2023-03-31-accounts - Bluespark Foundation

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Supporting the education and development of children and young people LBLUESPARK FOUNDATION

Annual Report and Accounts 2022/2023

Contents Legal and Administrative Details 2 Structure 3 Governance 3 Management 3 Objectives 4 Grant Policy 4 Activities 5 Financial Report 17 Plans for the Future 18 Appendix 1 : Trustees 19 Appendix 2 : Ambassadors 20 Appendix 3 : Grants 21 Appendix 4 : Accounts 27 Appendix 5 : Independent Examiner’s Report 29

Supporting the education and development of children and young people

Legal and Administrative Details

Registered Charity

BlueSpark Foundation is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation Registered charity number 1167172

Principal Office

84A Upland Road Sutton Surrey SM2 5JB

Trustees

Tim Davies Robert Bartlett Sarah Budnik

Ambassadors

Helen Bartlett Steve Clarke Huw Leslie Jack Leslie Greg Nussbaum Rachel Nussbaum Lisa Singleton

Supporting the education and development of children and young people

Structure

BlueSpark Foundation is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. The founding Trustees, namely Tim Davies, Robert Bartlett and Sarah Budnik, are the only members. The constitution of the Foundation was adopted by the Trustees on 15th May 2016. The Charities Commission registered the Foundation as a charity on 17th May 2016.

Governance

The governance procedures of the Foundation are set out in its constitution which is in the form recommended by The Charity Commission for a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.

The Trustees meet at least six times a year. The constitution provides that no decision of the Trustees shall be taken at a meeting of the Trustees unless at least two of the Trustees are present. In practice, all of the Trustees have been present at all meetings of the Trustees held during the period covered by this report.

The founding Trustees have been appointed to hold the following offices with the Foundation:

Tim Davies – Chairman Robert Bartlett – Finance Director Sarah Budnik – Grant Applications Director

Collectively, the Trustees have extensive legal, accounting, business and risk management experience as well as knowledge of the charity and education sectors. The Trustees are satisfied that their experience and training make them well qualified to carry out the activities of BlueSpark and to achieve its objectives.

Management

All the management activities of the Foundation are undertaken by the Trustees. As the Foundation is a grant making body, the principal decisions of the Trustees concern the approval of grants. The Trustees meet at regular intervals to discuss grant applications and decide which ones to approve for receipt of a grant from the Foundation. Our grant making policies are outlined in this report in the section headed "Grant Policy”.

We have a network of Ambassadors to help identify projects suitable for the receipt of grants and to promote awareness of BlueSpark and its activities but our Ambassadors do not have a management role in the Foundation.

All the Trustees and Ambassadors give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the Foundation. Short biographical details of our Trustees and Ambassadors are set out in Appendices 1 and 2.

Supporting the education and development of children and young people

Objectives

BlueSpark Foundation supports the education and development of children and young people for the public benefit. We do this by providing grants for academic education, drama, sport, music, dance and singing and other educational activities and excursions that have one or more of the following objectives:

Encouraging independence Developing team working skills Developing self confidence Promoting creativity & individuality Encouraging aspiration Enhancing educational achievement Widening educational horizons

We provide funds for projects which might not happen at all or would only happen on a lesser scale without our support. Teachers and people in the community at large are often prepared to give their time to potential projects but they may not have access to the funding which will turn those projects into reality. BlueSpark’s objective is to help bridge that gap by funding or part funding some of these projects.

Grant Policy

Funding provided by BlueSpark for any particular project must be crucial to that project rather than marginally incremental to its funding. In most cases, grants are made on a relatively small scale. Many grants are under £2,000 and none exceed £5,000. Projects funded by BlueSpark must be in England.

Most projects which we support are initiated or undertaken by schools, colleges or community groups. However, individuals may also apply for a grant and BlueSpark may undertake or initiate projects in its own right.

We provide funds for physical assets such as sports equipment, for services such as music or dance tuition, for outdoor activities, and for excursions and experiences such as theatre visits.

In selecting projects to receive a grant we aim to maintain a balance of different types of project from across the whole of England and from a wide range of schools, community organisations, sports clubs, drama groups and music and dance organisations.

There are no preconditions for the making of a grant regarding the number of children or young people who may benefit from a particular project. A project may be particularly deserving of a grant on the basis of the number of children or young people that it will benefit. Equally, a grant may be appropriate for the benefit of a single child or young person, especially if the impact of the project concerned is likely to be particularly significant for that individual.

Supporting the education and development of children and young people

Activities

Overview

As at 31st March 2023, we had distributed a total of 417 grants since we made our first grant in November 2017. These grants have been given to a broad cross section of schools and educational institutions, drama organisations, sports clubs, music and dance groups, youth development organisations, community development organisations, and individuals for a wide range of educational, cultural, sporting and other projects.

In the year to 31st March 2023, we made 80 grants.

We prioritise projects which we believe :

will enhance the self-confidence, team working skills and future employability of the children and young people taking part in them; and which
would not happen at all or would only happen on a lesser scale without the support of BlueSpark.

