publiso,. Arkbound F O U N D A T l O N ersity . Incioei
TRUSTEE’S REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
21st October 2024 to 20th October 2025
Arkbound Foundation
Reference and administrative details
For the year ended 20[th] October 2025
Charity number
Address and contact details
1173072 (England and Wales) SC049523 (Scotland)
Arkbound Foundation Future Leap Sustainable Hub 1-3 Gloucester Road Bristol BS7 8AA 0117 4637197 info@arkfound.org
Arkbound Foundation Rogart Street Campus 4 Rogart Street Glasgow G40 2AA 0141 5724602 info@arkfound.org
The trustees who served for the period of this report are as follows: -
Waltraud Pospischil Amanda Thomas Dr Renuka Thakore Tevfick Souleiman (appointed 24.06.25) Jim Dempsey (stepped down 12.06.25) Rula Abdulrazak (stepped down 30.04.25) Lena Grey (stepped down 12.02.25)
Patrons
Anthony Hopkins CBE Jane Hatton Eoin Mclennan-Murray Lucy Watts MBE
Independent Examiner
Ahmed Khan CIMA Capital Office 124 City Rd London EC1V 2NX
Arkbound Foundation
Report of the trustees
For the year 21st October 2024 - 20th October 2025
Structure, Governance and Management
Type of governing document: Constitution
How the charity is constituted: CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) - only voting members are charity trustees
Trustee selection method: Appointed through open, full board meeting decisions
Objects and activities
The charitable objects of the CIO are: -
a. TO PROMOTE SOCIAL INCLUSION for the public benefit by working with people across the UK of all age groups who are socially excluded on the grounds of disability, poverty, criminal background, ethnicity, or any other characteristic, and to relieve the needs of these groups to assist them to integrate more effectively into society, particularly by: -
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i. Empowering these groups through workshops and events to convey their personal stories in a way that can be understood and appreciated by the wider community.
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ii. Providing mentoring whereby individuals from these groups can fairly access the means to publish their work for the wider community to read and to develop their writing skills in a manner that improves their wellbeing.
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iii. Providing a means by which these groups can convey their stories through books and the media at large, thereby helping to tackle stigma, misunderstanding and discrimination. iv. Engaging these groups in discussions regarding climate change and the environment and promoting good environmental practice and awareness of related issues
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b. FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION: For the public benefit to promote learning for people of all age-groups from disadvantaged backgrounds through the continued development of their individual capabilities, competencies, skills and understanding in subjects of educational value.
How the charity implemented the objectives and the main activities undertaken for the public benefit over the last year(s):
Arkbound Foundation remains a grassroots-founded organisation shaped by lived experience, equality, and inclusion. The charity works directly with individuals and communities experiencing structural disadvantage, including those affected by poverty, disability, racial or ethnic inequality, refugee status, involvement with the criminal justice system, long-term unemployment, addiction, and social exclusion. Throughout the year, activities were delivered with the intention of increasing access to creative expression, improving confidence and wellbeing, and enabling pathways toward education, employment, and social participation.
Across all programmes during the year, the charity directly engaged over 160 individuals through mentoring, workshops, publishing participation, and events, while a substantially larger audience was reached indirectly through publications, digital dissemination, and public engagement activity. A significant proportion of trustees, staff, volunteers, and collaborators continue to identify as having lived experience of disability, exclusion, or other equality-protected characteristics, ensuring that programme design remains informed by the communities served.
Publishing and dissemination of under-represented voices
Arkbound Foundation
Report of the trustees
For the year 21st October 2024 - 20th October 2025
During the year, Arkbound Foundation published ten new titles spanning fiction, poetry, memoir, and social-justice commentary, with a further six titles in editorial development or production for the subsequent year. These publications centred voices and lived experiences frequently absent from mainstream publishing, addressing themes including inequality, disability, migration, homelessness, mental health, and economic justice.
