2022-10-31-accounts - Spark 21

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COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 09832061 CHARITY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 1167825

Spark 21

(a company limited by guarantee)

Unaudited Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 October 2022

Spark 21 Contents

	Page
	1
Report of the Trustees	2-5
Independent Examiner's Report	6
Statement of Financial Activities	7
Balance Sheet	8
Notes to the Financial Statements	9-12

Spark 21 Reference and Administrative Details As at 31 October 2022

Trustees

Ms D L Denis-Smith Ms H B Geffin Lady A P Neuberger Mr D J Standish ( resigned 20 October 2022)

Registered Office

44 Southampton Buildings London WC2A 1AP

Charity Registration Number 1167825

Company Registration Number 09832061

Other Working Names First 100 Years and Next 100 Years

Independent Examiner

Nina Rust FCCA

N.TRUST Accountancy Ltd Suite 3a Kings Hall St Ives Business Park Parsons Green St Ives PE27 4WY

Bankers

Lloyds Bank 1 Butler Place Westminster London SW1H 0PR

Spark 21

Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Directors' Report) Year ended 31 October 2022

The Trustees (who are also directors of the charitable company for the purposes of the Companies Act 2006) are pleased to present their annual Trustees Report, together with the unaudited financial statements for the year ending 31 October 2022, which are also prepared to meet the requirements for a directors’ report and accounts for Companies Act purposes.

The financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011, the Companies Act 2006, the Articles of Association, and Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2015).

Trustees

All Trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no benefits from the Charity. The Trustees serving during the year and to the date of this report were as follows:

Daniela Denis-Smith (Dana Denis-Smith) David Standish (resigned 20 October 2022) Hayley Geffin Lady Angela Neuberger

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing document

Spark 21 is a company limited by guarantee incorporated on 20 October 2015 and governed by its Articles of Association. Spark 21 is also a registered charity (1167825) - registration date being 23 June 2016.

Appointment of new Trustees

As set out in the Articles of Association any person who is willing to act as a Trustee, and who would not be disqualified from acting under the provisions of the Articles of Association, may be appointed to be a Trustee by a decision of the Trustees. The Board co-opts members during the year to ensure that the Board has a broad range of skills and experience; to facilitate trustee succession new trustees may be appointed annually by the members of the charitable company and serve for a period of three years but may be re-elected for a further 3 year term.

Trustee recruitment and induction

Trustees are recruited through professional, personal and member contacts. We aim to recruit people whose skills the Board have identified as needed. The Trustees endeavour to ensure there is an appopriate balance of skills, gender, age, race, disability, sexual orientation, culture, politics or religious belief.

New Trustees are given an induction pack on the Duties and Obligations of Charity Trustees to brief them on their legal obligations under the charity and company law, the Charity Commission guidance on public benefit and inform them of the content of the Articles of Association. We also regularly share trustee advice from law firms that can benefit the trustees in understanding their continuous obligations. Trustees are encouraged to attend appropriate external events and meetings where these will facilitate the undertaking of their role.

Governance and organisational structure

The Board of Trustees hold regular meetings either by conference call or in person. They are responsible for governing the affairs of Spark 21. The Trustees are also in regular contact between the meetings to agree on priorities to be addressed and, if needed, to organise ad hoc briefing calls for expediency. The Board agrees the strategic direction to ensure the organisation fulfills its objectives. It takes overall responsibility for ensuring that the financial, legal and contractual obligations of the Charity are met and that there are satisfactory systems and controls in place.

Management

Day to day management and decision making of the Charity is delegated to specific Trustees in order for the Charity's objectives to be met and ensure the smooth and effective running of the organisation. The Board may delegate specific actions and decisions to any of the Trustees, acting alone or together (and usually 2 trustees would be instructed), who will then report to the full Board.

Related parties and co-operation with other organisations

None of our Trustees receive remuneration or other benefit from their work with the Charity. Any connection between a trustee or senior manager of the Charity with service user, external contractor or supplier of services must be disclosed to the full Board of Trustees in the same way as any other contractual relationship with a related party. In the current year any such related party transactions have been fully disclosed to the full Board of Trustees.

All related party transactions are managed in accordance with the Charity's Articles of Association. All transactions and activities involving organisations in which a Trustee may have an interest are conducted at arm's length and in accordance with the Charity's financial and procurement procedures.

Spark 21 Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Directors' Report) Year ended 31 October 2022

Use of volunteers

Due to the small size of the charity, volunteers are recruited on a rolling-basis. Our volunteers are made up of different groups from university students to professionals. Similarily, we appoint professional champions to volunteer on a number of thematic committees relevant to the charity's objectives and they are provided with information packs, as well as ongoing communication.