Categories of Project

We support projects in six broad categories namely :

Academic Drama Sport Music, Dance and Singing Outdoor activities Educational excursions

The split between these categories varies from year to year. We do not aim to achieve any particular split in any individual year. Our objective is to support what we consider to be the best projects for which we receive grant applications in each year. However, over any five year period we hope that each of our five main grant categories (namely Drama; Sport; Outdoor Activities; Music, Dance and Singing; and Academic) will account for not less than 15% and not more than 25% of our grants.

The first table shown below gives a breakdown as at 31st March 2023 of the projects we have supported by type since we made our first grant in November 2017. The second table gives a breakdown of the projects we supported by type in the year ending 31st March 2023.

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Grants by Type – cumulative to 31[st] March 2023

----- Start of picture text -----
4%
Academic
28%
22%
Drama
Sport
Music,Dance,Singing
Outdoor Activities
15%
16%
Educational Excursions
15%
----- End of picture text -----

Grants by Type – for the year ended 31[st] March 2023

----- Start of picture text -----
5%
Academic
30%
24% Drama
Sport
Music,Dance,Singing
Outdoor Activities
9%
Educational Excursions
21%
11%
----- End of picture text -----

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Geographical Distribution of Projects

The first map below shows the geographical distribution of the grants we have made since we made our first grant in November 2017 up to 31st March 2023. The second map shows the geographical distribution of the grants we made during the year ending 31st March 2023. The maps show that we have supported projects across the whole of England, in cities, towns and suburbs and in the country.

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Our grant selection process does not limit the number of grants which we make by reference to geographical areas in England. However, since we started making grants, we have achieved a spread of grants which, in broad terms, is balanced across all areas in England, judged by density of population.

We do not specifically target grants towards projects where the participants are from less well-off backgrounds but that factor is one of many which we consider in awarding grants. Our aim is to achieve the maximum impact from the use of the funds which we distribute. Our judgement on the impact of a project is affected by many factors, including its relative significance to the participants, the number of children or young people involved, and our perception of the contribution that the project is likely to have in enhancing the selfconfidence and team working skills of the participants.

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Grant recipients

We have made grants to schools and education institutions, sports clubs, drama and music organisations, youth organisations and to individuals. The first table shown below gives a breakdown of grant recipients by type of organisation since we made our first grant in November 2017. The second table gives a breakdown of grant recipients by type of organisation in the year to 31st March 2023.

Grants by Type of Organisation - Cumulative to 31[st] March 2023

----- Start of picture text -----
5%
6%
Schools / education institutions
6%
Youth organisations
11%
Drama and music organisations
Individuals
72%
Sports clubs
----- End of picture text -----

Grants by Type of Organisation - Year to 31[st] March 2023

----- Start of picture text -----
4% [3%]
11%
Schools / education institutions
Youth organisations
12% Individuals
Drama and music organisations
70% Sports clubs
----- End of picture text -----

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Specific Projects

A full list of all the projects for which we have made grants during the year is set out in Appendix 3. The following projects constitute an illustrative cross-section of projects we have supported and for which we have received recent feedback.

BlueSpark provided funding for the Riviera Education Trust in Torbay, Devon to organise and host a Children’s Parliament. The objective was to deepen the children’s understanding in three areas namely the democratic process; presentation and debating skills; and homelessness in Torbay and beyond. Ten local primary schools held their own elections to elect a team to represent their respective schools at the Children’s Parliament. At

the Parliament event, each team gave a presentation on homelessness. These were judged by the children’s peers and a panel including the local MP, the Chief Executive of Torbay Council, the Director of Education for Torbay and the council portfolio holder for Housing. Stewart Biddles, the CEO of Riviera Education Trust, told BlueSpark that the event helped the children to understand that they could make a difference and that their voice could be heard. He also told BlueSpark that the project has had a lasting impact on the curriculum for the schools involved. The Children’s Parliament event will now be held annually and the schools will use this to support the teaching of modern British values and the democratic process.

BlueSpark provided support for Chloe Share to attend dance training with Chantry School Origins Youth Company which runs like a professional company. The Artistic Director of the Company told BlueSpark that “This enables young people to gain experience and understanding of what is expected in the professional industry and helps them raise their level to meet these high standards.” During her training Chloe worked with other dancers from around the country and with West End choreographers. Chloe also performed at the year end Origins showcase event, an original ballet called “Summer in Penny Lane”, and at prestigious public events including “Move It”, the UK’s largest dance convention, and “TrueMotion” which is part of U.Dance, the biggest youth dance festival in the UK. Chloe told BlueSpark that her time with Chantry Origins had been “an amazing experience and that the memories and learning would stay with her forever.” Chloe has now successfully auditioned for and taken up a place at Studio 79, which provides a professional environment for students to excel in dance and theatre performance and help “propel them to reaching their dreams”.

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BlueSpark helped provide the funding for Witton Middle School in Droitwich,Worcestershire to take 12 disadvantaged pupils to Ullswater Outward Bound Centre in the Lake District on their first ever outdoor residential trip. These children had never left their home town . The project leader, Lawrence Crabb, told BlueSpark that “This was an opportunity to broaden their horizons, push their boundaries and show them what they were capable of. The trip encouraged teamwork, pride and self-esteem and

fostered longer term self-belief and resilience. The children immersed themselves in new experiences such as mountain climbing, scrambling, river wading and sailing. This is the stuff that life long memories are made of. Individuals have discovered new strengths and qualities and are talking about their futures in a different light.”