Several titles achieved external recognition through literary awards, festival participation, or sector partnerships, contributing to the visibility of authors from disadvantaged backgrounds. Distribution extended across community networks, libraries, educational settings, independent retailers, and online platforms. Through these channels, Arkbound publications reached many hundreds of readers nationally and internationally, extending the public-benefit impact beyond direct programme participants.
Volunteer reviewers and community advocates continued to support dissemination, with over 60 active volunteer reviewers contributing written reviews, promotional content, and peer-to-peer circulation of titles, widening readership organically and strengthening community ownership of the charity’s cultural output.
Digital outreach and community engagement
Public engagement through digital platforms continued to expand. Social media audiences grew across major platforms, supported by an increase in volunteer-led communications activity and regular publication of book reviews, author features, and programme updates. Combined online audiences across platforms exceeded several thousand followers, enabling the charity to reach individuals who may otherwise face barriers to cultural participation due to geography, disability, or financial constraints.
Arkbound Foundation
Report of the trustees
For the year 21st October 2024 - 20th October 2025
This digital engagement functioned not only as promotion but also as a participatory pathway, allowing volunteers and readers from disadvantaged backgrounds to contribute to cultural dialogue, develop confidence in writing and reviewing.
Creative writing workshops and community learning
Alongside ongoing open-access writing provision, the charity delivered structured workshop activity designed to combine creative development with reflection on social and economic themes. These workshops were provided free of charge to individuals from marginalised or under-represented backgrounds.
During the year, workshop programmes engaged over 20 direct participants, the majority of whom completed multiple sessions and developed original written work. Several participants progressed toward publication, further mentoring, or continued creative engagement. Participant feedback consistently indicated improvements in confidence, creative ability, and willingness to share lived experience through writing, alongside strengthened peer connection and mutual support.
Writing Within Walls mentoring programme
The Writing Within Walls mentoring programme continued to provide structured one-to-one creative mentorship for individuals currently in prison and those with lived experience of incarceration. During the year, the programme supported approximately 12 active mentoring partnerships, facilitating regular written exchange between mentees and trained volunteer mentors.
In addition to creative development, the programme contributed to addressing isolation, low selfesteem, and limited access to educational or cultural opportunity within custodial environments. Safeguarding procedures remained central, with correspondence mediated through the charity and personal data protected. Referrals and engagement continued through partnerships with arts-injustice organisations and criminal-justice professionals.
The programme also created progression opportunities for volunteers, including coordination and facilitation experience, strengthening Arkbound’s long-term delivery capacity.
Arkbound Foundation
Report of the trustees
For the year 21st October 2024 - 20th October 2025
Mentoring, participation, and progression
Broader mentoring activity beyond custodial settings supported a further group of approximately 10 individuals seeking to develop writing skills, publishing knowledge, or confidence in creative participation. Outcomes included manuscript development, increased understanding of publishing pathways, and in some cases progression to publication or external creative opportunities.
Across programmes, mentoring activity
contributed to measurable improvements in confidence, self-esteem, and community participation, aligning with the charity’s objective of enabling individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to become active cultural contributors rather than passive service recipients.
Events and public engagement
Arkbound Foundation delivered a programme of public-facing engagement including book launches, literary discussions, sector-focused events, and volunteer open days. Across the year, the charity hosted more than 15 events in combined in-person and online formats, with total attendance exceeding 900 participants.
These events enabled authors from marginalised backgrounds to present their work publicly, facilitated dialogue around inequality and representation within publishing and society, and created accessible entry points for volunteers, readers, and community members to engage with the charity’s mission.
Arkbound Foundation
Report of the trustees
For the year 21st October 2024 - 20th October 2025
Governance
During the reporting period the charity’s governance arrangements remained stable and effective, with trustee meetings held regularly and attendance consistently above quorum. Formal board meetings continued to take place on a monthly basis, providing oversight of strategy, finance, safeguarding, and programme delivery. Decisions were taken collectively through majority vote, and all trustees retained the ability to introduce agenda items or request further scrutiny of operational matters. Minutes were recorded for each meeting, formally reviewed for accuracy, and circulated to the full board to ensure transparency and accountability.