Objectives and activities

Achieving delivery of the charity's aims and public benefit

The Trustees have given due consideration to the Charity Commission’s published guidance on the Public Benefit requirement under the Charities Act 2011. We have referred to the guidance contained in the Charity Commission's general guidance on public benefit when reviewing our aims and objectives and in planning our future activities. We believe that we have complied with this, and seek to demonstrate this within this report.

All our charitable activities focus on the advancement of education in the subject of women in the legal and other professions, to promote equality and diversity and, in particular, the elimination of discrimination on the ground of gender, and advance the arts, in particular, but without limitation, by commissioning, establishing, maintaining, publishing and performing (as applicable) works of art.

Our main activities and our beneficiaries are described below.

Charitable activities in 2021/22

The charity has taken the following activities in the financial year to 31 October 2022:

Events: we hosted a series of events, all online, including the annual Inspirational Women in Law Awards.
Annual Lecture: continued our series of lectures, the Heilbron Lectures, and we hosted the 3rd edition, delivered on the theme of “Nature”.
Research: published the findings of a further survey of women in the profession about their experience as a woman in the legal sector and the gender pay; we hosted a roundtable (online) to launch the findings and encourage debate.
Photography: commissioned a mosaic of the first woman to be admitted by Lincoln’s Inn to be placed in their new learning building.
Photography: we organized a centenary photography competition, “The Way WE are”, to mark the centenary of women qualifying as solicitors and barristers in England & Wales.
Exhibition: we collaborated with the Judicial Office to create a centenary exhibition to honour the first woman barrister and share the history of women in the judiciary.
Films: commissioned and premiered some of the films in our first series of short films, Next 100 Voices, focused on rising women leaders in law.
Report: co-created the Women Who Will report, featuring a Class of 2022 women change-makers in the legal sector, including some of the award winners in the Inspirational Women in Law awards.
Newsletter: we published a monthly “Women in Law Who” newsletter, counting down to December 2022 - 100 years since the admission of the first female solicitors in England & Wales. Spotlighting female trailblazers in the law who are “shaping our present”, “made our history”, and “will change our future” with a subscription list of over 2,500.
Club 1919: we launched a new members initiative to honour the legacy of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919.
Maintained the digital platforms The First 100 Years and Next 100 Years;
Maintained First 100 Years/ Next 100 Years social media presence and very strong media presence with a clear communications strategy, which performed very well.

Achievements and performance

The Charity’s has achieved several landmarks – the main being that is has succeeded in reframing the conversation around women in law by focusing the celebration of their achievements around the period 1919-2019, followed by marking, in 2022 and 2023, of the centenary of the first women qualifying as barristers and solicitors in England and Wales. Individually and through our supporting organisations – Bar Council, Law Society, CILEx and so on – we have reached an audience of thousands of legal professionals and students.

During the pandemic, we continued to deliver our activities online albeit on a scaled down format given the challenges faced by all during this time.

In the financial year 2021-22:

Hosted (online) our 6th edition of the Inspirational Woman in Law award for women leaders, bringing a younger generation into the project; an annual report, Women Who Will , was also launched with a roll call of women changing the legal profession, and providing an annual review of changes for women in the legal sector.
Delivered event presentations (online) on various topics, including the gender pay gap and power of role models as well as about the importance of recording female lives and achievements as inspiration for younger generations.
Delivered the 3[rd] edition in the Heilbron Lecture series, in a live event, platforming women legal experts discussing big themes of our times. 4. Our donation of the mosaic of the first woman to be admitted as a solicitor was presented to the President of the Law Society of England and Wales.

Spark 21

Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Directors' Report) Year ended 31 October 2022

Financial review

Financial statements

The Financial statements, including the notes, have been prepared in compliance with the Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) "Accounting and reporting by Charities" 2015 (FRS 102). The analysis of income and expenditure reflects the classification of activities, together with costs relating to administration.

Statement of Financial Activities

The Statement of Financial Activities is shown on page 7 with a more detailed analysis of income and expenditure within the notes to the financial statements. The total income for the year was £28,984. The total expenditure for the year was £47,687.

Principal funding sources

The Charity is dependent upon grants and donations from individual donors and institutions.

Balance Sheet

The above result led to a deficit of £18,703 which has produced a combined fund balance of £3,987 at the year-end. An analysis of the funds can be found in note 7.

Investment Policy

Under the Articles of Association, the Charity has the power to invest in any way the Trustees shall think fit. In conjunction with its reserve policies, the aim of the Charity, the Trustees can borrow or raise and secure the payment of money for any purpose including for the purposes of investment or of raising funds, including charging property as security for the repayment of money borrowed or as security for a grant or the discharge of an obligation. The Trustees can also set aside funds for special purposes or as reserves against future expenditure. The Trustees can invest the Charity’s money not immediately required for its objects in or upon any investments, securities, or property; arrange for investments or other property of the Charity to be held in the name of a nominee or nominees and pay any reasonable fee required. The Trustees can also delegate decisions in respect of investments to an external financial advisor.

