Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 01 April 2024 Period start date To 31 March 2025 Period end date
Charity name: Buzz Action Foundation CIO
Charity registration number: 1171937
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | TO ADVANCE IN LIFE AND RELIEVE NEEDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE RESIDENT IN WESSEX AND THE SURROUNDING AREA THROUGH: (A) THE PROVISION OF RECREATIONAL AND LEISURE TIME ACTIVITIES PROVIDED IN THE INTEREST OF SOCIAL WELFARE, DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THEIR CONDITIONS OF LIFE; (B) PROVIDING SUPPORT AND ACTIVITIES WHICH DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS, CAPACITIES AND CAPABILITIES TO ENABLE THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN SOCIETY AS MATURE AND RESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUALS. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
Provision of Positive Activities through the following projects: Amesbury Youth Cafe Amesbury Youth Club Circus Wessex The Buzz Squad Nomansland Youth Club Elements Cafe Bridging Project Purbeck Valley FF Summer Camp Amesbury Youth Activities Area |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | Trustees:Karen Evans, Gary Mitchell, Phoebe Gibson and Jody Drinkall have all had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission. All of the Trustees were reelected in January 2024 in our Annual Stakeholders meeting. |
Additional information (optional)
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SORP reference Buzz Action Foundation do not make grants. We do offer bursaries on a discretionary basis where a need is Para 1.38 identified. Bursaries are awarded at the Policy on grant making discretion of the Executive BAF invests directly into our own projects with regard to the intentions of funders, stakeholders and fundraisers. Investment is Para 1.38 at the discretion of the executive Policy on social investment including program related investment Buzz Action Foundation CIO is heavily dependant on volunteers. Volunteers contribute in kind both with valuable time Para 1.38 and with their own expenditure on sundries, Contribution made by petrol etc. volunteers Volunteers contribute a combined average of 95 hours per week. Our paid and retained staff also volunteer on top of their wages. Volunteers fulfill a number of roles as Youth Support Workers, Parent Volunteers, Mentoring, Activities leadership, Maintenance, Fund Raising amongst the roles played by over 30 volunteers in 24/25 Graham Ashton and Jonathan Russell held remunerated positions during this time Other both working part time each for 15 hours. Both willingly volunteered for a further 15
hours a week. Both are self employed and the demands on their roles has increased as our projects have grown. It is felt by the executive that we should factor in for more hours by both employees.
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference |
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|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | Amesbury Youth Cafe. Fridays (Years 9,10 +) Amesbury Youth Club (for years 6,7,8) Fridays Elements Cafe WedSEN D Bridging Project Salisbury Circus Club MonJunior Youth Club Salisbury Community CircusCircus Skills club Amesbury Circus Club Wedjunior activities Youth Circus WedCircus Skills for teenagers The Buzz Squad Weekends Nomansland Youth Club Tue Other Activities 2 Fairweather CampsAmesbury Activities Area (total of 5 nights) Summer Camp/Folk Festival Swanage (9 nights) Southern Circus and Juggling Convention 47 Day Trips/Activitieswe attended and participated in more than 30 cultural events and visited several other youth clubs. Highlights include Amesbury Super Fete, St Georges Day Salisbury, Fabulous Family Funday, 3 Fire Jams,, other youth clubs in Blandford, Lavington, Old Sarum Downton Cuckoo Fair |
We also co hosted the Bishopdown Farm Community Day August Bank Holiday Buzz Action Roadshow providing activities directly into Local communities. We performed 17 Buzz Action Roadshows in the Stonehenge, South Wiltshire and Salisbury Areas Provision of HAF in partnership with Amesbury Town Council and Wiltshire Council with the mixed model FUEL Scheme offering Free spaces, Bursaries and Subsidised Spaces. Operating during Summer Holidays, Easter and Christmaa holidays Sa
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Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 |
It was felt that overall the charity exceeded the objectives set out at the beginning of the year. |
|---|---|---|
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Fundraisingwas through a mixture of Grant Applications, Subscriptions, Event Services and donations. We did feel that BAF needs to raise more |
Para 1.41 funding although we did manage to make ends meet throughout the year we were vulnerable to sudden events. If John Russell had not donated funds to buy a used minibus we would have been in a very vulnerable position in Summer of 2023. We generally have enough funding to service our activities and we received capital funding for some items. However, we do need to raise more unrestricted revenues. We would like to offer more bursaries and more bursary funding is desirable as well as funding for core running costs and a need for more paid staff in an administrative role. Investment performance against objectives Para 1.41 We purchased a 12m by 6m Gala tent for activities for £2400. Other We upgraded the Big Rig aerial rig raising the height to 6.4M and widening the beam to enable safer tandem activities.
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | The charity did not incur any debts and has funding and means to function into the next year. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | We do not hold reserves although we try to keep 3 months budget in the bank at anytime. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | None |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | All of our funding is raised to be invested in particular projects or Capital Items. The Unrestricted Funding raised is not sufficient for us to put away reserves |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | Not Applicable |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | The Charity is not in debt with minimal overheads. |
| Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: |
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| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | Circus Wessex (community Circus) Subscriptions Grant Funding Activity Provision (HAF) Services to other community events. |
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | NA |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | Buzz Action needs to pay out £750 per calendar month to meet commitments such as storage containers and insurances. Buzz Action Foundation needs £9000 in revenues per annum to meet its basic obligations |
There are risks in too few personnel managing the projects but this has been mitigated by redistribution of responsibilities amongst staff and management. The Executive and the Management have been playing meaningful roles in all of the projects going forward so as to ensure cover, expertise and competence for essential tasks..
