**Hope for the Future** Amplifying Local Voices for Political Impact
**Hope for the Future is a climate charity which works to equip communities, groups and individuals across the country to communicate the urgency of climate change with their local politicians.**
## **Annual Report and Accounts**
**Charity Number 1173547**
January 2022 - December 2022
## **Contents**
**1** Message From The Chair of Trustees **2** Objectives and Activities Charitable Vision Charitable Mission Charitable Aims Charitable Activities Achievements and Performance in 2022 **3 4** Financial Report Reserves **5** Risk Statement **6** Structure, Governance and Management **7** Reference and Administrative Details **8** Looking Ahead to 2023
01.
Message From The
Chair of Trustees
## **Message from the Chair of Trustees**
**Jeanette Clifford** Chair of Trustees
Almost everything about the extraordinary year that was 2022 confirmed the importance of Hope for the Future’s work at the nexus of the climate and nature crisis, politics and democratic engagement.
Evidence of environmental change was all about us, at home and internationally. 2022 turned out to be the warmest year in the UK since records began in 1884, with temperatures topping 40 degrees celsius for the first time. Meanwhile, terrible floods in Pakistan, affecting 33m people, saw a third of the country under water and Europe experienced an exceptional wildfire season. No surprise then that polls repeatedly show widespread public support for action on climate and nature. But, in 2022, the year of two monarchs, three prime ministers, soaring prices and war in Europe, there were concerns that politicians had other priorities.
As ever, the role of Hope for the Future is to keep the focus on the environment. And we do this by bringing citizens and politicians together, to take positive steps towards, yes, saving the planet. If that sounds a little grandiose, read this report and see what this means in practice: note the range of people we are empowering, the politicians of all parties we are engaging with – and, vitally, the actions they are taking as a result. We on the board are immensely proud of this work, the team that undertakes it and the difference all our staff make to the most important issue of our times.
It has been a year of change for the board. Luke Murphy and I were delighted to be elected as joint chairs and grateful for the foundation of good governance the previous chair, Margaret Ainger, provided us with. We know we were fortunate in our fellow trustees and glad to welcome five newcomers from very different backgrounds to our board. We were pleased to work firstly, with the director, Sarah Jordan, particularly in shaping our new and ambitious three-year strategy, and secondly, while Sarah took sabbatical leave, with Bob Reitemeier, who temporarily stepped down from the board to bring his immense experience of charity leadership to the role of interim director.
Message from the Chair of Trustees | **03**
The board had long identified our funding profile as a risk area, and it was increasingly apparent as the year progressed that we needed to widen our sources of support. This led us to invest more in fundraising, review our spending plans and look to partnerships to sharpen our impact.
Bringing communities and their elected representatives together to take decisive action on climate change is our mission. This report demonstrates how we did this in 2022. We are proud to occupy our unique place in our sector and determined to adapt and innovate so that we continue our work in future years and for as long as it is needed.
## Jeanette Clifford
Chair of Trustees
Message from the Chair of Trustees | **04**
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02.
Objectives
and
Activities
## **Objectives and Activities**
## **Charitable Vision**
To see that together, communities and politicians secure a healthy planet for all.
## **Charitable Mission**
We will achieve this vision by strengthening democratic engagement to drive inclusive action on the climate and nature crises.
## **Charitable Aims**
To enable and facilitate the processes needed to meet the UK’s legal commitments to mitigate climate change.
To prepare and support individuals and groups of citizens so that they are better equipped to engage with their democratically elected representatives in the interests of mitigating climate change.
To build capacity among communities so that they may undertake constructive dialogue with their elected representatives in the matter of climate change and its consequences.
Objectives and Activities | **06**
## **Charitable Activities**
## **Local and Regional Work**
Training and supporting constituents to have effective engagements with their elected representatives on climate change. This year we expanded our regional offices and renewed our focus on local level action.
## **Councils**
have the potential to make significant change in their local areas. Councils are often highly specific so require specialist research and tailored support.
## **Events**
Community-led events that bring constituents and their elected representatives together with experts from across private, public and voluntary sectors to discuss policy solutions to climate change.
## **Research**
Resourcing all of our work streams with up-to-date and relevant information on climate policy and the broader political landscape. Producing briefings and strategies for constituents and local groups.
## **Faith**
Outreach and work with communities and environmental groups across Sikh, Muslim, Christian and other faiths.
Objectives and Activities | **07**
03.
Achievements
and Performance
in 2022
## **Achievements and performance in 2022**
## **Overview**
2022 was a year of both expansion and consolidation at Hope for the Future. We continued to adapt to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic alongside the fall-out of ‘partygate’ and other political scandals. We welcomed several new members to the team, including our first member of staff based in Scotland. Our approach to hybrid working became more established and we are now well-adapted to a hybrid working model, and through digital technologies and a staff team based across the UK, we benefit from the flexibility that online work provides whilst still facilitating face-to-face engagement.
We put a lot of effort into a series of events that helped us develop a presence in brand new strategic communities like West Bromwich and Oldham, and taught us many lessons about how we can expand our reach. We developed, consulted on and delivered a brand new strategy that will take us into the next general election and beyond. This has been a collaborative process, involving our staff and trustees in every step and getting the views of key stakeholders to help us evaluate our work and our impact. One of the key points of our 2023-2025 strategy is the decision to include the ecological crisis in our mission, as this is inextricably linked with the climate crisis.
