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2025-03-31-accounts

GROWING AGAINST VIOLENCE (A Registered Charity and Company Limited by Guarantee)

REPORTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

For the period ended 31 March 2025

Registered Charity No. 1163738 Registered as a Company in England & Wales No. 09209205

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TRUSTEES REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2025

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CONTENTS Pages
Legal and administrative details 3
Trustees Report 4
Independent Examiners’ Report 9
Statement of financial activities 11
Balance sheet 12
Notes to the accounts 13

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TRUSTEES REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2025

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LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS

Charity Name: Growing Against Violence Registered Charity Number: 1163738 Company Registration Number: 09209205 Registered Office 18 Stoneleigh Broadway Epsom Surrey KT17 2HU

Trustees / Directors of the Charity and Company

A B Davis M Howes (Resigned 25-Jun-25) D P Bew E Brown C J Heawood J Roddick E McGlothan J Simmance R Duncan R Sawyer

Chair

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officer S Trayler Bankers Barclays 43 High Street Sutton SM1 1DR Independent Examiner Kevin Mallett L & F Accounting Ltd 18 The Broadway Stoneleigh, Epsom, Surrey KT17 2HU

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TRUSTEES REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2025

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TRUSTEES REPORT

The trustees present their report with the financial statements of the charity for the year ended 31 March 2025. The trustees consider that the charity is in a strong position to continue its activities during the coming year, and that the charity's assets are adequate to fulfil its obligations.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Purposes and aims

The objectives of the charity are for the public benefit:

through activities including:

Ensuring our work delivers our aims

G.A.V. uses police-inspired gang reduction messages, which are increasingly supported by public healthinspired ‘protection and safeguarding’ of young people messages. This was prompted in part by students making large numbers of disclosures, particularly around sexual violence, to G.A.V. facilitators. The programme has been delivered in schools to tens of thousands of children and young people and fits in well with policy agendas related to violence, in particular: public health aspects of gun and knife crime and of sexual violence; young people’s victimisation and trauma experiences; safeguarding; social media and online safety; and teacher support.

Through the appointment of an interim CEO and interim Operations and Safeguarding Manager GAV has an effective executive body with clear remits. A committed Board of Trustees holds the executive to account and provides both support and strategic direction to ensure the aims of the Charity are met.

The focus of our work

G.A.V. is committed to delivering age appropriate preventative education, universally in schools and Pupil Referral Units (PRU’s). This model, to date, involves making arrangements with local authorities for a coordinated and blanket delivery of workshops to schools in their area, aimed at every student in the relevant age groups. The charity also engages directly with schools and other forums to deliver workshops directly to them. The workshops are consistent and standardised.

How our activities deliver public benefit

G.A.V. sessions have been robustly evaluated using a mixed method approach, including observations and archival methods to measure process and a randomized control trial to measure outcomes. Findings indicate that the implementers were keen to enhance program fidelity and to work on process improvement throughout. The RCT indicated G.A.V. was effective in reducing levels of gang membership and the frequency and variety of delinquency and violent offending both in in the short- and long- term, although the program effect was not statistically significant. G.A.V. did have a lasting influence over

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TRUSTEES REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2025

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students’ attitudes toward police and their adherence toward street code, which was statistically significant.

Large numbers of disclosures are received by G.A.V. facilitators and robust child protection and safeguarding procedures exist whereby school Designated Safeguarding Officers are fully supported and anonymized information is shared at an aggregate level with Local Strategic partners who fund the programme in order to preserve and protect the health and wellbeing of children.

REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

In the year to 31 March 2025 G.A.V. delivered sessions in 190 schools (year to 31 March 2024 (‘FY24’) 180) to c.15,000 students (c. 14,000 in FY24).

Over this period, G.A.V. has continued with its focus on delivery throughout London, diversified the audience it engages with and continued to improve its financial stability whilst navigating challenges with accessing funding from local authorities. This year, G.A.V. have further invested in the training of facilitators as well as investing into fundraising efforts in continued challenging macroeconomic conditions.

As at the financial year end, G.A.V. have worked and continue to work in primary and secondary schools, including delivery in a number of PRUs. G.A.V. has also invested resources into its curriculum to stay appropriate to the target audience.

As well as the ongoing support of its key partners, the financial reserves and liquidity held by the charity have allowed the charity to withstand the financial pressures the ongoing macroeconomic challenges which are impacting local authority spending budgets.

In FY15, G.A.V. signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Middlesex University which continues to ensure that the G.A.V. programme is subject to ongoing peer review with an active focus on knowledge transfer and having a firm evidence base. This ongoing partnership allows G.A.V. to ensure its curriculum is pertinent and effective.

G.A.V. has continued to secure funding for delivery at a time of austerity within the Public Sector. This is reflective of the high regard in which G.A.V. is held by its ongoing supportive partners.