Other
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
NA | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | CIO constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | CIO |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | As well as an AGMwhich is usually held virtually in the autumn, the Report and election of Trustees are ratified at a Stakeholders Meeting which is held in person in Jan or Feb. Trustees are selected by legal fitness, competence, experience and willingness to perform the tasks. No nominated trustee has been rejected to date. Our priorities are the delivery of safe positive activities, the welfare and safety of our stakeholders including staff, clients, parents and partners. Our trustees must demonstrate commitment in this regard |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 |
All of our staff are inducted, including the trustees. They are DBS checked and trained in safeguarding. |
|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | The Board of Trustees govern the charity. The Executive are the decision making bodyof the wider charity. They include the Chair of Trustees Karen Evans, the Chief Executive Officer Jody Drinkall who is also |
the Seniour Safeguarding Lead, and the Managing Director Jonathan Russell who is also the lead facilitator. The Management manages various projects within their remit. Jonathan manages Amesbury Youth Cafe, Nomansland and Circus Wessex. Kelly and Graham manage Elements Cafe. Graham manages Salisbury Circus Club. Peter is an assistant manager to Youth Cafe and The Buzz Squad. Tanya White organises the Welfare tent and catering for Summer Camp. Buzz Action Foundation lead in Amesbury Activities Area although this project will become part of the Amesbury Youth Partnership in late 2026 Buzz Action is an autonomous organisation but is a leading partner in the Amesbury Youth Partnership which is still being constituted. Relationship with any related parties Para 1.51 Amesbury Youth Club and Youth Cafe are owned and managed by Buzz Action Foundaton but Amesbury Town council are significant partners providing venues and maintenance of venues. Amesbury Youth Partnership is intended to formalise and long running and successful partnership in order to secure a long term future for Youth Provision in Amesbury. Other
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Buzz Action Foundation CIO |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | Circus Wessex |
| Registered charity number | 1171937 |
|---|---|
| Charity’s principal address | 51 Avon Drive, Alderbury, Wilts, SP5 3TA |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karen Evans | Chairperson | |||
| Jody Drinkall | Chief Executive Officer and SafeguardingLead |
|||
| GaryMitchell | Trustee | |||
| Phoebe Gibson | Trustee | |||
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets No funds held held in this capacity Name and objects of the No funds held charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for Our Valuable Assets are stored in Secure Storage or onsite safe custody and and held by Chair, CEO and Lead Facilitator. Graham segregation of such assets Ashton has a set of keys to our storage containers. All from the charity’s own assets managers have keys to box trailers and sheds which are lower risk items.
Additional information (optional) Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of adviser Name Address Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
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Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s)
Russell
Full name(s) Jonathan
Position (eg Lead Facilitator
Secretary, Chair,
etc) a
Date
12 January 2026 [a]
oo
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Buzz Action Foundation Accounts
year ending 31 March 2025
Accounts drafted by Jonathan Russell in September 2025.
Accounts to be reviewed by Alfie Steadman in November 2025.
Starting Balance £3,002.52
INCOME
Grants £12,850 Invoiced Services 18,595 Donations 4500 Subscriptions 4565 Total Income 40510
EXPENSES
Staff 19000 Minibus 4500 Marquee and Accessories 2100 Motor & Trailer Maintenance 853 Fuel 4156 Groceries and Retail 2650 Wallop Secure Storage and Container Hire 3600 Hall Hire 1200 Web site 485 Circus Equipment 1982 Repairs 352
TOTAL EXPENSES 40,878
Closing Balance £2624.52
From Alfie Steadman 104 Islingword Road Brighton BN2 9SG
To The Trustees Buzz Action Foundation CIO 51 Avon Drive Alderbury Wiltshire SP5 3TA
Dear Jonathan, Jody, Phoebe, Karen and Gary.
Thank You for the Statements, Reports and Accounts.
After examining the accounts and the balances on your Bank Account:
I have looked at your policies and seen the certificates of insurance for your activities.
I have also spoken to stakeholders and people who have taken part in your activities.
I am satisfied that your team have delivered your projects in a compliant manner within budgets specified. Your volunteers have facilitated very good value to your community and to your funders.
I am satisfied with the accounts as a true reflection of your expenditures and your fund raising.
I would like to comment that the volunteers deliver a very high return and that the quality of your activities again surpasses the expected returns.
I have seen your attendance sheets and the feedback of successful delivery of Holiday Activity Fund events.
I have also looked at your attendance sheets for Youth Club activities and looked at the registration information you keep for young people attending your events. I take note of the
improvements in the way you record and retain this information in response to suggestions made by team members during the year.
I am very happy to approve your returns for the year commencing 01/04/2024 and ending 31/03/2025.
Yours Sincerely
Alfie Steadman