Lincolnshire Traveller Initiative Annual report 2024 - 2025 learning, advocacy, health and adult training
www.lincsti.co.uk
Registered Charity Number: 1165767
Message from the Chair of Trustees
Once again it has been a privilege to be a Trustee of this worthwhile charity supporting the education and health needs of Travellers throughout Lincolnshire. Our trustee body is committed to developing the charity, although we are lacking some skills, and this has meant we have had to rely on outside expertise for advice on various matters, including finance and human resources.
During the financial year 2024 to 2025, our director, Paul, has worked very hard with the team, to build up a strong base for the future.
You will find a fuller description of the year's achievements in the Director’s Thoughts, but I would like to single out three key points.
The number of people using our services is steadily increasing and the team has been finding new ways to deliver the same quality level of service whilst accommodating the increased numbers.
Pressures on our budget continue and we are having to work even more efficiently, while remaining just as effective. This situation is ongoing, of course, but Paul's tireless efforts to raise funds continue to bear fruit and we are thankful to all our funders listed.
We continue to develop our partnership working and now have a wide and varied range of partners including the NHS, where we have a dedicated Traveller Link Worker and EMBL EBI who support curriculum development, including STEM Science and ICT, University of Lincoln and Lincoln Bishop University. We owe all these partners a huge debt of gratitude for their continued support.
Peter Allen-Williams
Director’s thoughts…
Once again it is my pleasure to add a few humble words to our Annual Report. In many ways I think an Annual Reflection would be a more useful title. It is right that we should tell of our achievements; who we have helped and in what ways, how we have spent the money which has been given to us in the trust that we will use it wisely and where most needed. I hope that different sections of this report do, indeed, show what is being done and what has been achieved. However, do we answer the questions that many funders quite rightly ask: “What have you learned from the delivery of your project? What have you done well? What has not gone so well? What can you do better?
Here are a few facts about our work and the results over the last year: ( ✔ positive, X negative) We have been busier than ever in all areas of our work ✔ The number of young Travellers we are directly teaching has risen from 68 to 110 in the last year ✔
What our students achieve is absolutely amazing ✔
Our students contact time has had to be reduced to enable us to meet demand X
We spend a lot more time travelling X There has been a huge growth in requests for advocacy support ✔
We do not have funding specifically to pay for advocacy work unless it falls under the umbrella of education or health X
There is an increasing demand for adult training, specifically geared to Travellers gaining employment ✔
We have lost significant funding for adult training as a result of political change and key funders changing their focus as to what they will fund X
There has been an increased recognition within the NHS of the health inequalities experienced by Gypsy Roma Traveller communities and work is being done to address this situation ✔ Lincolnshire is at the leading edge of addressing the health needs of the Traveller communities by working closely with the NHS Traveller Link worker and the support given by members of the Neighbourhood Care Teams that are regularly visiting sites. ✔
LTI’s partnership with the NHS continues to grow ✔
However, there is much more that needs to be done and we need to find more flexible and efficient ways to address inequalities and create solutions to what have been long term failings in services meeting Travellers’ needs X ✔
Well, we have been reflecting on the points above, both the positives and the negatives. We have talked as a team and as a team we have talked to the Travellers we serve. We think we have come up with some solutions and we continue to work on others. We go forward with hope and optimism!
As always, my heartfelt thanks to the Board of Trustees, the staff team, our funders, our partners and all of the Traveller families and individuals that make LTI a success.
Paul Boucher LTI Director
Our trustee board
Trustees at the date of approving the report (October 2025) Peter Allen-Williams
Lisa Wilson Amanda Blakey Caroline Taylor Liza Smith Elizabeth Smith
Trustees who have served as trustees during the financial year: Peter Allen-Williams Lisa Wilson Amanda Blakey Caroline Taylor Liza Smith Elizabeth Smith Peter Dawson – resigned September 2025 Lee Evans – resigned January 2025
We currently have six trustees, five of whom are members of the Traveller community.
No trustee receives renumeration for their role.
Next year we will recruit an NHS health representative, a treasurer trustee and more trustees of all skills to help LTI grow and develop as we need expertise in these areas.
Structure, governance and management: LTI is constituted as a charitable incorporated organisation.
our governing document was last amended on 24 February 2016 and is reviewed annually. Trustees are appointed with regard to skills, knowledge & experience for no longer than five years.