PLANS FOR FUTURE PERIODS

G.A.V. will continue to expand delivery of its preventative education sessions to more London boroughs and continues to evaluate potential opportunities outside of London.

G.A.V. is also actively looking to expand its curriculum offering by developing further public health and public safety focused sessions covering violence and crime themes not currently covered within the existing curriculum – for example in developing sessions around prevention of recruitment of young people into extremism.

G.A.V. continues to offer sessions directly to schools willing to pay for delivery. Strict parameters will ensure that Safeguarding support is effectively managed in case of disclosures from students.

Similarly G.A.V. will continue to look to increase its collaboration with a number of national charities to maximise efficiency and achieve the charitable objects identified.

The Trustees also continue to evaluate opportunities to improve its unrestricted income from donations to allow the charity to further invest in its operations to allow for future growth.

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TRUSTEES REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2025

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PUBLIC BENEFIT STATEMENT

The Directors/trustees of Growing Against Violence have considered the requirements which are explained on the Charity Commission website.

The sections of this report above entitled 'Aims and Objectives'; 'Review of Activities and Achievements'; and 'Plans for Future Periods' set out Growing Against Violence's objectives and reports on the activity and successes in the year ended 31 March 2025 as well as explaining the plans for the current financial year. Growing Against Violence’s work benefits a wide range of individuals across the United Kingdom.

The Directors have considered this matter and have concluded:

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Financial review of the period

During the financial year, funds were raised from local authorities, government grants and voluntary donations. The statement of financial activities shows total income of £86,142 (2024 88,613) and total expenses of £120,363 (2024 £95,013). The fund balance at the end of the period was £114,464 (2024 £148,685). Of this amount the restricted funds were nil (2024 £nil).

The charity continues to be impacted by the availability of public sector authority which has limited further expansion in the year. The charity has managed its cost base closely whilst investing in the future of the charity (regarding fundraising efforts, curriculum development and improving the charity’s website). The charity remains in a strong position financially.

Of the cash balance as at 31 March 2025 (£136,767), £2,500 of this cash relates to funds received in advance of the delivery of educational sessions. Whilst the cash has been received, the associated revenue and costs will be recognised when sessions are delivered and the associated costs are incurred.

Reserves policy

G.A.V.'s reserves policy is to maintain a sufficient level of reserves to enable operating activities to be wound down in an orderly manner in circumstances, taking account of potential risks and contingencies, that may arise from time to time. The current policy is to maintain reserves to cover three months of operating expenditure not covered by any specific secured grants or donations. The total current reserves (at the time of writing this report) are in line with this policy.

STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Governing document

Growing Against Violence is a company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 9 September 2014 and registered as a charity on 28 September 2014. The company is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association which were last updated by a Special Resolution dated 29 July 2015. In the event of the company being wound up members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £10.

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TRUSTEES REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2025

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Appointment of trustees

The existing trustees are responsible for the recruitment of new trustees. Any person who is willing to act as a trustee, and who would not be disqualified from acting under the Articles of Association, can be nominated by a trustee and appointed by a decision of the trustees.

Under the requirements of the Memorandum and Articles of Association the trustees serve for a period of three years, after which they must be re-elected at the next Annual Retirement Meeting. There shall be no fewer than two trustees.

All trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the charity.

Trustee induction and training

All trustees receive a full induction upon being appointed. The induction is a comprehensive overview of the work of Growing Against Violence, and includes an introduction to the organisation's strategic direction, financial procedures and budget for the current financial year together with meetings with the Chair, other trustees and the CEO. Trustees are also encouraged to observe the delivery of G.A.V. sessions and to meet facilitators, and to attend relevant courses and seminars during the year as appropriate.

Organisational structure

The directors of the company are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law and under the company’s Articles are responsible for the management of the charity’s business.

The trustees meet at least quarterly and are responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the charity. At present there are nine trustees (including Chair and Company Secretary) from a variety of professional backgrounds relevant to the work of the charity. The trustees delegate day to day management of the charity to an Interim Chief Executive.

The Interim Chief Executive is responsible for ensuring that the charity delivers the services specified. To facilitate effective operations, the Interim Chief Executive has designated authority, within terms of delegation approved by the trustees, for matters including finance, operations and safeguarding.

Related parties

As the G.A.V. programme has grown it has become ever more rigorous in its theoretical foundations and practical materials, and the charity has developed a broad-reaching Memorandum of Understanding with Middlesex University. The curriculum has been robustly evaluated by the University, with individual sessions subject to academic peer review and the curriculum as a whole subject to an outcome based longitudinal study.

