurer)
Notes to the Accounts
Basis of Preparation of Financial Statements
The financial statements are prepared on a receipts and payments basis of accounting due to the size of the charity.
Income Recognition
There was no income received in year.
Grants received are recognised fully on date of receipt into bank account. Donations received during the year are recognised when received.
Donated Goods, Facilities and Services
The charity received free office space during the year to hold trustee meetings.
Activity Related Expenditure
The above SOFA splits out the expenditure in the year.
Apportionment of costs
There has been no apportionment of costs between funds. All expenditure was directly attributable to either unrestricted or restricted activities.
Trustee Remuneration and Benefits
During the year one trustee received reimbursement for payment of internet charges on behalf of the charity totalling £57.40.
Trustee expenses
A total of £125.44 has been paid for an insurance policy with Zurich Insurance plc – part of this amount is to cover Trustees’ Liability Insurance.
Examiners’ Remuneration
There has been no independent examination of the accounts due to the income dropping under the de-minimus threshold.
Section A Recei sand ments Unrostri Reslricl EndLw lotal La%iye&r fut5 funth neaTeste ne•re*£ nearest£ A1 Rtte 1¥174 total(Grossincomef ARJ Sub total Toèl elP¥S 1JJ.174 3P Grdnl LeaOn9 Mauonal Lott&y CDryrnUlltyFndrawE CDunty rmrNtnolLDtttry 111 I1rationcog8 S) total 145 pU[ce5.<$eeIa Sub total T0paYInen PJetoIreiPtrl{paYrnentsJ A5 Trnnslers belW fund5 A6 Ch [dS kntyqer•nd Cash this year¥ 2A 16
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period Unrestsi cIEd funds Resttict Endowm ent lunds C•t•a0•S Oetsil¥ fund$ to n•arst£ nrst B1 Cash lunds Curreni Dank attount 2,421 roral cash funds 2,421 OK Unrestr6 Ctsd fund5 ert5 a((QLrt OK Restrict od funds to n•ar05t£ OK Endowm ont rund8 nr•st Delails noar•5t£ 82 Other monetary assets Fund b) hich as*t belon C(st (Opllonall Cwrpnt V41ue (r•tiolI) D8talls 83 Investment assets Funll Ylhlch ass•t b•lon COSt iopthonaii v4lue Icptional} Details 84 Assets retained for the charity's own use Funll Vlhlch itsbii rdatos ArnOLhlt u• (opthall vrfh•n du• Iwioro1} Delails 85 Liabilities SW ty one (K twottuste8s on beh1 of all the ttusle SIgnate PrintName Date of apptDval Philippa Gardiner Sèan Laws (W0&20 oe420