Lincolnshire Traveller Initiative
Mission
The mission of LTI is to provide Travellers in Lincolnshire of all ages with access to learning opportunities and courses which develop new skills, provide accredited qualifications and increase confidence and social responsibility. LTI also works to improve the health and wellbeing of the Traveller community by working in partnership with Lincolnshire NHS Trust. We are committed to providing these opportunities in a safe, caring and supportive environment so that everyone can achieve their full potential, socially, emotionally and intellectually.
Our services
Education
We have young Travellers aged 11-16 years who are registered with Lincolnshire County Council for Elective Home Education. To do this we visit Traveller sites on a weekly basis with our mobile classroom and visit individual families not
on sites. Our curriculum includes Functional Skills Maths & English, King’s Trust Wellbeing, STEM Science and Trinity College Arts Award. All students gain a First Aid at Work qualification.
Health
Working alongside the NHS Traveller Communities Wellbeing Link Worker, community health champions and NHS neighbourhood care teams, we work to address the health inequalities experienced by Travellers. This includes health training sessions, home visits and referrals to a wide range of NHS specialist teams.
Adult training 16+
We provide a full ‘into work’ package including advice, guidance, CV writing, interview training and a wide range of vocational courses to match individual’s interests and ambitions..
Advocacy
We help with form-filling, letter writing, driving licence and passport applications and benefit applications. We signpost to professional help in all areas, including accommodation, legal, education, health etc.
Our students' voice
“This is the best teaching place of my life, there is lots of helpful, nice people and lots of activities”
“We can talk to each other a bit more and we get snacks, and I am learning to read”
“We get to longer learning and we get to do fun stuff”
“The teachers are kind and the atmosphere is chill”
“I get all the help I need I like having more time to finish my work, it’s very chill”
“The teachers are kind and the atmosphere is chill”
“There are more teachers, so I get more help which is great”
“I like seeing my friends “
“I’m improving my maths The teachers are lovely and encourage us all”
“I like the fun activities”
Our Finances
Our total income in this financial year was £153,249 and our total expenses were £168,008. The net deficit for the year was £14,759.
Spending:
Education: 38% Health: 39% Adult training: 12% Early years and special educational needs support: 11%
These figures at the time of presentation are subject to audit. For more information and to view the full accounts, please visit: www.gov.uk/government/organisations/charity-commission
Our Funders
Evan Cornish Grassroots Fund funded through Lincolnshire Community Foundation
Our Partners
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traveller
Lincolnshire
initiative
2024-2025
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We couldn't have done it without your generous support.
Thank you
theteam@lincsti.co.uk
www.lincsti.co.uk
to all our funders and partners.
Community Hub, Waddington, LN5 9RF
07503 878 740
| Lincolnshire Traveller Initiative | No (if any) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts andpayments accounts | CC16a | ||
| 01/04/2024 For the period from |
To | 31/03/2025 |
| Section A Receipts and payments | Section A Receipts and payments | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - 21,667 - - 78 - - 21,745 - - - 21,745 117 16 504 142 900 2,025 485 313 1,066 822 274 524 542 600 28,465 98 1,000 1,621 929 1,000 - - 41,443 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ 53,843 9,443 1,290 2,500 6,000 3,870 6,300 5,000 2,500 90,745 - - - 90,745 2,000 1,000 12,000 1,036 4,753 - 956 53 891 37 864 - 318 86,039 - 991 4,238 204 6,003 - - 121,383 |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 53,843 9,443 1,290 2,500 27,667 3,870 6,300 78 5,000 2,500 112,490 - - - 112,490 - 117 16 2,504 1,142 12,900 3,061 5,238 313 2,022 875 1,165 37 1,388 542 918 114,504 98 1,991 5,859 1,133 7,003 - - 162,826 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
| National LotteryCommunityFund | - | 57,932 | |||
| Paul Hamlyn Fund | - | 37,770 | |||
| EMR Abellio fund | - | - | |||
| Gainsborough Local Area Programme | - | 10,000 | |||
| Lincolnshire CountyCouncil | 21,667 | 28,860 | |||
| Evan Cornish Grant | - | - | |||
| LCC Skills for Life | - | 10,000 | |||
| Other | 78 | 1,367 | |||
| Lincs Vol Engage Teamgrant | - | - | |||