BlueSpark provided funding for 6 riders with a learning disability from Haworth Riding for the Disabled Group to attend the two-day National Special Olympics Competition in Sheffield as part of the Yorkshire and Humberside team. This is a major competition designed to increase independent living. The participants had to adjust to riding unfamiliar horses. Jane Lawrence, the project leader, told BlueSpark that “The event not only nurtured independence but helped build social and communication skills, increase self-esteem and selfconfidence and demonstrated what can be achieved both individually and as a team. One rider is wheelchair-bound and a more able rider took charge of her and her wheelchair! Our riders made new friends and had the

experience of a different equine environment. All of our riders won medals, many of them being golds and silvers. They made new friends and had the experience of a different equine environment.”

BlueSpark provided support for Breachwood Green JMI School in Hitchin, Hertfordshire to work on a one-year long project with the Young People’s Puppet Theatre. In that time 24 pupils designed and made their own marionette puppet, designed and painted each scene, made the props and performed the story of “Theseus and the Minotaur”. The children took on various roles including voices, puppeteer, stage manager and lighting. They were able to see how a project can develop over time and how input from all members of their class was required to make the project a success. The Headteacher told BlueSpark that the children enjoyed applying their art and design skills to a real project and that the roles they took on during the show took them out of their comfort zones and enabled them to develop their confidence and resilience.

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BlueSpark supported the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s Open Sound Ensemble workshop initiative which supports the musical progression, personal development and social musical opportunities of young people aged 11 to 18 with special educational needs and disabilities in South East London. The aim is to make music making varied, fresh, exciting and fun. LPO musicians are seated with the ensemble groups. The LPO team observes participants during each session to see how they settle within the group, what they particularly enjoy doing and playing, how they interact with their peers and what they find challenging.

The LPO told BlueSpark that the feedback from parents and carers has been very positive. One parent said “I thought it was a very inclusive experience, which was great. C loved playing with the Orchestra. She was happy during the sessions and has not stopped talking about them since!” Another parent said that “A is really gaining an understanding of music and is making conscious decisions about how she wants to play and perform”. Another said “This is a wonderful experience. The LPO team leaders really engage all the young people.”

BlueSpark provided funding for students at Oaklands Catholic School, Waterlooville Hampshire to take the STEM Leaders Qualification, Level 2. This qualification aims to recognise the personal leadership skills that students develop through their study of science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects. In order to meet the requirements of the course, the students had to complete a number of written tasks and be observed leading STEM activities. They also had to research STEM careers and the qualifications required to

achieve them as well as any “barriers to entry” that might exist. The school told BlueSpark that undertaking this qualification made the students more aware of the options available to them for their futures and also helped them to contextualise their academic curriculum and motivate them with their studies.

BlueSpark provided funding to the Collett School in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire to purchase scanning pens to support their special needs pupils with dyslexia in their exams. The school’s Exams Officer told BlueSpark that “The pupils have seen a huge increase in confidence meaning they are already, in just two weeks, accessing practice papers at a level higher than they were before. They are able to access their full potential and do not feel limited by their struggles with reading. Given this almost instant impact, we expect they will achieve better exam results at the end of the year, thus improving their post-16 and workplace prospects.”

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BlueSpark provided matched funding for eight teenagers to attend a 3 day Rotary Youth Leadership Award course at White Hall Outdoor Education Centre in Buxton, Derbyshire. The participants took part in various outdoor challenges such as climbing, caving, abseiling and canoeing. They were given exposure to leadership scenarios and the chance to explore problem-solving strategies as part of a team. They were able to build their self confidence, overcome fears and meet new people. Each of the students took on leadership roles in turn and in doing so had to take into account the feelings, ideas and thoughts of the rest of the team.

BlueSpark provided funding for Year 5 and Year 6 children from Montem Primary School, Islington, London to visit the Globe Theatre for a dramatic workshop based around Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth”. The workshop explored the language of the play, aiding the children’s understanding of the text through dramatic games. The children worked together to put on their own

dramatic response to the play. The school’s Assistant Head Teacher told BlueSpark that “being able to take the children to see such an iconic venue was really memorable and inspiring for them. They demonstrated confidence in their performance and the workshop really helped them to unpick the character and the language of the play. The writing they subsequently produced was used as one of their assessment pieces and the children secured fantastic end of year writing outcomes. We also saw significant impact in their confidence to perform in their own year-end musical performance of Oliver.”

BlueSpark provided matched funding for St. Mary Magdalene C of E Primary School in Peckham in the London Borough of Southwark to create a working garden from an unused outdoor space for the benefit of both the school and the wider community. Children at the school now grow food and flowers as part of their outdoor learning experience. The school told BlueSpark that “We have created a special place for our children who have all become really enthusiastic gardeners. They have created a legacy for our future

children by creating a space that can be passed on with love and care. We have also achieved Levels 1 to 4 in the RHS School Gardening Awards and Gold Awards for our bulbs and flowers from the London Children’s Flower Society. Our newly formed Garden Club attended the LCFS awards ceremony at London’s Guildhall. These new experiences have brought a lot of joy to our school community.”

