OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

← Ashdon Jazz Academy

2024-09-30-accounts

Ashdon Jazz Academy

Ashdon

TRUSTEES’ REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 30 SEPTEMBER 2024

Contact Details

Patricia Muirhead, CEO Ashdon Jazz Academy The Old Library, 14-16 Knights Hill, West Norwood, London SE27 0HY 07949875605

ashdonjazzacademy@yahoo.co.uk

www.ashdonjazzacademy.org.uk

Charity Number: 1161413

Empowering and Inspiring Young Women

I am pleased to introduce our latest annual report setting out our achievements and challenges over the financial year 2023-24.

We now have over 9 years’ experience as a charity supporting vulnerable girls and young women across Lambeth, Croydon, Merton and Lewisham. We have developed from a grassroots organisation in 2015 to one which is now well established, respected and consistently making a difference to the service users we support each year. None of this would have been possible without the efforts and dedication of Trisha (Founder and CEO), the team of part time staff, volunteers and charity supporters, plus the generosity of our donors and the trust shown by our funders.

However, we are not content to ‘sit back’ as we want to do much more - and we are not averse to taking measured risks. 2025 will mark our 10[th] year anniversary as a registered charity and we are already looking ahead. We have used this current year to draft, debate and refine our next business plan. Our vision is to double our capacity during 2025-2035 and reach over 300 vulnerable girls and young women in south London. To do this we will need to increase the number of paid staff and their hours, find new premises for office and meeting space, secure more long-term funding from charitable trusts and review our management and government arrangements. We are clear that we will need to plan and deliver this exciting development in a prudent manner so there is the minimal disruption to our core services.

Delivering services through a charity requires considerable resources, and we are very proud to have doubled our income in the last two years. This is a significant achievement. We are very grateful that the charity was able to secure two large 3-year grants from national charitable trusts along with other important 2-year or one-off funding.

We acknowledge and thank all our supporters and I wish to make a special mention to those who donate every month or on a one-off basis. This regular giving is a healthy sign for any charity. It shows that people want to be part of our success and contribute to our programmes that make a real difference to girls and young women in south London. Many of our donors are given the opportunity to ensure we can claim gift aid - which gives the charity an extra 25% on their donations.

In this report you will see that since early 2024, we have run a unique sports and physical activities projects for girls called Let’s Go! This was requested and inspired by our service users during a consultation event in 2023. This is a great example of how the charity listens to and acts upon the ideas of the girls and young women who take part in our projects. You will also read about how we have started giving 15 teenage girls extra academic tuition through our new Starprise project.

On behalf of the Trustees, it is our hope that every girl and young woman who contacts the Ashdon Jazz Academy and uses our various programmes of support will be empowered, inspired and find their lives positively enriched for the present and the long term.

Kevin Howell Trustee Chairperson & Treasurer Ashdon Jazz Academy July 2025

2

BACKGROUND

The Ashdon Jazz Academy (AJA) was started in 2015 by Patricia Muirhead, the charity’s CEO. This was a year after the tragic death of her daughter Ashdon who ended her life aged 14 years. As a teenager Ashdon - who liked to be called “Jazz” - struggled with peer pressure, peer aggression at school and lacking confidence about being herself in a society that pressurises young women to be and act a certain way. Whilst our charity’s name is in memory of Ashdon, the term ‘Academy’ relates to giving young women a place and opportunities to learn skills for life.

Through our Empowering and Inspiring initiatives, we engage vulnerable girls and young women to enable them to feel confident about themselves, develop personal life skills and deal better with the negative challenges they face. Our core aim is support them to find their place in society and mature as responsible young women. We are led by women for girls and young women. Although our offer is open to all girls across four south London boroughs, we note that 95% of our service users are from black and ethnic minority communities.

MISSION STATEMENT

“Our mission is to work in partnership with vulnerable and disengaged girls and young women aged 11-21 and provide a dedicated emotional well-being service which in turn supports positive mental health from the boroughs of Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton and Croydon.”