| Bishopof Lincoln fund | - | - | |||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
21,745 | 145,929 | |||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
|||||
| - | |||||
| - | - | ||||
| Sub total | - | - | |||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
|||||
| 145,929 | |||||
| Advertisingand marketing | - | 450 | |||
| Bookkeepingandpayroll | 117 | 117 | 310 | ||
| Cleaning | 16 | 16 | 25 | ||
| Consultingand teaching | 504 | 2,000 | 2,504 | 4,368 | |
| Employers N I | 142 | 1,000 | 1,142 | 226 | |
| Events,trainingand refreshments | 900 | 12,000 | 12,900 | 5,946 | |
| General Expenses | 2,025 | 1,036 | 3,061 | 174 | |
| Insurance | 485 | 4,753 | 5,238 | 1,063 | |
| IT software and consumables | 313 | - | 313 | 511 | |
| Motor Vehicle expenses | 1,066 | 956 | 2,022 | 1,030 | |
| Office items | 822 | 53 | 875 | 426 | |
| Pensions costs | 274 | 891 | 1,165 | 2,080 | |
| Postage | 37 | 37 | - | ||
| Printingand Stationary | 524 | 864 | 1,388 | 1,711 | |
| Professional service fees | 542 | - | 542 | - | |
| Rent | 600 | 318 | 918 | 2,596 | |
| Salaries | 28,465 | 86,039 | 114,504 | 93,845 | |
| Staff Training | 98 | - | 98 | 841 | |
| Subscriptions | 1,000 | 991 | 1,991 | 752 | |
| TeachingResources | 1,621 | 4,238 | 5,859 | 13,428 | |
| Telephone & Internet | 929 | 204 | 1,133 | 580 | |
| Travel - National | 1,000 | 6,003 | 7,003 | 8,554 | |
| - | - | - | - | ||
| - | - | - | - | ||
| **Sub total ** | 41,443 | 121,383 | 162,826 | 138,916 |
CCXX R1 accounts (SS)
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| A4 Asset and investment | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| purchases, (see table) | ||||||||||
| - | - | - | - | |||||||
| - | - | - | - | |||||||
| **Sub total ** | - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| Total payments | 41,443 | 121,383 | - | 162,826 | 138,916 | |||||
| Net of receipts/(payments) | ||||||||||
| - 19,698 | - 30,638 | - | - 50,336 | 7,013 | ||||||
| A5 Transfers between funds | - | - | - | - | - | |||||
| A6 Cash funds last year end | 43,858 | 51,967 | - | 95,825 | - | |||||
| Cash funds this year end | 24,160 | 21,329 | - | 45,489 | 7,013 | |||||
| Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Categories B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B1 Cash funds CCXX R2 accounts (SS) |
Details Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Details Current account figure Petty cash Details ~~2~~ |
Unrestricted f d to nearest £ 69,837 10 - 69,847 Agreement Error Unrestricted f d to nearest £ - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which asset belongs Fund to which liability relates |
Restricted f d to nearest £ - - - Agreement Error Restricted f d to nearest £ - - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Amount due (optional) - - - |
Endowment f d to nearest £ |
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| OK | ||||
| Endowment f d to nearest £ |
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| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| Current value (optional) |
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| Current value (optional) |
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| When due (optional) |
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| - | ||||
| - | ||||
| ~~2~~ | - |
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Signed by one or two trustees on Date of
behalf of all the trustees Signature Print Name approval
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CCXX R3 accounts (SS)
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Audit Report Company Llncolnshire Travellers Initiative Community Hub High Street Waddington LN5 9RF Audltor Mrs Andrea Smith Rose Cottage, Gorse Hlll Lane Caythorpe NG32 3DY amtiff in@live.com Audll Perlod Financial Year 2024125 Ending 31st March 2025 Documentation I software The software package used is Xero, to which full access was given. A completed Income and Expenditure Report was provided, 81ongwith a completed Charity Commission CC16a. Receipts and payments report. Findings LTI recelves Its income from severalfunders, National Lottery. Lincolnshire County Council, Children in Need and more. The income and expenditure are posted to the relevantfund on Xero, and this is shown in the Income and Expenditure Report. Over 70% ofthe expenditure is SaLaries, with the remainder being8dministrative, softwar8. Rent and othergeneral expens8S. Copies of some of the r8C8iPts forthe expenditure can be found on Xero. All the amounts are correct.
All the figure5 on the reports match those on Xero. No errors were found on Xero orthe spreadsheets. An accurate record of the accounts is given. Date 28 January 2026 Signature