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BlueSpark provided funding to help students from King Edward VI School, Stratford-upon-Avon write, produce, promote and and perform their own production at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. In creating and performing their own play, the students learnt about planning and performing in a professional context; project dependencies, contingencies and risks; marketing and communication; delivering a play in an unfamiliar environment; and about personal responsibility and

resilience. Louisa Nightingale, the school’s Head of Drama and Performance, told BlueSpark that the whole experience has inspired the students to continue writing their own plays.

BlueSpark helped provide funding for 25 children from Stanhope Barrington C of E Primary School Bishop Auckland, Durham to take part in a residential visit to London. The children spent three days and two nights away from home absorbing the culture and experience of London. They visited the London Eye, the British Museum, Madame Tussaud’s, the National Gallery and went to see “Matilda”. The Assistant Headteacher said that “the children showed confidence in unfamiliar surroundings and resilience when faced with

two nights away from home. They were able to see landmarks, first hand, that they had studied in their lessons and they returned to school with a huge sense of pride. They thoroughly enjoyed their visit but more importantly they overcame boundaries that they were worried about.”

BlueSpark provided grant support to enable Deeplish Primary Academy in Rochdale, Greater Manchester to take 62 Year 6 children to Hollingworth Lake Water Activity Centre to experience the challenge of a day of sailing, windsurfing and kayaking. The project aimed to give the children the opportunity to enjoy an activity that they had never undertaken before and to increase their sense of self belief and resilience. It also “gave them an insight into how to explore nature on their doorstep and provided a fantastic celebratory end to their primary school education”.

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BlueSpark supported a Year 6 trip by Thornford C of E Primary School in Thornford, Dorset to the Bristol Hippodrome to see “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”. The Headteacher told BlueSpark that “Seeing live musical theatre outside the school setting is incredibly important in trying to instill a love for the arts in our children. Our school is a small rural primary school and part of the benefit of the trip was for the children to experience a large city and busy atmosphere. The live performance was incredible and something that the pupils will remember for years to come.”

BlueSpark provided support for Alyssa Oates to represent Great Britain in the Underwater Hockey World Championship in Turkey. Underwater hockey is a fast-paced team sport played on the bottom of a swimming pool. Athletes must hold their breath and work together to score goals at a depth of 3 metres. They train for up to 15 hours a week but as a minority sport, underwater hockey is all funded by the participating athletes. Alyssa said that BlueSpark’s funding had “helped to reduce the financial burden of competing internationally

and allowed her to concentrate all her time on her training”. At the end of the World Championships, the GB team led the league table. Alyssa told BlueSpark that the success of the GB team has increased female participation in underwater hockey in Great Britain.

BlueSpark provided funding support to help Patience Wood from Bebington Archers in the Wirral, represent Great Britain at the European Archery Championships in Berlin. Patience managed to qualify for the Final and then battled through two days of headto-head tournaments to win the silver medal. This was beyond “her wildest expectations”. In addition to her competition triumphs, Patience is a Youth Ambassador for Archery GB. In that capacity, she has

spoken at primary and secondary school assemblies all over the Wirral about her archery journey and how shooting for Great Britain has helped not only her physical but also her mental health. She is now on the Committee for Sports Development in the Wirral and in her words, “hoping to shape accessibility and opportunity for young people within my region”.

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BlueSpark provided support to Darcie Alexander-Frye to help fund her volunteering trip to Africa. The trip was organised through “African Adventures” which works with schools in developing areas of Ghana, Kenya and Zanzibar to organise life changing volunteer trips. Whether participants want to teach in classrooms or help build a new one, their skills are matched with the right partner school. Darcie went to Nakura in Kenya. In her own words, “My trip to Kenya was so unique and special to experience. I

feel so lucky that I was able to go and help people less fortunate than me and make an impact on their lives. I had the opportunity to help out in a primary school in Nakura for a week and then to visit some of the children in their homes. It was truly life changing to be able to see how differently people live and how grateful it made me when returning home to England.”

BlueSpark provided Leeds Girls Club with the funding for a public speaking workshop delivered by The Speakers Trust. The objective was to boost the confidence of the Club’s young people and to help them to improve their ability to express themselves verbally, thereby improving their chances of being successful in both their education and in their adult lives. The Speakers Trust vision is that every young person is able to speak confidently and be heard. The Leeds Girls Club

Manager told BlueSpark that the project gave their club members an experience which was both enjoyable and educational and that all the participants said that they found the workshop to be a fun and engaging way of learning and developing a new skill.

BlueSpark provided funding for 150 children from St. Bartholomew’s C of E Primary School in Armley, Leeds to visit the West Yorkshire Playhouse to see “Oliver Twist”. The school’s Assistant Headteacher told BlueSpark that “it was the first time that most of the children had visited a theatre and it was an exceptional experience for them. The awe and wonder it created was really special. The children have not stopped talking about it. Some are keen to start a drama club and some have also been talking in class about careers in the sector”.

