Sq THE NETWORK The Network CIO Charity Number: 1167775 Trustees, Annual Report for the Period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025
Charity name: The Network CIO Charity number: 1167775 Charity's operating City Hall, Beaumont Fee, Lincoln, LN11 DD address: Names of the Chari Trustees who mana e the Chari Trustee Name Office ointed Retired Gall Dunn Chair June 2016 Ben Rollett Treasurer June 2016 Gavin Warhurst July 2016 July 2016 October 2016 Mike Johnson Amanda Bouttell Diane Slapp Tlna Ramsay Graham Metcalfe August 2023 August 2023 August 2023 Names & Addresses of Advisors of advisor Name Address & Postcode The Co-operative PO Box 250, Delf House, Southway, Skelmersdale, Bank WN8 8Vr Bank Independent Examiner Saul Fairholm 12 TenterGroft street, Lincoln, LN5 7DB
structure, Governance & Management Descri tion of the Chari .8 Trusts Type of Governing Document: Constitution Charitable Incorporated Organisation How the Charity is Constituted: Trustee Selection Methods: Appointed by existing Trustees Objectives & Activities Summa of the Ob'ects of the Charl The objects of the CIO are: To act as a resource for young people aged 16-24 living in the City of Lincoln and the surrounding area by providing advice and assistance and organising programmes of educational and other activities as a means of.. advancing in life and helping young people by developing their skills, capacities and capabilities to enable them to participate in society as independent, mature and responsible individuals; advancing education., relieving unemployment. as set out in its Governin Document b) Summa of the Main Activities Undertaken for th8 Publlc Benefit In Relation to the Charit 's Ob'ects The Network CIO has undertaken the following activities: Encouraged and supported young people with appropriate advice and guidance on training, education andlor employment. Developed the skills and knowledge amongst young people to enable them to participate in training, education and employment. Focused on researching and removing barriers to employment and training for young people, where possible. Developed employment opportunities for young people with employers. Raised employer awareness of the positive impact of employing and investing in young people. Provided facilities by which volunteer members can support young people. Ensured that the activities, opportunities and serVIS that The Network may offer are open to all young people. Developed partnerships within The Network with local partners and providers and national organisations that assist young people in achieving their aims. statuto Declaration The trustees declare that they have complied with their duty to have due regard to the guidance on public benefit published by the commission in exercising their powers or duties.
Achievements & Performance umma of the Main Achievements of the Charit for the Year Young people supported during the year: 253 Young people supported into employment: 30 Confirmed to have engaged with trainingleducation: 36 Confimied into volunteering: 43 Engagement in groupslreduced lonelines818ocial isolation: 56 Other,. 31 (Including gaining housing, accessing Cost of Living Support, accessing clinical mental health support etc.) Year In Review Wè stay consistently busy, with 253 clients seen this year. This continues the trend of seeing around 200-250 young people a year. This number was achieved with minimal outreach, and just our standard referral channel8 (DWP, word of mouth, family connections). This suggests to us that this is a number that we will consistently see and are able to manage at the staffing levels we currently sit at (Increased over the last few years to 2 time FT equivalent on delivery). 1-1 Person Centred Support: Continulng Rise of Increased complexity We are once again seeing another year of increased complexity, exacerbated by overwhelmed public sector services like the NHS and Housing. We have gone more into depth on this topic further on in the report, and you will see the way we're already focusing further on the research and collaboration needed to tackle these issues on a systemic level. In the meantime, its meaning longer client journeys, clients returning to us more often when they hit barriers even after progression into workltraining and us providing more advocacy and untangling of the complex situations. Not all doom and gloom Whilst it has been a year of significant challenges, it has also been a year of celebration, of the strength, and resilience, of our young people. We've been able to watch them overcome adversitie8 to start on truly amazing paths including University, work and further education and training. Some of our young people have started their own freelance businesses, and olhers have been published in poetry anthologies. We've moved young people into housing, and other have started University degrees.