Risk Management

The Trustees have assessed the major risks to which the Charity is exposed, in particular those relating to the operation and finances of the Charity. Systems are in place to minimise exposure to the major risks, with a risk management register being in place and reviewed at least annually by the Trustees.

Reserves

Funds are normally being built up for ongoing and future activities.

Plans for future periods

The Charity’s plans for 2022/23 continue to focus on the delivery of the Next 100 Years project as well as to use materials created by the First 100 Years project to educate, celebrate and inspire generations of women in law as we enter the centenary year of women qualifying in England and Wales in 2022.

Our main areas of focus are:

Continuing to organise events and champion the role of women in law, including the annual Inspirational Women in Law awards. 2. Continue to collaborate with partner organisations to advance the charity’s objectives. 3. Filming and editing more videos of stories of women in law under the Next 100 Years ‘Next 100 Voices” video series. 4. Continue to organise the Heilbron Lectures series. 5. Continue to run the Next 100 Years campaign.

Spark 21

Company Limited by Guarantee Trustees' Annual Report (Incorporating the Directors' Report) Year ended 31 October 2022

Statement of Trustees Reponsibilities

The Trustees (who are also the directors of Spark 21 for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Report of the Trustees and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the 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 charitable company for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
observe the methods and principles in the Charity SORP 2015 FRS102;
make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the
* financial statements, and; prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charitable company will continue in
business.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records, which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the Charity and financial information included on the Charity’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD :

Ms D L Denis-Smith Trustee

Spark 21

Company Limited by Guarantee Independent Examiner's Report to the trustees of Spark 21

I report on the accounts for the company for the year ended 31 October 2022, which are set out on pages 7 to 12.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the charity’s trustees of the Company (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (‘the 2006 Act’).

Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity’s accounts as carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (‘the 2011 Act’). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5) (b)

Independent examiner's statement

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe:

Accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
The accounts do not accord with those records; or
The accounts do not comply with the accounting requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a ‘true and fair view’ which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
The accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities [applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)].

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.

Nina Rust

N.TRUST Accountancy Ltd Suite 3a Kings Hall St Ives Business Park Parsons Green St Ives PE27 4WY

Spark 21 Company Limited by Guarantee Statement of Financial Activities (incorporating income and expenditure account) Year ended 31 October 2022

Notes Income 3 Donations and legacies Charitable activities Other trading activities Investment Total income Expenditure 4 Raising funds Charitable activities Other Total expenditure Net income/(expenditure) Balances at 1 November 2021 Balances at 31 October 2022	Unrestricted Funds 2022 £ 17,824 2,660 8,500 - 28,984 - 46,127 1,560 47,687 (18,703) 22,690 3,987	Restricted Funds 2022 £ - - - - - - - - - - - -	Total Funds 2022 £ 17,824 2,660 8,500 - 28,984 - 46,127 1,560 47,687 (18,703) 22,690 3,987	Total Funds 2021 £ 26,308 2,476 12,800 1 41,585 - 54,819 1,350 56,169 (14,584) 37,274 22,690

The notes on pages 9 to 12 form part of these financial statements.

Spark 21 Company Limited by Guarantee Balance Sheet as at 31 October 2022

Notes Current assets Stock Debtors 5 Cash at bank and in hand 6 Net assets Funds Restricted 7 Unrestricted Creditors: amounts falling due within one year	£ 6,525 6,056 2,235 14,817 (10,830)	2022 £ 3,987 3,987 - 3,987 3,987	£ 10,112 9,055 5,050 24,217 (1,527)	2021 £ 22,690 22,690 - 22,690 22,690

For the year ending 31 October 2022 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities 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 applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime and in accordance with FRS 102 SORP.

These financial statements were approved by the board of trustees and authorised for issue on , and signed on behalf of 25 July 2023 the board by:

Ms D L Denis-Smith

Trustee

Company Number 09832061

The notes on pages 9 to 12 form part of these financial statements.

Spark 21 Company Limited by Guarantee Notes to the Accounts

Year ended 31 October 2022

1 Accounting policies

Accounting convention

These accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention with items recognised at cost for transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note to these accounts.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with FRS 102, The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland and with the Charities Act 2011.

Incoming resources

All incoming resources are included in the statements of financial activities when entitlement has passed to the charity; it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the charity and the amount can be reliably measured. The following specific policies are applied to particular categories of income:

Income from donations or grants is recognised when there is evidence of entitlement to the gift, receipt is probable and its amount can be measured reliably.

Legacy income is recognised when receipt is probable and entitlement is established.