Trustee development and regulatory awareness remained an ongoing priority. Board members continued to engage with guidance and training resources provided by the Charity Commission for England and Wales, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR), and sector support organisations including Charity Excellence. This supported continued compliance with governance, safeguarding, financial management, and public-benefit requirements across both jurisdictions in which the charity is registered.
Core organisational policies were reviewed and maintained throughout the year. These included safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion, data protection, complaints handling, conflicts of interest, expenses, and volunteering. Each policy identifies clear internal responsibilities, designated safeguarding and reporting contacts, and appropriate external escalation routes where required. Regular review of these frameworks ensures that the charity’s governance and operational practice remain aligned with current legal and sector standards.
Operational coordination continued through structured staff communication. Whole-team meetings were held on a bi-weekly basis to review activity, share updates, and identify emerging risks or opportunities, supplemented by weekly project-specific meetings where required. Performance monitoring and delivery oversight were maintained through regular internal review, with summary updates reported to the board of trustees to support informed decision-making and strategic planning.
In addition to formal governance structures, the charity continued to benefit from participatory input through an informal steering group composed of volunteers, trustees, staff members, and individuals with lived experience of the charity’s programmes. This forum provided reflective feedback on delivery, accessibility, and emerging community needs, helping to ensure that governance and strategy remained informed by the perspectives of those the charity seeks to serve.
Overall, the trustees consider that governance arrangements during the year were appropriate to the size and complexity of the organisation, and that effective oversight, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder participation were maintained throughout the period.
Arkbound Foundation
Report of the trustees
For the year 21st October 2024 - 20th October 2025
Achievements and performance
The past year unfolded not as a single defining success, but as a steady deepening of the work Arkbound Foundation exists to do: creating space for voices that are too often unheard, and demonstrating that writing can become a pathway toward confidence, belonging, and participation in society. Across publishing, mentoring, environmental action, and community engagement, the charity continued to support individuals whose experiences are frequently shaped by exclusion, poverty, disability, or contact with the justice system.
Again and again, the most meaningful outcomes were not only the visible outputs - books, workshops, or events - but the quieter internal changes that writing can make possible. One participant described this transformation in the following way:
“Before this, writing was something I did in secret, almost like it didn’t count. I never imagined anyone would read my words, let alone take them seriously. Through Arkbound I was given time, feedback, and the sense that my experiences were not something to hide but something that could help someone else feel less alone. That changed how I see myself. I’m now applying for further education, which is something I would never have believed possible a year ago.”
Crowdbound and direct support to authors
Crowdbound continued to function as a vital bridge between private creativity and public authorship. During the year, campaigns supported seven publishing projects, drawing support from hundreds of readers and backers whose contributions enabled new voices to reach publication. Linked donations and community advocacy further strengthened the support available to participating writers.
For many authors, the significance of publication extended far beyond the book itself. One writer reflected:
“Seeing my book exist in the real world did something I can’t fully explain. It wasn’t just about being published. It was proof that my life hadn’t been meaningless, that the years I thought were wasted could still become something of value. Since then, I’ve started speaking at small community events and thinking seriously about training to work with others who have been through similar things.”
Alongside campaign delivery, the Crowdbound platform underwent technical and design improvements to enhance accessibility and long-term sustainability. Although this required a temporary pause in campaign activity, the developments position the platform for expanded reach and stronger outcomes in the coming years.
Literary community, collaboration, and access to publishing
The Arkbound Writers’ Group continued to grow as a space of shared learning, peer encouragement, and professional insight. Participants were able to receive editorial feedback, develop manuscripts, and gain clearer understanding of publishing pathways - opportunities that are often inaccessible to those without financial or social capital.
Collaborative partnerships also expanded, including engagement with university-based social-impact consultancy initiatives that supported research into funding and sustainability. These relationships strengthened organisational resilience while preserving Arkbound’s grassroots ethos.