Another key point is strengthening our commitment to justice and inclusion, centring this in both our democratic engagement and our internal practices. Both of these points will require focus and resources, which will need careful planning before we launch the strategy in 2023. A key aspect of how we deliver on this will be working in partnership with other organisations who have greater expertise on these issues.
Most importantly of all, 2022 saw us facilitate more excellent conversations and meaningful actions between local people and their leaders. We’re really proud of what we have achieved, and we’re excited for what comes next!
Achievements and Performance in 2022 | **09**
## **Areas of Work**
## **Training**
**In 2022, we trained 380 people** in how to have effective conversations with their local representatives about climate and nature. We expanded our work partnering with different organisations across the sector and beyond, running collaborative training workshops, with Hope for the Future helping translate existing campaign asks into meaningful conversations with MPs and Councillors. Some of the collaborative training we ran was with Cumbria Action for Sustainability, UK Divest, the Grantham Centre and Uplift.
Throughout the year, our training received an average **overall feedback score of 8.82 out of 10** . 90% of all respondents said that they felt more confident in contacting their local politicians, with all remaining participants saying they felt equally confident.
60% of respondents told us that their understanding of what it’s like to be an MP had increased.
Ultimately, **91% of**
**respondents**
**told us that they will meet a local politician** as a result of our training.
“They made me believe that such a crucial subject can be easy to deliver.”
“It was great to have a framework of how to start the sometimes overwhelming task of how to start these conversations”
“I thought it was really well structured, good use of visuals, two trainers to keep things moving and maintain interest through the hour.”
Achievements and Performance in 2022 | **10**
## **Outreach Work**
Our work in 2022 has taught us a lot about the value of partnerships with other organisations, both inside and outside the climate space, especially for our work in mobilising different audiences. This year, we conducted a review which sought to audit the demographic breakdown of constituents HFTF currently worked with. The data showed that we have a lot of work to do in order for our work to be reaching citizens of all demographics, that are a true representation of the diverse population of the UK, to give them the confidence and skills to engage with their local politicians. Into 2023, we will be continuing this outreach review, seeking to produce an extensive evidence based report on not only who Hope for the Future currently works with but how we can take a strategic, flexible approach, drawing on diverse communities to achieve greater impact.
## _**Hope for the Future in your Community: Crossing Footprints, Oldham**_
We began our work in this area by producing an in-depth research report on climate issues in Oldham, including a breakdown of powers held by Oldham Council and Greater Manchester Combined Authority. The group of women we were working with from Crossing Footprints were seeking to improve their English, so we integrated a focus around local democracy.
On 10th October, we ran an in-person training with a focus on councils at Northmoor Library in Oldham. The basis of the training covered council structures, and placed an emphasis on discussion. After this we provided additional research support and supported weekly sessions at the library, beginning on 7th November and running up to the event on 7th December, with Hope for the Future joining in-person for the session on the 14th November. The final sessions focused on creating a tapestry that was then displayed at the final event. The form of a tapestry was chosen due to the group’s skills in textiles and the importance of the industry to the local community.
Achievements and Performance in 2022 | **11**
The event took place on 7th December 2022 at Northmoor Library, Oldham. Alongside Bengali music, poetry, readings and food, there was the ‘climate change cultural action’ which the Climate Connections Women’s Group, Crossing Footprints and Hope for the Future had been working together on. The event attracted over 50 people from the Bangladeshi community with many of the families of the women's group attending.
Abdul Jabbar, Deputy Leader of Oldham Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Low Carbon attended and committed to a future event on reducing air pollution in the area and implementing ‘schools streets’. He acknowledged that ‘school streets’ are a contentious issue and community support is an important part of implementing them.
The event was well covered in local news, including the Oldham Times, and in a first for Hope for the Future, our press release was translated into Bengali and was published in a Bangladeshi diaspora newspaper.
Achievements and Performance in 2022 | **12**
## **Warm this Winter**
In mid 2022 Green Alliance and Uplift convened a range of organisations across the climate and antipoverty space in the form of the Warm This Winter campaign. We were approached at a very early stage to join the coalition and help shape their agenda.
The coalition is made up of environmental organisations and those who campaign on matters relating to fuel poverty. This has allowed us to engage with working class communities on a national scale. So far we have fed into the political working groups for the Warm this Winter coalition and cross referenced research to ensure we target politically important constituencies most affected by fuel poverty. We have delivered tailored training for the coalition’s members with priority given to the members of fuel poverty organisations, and we have gone on to support multiple constituents to engage with their MPs about the Warm this Winter demands.
As a result of our work, Caroline Nokes, Conservative MP for Romsey and Southampton North, went on to support Warm this Winter’s campaign pledge as well as carrying out numerous other actions, such as sending two private letters, one to the then Foreign Secretary, Liz Truss, and the then Chancellor, Rishi Sunak.
Of the people we trained this year, and who responded to our feedback survey, 61% were not aware of Hope for the Future before the training. This suggests that the outreach work done through our new events and partnerships has really paid off.
Achievements and Performance in 2022 | **13**
## **Events**
Events have been a huge focus of our energy and resources this year, and we were thrilled to **run 15 local events engaging 1,479 individuals** . We hosted a series of regional events in strategic areas where encouraging constituents to voice their environmental concerns to their politicians will have the most impact. We focused on involving people who are concerned about climate change but are not currently included in the conversation about how we tackle it. Each event had a regional focus, enabling us to root the theme in local issues.