Income from donated goods is measured at the fair value of the goods unless this is impractical to measure reliably, in which case the value is deroved from the cost to the donor or the estimated resale value. Donated facilities and services are recognised in the accounts when received if the value can be reliably measured. No amounts ae included for the contribution of general volunteers. Income from contracts for the supply of services is recognised with the delivery of the contracted services. This is classified as unrestricted funds unless there is a contractual requirement for it to be spent on a particular purpose and retuned if unspent, in which case it may be regarded as restricted.

Resources expended

Expenditure is recognised on an accruals basis as a liability is incurred. Expenditure includes any VAT which cannot be fully recovered, and is classified under headings of the statement of financial activities to which it relates:

Expenditure on raising funds includes the costs of all fundraising activities, events, non-charitable trading activities and the sale of donated goods.

Expenditure on charitable activitie includes all costs incurred by the charity in undertaking activities that further its charitable aims for the benefit of its beneficiaries, including those support costs and costs relating to the governance of the charity apportioned to charitable activities.

Other expenditure includes all expenditure that is neither related to raising funds for the charity nor part of its expenditure on charitable activities.

All costs are allocated to expenditure categories refelecting the use of the resource. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shares costs are apportioned between the activities they contribute to on a reasonable, justifiable and consistent basis.

Fund accounting

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees to further any of the charity's purposes.

Governance and support costs

Support costs have been allocated between governance costs and other support. Governance costs comprise all costs involving public accountability of the charity and its compliance with regulation and good practice. Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of the resources.

Stock

Stocks held are valued at the lower of cost or net realisable value.

Debtors and Creditors

Debtors and creditors are recognised at their settlement value and are all receivable/payable within one year.

Financial instruments

The company only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.

Spark 21 Company Limited by Guarantee Notes to the Accounts Continued Year ended 31 October 2022

2 Directors' Remuneration and Expenses

The directors received no remuneration during the year and were not reimbursed for any expenses. The company had one employee during the year (2021 - no employees).

3 Income

Donations and legacies Donations including Gift Aid Notional rent Charitable activities Other activities Other trading activities Sponsorship Investment Interest received Total expenses Basis of allocation Costs directly allocated to activities Charity objectives Direct Other/governance costs Direct	Raising funds £ - - -	Unrestricted £ 13,984 3,840 17,824 2,660 8,500 - Charitable activities £ 36,874 9,253 46,127	Restricted £ - - - - - - Other £ - 1,560 1,560	2022 £ 13,984 3,840 17,824 2,660 8,500 - 2022 Total £ 36,874 10,813 47,687	2021 Unrestricted £ 22,468 3,840 26,308 2,476 12,800 1 2021 Total £ 47,695 8,474 56,169

4 Total expenses

An accrual of £690 has been included in the accounts for the year in respect of the independent examiner's fee (2021, £650).

Spark 21 Company Limited by Guarantee Notes to the Accounts Continued Year ended 31 October 2022

4 Total expenses (continued) Expenditure on charitable activities

Expenditure on charitable activities Wages, salaries and staffing costs Employers NIC Notional rent Insurance General expeneses Other motor and travel Bank charges and currency costs Consulting and legal Film production and other event costs Postage freight and courier Donations IT software and consumables Other expenses Accountancy fees Independent Eamination Debtors Trade debtors Other debtors and prepayments Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Trade creditors Social security and other taxes Accruals & other creditors	2022 £ 22,291 1,861 3,840 165 396 - 59 - 13,234 851 - 3,430 46,127 2022 £ 870 690 1,560 2022 £ 6,000 56 6,056 2022 £ 30 360 10,440 10,830	2021 £ 18,902 - 3,840 151 88 - 25 - 28,794 11 - 3,008 54,819 2021 £ 700 650 1,350 2021 £ 3,360 5,695 9,055 2021 £ 131 - 1,396 1,527

5 Debtors
6 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

7 Unrestricted funds

General fund	Balance 1 November 2021 £ 22,690	Incoming Outgoings £ £ 28,984 47,687 Movement in Resources	Balance 31 October 2022 £ 3,987

8 Legal status

The charity is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital.

Spark 21

Company Limited by Guarantee Notes to the Accounts Continued

Year ended 31 October 2022

9 Related party transactions

During the year the charity incurred wages costs totalling £22,291 (2021, £18,902). £9,870 (2021, £15,795) of these costs were covered by Obelisk Legal Support Solutions Limited by way of a donation to the charity. A further donation of £nil (2021, £5,000) was received from them. One of the directors of the company is a Trustee of the charity. There was a balance of £2,500 (2021, £115) due from Obelisk Legal Support Solutions at the year end in respect of a recharged cost. A notional rent of £3,840 is charged by Obelisk Legal Support Solutions Limited but is covered by a donation for this same amount.