Publishing programme and cultural reach
Arkbound Foundation
Report of the trustees
For the year 21st October 2024 - 20th October 2025
Arkbound sustained a significant publishing output across the year, releasing multiple new titles across fiction, poetry, memoir, and social commentary, with further works progressing toward publication. These works explored themes of inequality, migration, disability, homelessness, mental health, and environmental crisis - realities deeply present in lived experience yet often marginalised in mainstream cultural production.
Through libraries, community organisations, educational institutions, and online readership, Arkbound publications reached audiences numbering in the hundreds and thousands, extending public benefit well beyond direct programme participants. Several titles received external recognition through awards, festival inclusion, or sector collaboration, amplifying voices historically excluded from literary visibility.
Environmental responsibility and climate action
Environmental responsibility remained embedded within both mission and practice. As part of international environmental networks connected to the United Nations Environment Programme, Arkbound continued to foreground ecological themes in its publishing and advocacy work.
The charity sustained its commitment to operating as a carbon-negative organisation , supported by ethical supply-chain practices and ecological restoration activity.
Recognition and sector influence
Arkbound’s work continued to receive recognition across social-enterprise, academic, and voluntarysector networks. The charity remained listed among the SE100 top UK social enterprises, alongside further acknowledgements connected to diversity, lived-experience leadership, and ethical practice. Accreditations relating to disability inclusion, fair employment, and organisational quality were maintained, reinforcing both credibility and values.
The meaning of the year
Taken together, the achievements of the year point toward something more enduring than statistics alone. Each mentored writer, published book, supported campaign, or planted tree represents a movement - from silence toward expression, from exclusion toward participation, and from isolation toward community.
One mentee wrote near the close of the year:
“Nothing in my external circumstances has changed quickly. But inside, something has shifted. I feel less invisible. I feel like there might still be a place for me in the world. That feeling is small, but it is real, and it is enough to keep going.”
It is within these interior changes that Arkbound Foundation’s public benefit most clearly resides. In a period marked by social fracture and environmental uncertainty, the charity’s work continues to affirm a simple but profound truth: that when people are given the means to tell their stories, dignity can return - and from dignity, wider change quietly begins.
Arkbound Foundation
Report of the trustees
For the year 21st October 2024 - 20th October 2025
Overcoming challenges and obstacles
As in previous years, time invested in securing grant funding does not guarantee financial return, and the wider funding landscape remains increasingly competitive. Larger organisations are often able to dedicate specialist resources to bid writing and development, while technological change - including the growing use of artificial intelligence within fundraising - continues to reshape expectations around capacity and responsiveness. Despite these challenges, grant income received during the accounting period remained broadly comparable with the previous year and enabled continuation of key programme activity. However, the charity continues to operate without core funding sufficient to meet overall staffing costs or provide predictable multi-year support for general operations. As has been the case historically, restricted, project-specific funding remains more accessible than flexible funding for organisational sustainability.
In response, the trustees continue to explore adaptive approaches to income generation, including strengthening internal fundraising capacity, responsibly integrating emerging digital tools where appropriate, and aligning project leadership with resource development. The intention is not to replace the relational and values-based nature of charitable funding, but to ensure that Arkbound remains capable of sustaining delivery within a rapidly evolving funding environment.
Beyond the immediate funding landscape, the charity’s work continues to be shaped by a wider social context marked by persistent under-investment in public services, deepening inequality, and growing polarisation affecting already marginalised communities. At the same time, the accelerating climate and ecological crisis presents long-term risks to social stability, wellbeing, and access to opportunity, particularly for those with the least structural protection. These intersecting pressures reinforce the importance of Arkbound’s mission: enabling expression, dignity, and participation for people who might otherwise remain unheard. They also point toward the need for resilience at a community level. Over the longer term, the trustees therefore continue to consider strategic development that strengthens local presence, environmental responsibility, and sustainable infrastructure for programme delivery.