## _**Hope for the Future in your community - Kensington**_
On Sunday 25th September, we held an event in North Kensington on the theme of air quality. The local MP, Felicity Buchan, has had limited involvement on climate issues but she is active on the issue of transport and particularly electric vehicles. She wrote to the PM asking that post-covid the economy be rebuilt in a greener way with electric cars at the forefront and has submitted a number of written questions on the topic. Through this event we sought to broaden the conversation on tackling air quality issues in Kensington - beyond electric vehicles - and worked with Felicity to think about how we can reimagine how we travel, work and play in the constituency. We were also joined by two councillors, Cllr Tom Bennett (CON, Chair of the Environment Committee, Redcliffe Ward) and Cllr Portia Aretha Thaxter (LAB, St Helen’s Ward).
As part of the event schedule, HFTF ran a workshop with a climate surgery element. At the start of this session, we invited Felicity to talk about what she’s doing or done previously on climate.
Achievements and Performance in 2022 | **14**
She spoke broadly about what the government has done in growing the economy and the limits she can take individually because of her role as a new minister in the Treasury. This was well received by the audience on the day, and she also took several questions.
The HFTF team used the pre-prepared research briefing, which contained plenty of SMART asks, to identify how the groups could engage their elected representatives and highlighted next steps for action. These were very well received by the groups who seemed positive following the workshop, with every participant signing up to the follow up training session. Of those who we polled at the HFTF stand, **60% had not attended a climate event before and 75% felt that they had a better understanding of potential routes to net zero.**
Achievements and Performance in 2022 | **15**
## _**Better World Festival**_
We were invited to take part in Stoke-on-Trent’s Better World Festival, a two-day celebration of the work of organisations, activists and community groups in creating positive change. We were joined by big names including Greenpeace UK and the National Farmers’ Union of England and Wales.
We engaged with a range of organisations and individuals over the two days, as well as local MP Jo Gideon, who visited our stall to discuss our work and the thoughts we had gathered from her constituents about the future of Green Jobs in the local area. Our Director Sarah Jordan also gave half-hour talks on each day titled ‘Your Voice Heard: Building hope and creating change in your community’.
We had several interesting conversations with constituents that have been struggling to engage their local MP on environmental issues close to their hearts, some on the verge of giving up, and our training offers to bridge that gap.
The event provided a key opportunity to meet with and speak to those constituents which otherwise we may not have reached.
In meeting with the local MP Jo Gideon, we also had the opportunity to talk about what climate change action she is already taking in her constituency, in government and as a member of the Conservative Environment Network. We were able to provide Jo with information about the focus of our work this year as we look to engage and provide training and support for constituents in Stoke. Jo was incredibly positive about the prospect of meeting with constituents on climate change and said that she would look forward to these conversations in the future.
Achievements and Performance in 2022 | **16**
## **Schools and Youth**
It has been an exciting year of development and growth for our schools project as the implementation of our project with Wickersley Partnership Trust has allowed us to observe the benefits of a longer term application of our approach with schools and students. These benefits include being able to more significantly upskill students in democratic engagement practice and techniques. Building a longer standing dialogue with their MPs has resulted in students who are both more confident when engaging with MPs, and who exercise a much higher level of expertise in applying the Hope for the Future relationship-based approach to those engagements. Alongside this longer term work we have continued to implement the successes of our tried and tested one-off workshop approach to result in positive and impactful engagements between young people and their MPs in both streams of our schools project.
## _**Progress and Highlights: One-off Workshops**_
Key moments of progress that have occurred within our one-off workshops this year have included our move to a hybrid delivery model to accommodate for the ever-changing Covid-19 landscape within schools. Our workshops can now be delivered online, in person, or blended into a mixture of both. We also created new workshop content which allowed for greater interactivity for participants.
Achievements and Performance in 2022 | **17**
Resultant from this shift in workshop content and structure has been an increase in quality of students’ engagements with MPs, as workshop attendees have consistently displayed an increased level of knowledge of how to tailor their ‘asks’ to the specific roles and responsibilities of the MP they are engaging with.
This heightened specificity of engagement has produced higher level discussions between students and MPs resulting in students leading positive and productive conversations on detailed policy issues, such as green transport with Louise Haigh MP (Shadow Secretary for Transport) and nature-based climate change solutions with Olivia Blake MP (Shadow Climate Change Minister).
We have also made significant progress with regards to the breadth of schools we have been able to reach. This progress has been achieved through presenting our workshops as part of broader Climate Conferences for schools in conjunction with Schools Climate Education South Yorkshire whose conference set-up and streaming services allowed us to present interactive workshops and MP engagements to several schools in tandem.
The impact of our work in this stream has been exceedingly positive. We have been able to connect young people with high profile MPs (including Dan Jarvis, MP for Barnsley Central and the inaugural Mayor of South Yorkshire), and engage MPs that are new to Hope for the Future as an organisation (such as Ian Byrne MP and Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP).
Through these engagements young people have been sharing their key messages on climate with their MPs, including their desires for a continuation in momentum on climate action post COP26, and for the UK to play a leading global role in tackling the climate crisis. This in turn has enabled students to make their voices heard and become effective climate communicators, and has also provided their MPs with concrete mandates to take decisive and positive action on climate change.
Achievements and Performance in 2022 | **18**
## **Schools exhibition - Wickersley**
Our work with the Wickersley Partnership Trust has been running alongside the continuation of our original model of one-off school workshops. In this stream of work this year we have delivered: **8 workshops, 6 MP engagements (with 2 more to be delivered before May of this year) across 7 different MPs, and have reached 430 students from 16 different schools.**
The final Wickersley Eco-Exhibition took place on Thursday 7th July, attended by a local MP who viewed exhibits thoughtfully put together by the students. The exhibition presented work that had been prepared by students through activities led by HFTF Schools and Youth Officer Rosie Wright, and supported by the Events Team and other HFTF colleagues.