Risk management

The trustees have conducted a review of the major risks to which the charity is exposed. A risk register has been established and is updated at least annually. Where appropriate, systems or procedures have been established to mitigate the risks the charity faces. Significant external risks to funding have led to the development of a strategic plan which will allow for the diversification of funding and activities. Internal control risks are managed with procedures for authorisation of all transactions and projects.

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TRUSTEES REPORT For the year ended 31 March 2025

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STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES RESPONSIBILITIES

The charity trustees (who are also the directors of Growing Against Violence for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing a trustees' annual report and financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

Company law and the law applicable to charities in England and Wales requires the charity trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including the income and expenditure, of the charity for that period. In preparing the financial statements, the trustees are required to

The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Charity (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

SMALL COMPANIES SPECIAL PROVISION

These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions in Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

It was approved, and authorised for issue, by the trustees and signed on their behalf by:

A Davis Chair and Trustee

Date 19 December 2025

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS’ REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES For the year ended 31 March 2025

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS' REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES

We report on the financial statements of the charity on pages 11 to 16 for the year ended 31 March 2025 which have been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 (the Act) and with the Financial Reporting Standard 102 (effective January 2015) adapted to meet the needs of unincorporated organisations, as modified by the Statement of Recommended Practice for Accounting and Reporting issued by the Charity Commission for England & Wales, effective January 2015 (The SORP), under the historical cost convention and the accounting policies set out on page 13.

Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner

The trustees (who are also the directors of Growing Against Violence for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The trustees consider that an audit is not required for this financial period under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act) and that an independent examination is needed.

Having satisfied ourselves that the company is not subject to audit under company law and is eligible for independent examination, it is our responsibility to:

Basis of independent examiner's report

Our examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the company and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a 'true and fair view' and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.

Independent examiner's statement

In connection with our examination, no matter has come to our attention:

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INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS’ REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES For the year ended 31 March 2025

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have not been met; or

(2) to which, in our opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

L & F Accounting Ltd 18 Stoneleigh Broadway, Stoneleigh, Epsom, Surrey KT17 2HU

Dated:

Page 10 of 16

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES For the year ended 31 March 2025

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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES – YEAR TO 31 MARCH 2025

Notes
INCOME
Grant and donation income
2
Investment income
TOTAL INCOME
EXPENSES
Fundraising costs
3
Charitable activities
3
TOTAL EXPENSES
Net income/expense
Transfer between funds
7
RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
2025
Total
2024
Funds
Funds
Funds
Funds
£
£
£
£
410
85,732
86,142
88,613
0
0
0
0
410
85,732
86,142
88,613
(1,216)
0
(1,216)
(1,775)
(68,934)
(50,213)
(119,147)
(93,238)
(70,150)
(50,213)
(120,363)
(95,013)
(69,740)
35,519
(34,221)
(6,400)
35,519
(35,519)
0
0
148,685
0
148,685
155,085
114,464
0
114,464
148,685

The net movement in funds referred to above is the net incoming resources as defined in the SORP 2015 and is reconciled to the total funds as shown in the Balance Sheet on page 12 as required by the SORP 2015.

All activities derive from continuing operations.

Page 11 of 16

BALANCE SHEET As at 31 March 2025

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BALANCE SHEET

Notes Total Total
Funds Funds
March March
2025 2024
£ £
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors 5 0 0
Cash at bank and in hand 136,767 169,975
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 136,767 169,975
LIABILITIES
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year 6 (22,303) (21,290)
NET CURRENT ASSETS/(LIABILITIES) 114,464 148,685
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 114,464 148,685
TOTAL NET ASSETS 114,464 148,685
THE FUNDS OF THE CHARITY
Unrestricted funds 114,464 148,685
Restricted funds 0 0
TOTAL CHARITY FUNDS 7 114,464 148,685

The notes on pages 13 to 16 form an integral part of these accounts

The trustees are satisfied that for the year ended on 31 March 2025 the charitable company was entitled to exemption from the requirement to obtain an audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 and that no member or members have required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the financial period in question in accordance with section 476 of the Act. However, in accordance with section 145 of the Charities Act 2011, the accounts have been examined by an Independent Examiner whose report appears on pages 9 and 10.

The trustees acknowledge their responsibility for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.

The accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions in Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard for Smaller Entities (effective April 2008).

The accounts were approved by the trustees and authorised for issue on 19 December 2025 and signed on their behalf by:

A Davis Trustee and Chair

Page 12 of 16

NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

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NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

1) ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The accounts have been prepared on the accruals basis, under the historical cost convention, and in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard 102 (effective January 2015)) and 'The FRS102 Statement of Recommended Accounting Practice 2015', (The SORP 2015), and in accordance with all applicable law in the charity's jurisdiction of registration, except that the charity has prepared the financial statements in accordance with the FRS 102 SORP 2015 in preference to the previous SORP, the SORP 2005, which has been withdrawn, notwithstanding the fact that the extant statutory regulations, the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 refer explicitly to the SORP 2005. This has been done to accord with current best practice.