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Financial Report

Accounts for the year ending 31st March 2023 have been completed on a receipts and payments basis and are included on pages 27 and 28 of this report. An independent examiner’s report on the Accounts is set out on page 29 of this report. The Trustees believe a receipts and payments basis is appropriate for the Foundation as it has a cash based business model comprising receiving donations and endowments, managing investments and making grants.

The Accounts cover the period 1st April 2022 to 31st March 2023. All functions are carried out by the Trustees who give their time without charge. During the year the Foundation awarded grants to the value of £100,513. Website and software costs of £530, bank and investment fees of £1,450 and investment purchases of £1,360 complete the total payments of £103,853 included in the Accounts.

The Foundation did not undertake any fundraising activities during the year but received donations amounting to £420 and investment and other income totaling £2,476. On April 5th 2023 the Foundation received a donation of £45,275 to unrestricted funds. During the year investments to the value of £56,578 were sold to fund grant making activities. Total cash receipts for the year amounted to £59,474 leaving net payments of £44,379 for the year.

As at 31st March 2023, the total value of investments and cash held by the Foundation was £575,225 represented by investment assets held in a broad range of equity funds having a market value as at that date of £547,391 and cash of £27,834. All of the investment assets and the £15,876 cash held with Hargreaves Lansdown constituted endowment funds. The remaining £11,958 cash held with Barclays Bank constituted unrestricted funds

The value of investments at 31st March 2022 were £600,630. No material additions have been made to the investments during the year and overall a small capital gain was made. During the year asset sales of £56,578 were made and were the major factor in reducing the investment value to £547,391 at the year end.

Policy on Reserves

The endowment funds have been donated to provide base funding for the Foundation for the long term. The general agreement with the donor is to allow the Trustees to transfer to unrestricted funds a maximum of 10 per cent of the value of the endowment funds in any given financial year.

All donations received as unrestricted funds plus transfers from endowment funds less operating costs are available to provide grants. The Trustees ensure that at all times the Foundation has sufficient resources to meet its obligations and commitments. The policy on reserves is reviewed by the Trustees on an on going basis in the light of the receipt of further endowment funding and unrestricted donations.

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Policies on Investments and Cash

BlueSpark has an account with Hargreaves Lansdown investment managers which holds all endowment investments and cash separately from unrestricted funds. In order to diversify and spread risk, our investments are held in managed equity funds which in turn hold investments in companies operating in all the major markets in the world. These investments are held with the aim of providing income and growth to fund our grant awards in the long term.

Cash reserves sufficient to meet our grant awards in the short-term and other obligations will be maintained at all times.

Plans for the Future

The Trustees intend to continue making grants on the same basis as they have done up to the date of this report. In particular, they intend to continue making grants to a wide range of different types of project from across the whole of England and from a broad range of schools, community organisations, sports clubs, drama groups and music and dance organisations.

The Trustees are confident that BlueSpark has existing funds sufficient to continue its activities on at least the same scale for a number of years. Furthermore, they have assurances of significant endowment funding in the future.

In setting our objectives and planning our activities, the Trustees have considered The Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit, including the guidance "Public benefit : running a charity (PB2)". It is our opinion that, in setting our objectives, we have complied with our duty to have due regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit.

……………………………………… ………………………………………… Tim Davies Robert Bartlett Chairman Finance Director 29th January 2024

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Appendix 1 Trustees

Tim Davies is our Chairman. He graduated in Law from the University of Southampton and then qualified as a solicitor. He practised for over 30 years as a corporate lawyer at Fieldfisher, an international firm of lawyers where he was a Partner, Head of the Corporate Department and a member of the Management Board. He is now a Trustee of The Children’s Trust for Children with acquired brain injury, a Business Adviser for the Young Enterprise UK Programme, a school governor and a judge for the ESU Churchill Public Speaking competition for schools.

Robert Bartlett is our Finance Director. He graduated in Economics from the University of Southampton and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. During a 25 year career with Racal Electronics plc, a large UK quoted multi-national group, he progressed to hold the position of Finance Director with Racal’s Telecoms, IT Security and Corporate Finance divisions. After the acquisition of Racal Electronics plc by Thales SA, a €10bn per annum turnover French Group, he was responsible for integrating the Racal subsidiaries into Thales accounting and budgeting processes. He then resumed operational finance director roles for Thales within Thales’ Transportation and UK Services divisions.

Sarah Budnik is our Grant Applications Director. She graduated in Geography from Royal Holloway College, University of London in 2010. After graduating, she worked at Royal Holloway as their Community Action Volunteer Manager before joining BEN, the automotive industry charity as their National Volunteer Coordinator. She then trained as a teacher and for seven years taught geography at Sutton Grammar School in the London Borough of Sutton where she was also Deputy Head of the Upper School. She now teaches geography at Highworth Grammar School in Ashford, Kent.

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Appendix 2 Ambassadors

Helen Bartlett is a drama teacher, actress, musician and singer. She graduated in Acting from the University of Central Lancashire and subsequently taught drama at Woldgate School, Pocklington, York. She has been involved for many years with youth theatres and drama festivals.

Steve Clarke is a technology entrepreneur and investor with business experience in both the private and public sectors. He has built successful start-up businesses from the ground up. He founded the online property portal Property Jungle, co-founded Mobile Five Media and set up and currently runs WithU an audio fitness platform that makes training accessible to anyone anywhere in the world.