i* Raising Young Volce8: a Journey of Systems Change and Empowerment AS of April 2024, our collaboration with LoGalMotion evolved to include working together to look at involving young people in the systems change work happening in Lincoln, This started with the Youth Led organising of a research conference (similar to our conference in 2020), looking at the key themes in Lincoln and what young peoples experiences were and what they wanted to see change. This involved collecting "professionals" from various sectors such as the police, housing, benefits and revenues, the NHS etc. to facilitate conversations on tables to get feedback and thoughts on Lincoln's current situation, It was a very enlightening day, with excellent youth engagement and you can find out more and read the full report (well worth reading!) here: htt .'Illocalm tion.or .ukJ lacesllincolnl Ral8ing Young Volces (RYV) Steering Group SolIGPEOp1erO OPPOR Tuthrt From there, we started the Raising Young Voices Steering Group-a constantly evolving core group of young people passionate about systems change and leading the way in this. The core group started with 6 and has grown to around 10. It's flexible around the fact that the young people are in a transitionary part of their lives and may move into work or training. Over last summer we worked with Localmotion and the University of Lincoln around capacity building for the group on the CAPE fund. Members did a place visit to Nottingham to See how another organisation outside the city works, did public speaking training with Creative Rebel CIC and completed Civic Storytelling activities. From all this, we created our "ljvhy" which was to "improve the future for everyone and formed the basis of our Golden Circle (seen above). sin then the group has gone from strength to strength with members from within the network client base and outside. We're still focusing on capacity building, and are excited to see how the group grows and where it goes moving forlvard. IICIUSE IIE NEED TQ IMPkO¥Z THE FIITURE FOR E¥ERYONE TEDX and Creative Rebel CIC Collaboration
As part of Raising Young Voice8 we partnered with Creative Rebel CIC who ran a public speaking I confidence workshop that was highly effective, boosting up our young people Confiden to join the Trustee Meeting we had scheduled. This led to further collaboration, with an invitation for our RYV group to join the TEDX Brayford Pool with funded tickets to see speakers and an opportunity to support Georgia in running manifesto workshop around the findings of the RYV conference. We were also honoured the TEDX selected Gabby as a speaker this year, who used the platform to highlight the systemic injustices young people face and the power of community action and inclusion to tackle them. Nerd Herd and The Lincoln Museum Collaboratlon; Games: Enter the Unknown Nerd Herd (facilitated Table Top Role Play Games sessions for social confidence) has continued to grow, with more young people joining and more training as Volunteer Games Ma8ters, allowing the group to be fully youth led. We were approached by the local museum who had plans to run an exhibit on table top and board games, their history and their place in our communities. Mernbers of Nerd H8rd were able to get involved in paid freelance positions to help shape and curate the exhibition, with named shout-out in the Community Corner which held game8 selected by members of the group. The group continues to be very effective in boosting and building social confidence, with the 1-1 mentoring alongside allowing our young people to See the progress they've made and start applying this to other settings. Communlty Corfier Crafternoon, includlng Lincoln Lights Collaboration Crafternoons run in tandem with Nerd Herd and provide a gentle space for people to take part in 'parallel play with their own craft projects or to learn new skills from each other or Georgia as the facilitator. This has included swapping crochet skills and drawing knowledge. Again, the confidenca built in the group is able to be applied outside of the setting to help young people thrive. Further, this group was approached by Tanya of Wildflower Storytelling for a workshop around growth, where their words were formed into poetry that was shared across Lincoln as part of the Lincoln Lights Festival, with one direct quote seen through the link below.. htt '.Ilwww. insta ram.coml DGSSR dofv81