The company has taken advantage of the exemption in Financial Reporting Standard No 1 from the requirement to produce a cash flow statement.

The particular accounting policies adopted are set out below.

a) Accounting Convention

The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis, under the historical cost convention. The charity is entirely dependent on continuing grant aid and as a consequence the going concern basis is also dependent on the continuing grant aid.

b) Income

Income represents donation income or fee income derived from the provision of educational sessions. Donation income is recognized on receipt of funds. Income from educational sessions is recognized on delivery / provision of services. Where cash is received in advance of session being delivered, the amount is deferred and recognized as revenue on delivery. Similarly, where sessions are delivered in advance of funds being received (but a contractual arrangement exists), revenue is accrued for on delivery.

c) Charitable expenditure

Charitable expenditure includes all expenditure directly related to the objectives of the charity. This includes support costs, which are the staffing and associated costs of supporting, monitoring and evaluating the work of the charity.

d) Governance Costs

These include the costs related to the general running of the charity as opposed to the direct management function associated with generating funds, service delivery and programme or project work.

e) Taxation

No taxation has been provided for in the Financial Statements. As a Registered Charity, the income of the charity is exempt under Section 505 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988. Irrecoverable VAT has been charged to the relevant expenditure headings.

f) Fund accounting

The charity maintains the following funds:

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NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

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Unrestricted Funds

These represent funds which are expendable at the discretion of the Trustees in furtherance of the objectives of the charity. Such funds may be held in order to finance both working capital and capital investment.

Restricted Funds

The charity's restricted funds represent grants or donations which are allocated by the donor for specific purposes.

In agreement with the various local authorities and funding partners, sessions are delivered at a fixed cost per session. This is intended to cover the charity overheads (detailed below). As such, when sessions are delivered the associated revenue and cash is freely available for use and therefore considered unrestricted. As delivery occurs, this therefore leads to the transfer of income from the restricted funds to the unrestricted funds each year.

2) GRANT AND DONATION INCOME

Revenue recognized in line with accounting policies set out previously. In accordance with specific conditions of donations we are pleased to acknowledge the generous support of all of the donors.

3) EXPENDITURE ANALYSIS

Year to 31
March 2025
Unrestricted Restricted Total 2024 Total
£ £ £ £
Fundraising expenditure
Marketing material 1,001 0 1,001 1,560
Fundraising fee 215 0 215 215
TOTAL FUNDRAISING 1,216 0 1,216 1,775
EXPENDITURE
Year to 31
March 2025 Year to 31
Charitable Activities Unrestricted Restricted Total March 2024
£ £ £ £
Programme activities
Direct Delivery costs 0 50,213 50,213 36,727
Delivery support costs and 54,097 0 54,097 48,736
safeguarding costs
Curriculum development 6,000 0 6,000 0
Training & development 2,765 0 2,765 2,877
Total programme activities 62,862 50,213 113,075 88,340
expenses
Programme support
Insurance 901 0 901 856
Office supplies 1,087 0 1,087 1,241
DBS Check 480 0 480 0
Telephone and postage 1,169 0 1,169 1,166
Accountancy & legal services 850 0 850 852
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NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

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Other costs
835
Total Programme support
expenses
5,322
Governance costs
Independent Examination
750
Total Governance costs
750
TOTAL CHARITABLE
ACTIVITIES
68,934		 _____
0
0
0
0
50,213		 ___
835
5,322
750
750
119,147		 ____
33
4,148
750
750
93,238

The above table, shows the total fundraising expenditure and total charitable activities expenditure for the financial period.

4) TRUSTEE REMUNERATION

Trustees received no remuneration during the financial period. No trustees received any payments for professional services during the financial period.

5) DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

Accrued income
TOTAL DEBTORS		 Total at
Total at
31 March
2025
31 March
2024
£
£
0
0
0
0

6) CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR

Deferred income
Accruals
TOTAL CREDITORS		 Total at
Total at
31 March
2025
31 March
2024
£
£
2,500
4,940
19,803
16,350
22,303
21,290

Deferred income amounts relate to amounts paid in advance for educational sessions that had not been delivered at the financial year end.

7) FUND ANALYSIS

The table below sets out the movement in the unrestricted and restricted funds during the year to 31 March 2025.

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NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS For the year ended 31 March 2025

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Transfer
Opening 1- between Balance as
Apr-24 Revenue Expenses funds at 31-Mar-25
Total restricted funds - 85,732 (50,213) (35,519) -
Total unrestricted funds 148,685 410 (70,150) 35,519 114,464
Total funds 148,685 86,142 (120,363) - 114,464

Transfers between funds arise where;

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