At the final exhibition students were given the opportunity to display the work of their eco council over the last academic year, showcasing the ripple effect of positive actions that have been taken in each of their schools as a result of their involvement in the project.
Asked about actions they plan to take next, one school said:
“We plan on writing to our MP and council to request funds for recycling as we don’t have any facilities currently. We plan on setting up a hedgehog sanctuary and garden to preserve local wildlife and attract bees, as well as going litter picking in the local community.”
And asked to describe their students' involvement in the project in a few words, teachers said: **Engaging, meaningful, productive, enlightening, championing, positive, collaborative.**
Achievements and Performance in 2022 | **19**
“It was really pleasing to see the students’ passion about climate change and the environment and very thought provoking. I’ll certainly be pressing the issue when I get the opportunity in Parliament. Thank you for the work Hope For The Future does with the schools in my constituency, it is really appreciated and very important.”
## **John Healey MP**
“The students really felt fired up to start campaigning for change and they now understand what the concept means more clearly.”
**Richard Marsh, teacher at Wickersley School and Sports College**
“In addition to knowing about campaigning, the students have made real bonds with the eco groups from the other schools. It has motivated them around the cause of change for the better.” **Josie Webster, teacher at Clifton Community School**
Achievements and Performance in 2022 | **20**
## **Councils**
Our work has undergone a major transformation this year, with the engagement of local authorities moving from a stand alone project to part of our core engagement model. This has meant that our wider team of Engagement Officers have been trained on supporting local authority engagements and, with the support of the Local Councils Officer, are now able to support constituents engaging both their MPs and the local authority to achieve maximum local impact. This has enabled us to both scale up council engagement work towards the latter part of this year and reserve the capacity of the Local Councils Officer to take on more difficult engagements and further develop HFTF’s internal capacity to effectively support local authority engagements.
Towards the end of this year, we have delivered two tailored trainings for over 30 campaigners of various experience, who are lobbying their councils to divest their pension portfolios from fossil fuel investments, attending UK Divest’s Fossil Free Gathering 2022. This reflects our growing focus upon conducting training with partners and local communities, with recent examples in October including tailored training with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, the national Warm This Winter Campaign, and Crossing Footprints, a community group in Oldham.
## **Delivery outputs**
**Delivered 10 targeted training sessions Delivered 12 open training sessions**
**Delivered support sessions for constituents engaging 23 local authorities**
**Facilitated non-violent communication with councillors in 23 local authorities**
Achievements and Performance in 2022 | **21**
## **LSE Research Collaboration**
“Local councils only control 30% of carbon emissions across the UK…that 30% can be targeted through constituents advocating for change.”
“It is just about meeting the councillor where they are. If effective activists (meet their) councillor in a non-confrontational manner, it is more likely you will get further toward the goals of cutting emissions.”
In collaboration with London School Economics (LSE), we conducted a research project where we conducted in depth interviews with 20 councillors from across the UK. The research emphasised the importance of Hope for the Future’s approach.
The learnings from the project have also enabled us to review and update our internal resources and training, to ensure the wider staff team, Engagement Officers specifically, are confident and supported in their work supporting engagements with local authorities. The findings from this research have been used to redevelop both the new engagement pathway we take constituents through and the training that we deliver. In particular, the new case studies taken from the project have received great feedback from our training participants.
## **Camden Borough Council**
We have been working with a Camden constituent, Stephen, who is an organiser for the Climate Safe Streets Campaign. We worked with Stephen to set up a meeting with the leader of Camden Council who, as a result of this meeting, pledged her support for the campaign ahead of the local elections. The Council has committed to reviewing its Climate Action Plan later this year, so Stephen will continue engaging with councillors to propose more support for cycling and active travel in the new plan. The Climate Safe Streets Campaign recently launched a campaign encouraging people to write to their councillors in support of more protected cycle paths and ambitious climate targets.
Achievements and Performance in 2022 | **22**
## **South Yorkshire Climate Hustings**
On Thursday 21st April at Victoria Hall, Sheffield and on YouTube, Hope for the Future and Green Alliance collaborated on a Climate Hustings event for the people of South Yorkshire to ask questions of the Metro Mayor candidates on climate change. The candidates in attendance were: Simon Biltcliffe (Yorkshire Party), Oliver Coppard (Labour Party), Joe Otten (Liberal Democrats), Bex Whyman (Green Party). Clive Watkinson, Conservative Party could not attend but sent in answers to our pre-written introduction questions.
The live stream was watched nearly 300 times so far, with 22 live attendees, and there were around 50 people in attendance in Sheffield. We collected feedback at the event and received positive comments on the organisation of the event and how valuable it was to be able to interact with candidates compared to reading brochures.
As the 2023 local council elections will be a key moment for the future of action on climate change in the UK, we are putting extra attention, resources, events and activities that will support campaigners to harness the potential of this key moment. Working with partners including The Climate Coalition and Climate Emergency UK will allow us to reach as many campaigners as possible.
## **Neil Brophy working with Leeds City Council**
This engagement started in Spring 2022, when Neil’s neighbour started planting on a verge outside their houses. They planted a tree and even started putting in a rockery. However, they did it without asking the council for permission and the council sent a letter to everyone in the neighbourhood saying that it was against regulations, but that they didn't want to remove it and so whoever planted it would have to pay a £25 yearly lease.