Huw Leslie graduated from Cambridge University and joined the Civil Service in 2012, initially working as a policy adviser at the Department for Education and subsequently as a policy adviser at H.M. Treasury. He then became Private Secretary to the Minister of State for Schools before returning to H.M. Treasury as Head of Education Strategy and Schools Policy and subsequently becoming head of H.M.T. Scorecard Branch. He is now Deputy Director at the Cabinet Office.

Jack Leslie is Economics Advisor at the Bank of England. Prior to taking up his present position, he was a senior economist at The Resolution Foundation where his work focussed on macroeconomics and wealth inequality. Before he joined The Resolution Foundation he worked as an economist at the Bank of England in roles covering banking regulation, inflation and labour markets. Jack has an MSc in Economics from Warwick University.

Greg Nussbaum is an NHS hospital doctor. He graduated as a doctor from King's College, London in 2014. He is now an anaesthetic and intensive care registrar at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.

Rachel Nussbaum is the founder and artistic director of Pull the Other Speech and Drama Education which undertakes drama programmes and workshops for young people. She is also an actress and singer. She graduated in Theatre and Performance from Warwick University in 2007 and subsequently undertook an MA in Acting at East 15 Acting School.

Lisa Singleton is a science teacher at Oxted School in Surrey. She graduated from Exeter University in Biological Sciences in 2006 before going on to qualify as a teacher.

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Appendix 3 Grants

The following is a full list of the 80 grants we made in the year to 31st March 2023. The list gives brief details of each project, the organisation which initiated the project and the geographical location of the organisation:

Creation of garden for school and wider community use

St Mary Magdalene Primary C of E School, Peckham, London

Week long school trip for vulnerable pupils to Isle of Wight multi-activity centre Camelsdale Primary School, Camelsdale, Haslemere, Surrey

Creation of nature trail from overgrown woodland area in school grounds Dowdales School, Dalton in Furness, Cumbria

Hire of lighting and sound equipment and purchase of materials to make sets and costumes for drama, dance and music workshops leading to a school production with participation from feeder primary schools St Ives School, St Ives, Cornwall

Transforming a neglected piece of land on school site into a sensory garden Millgate School, Leicester

20 three person tents to develop lower cost camping and residential trips

Oasis Academy, Nunsthorpe, Grimsby, Lincolnshire

School gardening community to learn how food develops “from ground to plate” Park Hall Academy, Castle Bromwich, Solihull

15 tents and 10 stoves for Duke of Edinburgh Award expeditions

The Meadows Special School, Leek, Staffordshire

Vehicle maintenance courses for at-risk and disadvantaged young people GASP Motor Project, Shere, Guildford Surrey

Six heavy duty sewing machines for teaching sewing skills to disadvantaged students

Grey Court School, Ham, Twickenham, London

“Bringing Books to Life” dance workshop for World Book Day

Gypsey Bridge Academy, Gypsey Bridge, Boston, Lincolnshire

Trip to Kenya to teach in a local school

Darcie Alexander-Frye, Tiverton, Devon

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Support and develop a new emerging performance company comprising alumni from Newham Sixth Form College to create an opportunity for them to develop their practice, build their company profile and employability and perform a new work to a diverse range of audiences

Newham Sixth Form College (New Vic), Newham, East London

Participation in World Scout Jamboree in South Korea

Individual, Lowestoft, Norfolk

Equipment for Forest School

Wallisdean School, Portsmouth, Hampshire

Plan and perform a production at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival

King Edward VI School Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire

Six-week forest school programme at Alexandra Palace

Pakeman Primary School, Holloway, London

Musical ensemble for young people with special educational needs and disabilities London Philharmonic Orchestra, Greenwich and Lewisham, South East London

Visit to National Gallery for pupils to see their own work displayed and tour of London

Hill Top C of E Primary school, Bradford, West Yorkshire

Engine parts and tools to rebuild a 1946 tractor and create a learning programmme to demonstrate engineering and propulsion principles to cadets interested in STEM

RAF Air Cadets, Rayleigh Squadron, Rayleigh Essex

Adventure weekend visiting museums, parks and gaining other experiences Individual, Penwortham Priory Academy, Penwortham, Preston, Lancashire

Visit to the pantomime for disabled and disadvantaged young people

Haworth Riding for the Disabled Group, Haworth, Bradford, West Yorkshire

Visit to London, river cruise and theatre trip

Beech Hill School, Halifax, West Yorkshire

Orienteering day and purchase of orienteering resources to use on an ongoing basis

The Priors School, Priors Marston, Warwickshire

Woodworking tools and equipment and sensory equipment for forest school Crosshill Special School, Darwen, Lancashire

Three new musical initiatives (drumming workshop, musical instrument tuition and “Band Time” programme) to teach each Year 5 child how to play a brass instrument, how to read music and how to collaborate in performing in a group Cherry Tree Primary School, Watford, Hertfordshire

Supporting the education and development of children and young people

Residential canal boat journey through Camden and Hackney with students opening the locks and steering the boat and with onshore activities on the journey including ice-skating, horse riding, bike riding and other team games and activities

