Charity number: 1177863
Company number: 11121662
(England and Wales)
Rebecca Swift Foundation
Report of the Trustees and Unaudited Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2024
Rebecca Swift Foundation Contents Page For the year ended 31 December 2024
| Report of the Trustees | 1 to 2 |
|---|---|
| Independent Examiner's Report to the Trustees | 3 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 4 |
| Statement of Financial Position | 5 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 6 to 10 |
Rebecca Swift Foundation Report of the Trustees
For the year ended 31 December 2024
The Trustees, who are also directors for the purposes of company law, have pleasure in presenting their report and the financial statements for the charitable company for the year ended 31 December 2024. The Trustees have adopted the provisions of Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019).
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES
Objectives and aims
The charitable purpose of the Rebecca Swift Foundation is, for the public benefit, to advance education in the art of contemporary poetry. Through the Women Poets' Prize and the newly established Women Poets' Network, the charity aims to provide support and creative professional development opportunities to women poets and to maximise vital creative space within a supported environment.
Statement on public benefit
The trustees have considered the Charity Commision's guidance on public benefit, including the guidance 'public benefit: running a charity (PB2)'.
ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE
In 2023 we concluded our Women Poets' Network pilot year, with a full evaluative report in place showing ongoing significant need among the UK women poets community for free and low-cost services, community provision, in person networking opportunities, professional development and mental health support. It is clear from our report (completed by external evaluator Rakhee Jasani) that the Network offers something unique and valuable for women poets who have praised it as a 'life-saving' space.
MEMBERSHIP
The free Women Poets' Network Facebook group has grown to over 1,000 members in a single year since receiving our initial pilot grant, and our paid membership grew to over 250 women poets with further growth expected. Membership income increased by 26% this year with a fee review due in 2025.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
In its eighth full year of operations, the Foundation received £15,334.49 in donations. The membership, which has been designed to be low-cost and accessible, brought in £ 4,690.00 in 2024 which represents a 26% increase on the previous year's membership. In this year, we were successful in submitting a bid to ACE for a two-year project grant (a previous bid had been rejected with useful feedback which was implemented) to the value of £82,618. Of this, £41,309 was transferred to the charity in 2024 (Sept). This funding will allow us to focus on building out the Women Poets' Network over the next 2 years with an ambitious By Poets, For Poets strategy
Significant events
BY POETS, FOR POETS
Our 2-year BPFP plan includes CPD for women poets, workshops and Fallow spaces in person and online, paid skills development, micro bursaries, three Creative Associate posts in London, Wolverhampton and Newcastle, facilitator training, open mics and networking, a monthly educational newsletter, and development of our digital directory of women poets across the whole of the UK. We will also be hosting a hybrid Poetry Symposium and publishing an anthology of women poets in partnership with Fly on the Wall press. We will have marketing support from a substantial network of partners and additional consultancy from partners including Jamie Hale of CRIPTIC Arts and Joy Francis of Words of Colour. Access has been deeply embedded into the programme with captioning, BSL and hybridity as well as the creation of new accessible facilitator guidelines for those working with and for us.
STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Governing document
The Rebecca Swift Foundation's Prize and any other activities is led by its Board of Trustees who are a committed group of individuals with carefully audited skills and a reputation for excellence in their respective fields. The Foundation additionally benefits from substantial pro bono support from FMcM for media and publicity campaigns which we are deeply grateful for.
The charity is grateful to Chair Cathy James OBE, and to our new project manager Degna Stone during this year.
Recruitment and appointment of trustees
The trustees are appointed for three-year terms and are drawn from a wide range of backgrounds to ensure adequate representation of requisite skills to oversee the running of the Women Poets' Prize and Network. Skills audits are carried out periodically and we use open recruitment for all new postings.