Arkbound Foundation
Report of the trustees
For the year 21st October 2024 - 20th October 2025
Financial review
The Arkbound Foundation aims to maintain reserves equivalent to at least three months’ running costs in order to safeguard continuity of charitable delivery and to provide resilience against unexpected fluctuations in income or expenditure. The trustees are satisfied that this minimum reserves threshold was maintained throughout the reporting period, while recognising that a planned and proportionate use of reserves formed part of the charity’s delivery strategy during the year.
Total receipts for the year amounted to £197,103 (2024: £276,473). The reduction compared with the previous year reflects the absence of loan finance and a lower level of grant income, with grants totalling £35,000 (2024: £65,000). Despite this, the charity continued to demonstrate the strength of its diversified earned-income model. Revenue from book sales and publishing reached £57,106 (2024: £53,423), while Crowdbound generated £33,915 (2024: £31,682) and workshop income totalled £10,712 (2024: £10,000). Donations and corporate sponsorship provided £49,812 (2024: £47,002), remaining a vital source of flexible support for core charitable activity. Support in kind was conservatively valued at £3,500 (2024: £4,275), and other trading income, including online sales, totalled £7,058 (2024: £10,090). No internship placement income or loan funding was received during the period.
Total payments for the year were £221,402 (2024: £226,321). Expenditure continued to be primarily people-focused, with staff costs of £98,555 (2024: £83,016) reflecting programme coordination, publishing activity, mentoring delivery, safeguarding, and organisational management across a largely part-time team. Delivery costs also increased in key programme areas, including writing and journalism workshops (£20,894) and mentoring programme costs (£22,830), demonstrating continued investment in direct charitable impact. Book publication costs totalled £41,200 (2024: £32,986), consistent with an active publishing year while remaining proportionate to overall activity. Core operational costs such as rent, utilities, administration, digital infrastructure, and fundraising remained controlled and broadly in line with organisational scale.The charity therefore recorded net payments of £24,299 for the year (2024: net receipts of £50,152), representing a planned and measured use of reserves to sustain programme delivery during a period of reduced external funding. As a result, cash funds at 20 October 2025 stood at £93,998 (2024: £118,297).
The trustees consider the charity’s overall financial position to remain stable. The continued strength of earned income streams, combined with careful cost management and an intentional approach to reserve utilisation, provides a sound platform for future activity. Strategic priorities remain focused on strengthening unrestricted income, securing longer-term funding partnerships, and progressing plans that would enhance organisational resilience and social impact over the medium to long term.
Independent examiner
Ahmed Khan was appointed as independent examiner for the charity in this period.
This report was approved by the trustees on 10[th] February 2026 and signed on their behalf by:
Amanda Thomas Chair of trustees -
Independent examiner’s report
To the trustees of the Arkbound Foundation
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the Arkbound Foundation (‘the charity‟) for the year ended 20th October 2025, which are set out on pages 14 to 19.
Respective responsibilities of trustees and examiner
As the trustees of the charity 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 the charity‟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:
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(1) Accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
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(2) 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.
Date: 22[nd] January 2026
Ahmed Khan CIMA Capital Office 124 City Rd London EC1V 2NX
For the year ended 20[th] October 2025
Arkbound Foundation
Receipts and payment account (cont.)
Arkbound Foundation
Receipts and payment account
For the year ended 20[th] October 2025
| 12 months to 20/10/2025 Total £ |
Restated [Period in last accounts] Total £ |
|
|---|---|---|
| Receipts | ||
| Donations and corporate sponsorships | 49,812 | 47,002 |
| Grants(1) | 35,000 | 65,000 |
| Revenue from book sales and publishing | 57,106 | 53,423 |
| Support in kind | 3,500 | 4,275 |
| Other sales (including eBay) | 7,058 | 10,090 |
| Internship placement support | 0.00 | 5,000 |
| Crowdbound | 33,915 | 31,682 |
| Workshops | 10,712 | 10,000 |
| Loans | 0.00 | 50,000 |
| Receipts | 197,103 | 276,473 |
| Total | 197,103 | 276,473 |
| Payments | ||
| Book publication costs (all elements) | 41,200 | 32,986 |
| Advertising and promotion | 4,782 | 4,500 |
| Writing and journalism workshops | 20,894 | 11,273 |
| Staff salaries | 98,555 | 83,016 |
| Training costs | 612 | 550 |
| Volunteer and trustee expenses | 4,318 | 4,056 |
| Mentoring programme delivery costs | 22,830 | 12,355 |
| Rental and utilities | 7,924 | 7,692 |
| Insurance and legal costs | 400 | 350 |
| Admin (incl. Postage, stationery & franking) | 6,786 | 4,098 |
| Website costs | 5,611 | 5,326 |
| Equipment and materials | 2,404 | 1,966 |
| Environmental projects | 750 | 2,000 |
| Membership fees | 325 | 325 |
Arkbound Foundation
Receipts and payment account (cont.)