This got Neil thinking about how if all unused verges could be planted on, that could contribute to reducing carbon in the atmosphere as well as making the area more beautiful. He also thought that it would be even better if food could be grown in these places, so anyone could help themselves to free local food. He reached out to us to see if we could help him get the council to make it easier.
Achievements and Performance in 2022 | **23**
We prepared a Tailored Strategy which included information about the council structure and history, as well as a short biography of key council members. We worked with Neil to secure multiple successful meetings, which resulted in Neil and other residents finding a small area (approx. 5 - 10 streets) that was suitable for urban tree planting as a pilot scheme.
The Council then agreed to do checks on this proposed area, and led a consultation with residents to change the policy on planting on verges. This pilot scheme is now underway, with further meetings and consultation now having taken place with Trees for Streets and Climate Action Seacroft in the coming weeks to expand this pilot into new areas of Leeds. Discussions are now broadening to include fruit trees and expand the council’s policy to ensure newly planted areas are multi-use and bring as many community benefits as possible.
Achievements and Performance in 2022 | **24**
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04.
Financial
Report
## **Financial Report**
Income this year has declined by 9% from £961,118 to £875,665. This mainly reflects changes in the grant funding mix with some funders ending their support. While grant funding from Quadrature Climate Foundation (QCF) increased, support from European Climate Foundation (ECF) was half the previous year. Funding from the John Ellerman Foundation and the Kestrelman Trust was not renewed and while some other grant funding was secured it was at a lower level.
**Over 90% of income was unrestricted and income from provision of training services continued to grow, up from £9,920 to £14,000.**
Expenditure was up as anticipated last year, rising 37% from £708,763 to £987,300, meaning overall there was a deficit of £92,643. This still leaves reserves at £487,581, well ahead of the minimum target level.
## **Reserves**
Hope for the Future holds reserves so that in the event of a fall in income, we are in a position to manage either a contraction of or, in the worst case, the winding up of the organisation in a well-managed way. To this end, we hold unrestricted reserves amounting to at least three months worth of expenditure.
Financial Report | **26**
## **Income/Expenditure**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Income £875,665
2022
Expenditure £987,300
Income £961,118
2021
Expenditure £708,763
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **How we spend our money**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Support costs
13%
Raising funds
4%
Charitable climate work
83%
**----- End of picture text -----**
Financial Report | **27**
## **Independent Examiner’s Report on the accounts**
## **Report to the trustees of Hope for the Future**
On accounts for the year ended 31st December 2022, Charity Number: 1173547
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts the accounts for the year ended 31st December 2022.
## **Responsibilities and basis of report**
As the charity’s trustees 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 Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 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**
The Charity’s gross income exceeds £250,000 and I am qualified to undertake the examination by being a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
- The accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; or The accounts did not accord with the accounting records; or
- The accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 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.
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination that should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
**Signed: Date:** 31st August 2023
Luke Keegan
Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants Greendawn Accounting Limited
1A The Homend, Ledbury, Herefordshire, HR8 1BN
Financial Report | **28**
## **Statement of Financial Activities**
## **(including summary income and expenditure account)**
FOR THE YEAR 1 JANUARY 2022 TO 31 DECEMBER 2022
|||**Unrestricted**
**Funds 2022**|**Restricted**
**Funds 2022**|**Total**
**Funds 2022**|**2021**|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Income from:**|**Notes**|£|£|£|£|
|Donations|2|16,918|8,000|24,918|42,599|
|Grants Received|2|717,500|118,900|836,400|908,961|
|Income generated from providing Training|2|14,000|-|14,000|9,290|
|Bank Interest||347|-|347|268|
|Total Income||**748,765**|**126,900**|**875,665**|**961,118**|
|||**Unrestricted**
**Funds 2022**|**Restricted**
**Funds 2022**|**Total**
**Funds 2022**|**2021**|
|**Expended on:**|**Notes**|£|£|£|£|
|Raising Funds|2&3|36,291|1,037|37,328|56,146|
|Support Costs|2&3|115,139|15,004|130,144|80,335|
|Charitable Climate Projects|2&3|637,703|182,126|819,829|572,282|
|Total Expenditure||**789,134**|**198,167**|**987,300**|**708,763**|
|Transfer between reserves|7.1|(25)|25|||
|Net Movement in Funds||**-40,394**|**-£71,241**|**-111,635**|**252,355**|
|**Reconciliation of Funds:**||||||
|Total Funds Brought Forward|7.2|527,975|71,241|599,216|346,861|
|Total Funds Carried Forward|**7.1**|487,581|0|487,581|**599,216**|
Financial Report | **29**
**Balance Sheet** AS OF 31 DECEMBER 2022
|||**2022**|**2021**|
|---|---|---|---|
|**Current assets**|**Notes**|£|£|
|Debtors|4|224,158|2,352|
|Cash at bank and in hand|6|311,728|601,666|
|Total current assets||**535,887**|**604,017**|
|Creditors: amounts falling due within one year|5|48,305|4,801|
|Total assets less current liabilities||**487,581**|**599,216**|
|Creditors: amounts falling due after one year||||
|Total net assets||**487,581**|**599,216**|
|**Funds of the Charity**|7|||
|General funds||429,581|469,975|
|Designated funds||58,000|58,000|
|||487,581|527,975|
|Restricted funds||||
|||0|71,241|
|Total funds||**487,581**|**599,216**|
Signed by the following on behalf of all Trustees
## **Signed:**
## **Date:**
20th September 2023
Jeanette Clifford, Chair of Trustees
## **Signed:**
## **Date:**
20th September 2023
Ben Skelton, Treasurer
Financial Report | **30**
## **Statement of Cash Flows**
FOR YEAR 1 JANUARY 2022 TO 31 DECEMBER 2022
||**2022**|**2021**|
|---|---|---|
||£|£|
|Net Cash used in Operating Activites|**- 289,938**|**252,339**|
|Cash Flow from Investing Activities|||
|Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents in the Year|**- 289,938**|**252,339**|
|Cash and Cash equivalents brought forward|601,666|349,327|
|Cash and Cash equivalents carried forward|**311,728**|**601,666**|
Reconciliation of Net Movement in Funds to net cash flow from operating activities
|Net Movement in Funds|**- 111,635**|**252,355**|
|---|---|---|
|Deduct Interest shown in Investing Activities|||
|Decrease (increase) in Debtors|-221,807|4,232|
|Increase (decrease) in Creditors|43,504|-4,297|
|Net Cash Used in Operating Activities|**-289,938**|**252,339**|
Financial Report | **31**
**Note 1**
## **Accounting Policies**
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS 1 JANUARY 2022 TO 31 DECEMBER 2022
## **a) Basis of preparation and assessment of going concern**
transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant note(s) to these accounts. The accounts are prepared in sterling Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
Reporting by Charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) issued on 16 July 2014 and the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Charities Act 2011.