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Rebecca Swift Foundation Report of the Trustees Continued For the year ended 31 December 2024
REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Name of Charity Rebecca Swift Foundation Charity registration number 1177863 Company registration number 11121662 Principal address 5 St Johns Lane London EC1M 4BH
Trustees
The trustees and officers serving during the year and since the year end were as follows:
Independent examiner
Cathy James (chair) Fiona McMorrough Tom Wilcox (Appointed: 21 December 2017) (Resigned: 26 June 2025) Jon Slack Ms Alice May Dewing Miss Amanda Jones Ms Rebecca Rendle (Appointed: 22 September 2021) (Resigned: 26 June 2025) Ms Martha Sprackland (Appointed: 10 February 2022) (Resigned: 26 June 2025) Caroline Clarke ACA 66 High Street Lewes East Sussex BN7 1XG
Approved by the Board of Trustees and signed on its behalf by
~~.................................~~ Cathy James (Sep 23, 2025 19:41:57 GMT+1) ............................................ 23 September 2025 Cathy James (chair)
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Rebecca Swift Foundation Independent Examiners Report to the Trustees For the year ended 31 December 2024
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the charitable company for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity Trustees, who are also directors for the purposes of company law, are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 ('the 2006 Act').
Having satisfied myself that the accounts of the Company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of your charity's accounts carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 ('the 2011 Act'). In carrying out my examination I have followed the Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.
Independent examiners statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
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accounting records were not kept in respect of the Company as required by section 386 of the 2006 Act; or
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the accounts do not accord with those records; or
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the accounts do not comply with the requirements of section 396 of the 2006 Act other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true and fair view' which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination; or
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the accounts have not been prepared in accordance with the methods and principles of the Statement of Recommended Practice for accounting and reporting by charities applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102).
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Caroline Clarke ACA
66 High Street Lewes East Sussex BN7 1XG
25 September 2025
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Rebecca Swift Foundation
Statement of Financial Activities (including Income and Expenditure Account) For the year ended 31 December 2024
| Notes Income and endowments from: Donations and legacies 2 Charitable activities 3 Total Expenditure on: Charitable activities 4/5 Total Net income/expenditure Reconciliation of funds Total funds brought forward Total funds carried forward |
Unrestricted funds £ 56,643 5,412 62,055 (34,529) (34,529) 27,526 15,213 42,739 |
2023 £ 13,489 5,041 |
|---|---|---|
| 18,530 | ||
| (21,515) | ||
| (21,515) | ||
| (2,985) 18,198 |
||
| 15,213 |
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11121662
Registered Number :
Rebecca Swift Foundation Statement of Financial Position As at 31 December 2024
| Notes | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| £ | £ | ||
| Current assets | |||
| Cash at bank and in hand | 43,153 | 15,627 | |
| 43,153 | 15,627 | ||
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | 10 | (414) | (414) |
| Net current assets | 42,739 | 15,213 | |
| Total assets less current liabilities | 42,739 | 15,213 | |
| Net assets | 42,739 | 15,213 | |
| The funds of the charity | |||
| Unrestricted income funds | 11 | 42,739 | 15,213 |
| Total funds | 42,739 | 15,213 |
For the year ended 31 December 2024 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
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The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its accounts for the year in question in accordance
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with section 476,
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The trustees acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting
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records and the preparation of accounts. These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies’ regime.
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board and signed on its behalf by:
Cathy James (Sep 23, 2025 19:41:57 GMT+1) Cathy James (chair) Trustee 23 September 2025
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Rebecca Swift Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2024
1. Accounting Policies
Basis of accounting
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, except for investments which are included at market value and the revaluation of certain fixed assets and in accordance with the Charities SORP (FRS 102) ‘Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) (effective 1 January 2019)', Financial Reporting Standard 102 the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102), and the Companies Act 2006.
Rebecca Swift Foundation meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).
Going concern
The financial statements are prepared, on a going concern basis, under the historical cost convention.
Statement of cash flows
The Trustees have taken advantage of the exemption in SORP FRS 102 from including a cash flow statement in the financial statements on the grounds that the charitable company is small.
Funds
The charity maintains a general unrestricted fund which represents funds which are expendable at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the objects of the charity. Such funds may be held in order to finance both working capital and capital investment.
Designated funds comprise of unrestricted funds that have been set aside by the Trustees for particular purposes.
Restricted funds have been provided to the charity for particular purposes, and it is the policy of the board of trustees to carefully monitor the application of those funds in accordance with the restrictions placed upon them.