AIMS

The charity aims to provide vulnerable young women aged 11-21 years with the insight, confidence and resilience to overcome the negative impact of feelings of isolation, peer pressure, bullying, family breakdown, stress and anxiety, the risk of or involvement in criminality and gangs and those who may be at risk of school exclusion. By working in partnership with parents/carers, youth clubs, schools, children’s social care and other statutory and voluntary organisations, the charity is able to target young females who may benefit from being referred or may wish to self-refer directly for mentoring or to attend one of our events.

The charity offers girls and young women:

OVERVIEW OF YEAR

Mentoring Project

Mentors give our service users the opportunity to build a trusted and supportive relationship for up to 12 months. They work with their mentee to identify their needs, desired outcomes and how best to achieve better resilience and self-confidence. The mentor will have regular communication with the mentee (e.g. in person, messaging, video phone calls), including checking in on their welfare when appropriate.

3

The Ashdon Jazz Academy mentors continue to be trained using the XLP Mentoring – a nationally-recognised mentoring programme which matches at-risk young people with a trained and supervised mentor. Mentoring provides young people with a safe space to talk with a committed adult, who helps them work hard to achieve the goals they set and encourages them to make informed and positive choices.

Mentors are appointed through a rigorous recruitment process, including interview by the CEO and the Mentoring Co-ordinator, vetting procedures and completing specialist and safeguarding training. Mentors are required to undergo further training each year, regular supervision (every 6 weeks) and attend mentor network meetings. Mentors are required to follow the charity’s Safeguarding Policy and Procedures, Code of Conduct and Working Alone Procedure. Quarterly evaluation summaries are being completed by mentees to help evidence the impact of mentoring.

During the year, the mentors delivered 823 one-to-one sessions for 40 girls from the four boroughs we work in: Lambeth (13), Croydon (6), Merton (20) and Lewisham (1). 31 girls were referred for mentoring, with an average of 5 on the waiting list at any one time. Those girls who waited to be matched with a mentor, were offered our weekly drop-in sessions or other interim support. Referrals were mainly made by the Youth Services, parents, Social Care, Early Help Teams and CAMHS across all boroughs.

**Evaluation ** 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24
Percentage of girls
with increased self-
confidence/esteem at
end of mentoring
(Target 85%)		 95% 76% 80% 100% 100%
Percentage of girls
meeting personal
targets at end of
mentoring
(Target 85%)		 92% 73% 80% 100% 100%
Mentors 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24
Number of vetted and
trained mentors at
end of year		 25 31 23 17 21
Number of new vetted
and trained mentors
during the year		 25 17 7 5 12
Percentage of vetted
and trained mentors
with up-to-date DBS		 92% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Percentage of vetted
and trained mentors
with up-to-date
safeguarding training
every 2years		 92% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Percentage of vetted
and trained mentors
receiving regular
supervision once a
month		 73% 100% 100% 100% 100%

4

Drop-in Sessions (Girls’ Night) and other Events

During the year, we facilitated 48 weekly drop-in sessions in Lambeth with a total of 56 individual girls attending and an average of 13 girls at each session. Nearly all the girls attended more than once - with many taking part regularly each week.

We started the fortnightly drop-in sessions in Merton in July 2023 and we have been able to deliver 24 Girls’ Nights in that borough, with most sessions taking place at Pollards Hill Youth Club. An average of 8 girls attended each session with a total of 15 individual girls attending during the year.

Over the last year we have continued to see a high percentage of girls stating they have increased self-confidence/esteem at the end of the weekly or bi-weekly drop-in sessions.

Number of Drop-In
Sessions Held		 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24
Number of weekly
Drop-In Sessions
(Lambeth)		 65 66 61 46 48
Number of weekly
Drop-In Sessions
(Merton)		 10[1] 24

[1] Drop-in sessions started in Merton in July 2023.