The trustees consider that there are no material uncertainties about the Trust’s ability to continue as a going concern.
## **b) Funds Structure**
large grants are received for a specific purpose a separate restricted fund is raised.
Unrestricted/General funds comprise those funds which the trustees are free to use for any purpose in furtherance of the charitable objects.
unfunded element set aside from general funds.
## **(c) Income Recognition**
All income is recognised once the charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably.
Grants and Donations that are subject to terms and conditions are treated as Deferred Income until it is probable that the terms and conditions can be met. If the conditions are not wholly within the control of the charity it will be disclosed as a contingent asset. Donated Services if significant would be recorded in the Annual Report.
Volunteer Help received is not included in the accounts, but is described in the Trustees' Annual Report.
Gift Aid receivable is included in income when there is a valid declaration from the donor. Any Gift Aid received on a donation is considered to be part of that gift and is treated as an addition to the same fund as the initial donation unless the donor or terms of the appeal have specified otherwise.
## **(d) Expenditure Recognition**
Liabilities are recognised as expenditure as soon as there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to that expenditure, it is probable that settlement will be required and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Support costs consists of a proportion of the directors’ salary costs and expenses allocated on a time spent basis together with salary and expense costs relating to the finance and administration functions.
Governance Costs comprise all costs involving public accountability of the charity and its compliance with regulation and good practice. Support costs have been allocated to Governance costs where applicable.
## **(e) Assets**
Tangible Fixed Assets are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and cost at least £1,500. They were valued at
Financial Report | **32**
**Note 2**
## **Analysis of Income and Costs**
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS 1 JANUARY 2022 TO 31 DECEMBER 2022
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total funds**||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Donations**|**Funds Income**|**Income Funds**|**for year to**|**2021**|
||**Year to 2022**|**Year to 2022**|**2022**||
||£|£|£|£|
||||||
|Regular Donations|9,418||9,418|20,127|
|Major Donations||8,000|8,000|16,794|
||||||
|Other Donations|7,500||7,500|5,678|
|Total Donations|**16,918**|**8,000**|**24,918**|**42,599**|
## **Grants from Charitable Foundations**
|Quadrature Climate Foundation (QCF)|540,000||540,000|450,000|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||||||
|European Climate Foundation (ECF)||113,900|113,900|233,376|
||||||
|Esmee Fairbairn Foundation|58,000||58,000|58,333|
|Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust|50,000||50,000|50,000|
||||||
|The Samworth Foundation|35,000||35,000|35,000|
|John Ellerman Foundation||||24,752|
|The Kestrelman Trust||||18,000|
|Orp Foundation||||10,000|
|Polden Puckham|10,000||10,000||
|Maingot Charitable Trust|10,000||10,000|10,000|
|Marmot Charitable Trust|10,000||10,000|10,000|
|USPG||5,000|5,000|4,500|
|Other Grants|4,500||4,500|5,000|
||||||
|Total Grant from other Charitable Foundations|**717,500**|**118,900**|**836,400**|**908,961**|
Financial Report | **33**
**Note 2**
## **Analysis of Income and Costs**
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS 1 JANUARY 2022 TO 31 DECEMBER 2022
||**Unrestricted**|**Restricted**|**Total funds**||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Generated Income**|**Funds Income**
**Year to 2022**|**Income Funds**
**Year to 2022**|**for year to**
**2022**|**2021**|
||£|£|£|£|
|Income from Provision of Training Services|14,000||14,000|9,290|
|Total Income From Provision of Training Services|14,000||14,000|9,290|
|**Investment Income**|||||
|Interest|347||347|268|
|Total Interest|347||347|268|
|TOTAL INCOME|**748,765**|**126,900**|**875,665**|**961,118**|
Financial Report | **34**
**Note 2**
## **Analysis of Income and Costs**
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS 1 JANUARY 2022 TO 31 DECEMBER 2022
## **Expended on:-**
|Raising Funds|**-36,291**|**-1,037**|**-37,328**|**-13,398**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|**Charitable Activities**|||||
|Core Climate Change Work|-384,112|-91,547|-475,658|-66,127|
|Events|-57,694|-48,382|-106,075||
|Faith Outreach|-431|-18,992|-19,423|-18,247|
|Local Councils||||-18,025|
|Regional Climate Work|-67,305|-11,706|-79,011|-110,975|
|Research|-128,162|-11,499|-139,661|-64,674|
|Schools||||17,629|
|Total Charitable Climate Projects|**-637,703**|**-182,126**|**-819,829**|**-295,675**|
|Support Cost|**-115,139**|**-15,004**|**-130,144**|**-81,852**|
## **Charitable Activities**
## **Total expenditure**
|Total expenditure|**-789,134**|**-198,167**|**-987,300**|**-390,925**|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|Funds transfers|**-25**|**25**|||
|Net Movement in Funds (as per SoFA)|**-40,394**|**-71,242**|**-111,635**|**570,193**|
Financial Report | **34**
**Note 3**
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS 1 JANUARY 2022 TO 31 DECEMBER 2022
## **Staff Costs and Benefits**
|**3.1 Staff Costs**|**2022**|**2021**|
|---|---|---|
||£|£|
|Salaries and wages|650,759|470,045|
|Employer's national insurance|61,782|41,865|
|Pension contributions (defined contribution scheme)|19,401|14,361|
|Other employee benefits|||
|Total staff costs|**731,943**|**526,272**|
These staff costs are included within note 2 split across the relevant areas. A further £31,539 is included in personnel costs which represents accrual of backdated salary increases which were paid in March 2023.