Hairy Violets We were fortunate to be able to continu8 our Hairy Violets sessions this year via the SHINE sustainability Fund, meaning it should be able to run for the next 3 years. The group has evolved to the shape and needs of the young people who take part. This year they've focused on the idea of poetry and writing providing not just wellbeing aGtivities, but also opportunities to have a voice and share experiences and thoughts in your communily. Towards the end of the year, the group has started created a Zine around a "Lincoln Witch" (in the style of Esme Boggart) who will provide young people with a way to have their voice heard in a creative fomat, sharing experiences of mental health, wellbeing and hope. We would like to especially lebrate a young person who'8 confidence and the skills and support offered them allowed them to enter a poem into a competition, which has now been published as part of an anthology of poems on Lincolnshire (Lincolnshire: Not of this Wold) Intsrgeneratlonal Connection8: Llquorice Park Supportad Voluntaering As part of the natural evolution of our partnership with Liquorice Park, we started discussions about more formalised and shored up support for young people passionate about green spaces, horticulture and conservation. We had already had a few young people start volunteering there, and saw the magic that happened as they connected with the predominately retiree volunteers in the park. The benefits all parties experienced was phenomenal, wrlh our young people especially finding confidence and more importantly perhaps, aspirational role models. For the existing volunteers, they got lo create valued connection8 With young people. What we did identify was that a support staff member was needed, 80 that any more intense barriers or issues that came up amongst the young people could be handled appropriately. Since January 2025, Billy's role has grown to include this strand of delivery, supporting young people to engage with the volunteer sessions on Wednesday morning8 alongside providing them with 1-1 support where needed. Barriers and Trends Health condition status Yes No Undiagnosed but suspected Percenta 130 240 Initial assessments-150 total on system erc Mental Health Social Anxiety Low Confidencelself esteem 48% 670/0 40% 640 110 Transport Physical Health
Substance Misuse Housing Debt Lack of MathslEnglish Autism 3% 13% 130 43% 19% ADHD DyslexialDyscalculia Caring Responsibilities 15% 9% 5% As seen above, Social Anxiety, transport and mental health continue to be the biggest barriers identified in initial assessments. One thing to note is that this data is captured in initial assessment only. This means that more emergent issues such as unstable housing, struggles to access neurodivergent diagnoses etc. are coming to the fore later in our work with the person. We also can't capture information that is less quantifiable, like comp18x home issues, incidents of being victims of violent crime, trauma etc. but anecdotally we're seeing this emerge more and more often during our work with young people, which then involves us working to link the young person in with appropriate housing, counselling and Victim Support services. Cllent Feedback 'The Network gives me a reason to leave my house when I'm 8t my absolute lowest, and still giv8S just as much support when I'm feeling bettgrf, "I have found the network tremendously useful and supportlV8. Gabby has bean very helpful when it comes to finding infonnation, emailing people, signing up to other seNices and finding volunteering vacancies." 'It helped me to explore myself and my r81ationship to the wortd around m8. It Was 8 really safe space. I could cre8t8 there which was very healing. Ev8rybody was so supportive." °It s been a lifeline to my son, with all the groups that he is now involved with through them. l4Vith his ASD, he cannot find wort(, so the Network has helped him meet 8nd connect with people his age, which can be very difficult" 'Gabby and Georgia are nice people and they give th8 bgst advice and will always do their best to help you," °Person-centred, empathetlc support. The Network actualty is a safe spaGe, not an organisation that just claims to be one" 'The Network are always compassionate, understanding and hardworking. The person-c8nted 1-1 chats are useful as I find it s nice to talk to someone about my career stuff without the fear of judgement, Th8 groups are gre8t to meet new people enjoy doing fun activities.. 'The groups are so inclusive and welcoming. I dony know what we would have done without Gabby, Georgia and their 8m8zing team" Financial Review Brief Ststement of the Chari 's Polic The Trustees regularly review the resereS of the charity. This review encompasses the nature of the income and expenditure streams and the need to maintsin adequate working capital for all core costs and liabilities. The Trustees have established a policy whereby the unrestricted funds held by the charity should include between three and six months core costs. on Reserves