Camden Centre for Learning, Camden, London

“Grow and Gather” project to grow fruit and vegetables, teach the children how to use them in cooking and distribute the produce to school families and the wider community

St George’s Roman Catholic Primary School, Overdale, Eastfield, Scarborough, Yorkshire

Participation in World Scout Jamboree in South Korea

Individual, New Eltham, London

Video camera and accessories to enable students to produce films to show to parents, potential work experience placements and community partners and local businesses

Piper Hill School, Wythenshawe, Manchester

4 laptops and software and 4 classroom screens to provide training to sea cadets Hoylake and West Kirby Sea Cadets, Wirral, Merseyside

Percussion instruments to set up school percussion club

Mary Exton JMI School, Hitchin, Hertfordshire

Kit bag and competition kit for member of GB underwater hockey elite ladies team

Alyssa Oates, Plymouth, Devon

Participation in acting Summer School at the Barbican, London

Lily Boudewijn, Cowes, Isle of Wight

Project with Young People’s Puppet Theatre to design puppets, make scenery and use them to produce a show with all participants making their own puppet and having opportunities to take on roles as stage manager, lighting operator, puppeteer, and voice actor

Breachwood Green JMI School, Hitchin, Hertfordshire

Riding course for SEN children

Woodlands School, Edgware, Middlesex and Penniwell’s Riding School for the Disabled

Re wild an area of school grounds to create a wildflower meadow area and encourage a variety of wildlife such as hedgehogs, bugs, bees, butterflies and birds St Joseph’s Primary School, Portishead, North Somerset

Theatre visit for 20 students to see “An Inspector Calls” at The Curve Theatre, Leicester

Willowbank School, Leicester

Supporting the education and development of children and young people

Collaboration between the National Youth Theatre and Frozen Light (which makes sensory theatre for individuals with profound and multiple learning disabilities) to perform two futuristic sensory extravaganza shows for audiences with PMLD National Youth Theatre, Holloway, London for Richard Cloudesley School, Islington,

30 fitness trampolines to use in “BOUNCE” fitness classes Highworth Grammar School, Ashford, Kent

Start-up funding for materials for sensory art and safe sensory cooking school for disabled children

The Wilberforce Trust, York

Purchase of horse to provide therapeutic and physical benefits of riding, carriage driving, vaulting and hippotherapy to SEND and SEMH young people

The Cavalier Centre, Farley, Much Wenlock, Shropshire

Provision of full football kit for players at inclusion/disability football club Bootle Bucks Inclusion FC, Bootle, Liverpool

Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) course for young people aged between 14 and 17 at White Hall Outdoor Education Centre

Rotary Club, Buxton, Derbyshire

After-school club to engage children in STEAM subjects by designing, constructing and building an electric racing car (Greenpower Trust project)

Aston Clinton School, Aston Clinton, Buckinghamshire

After school drama club run by Harrogate Theatre’s Creative Engagement Department followed by giving a live performance in a working Studio Theatre St Nicholas C of E Primary School, West Tanfield, Ripon, North Yorkshire

Visit to the pantomime at Buxton Opera House for 99 children

Fairfield Infant and Nursery School, Fairfield, Buxton, Derbyshire

Four day drama and music workshop in Eastbourne for 25 children with complex physical and learning disabilities

Sussex Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus

Funding support for outside classroom (canopied area, log seating and fire pit, willow tunnel, plant beds, bug hotels and wildflower bed)

St Mary’s School, Horam, Heathfield, East Sussex

Funding for year 9 and year 10 students to undertake STEM Leaders Level I and Level II qualifications

The Boulevard Academy, Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire

Canoe, paddles and associated equipment to expand range of water-based activities available to cadets

Stoke-on-Trent Sea Cadets, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire

Supporting the education and development of children and young people

Contribution towards travel and accommodation costs to shoot for Archery GB Patience Wood, Birkenhead, Wirral, Merseyside

Multi skills project for year 10 and 11 students to develop skills to open pathways to future education and employment

Prince of Wales Youth Club, Canterbury, Kent

Project for Key Stage 3 students to work with theatre professionals to devise their own version of Hamlet to be staged at Southwark Playhouse

Southwark Playhouse Theatre Company working with St Olave’s and St Saviour’s School Foundation and Newcomen Collett Foundation

Contribution towards trip to Pompeii designed to complement teaching of Latin

North Liverpool Academy, Liverpool

Contribution towards attending Chantry Origins ballet dance lessons

Chloe Share, Thurlaston, Leicestershire

Outdoor performance stage

Barrington School Barrington Cambridge

50 waterproof suits to facilitate use of new forest school facility

St John’s Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale, Lancashire

Setting up Disabled Fencing Club

Disabled Friends and Family Association

Participation in “Young Voices” 7500 strong children’s choir concert at the O2

Arena

Yapton C of E Primary School, Yapton, West Sussex

Hire of touring pantomime company to visit the school for two performances

Paddox Primary School, Rugby, Warwickshire

Visit to New Hall Farm, Barnsley to enable the children to see different aspects of farming

Grange Lane Infant Academy, Doncaster, South Yorkshire

Drama, dance, music and singing after school “Performance Club”