There were no transactions with any related parties, other than Trustee expenses listed below.
## **3.2**
The Trustees are not paid. During the year expenses totalling £1060.19 were reimbursed to four trustees in respect of travel costs (2021: £58.18 for one trustee for travel costs).
## **3.3**
|**.3**||||
|---|---|---|---|
|Average head count in the year|**2022**||**2021**|
|Average number of whole time equivalent employees|26.3|22.1||
Financial Report | **35**
**Notes 4,5,6**
## **Debtors, Creditors and Cash**
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS 1 JANUARY 2021 TO 31 DECEMBER 2022
|**4**|**Analysis of debtors**|**2022**|**2021**|
|---|---|---|---|
|||£|£|
||Trade debtors|||
||Prepayments and accrued income|224,158|2,352|
||Other debtors|||
||Total|**224,158**|**2,352**|
|**5**|**Analysis of creditors**|Amounts falling due|Amounts falling due|Amounts falling due after|Amounts falling due after|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|||within one year||more than one year||
|||**2022**|**2021**|**2022**|**2021**|
|||£|£|£|£|
||Accruals and deferred income|44,226|4,801|||
||Taxation and social security|||||
||Other creditors|4,080||||
||Total|**48,305**|**4,801**|||
|**6**|**Cash at bank and in hand**|**2022**|**2021**|
|---|---|---|---|
|||£|£|
||Cash at bank and on hand|311,728|601,666|
||Other|||
||Total|**311,728**|**601,666**|
Financial Report | **36**
**Note 7**
## **Analysis of Charity Funds**
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS 1 JANUARY 2022 TO 31 DECEMBER 2022
## **7.1 Details of material funds held and movements during the current reporting period 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Fund Fund
balances balances
Fund Type of Purpose and Restrictions brought Income. Expenditure Transfers carried
Names Fund for ward (see note 2) for ward
£ £ £ £ £
Faith Restricted Support Faith projects matched
6,078 13,000 -19,078
funding
Green
Alliance Restricted To support local work
The Kestrelman
Trust Restricted Support work with local councils 5,848 -5,878 -30
John Ellerman
Restricted Support work with local councils 18,642 -18,637 -5
Foundation
ECF Restricted 40,674 113,900
Total
Restricted 71,241 126,900 -198,167 25
Reserves
Unrestricted
Unrestricted 469,975 748,765 -789,134 -25 429,581
Reserves
Designated
Unrestricted Strategic investment fund 58,000 58,000
Reserves
Total
Unrestricted 527,975 748,765 -789,134 -25 487,581
Reserves
Total
599,216 875,665 -987,300 0 487,581
Reserves
-154,574
**----- End of picture text -----**
Financial Report | **37**
**Note 7**
## **Analysis of Charity Funds**
NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS 1 JANUARY 2022 TO 31 DECEMBER 2022
## **7.2 Details of material funds held and movements during the current reporting period 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Income
Fund
Fund names Type of Fund Purpose and Restrictions Fund (see note Expenditure Transfer
balance
2)
£ £ £ £
£
Support Faith projects matched
Faith Restricted 5,199 21,294 -20,415 6,078
funding
Green
Restricted Support local work 2,000 -2,000
Alliance
The
Ketrelman Restricted Support with local councils 17,439 18,000 -29,591 5,848
Trust
John
Ellerman Restricted Support work with councils 24,752 -6,110 18,642
Foundation
Schools Restricted Support work with schools 4,800 10,000 -21,059 6,258
ECF Restricted 30,219 233,376 -222,921 40,674
COP26 Restricted 5,678 -5,678
Total
Restricted 59,658 313,099 -307,774 -6,258 71,241
Reserves
Unrestricted
Unrestricted 287,203 648,019 -400,989 -64,258 469,975
Reserves
Designated
Unrestricted Strategic investment fund -58,000 58,000
Reserves
Total
Unrestricted 287,203 648,019 -400,989 -6,258 527,975
Reserves
Total
346,861 961,118 -708,763 599,216
Reserves
**----- End of picture text -----**
Financial Report | **38**
**Hope for the Future (charity no. 1173547) (“the Charity”)** NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS 1 JANUARY 2021TO 31 DECEMBER 2022
## **Statement of responsibilities of the Charity’s Trustees**
## **(“the Trustees”)**
## FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2022
which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources in the year then ended. In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to: select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Charity will continue in operation.
the Charity and which enable them to ascertain the financial position of the Charity and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011 and FRS102. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
Financial Report | **39**
05.