For the year ended 20[th] October 2025
| Small grants and prizes | 0 | 500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fundraising costs | 3,995 | 3,000 | |
| Loan repayments | 0 | 52,328 | |
| Total payments | 221,402 | 226,321 | |
| Net receipts /(payments) (-£24,299) £50,152 Cash funds at 21~~st~~October 2024 118,297.00 Cash funds at 20~~th~~October 2025 £93,998 ~~re~~ |
Arkbound Foundation
Balance sheet
As at 20[th] October 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | |||
| Current assets | ||||
| Debtors: amounts falling due within 1 | 9,068 | 12,723 | 12,723 | |
| year(3) | ||||
| Cash at hand and in bank | 93,998 | 118,297 | ||
| 103,066 | 131,020 | |||
| Creditors: amounts falling due within | ||||
| 1 year(4) | 3,383 | 7,038 | ||
| Net current assets | 103,066 | 131,020 | ||
| Total assets less current liabilities | 99,683 | 123,982 | ||
| Total net assets | 99,683 | 123,982 | ||
| Charity funds | ||||
| Restricted funds(5) | 82,279 | 76,273 | ||
| Unrestricted funds(6) | 17,404 | 47,709 | ||
| Total funds | 99,683 | 123,982 |
The notes on pages 15 to 17 form part of these financial statements.
Arkbound Foundation
Notes to the financial statements
As at 20[th] October 2025
| (1) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Grants received | ||
| Name of source | Amount received | Funding purpose |
| (£) | ||
| The National Lottery | 20,000 | Workshops and Publishing |
| (restricted) | ||
| Quartet Community Foundation | 5000 | Mentoring |
| (restricted) | ||
| Big Give | 5000 | General (unrestricted) |
| Phoenix Foundation | 5000 | Writing Within Walls |
| (restricted) |
Arkbound Foundation
Notes to the financial statements (cont.)
As at 20[th] October 2025
| (3) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Debtors | ||
| Due within 1 year | 2025 (£) | 2024 (£) |
| Trade debtors | 5,279 | 6,590 |
| Prepayments and accrued income | 3,789 | 6,133 |
| 9,068 | 12,723 | |
| (4) | ||
| Creditors | ||
| Due within 1 year | 2025 | 2024 |
| (£) | (£) | |
| Book royalties | 2,437 | 5,022 |
| Trade creditors | 946 | 2,016 |
| 3,383 | 7,038 | |
| (5) | ||
| Restricted funds | ||
| Current year (as at 20/10/25) | ||
| Amount | ||
| (£) | ||
| Writing Within Walls | 5,000 | |
| Mentoring | 12,110 | |
| Book publishing | 11,288 | |
| Rental | 3,700 | |
| Workshops | 12,521 | |
| Staff | 32,895 | |
| Placements | 4,765 | |
| 82,279 |
Arkbound Foundation
Notes to the financial statements (cont.)
As at 20[th] October 2025
| (6) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Unrestricted funds | ||
| Current year (as at 20/10/25) | ||
| Source | Amount | |
| (£) | ||
| Donations | 7,222 | |
| Trading revenue | 10,182 | |
| Total | 17,404 |