Detsils of An NIA Funds Materiall in Deficit Declaration The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustse8' Report above. Signed on behalf of the Charity's Trustees Signature(8): Full Name(s): Gail Dunn Ben Rollett Position(s): Date: 16'jii I Chair Treasurer
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGLAND AND WALES Independent examinerfs report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Report to the tru8tse81 members of The Network CIO On accounts for the year ended 31 St March 2025 Charity no (if any) 1167775 Set out on page8 11-13 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above Gharity ('the Trust.) for the year ended 3110312025. Re8ponsibillties and As the charty trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 ( the Act.). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5){b) of the Act. I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention (other than that disclosed below ') in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect.. accountlng records were not kept in accordan with section 130 of the Act or the accounts do not accord with the accounting records Independent examlner's statement I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Please letg the words in the brackets if they do not apply. Signed: Date: Name: Roger M White Relevant professlonal qualification(s) or body (if any): ICAEW Address: Saul Fairholm Limited Chartered Accountants, 12 Tentercroft Street, Lincoln, LN5 7DB Section B Disclosure Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
Glve here brief details of any items that the examiner wlshes to dlsclose. 10
Receipts and Payments Accounts Charlty Name.. Charlty Number: Perlod from (start date): The Network CIO 1167775 01104/2024 to (end date): 31/0312025 Unrestrlrted Restrlrted Endowment funds funds funds Totsl funds Last year Al Recelpts City of Lincoln Council Iln-kind) Clty of Llncoln Council- UKSPF Shine - Sustainability Fund Other {Miscl The Natlonal Lottery Community Fund CareerNet Project Multiply Pro}ect WLDC The Foyle Foundatlon D'oyly Carte Charitable Trust Shine - Innovation Fund NHS Wlnter Pressues Evan Cornish Fund LPFT- Vlrtual Autlsm Hub Fund LVET- Research Fund 12,000 41,970 23,250 12,000 41,970 23,250 9,862 19,125 11,500 9,862 1,500 19,125 4,634 9,130 7,CrfJO 9.500 9,500 15,228 5,000 3,500 15,228 5,000 3,500 9,850 9,875 5,480 8,503 8,503 4,150 152,088 4,150 32,012 5,000 63,969 Sub totol A2 Asset & Investment sales, etc Total receipt5 120,076 32,012 120,076 152,088 63.969 A3 Payments staff costs Rent 65,805 65,805 12,000 1,580 215 61 1,650 915 132 51,936 11,500 490 200 104 1,481 78 140 12,000 1,580 215 61 1,650 915 132 Staff travel & expenses Stationery, printing & advertisin8 Professional fees & insurance Resources & events Participant Expenses Training Other Icoun5elling Support & workshops) Sub total A4 Asset & Investment purchases, etc Total payments Net of receipts/(paymentsJ A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash fvnds this year end 16,202 86,560 16,202 98,560 7,536 73,465 12,000 86,560 53.528 12,000 98,560 53,528 73,465 9.496 6,365 59,893 6,365 59,893 15,860 6.365 li
Statement ota5sets and Ilabilitie$ at the enloi the peri1 Unrestricted Restrlcted fvnds Endowment funds funds Detai15 Current account Bl Cash funds 27,327 32,566 Total cash funds 27,327 32.566 Unrestrlcted Restrlcted funds Endowment funds funds B2 Other monetary assets Details Fund to whlch asset belongs Co$t loptlonal) Current value (optlonal) B3 Investment assets Detalls Fund to whlch asset belongs Cost (optlonal) Current value (optlonal) B4 A55et$ retalned for the charltles own use Detalls Fund to whlch Ilablllty relates Amount due {optlonal) When due loptlonal) 85 Uabllltle5 Detalls Slgned by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees Slgnature Name Date of approval Ben Rollett 26- 11. i#z,r Gail Dunn a6[11 [JS 12
Notss to tho accounts Gengral The NetrTk CIO has nothin9 to di$¢lose wlih regard lo following.. a) p8rticularg of 8ny guarantee given by the CIO. where any potential Ilabllty under guarantee 55 autslanding at the d8te of the statement of asset8 and liabilities., and b) particulars of nay debt outglanding at the date of the $tst8menl of assets and Ilabllltles whlch is owed bythe CIO gnd which Is $e¢ured by an express charge on any os8ets of the CIO. Trustees Renumeratlon The Charity Trustee5 were not pald or recelved any other beneflts from employment with the Trust in the year12024.. £NII neither were they reimbursed expenses durlng the year12024.. £NIII. No Charity Trustee received payment for professlonal or other servlces supplied to the Charlty12024.. £NIII. 13