Stowlawn Primary School, Bilston, Wolverhampton, West Midlands

Sailing, windsurfing and kayaking activity day

Deeplish Primary Academy, Rochdale, Greater Manchester

Open-air stage singing, dancing and acting production involving every child in the school

Jessie Younghusband School, Chichester, West Sussex

Supporting the education and development of children and young people

Outdoor residential trip to Mersea Island, Essex

Maldon Primary School, Maldon, Essex

Visit to Bletchley Park

Frederick Bremer School, Walthamstow, London

Specialised gym equipment for children with additional needs

South Devon School of Gymnastics, Paignton Devon

Trip to London to visit the theatre, the London Eye, the Imperial War Museum and an art gallery

Stanhope Barrington C of E Primary School, Bishop Auckland, Durham

Protective equipment and transport costs for participation in the kit car Greenpower Challenge

Scarborough University Technical College, Scarborough, North Yorkshire

Participation in World Challenge expedition to Borneo for wildlife and environmental conservation projects and leadership building activities such as mountain and jungle treks and wilderness camping Amelie Jackson, Droitwich, Worcestershire

Book purchase programme for new Book Club

Astrea Academy, Sheffield

Visit to the Globe Theatre in London for a Shakespeare workshop

Holly Lodge High School, Smethwick, West Midlands

Adventure trip to Striding Edge in the Lake District

Countess Anne School, Hatfield, Hertfordshire

National Cipher Challenge code breaking competition

The University of Southampton, Hampshire

Media studies equipment to support student production skills

Presdale School Academy Trust, Ware, Hertfordshire

Instrumental music lessons for gifted but financially challenged students

Hayle Academy, Hayle, Cornwall

Support for participation in “Project 23” a 3 week community activity based trip around Europe

George Hayward, Southampton, Hampshire

Support costs for Torbay Children’s Parliament competition Riviera Education Trust, Paignton, Devon

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Appendix 4 Receipts and Payments Accounts For the Year Ended 31[st] March 2023

Receipts and Payments

Receipts Donations Received Investment Income Interest Income Sub-Total Sale of Investments Total Receipts Payments Grants Awarded Re-awarded Grants Investment Fees & Bank Charges Website & Software Costs Sub-Total Investment Purchases Total Payments Net Receipts / (Payments) Transfers between Funds Cash Funds : brought forward Cash Funds : carried forward	Unrestricted Funds £ 420 2,348 128 2,896 - 2,896 100,513 - 102 530 101,145 - 101,145 (98,249) 96,589 13,618 11,958	Endowment Funds £ - - - - 56,578 56,578 - - 1,348 - 1,348 1,360 2,708 53,870 (96,589) 58,595 15,876	Total Last Funds Year £ £ 420 85,579 2,348 5,226 128 3 2,896 90,808 56,578 54,305 59,474 145,113 100,513 104,023 - 7,323 1,450 1,762 530 5,423 102,493 118,531 1,360 1,869 103,853 120,400 (44,379) 24,713 - - 72,213 47,500 27,834 72,213

Supporting the education and development of children and young people

Receipts and Payments Accounts For the Year Ended 31[st] March 2023

Statement of Assets and Liabilities at 31[st] March 2023

			Unrestricted	Endowment
			Funds	Funds
			£	£
Cash Funds		Barclays Current a/c	6,887	-
		Barclays Deposit a/c	5,071	-
		Hargreaves Lansdown Inv. a/c	-	15,876
		Total Cash Funds	11,958	15,876
				Current Value
				£
Investment Assets		Endowment Funds		547,391
BlueSpark Foundation has no Other Assets or Liabilities
		Supporting Analysis and Notes
				Endowment
				Funds
				£
Movement on Investments		Opening Valuation		600,630
		Endowment-Transfer of Investments		-
		Plus: Additions		1,360
		Less: Disposals		56,578
		Plus: Capital gain including accumulation		1,979
		Closing Balance (see note 3)		547,391
Notes:
1)	BlueSpark Foundation has given no guarantee with a		potential liability
	outstanding at the date of the statement of assets and liabilities.
2)	Bluespark Foundation has no debt outstanding at the		date of the statement of
	assets and liabilities which is secured by an express charge on any of the assets of
	BlueSpark.
3)	The closing balance of investments is valued using market prices at 31/03/2023.
4)	At 31/03/2023 there were Grants offered but not yet		paid to the value of £22,393.

Signed on behalf of all the trustees

Date of Approval Signed Printed Name	Date of Approval Signed Printed Name	Date of Approval Signed Printed Name
	Tim Davies Robert Bartlett	29/01/2024 29/01/2024

Supporting the education and development of children and young people

Appendix 5 Independent examiner’s report to the Trustees of BlueSpark Foundation

I report to the Trustees on my examination of the accounts of BlueSpark Foundation (BlueSpark) for the year ended 31st March 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity Trustees of BlueSpark, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).

I report in respect of my examination of BlueSpark’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all 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. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect :

accounting records were not kept in respect of BlueSpark as required by section 130 of the Act; or
the accounts do not accord with those records.

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.

Signed

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S. Roberts B.Sc., ACMA 3 Conygree Close, Lower Earley, Reading, RG6 4XE

29th January 2024

Supporting the education and development of children and young people