Risk
Statement
## **Risk Statement**
Trustees are responsible for the management and control of HFTF. In the discharge of this responsibility, the Trustees identify the greatest risks to the charity and ways to mitigate them. We have compiled a comprehensive risk register which has become a working tool for all leads and subgroups, evolving and adapting as our needs and risks change.
Any trustee conflicts of interest are recorded in our conflict of interest register. Reporting on new conflicts is a standing agenda for each Trustee Board meeting. In 2022, HFTF funds were entirely operational, with no investment income or loan repayments and with no significant capital assets other than office equipment. Our main expenditure is staff salaries. HFTF is exempt from VAT and Corporate Tax. Our income is almost entirely from charitable donations and grants. Hence in the opinion of Trustees, HFTF has a simple operating structure.
**The main risk** for HFTF continues to be its dependence on a few large donors for charitable funding. The Trustees have been working to address this risk by a) Increasing the size of (grant) income pool and b) Diversifying our donors. By doing this, HFTF can continue partnering with its donors yet reduce our reliance on a small number of donors for a large proportion of our overall income.
**In the short term** , this risk is closely monitored by the finance subcommittee and at full Trustee Board meetings. HFTF also maintains sufficient cash reserves to cover future expenses and liabilities for 3 months.
**In conclusion** , Trustees have considered major risks that HFTF is exposed to and are satisfied that the systems and procedures are established to manage those risks.
Risk Statement | **41**
Ir-l
06.
Structure,
Governance and
Management
## **Structure, governance and management**
## **Trustees**
**Chair**
**Co-Chair**
**Co-Chair**
**Dr Margaret Ainger (to 22 Mar 2022)**
**Luke Murphy (from 16 Mar 2021)**
**Jeanette Clifford (from 16 Mar 2021)**
**Treasurer**
**Treasurer**
**Dr Jeremy Wight (Treasurer until 21 Mar 2022, then trustee)**
**Ben Skelton (from 22 Mar 2022)**
**Max Fyldes**
**Uday Vartak**
**Deborah Beck**
**Constanza Poggi**
**Tyrone Scott (from 22 Mar 2022)**
**Robbie MacPherson (from 22 Mar 2022)**
**Bob Reitemeier (Resigned Jul 22 & reappointed Nov 22)***
**Cristina Leston-Bandeira (from 22 Mar 2022)**
Trustees are generally appointed through a process of advertisement, interview and selection by a delegated recruitment committee.
*Bob Reitemeier joined the operational team as a volunteer during his time away from the board.
Structure, Governance and Management | **43**
## **Staff**
The team grew again this year with the average headcount rising from 22 to 26 full and part time staff. The senior leadership team consisted of:
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Director Deputy Director
Sarah Jordan Stephen Bonner
(née Robinson) (Until mid 2022)
Head of Research
Finance Manager
and Engagement
Paul Harrington
Tim Allen
**----- End of picture text -----**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Finance Manager
Paul Harrington
**----- End of picture text -----**
The pay of all staff is reviewed annually and normally increased in line with cost of living. We are a Living Wage employer, with salaries set at a minimum of Living Wage plus £1 per hour. Salary levels are benchmarked against similar roles.
Structure, Governance and Management | **44**
## **Partners and organisations we worked with in 2022**
We continue to work in partnership with other organisations within and beyond the climate movement. Our work alone is not enough to tackle the climate crisis, but working in collaboration with others enables us to have an impact that is greater than the sum of our parts. We are grateful to all of the partners we have worked with this year and look forward to continuing this work in the future.
Aberdeen Climate Action Ashden
Climate Pathfinders Youth Forum Crossing Footprints CIC Cumbria Action for Sustainability Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Derby Students’ Union ECF
Eco Sutton Eco Sutton Coldfield Faith for the Climate Festival of Debate Grantham Centre Green Alliance Green New Deal Green with Pride Joint Public Issues Team (JPIT) LGBT Foundation
## Possible
Schools' Climate Education South Yorkshire Shared Futures Stitched Up The Climate Coalition The London School of Economics The Women’s Institute Tpas UK Divest Conference UK Youth Climate Council Uplift USPG Warm this Winter Westway Trust Wickersley Partnership Trust World Wildlife Fund (WWF) YMCA
**Trusts and Foundations we are grateful to have worked with and been supported by in 2022**
Esmee Fairbairn Foundation European Climate Foundation Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust The Kestrelman Trust Maingot Charitable Trust Marmot Charitable Trust
Quadrature Climate Foundation The Samworth Foundation United Society Partners in the Gospel (USPG) Chapman Charitable Trust Cobb Charity
We would also like to say a huge thank you to anyone who donated to our work during 2022 or supported us as a monthly giver. Our work wouldn't be possible without your generous support.
Partnerships and organisations | **45**
07.
Reference and
Administractive
Details
## **Reference and administrative details**
**Charity name:** Hope for the Future **Charity number:** 1173547 **Charity address:** The Workstation, 15 Paternoster Row, Sheffield, S1 2BX
Reference and Administractive Details | **47**
**Contact Details** 0114 303 5818
info@hftf.org.uk
www.hftf.org.uk