Evaluation 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24
Percentage of girls
with increased self-
confidence/esteem at
end of drop-in,
outreach or other
event -Lambeth only
(Target 85%)		 90% 90%[2] 73%[2] 80%
Percentage of girls
with increased self-
confidence/esteem at
end of drop-in,
outreach or other
event -Lambeth &
Merton
(Target 85%)		 85%

[2] This data relates to the girls who were present at the weekly online sessions when these were held during the lockdown arrangements during 2020-2022.

5

We were able to deliver the following other events during the year:

Older Girls Project (previously Ambassadors)

During the year we decided to review the offer for women aged 18-21 who have previously been supported by the Ashdon Jazz Academy. In the past the Ambassador’s programme had concentrated on developing this group’s leadership, entrepreneurial talents and social responsibilities. For example, we did this through them representing the charity at public events or shadowing a local business leader. During the national lockdowns (2020-22) there were no opportunities for them and it was very difficult to maintain the young women’s commitment to our Ambassadors programme. Since then, we have consulted some exservice users and older current service users on the type of programme they would be most interested in. Many of them wish to maintain a link with our charity and offer their time as volunteers.

During the year we launched the Older Girls (OG) project, which is active and attended by some of the original Ambassadors and also a new number of young women aged 18- 21 years. The aim is for those who remain interested to eventually be trained as peer mentors. We have 25 young women engaged in the OG project and to date have held 6 social events, including bowling, concert and theatre.

6

Stronger Minds

In October 2020, we started our Stronger Minds programme of mental health resilience sessions for Year 7–10 students in Lambeth schools. During 2023–24, we delivered six sessions in two Lambeth schools, supporting 25 female students. Developed in partnership with Lambeth voluntary sector organisations and local young people trained as Peer Facilitators, the programme is built on evidence-based theories and techniques designed to help young people manage complex thoughts and feelings, build protective factors, focus on goals, and pursue healthy relationships both online and in person. It is informed by local knowledge of the specific challenges faced by young people in Lambeth.

In an evaluation, 100% of participants rated the workshops as excellent, with all agreeing that the facilitators were highly engaging. One student shared that the sessions and talks were “very relatable” and helped her “learn a lot,” while another said she felt “more confident applying self-esteem strategies” by the end of the programme.

_applying self-esteem strategies”_by the end of the programme.
Stronger Minds Activity 2022-23 2023-24
Number of schools engaged with Stronger Minds 3 2
Number of Stronger Minds sessions held in schools 9 6
Number of students supported through Stronger Minds 23 25

Let’s Go!

Let’s Go! is a unique sports and physical activities project for girls and young women who use our programmes and open to 50% who are not known to our charity. The project started in early 2024 using two grants.

The ideas for the Let’s Go! were originally requested by our service users during a consultation event in 2023. They have told us they would like to engage in sports, but the main reasons they do not is because of “not being very healthy”, a fear of water (e.g. swimming), the cost, feeling unsafe getting to and from venues and a lack of local facilities.

Let’s Go! is offered to 60 service users a year and provides:

Over the first nine months of the project, 182 sports or physical activity places were provided to 42 individuals. A wide range of activities have been delivered:

7

Due to the success of project, the positive outcomes in terms of (a) improving mental and physical wellbeing and (b) reducing loneliness and the good engagement by the girls and young women, further funding is being sort to continue the project in 2024-25 and beyond.

Starprise Project

In August 2024 we were able to start a new project to provide tutoring in Maths & English for 15 girls in Years 8-10 living in Lambeth. The aim of Starprise is to increase their Maths and English skills and increase their confidence, engagement and enjoyment in learning.

We became aware of some girls who were struggling academically and needed extra help with Maths & English outside of school and whose families could not afford private tuition. We also prioritised any girls for the programme who were at risk of school exclusion.

We worked closely in partnership with Peppo Tutors to establish this initiative and then go on to match the girls needing this support with experienced tutors who are vetted and supervised by that organisation.

Staffing, Volunteers and Governance

The charity continues to resource and deliver its programmes through various grants from charitable trusts, our own fundraising and personal donations. We now have over 9 years’ experience as a charity and our plans are to double our capacity by 2035 across the four boroughs we provide services in south London.

The charity continues to be managed by Patricia Muirhead (CEO & Founder) who worked 28 hours a week, plus extra hours as a volunteer. During 2023-24, she was supported by the following part time staff:

We are grateful to all the volunteer mentors who support the girls and young women they are matched with. We also express thanks to the other volunteers and supporters who help with facilitating activities, fundraising and improving the profile of the Ashdon Jazz Academy.

8

During 2023-24, five Trustees served on the Board and met quarterly to monitor the business plan, set the annual budget, review and confirm policies and conduct financial reviews. Each Trustee takes the lead on the charity’s policies and procedures (shown below after their name).

All Trustees have a current Disclosure & Barring Scheme check and have attended safeguarding training in the last 2 years. As at 30 September 2024, the trustees were:

During the year Donna Fraser, OBE, continued as our Patron. She is a well-respected former British athlete.

We continue to collaborate with a large number of local partnerships on projects:

Rathbone Youth Club Norwood Consortium Motivate Merton West Norwood Library Merton Connected Garden Museum Rathbone Society Odd Eyes Theatre Becmead College Coombewood School Lambeth Wellness Centre Merton CAMHS Lambeth Social Care Croydon Social Care

We are extremely grateful for the grants given by charitable trusts and money given by other supporters during the year:

Rosa UK, The National Lottery (Awards for All), The National Lottery (Reaching Communities), The Henry Smith Charity, Postcode Society Trust, Lambeth Community Fund, Lambeth HAF (Holiday and Food programmes), Walcot Foundation, Merton Connected, Thrive Norwood.

Regular monthly and one-off donors.

Fundraisers arranging sponsored events.

The Trustees confirm they have approved the Annual Report above.

Kevin Howell Linda Neal Chairperson Trustee Date: 16th July 2025 Date: 16th July 2025

9

ASHDON JAZZ ACAD£Trff INDEPENDETrif EXAMINAER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF ASHDON JAZZACADEMY I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity for the year ended 30 September 2024 which are set out on pages 11-15. Responsibilities and basis of report As the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance wrth the reqU1￿MentS of the Charities Act 2011 (￿he Acr). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carrted out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying OLrt my examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Chaiity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act. Independent examiners ststement 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: the acLounting records We￿ not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act., or the accounts did not accord with the accounting records., or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fairf view whiGh is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concems and have come across no other matters in connection wtth the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Michael Rowe FCCA Flat 9 IAshby mews London 5W2 SEQ Date: 16th July 2025 10

ASHDON JAZZ ACADEMY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2024

Unrestricted Restricted 2024 2023
Notes Funds Funds Total Total
IncomingResources
Incoming resources from generated funds 2 179,751 179,751 81,339
Incoming resources from charitable activities 3 8,071 8,071 8,025
Other Income 4 6,483 6,483 19,121
Total incoming resources 14,554 179,751 194,305 108,485
Resources Expended
Charitable activities
Mentoring 5 52,882 52,882 61,953
Projects 6 39,557 39,557 18,789
Support costs 7 7,915 24,697 32,612 46,406
Total Resources Expended 7,915 117,136 125,051 127,148
Net expenditure for the year/
Net movement in funds 6,639 62,615 69,254 -18,663
Fund balance at 1 October 9,934 0 9,934 28,597
Fund balances at 30 September 16,573 62,615 79,188 9,934

11

ASHDON JAZZ ACADEMY BALANCE SHEET AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2024

Notes 2024 2023
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors 9 £5,920 £0
Cash at bank and in hand £95,831 £27,198
£101,751 £27,198
CREDITORS: due within one year 10 £22,563 £17,264
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES £79,188 £9,934
INCOME FUNDS
UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
General purpose fund £16,573 £9,934
RESTRICTED FUNDS
Funding £62,615 £0
£79,188 £9,934

The accounts were approved by the Trustees on

Signed on their behalf by:

…………………………………………….. …............................................................. Signature Signature Chair/Treasurer: Kevin Howell Trustee: Linda Neal

12

ASHDON JAZZ ACADEMY NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES

1.1 Basis of preparation

The accounts are prepared under the historical cost convention.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the statement of recommended practice, "Accounting and Reporting by Charities" in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard issued in July 2014 and the provisions of the Charities Act 2011

1.2 Incoming Resources

Incoming resources are recognised in the statement of financial activities when entitlement has passed and the amounts are certain and measurable.

1.3 Allocation of costs

Direct activity cost are those costs which contribute directly to an activity and are allocated to the relevant activity. Support cost are those cost that are necessary to deliver an activity but in themselves do not deliver an activity, include cost incurred to meet statutory and constitutional requirements.

1.4 Funds

Restricted funds represent income received that is subject to donor restrictions on use. General funds are available for furthering the cause of the organisation.

2
GRANT AND SIMILAR FUNDING
Walcot Foundation
Lambeth General
Lambeth Propel Funding
EIPS Funding
Lambeth Community Fund
Rosa Foundation
Garfield Weston
Henry Smith Charitable Trust
Postcode Society Trust
LB Merton
Wow Foundation
LB of Lambeth (HAF)
The Invesco Cares
National Lottery
Norwood Forum
Reaching Communities Funding
Jack Petchy
Merton Propel Funding - Merton Connect
3
CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES
Wimbledon Foundation
Magdalen Hospital Trust
Skipton Building Society
Yorkshire Building Society
COOP - Funding
4
OTHER INCOME
Gambia Exhibition
HMRC-Gift Aid
Donations
Interest		 2024
£7,760
£14,604
£3,108
£7,356
£6,152
£50,000
£15,000
£4,780
£10,000
£48,591
£900
£11,500
£179,751
2024
£5,983
£2,088
£8,071
2024
£6,483
£6,483		 2023
£0
£12,870
£0
£6,215
£0
£24,400
£12,500
£0
£0
£14,800
£4,620
£0
£4,200
£0
£1,734
£0
£1,400
£0
£82,739
2023
£0
£2,000
£2,625
£2,000
£0
£6,625
2023
£180
£8,869
£10,070
£2
£19,121

13

ASHDON JAZZ ACADEMY NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024

5
Mentoring
Facilitation & Supervision
Advertising & Promotion
Resources & Expenses
Training
6
Projects
Facilitation & Supervision
Gala event
Girls night
Resources & Expenses
7
Support costs
Rent for office
Staff
Accountancy fees
Office supplies & Stationary
Dues & Subscriptions
Insurance
Postage & Printing
Travel & Transportation cost
Telecommunication cost		 2024
£47,673
£4,473
£736
£52,882
2024
£28,569
£2,512
£8,476
£39,557
2024
£6,746
£14,503
£3,772
£1,491
£2,458
£802
£507
£573
£1,760
£32,612		 2023
£54,878
£513
£6,193
£369
£61,953
2023
13,355
£500
£4,934
£18,789
2023
£7,863
£31,719
£180
£477
£2,733
£327
£525
£1,785
£797
£46,406

14

ASHDON JAZZ ACADEMY NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2024

8
Employees
2024
The average number of employees and volunteers during the year w
Staff
6
Volunteers and Mentors
40
46
Employment cost
Mentoring
38,241
Projects
28,569
Support
£14,502
9
Debtors
2024
Other debtors
£5,920
£5,920
10 CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR
2024
Other creditors
£22,563
£22,563		 2023
as:
4
30
34
£31,719
2023
£0
£0
2023
£17,264
£17,264

11 TRUSTEES

None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or reimbursement of expenses during the year.

15