There is no formal policy of transfer between funds or on the allocation of funds to designated funds, other than that described above
Incoming resources
All incoming resources are included in the statement of financial activities when the Charity is entitled to the income and the amount can be quantified with reasonable accuracy.
Resources expended
Liabilities are recognised as resources expended when there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the Charity to the expenditure.
Taxation
As a registered charity, the company is exempt from income and corporation tax to the extent that its income and gains are applicable to charitable purposes only. Value Added Tax is not recoverable by the company, and is therefore included in the relevant costs in the Statement of Financial Activities.
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Rebecca Swift Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 December 2024
2. Income from donations and legacies
| Unrestricted funds Donations received Grants received Analysis of grants received Arts Council England ncome from charitable activities Unrestricted funds Women Poets' Prize Income from charitable activities osts of charitable activities by fund type Unrestricted funds Women Poets' Prize Support costs osts of charitable activities by activity type Support costs Activities undertaken directly £ £ Support costs Women Poets' Prize 4,683 29,846 |
2024 £ 15,334 41,309 56,643 2024 £ 41,309 41,309 2024 £ 5,412 2024 £ 29,846 4,683 34,529 2024 £ 34,529 |
2023 £ 12,886 603 |
|---|---|---|
| 13,489 | ||
| 2023 £ 603 |
||
| 603 | ||
| 2023 £ 5,041 2023 £ 16,833 4,682 |
||
| 21,515 | ||
| 2023 £ 21,515 |
3. Income from charitable activities
4. Costs of charitable activities by fund type
5. Costs of charitable activities by activity type
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Rebecca Swift Foundation
Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 December 2024
6. Analysis of support costs
| Women Poets' Prize Management Finance Website and promotion Office costs Governance costs |
2024 £ 251 625 2,681 712 414 4,683 |
2023 £ 151 724 2,681 712 414 |
|---|---|---|
| 4,682 |
7. Net income/(expenditure) for the year
This is stated after charging/(crediting):
| This is stated after charging/(crediting): | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2023 | |
| £ | £ | |
| Accountancy fees | 414 | 414 |
8. Trustee remuneration and related party transactions
The charity trustees were not paid or received any other benefits from employment with the charity in the year (2023:£nil).
No charity trustee received payment for professional or other services supplied to the charity (2023:£nil). The trustees all give freely their time and expertise without any form of remuneration or other benefit in cash or kind (2023:£nil).
Trustees' expenses represents the payment or reimbursement of travel and subsistence costs totalling £nil (2023:£nil). There are no related party transactions to disclose for 2024 (2023:none).
9. Comparative for the Statement of Financial Activities
The comparative year values on the Statement of Financial Activites are for unrestricted funds.
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Rebecca Swift Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 December 2024
10. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accruals and deferred income Movement in funds Unrestricted Funds General General Unrestricted Funds - Previous year General General Purpose of unrestricted Funds General To support the work of the foundation. Analysis of net assets between funds Unrestricted funds General General |
Balance at 01/01/2024 £ 15,213 15,213 Balance at 01/01/2023 £ 18,198 18,198 |
Incoming resources £ 62,055 62,055 Incoming resources £ 18,530 18,530 |
2024 2023 £ £ 414 414 414 414 Outgoing resources Balance at 31/12/2024 £ £ (34,529) 42,739 (34,529) 42,739 Outgoing resources Balance at 31/12/2023 £ £ (21,515) 15,213 (21,515) 15,213 Net current assets / (liabilities) Net Assets £ £ 42,739 42,739 |
2023 £ 414 |
|
| 414 | |||||
| Balance at 31/12/2024 £ 42,739 |
|||||
| 42,739 | |||||
| Balance at 31/12/2023 £ 15,213 |
|||||
| 15,213 | |||||
| 42,739 42,739 |
11. Movement in funds
12. Analysis of net assets between funds
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Rebecca Swift Foundation Notes to the Financial Statements Continued For the year ended 31 December 2024
| Previous year Unrestricted funds General General |
Net current assets / (liabilities) Net Assets £ £ 15,213 15,213 |
|---|---|
| 15,213 15,213 |
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Rebecca Swift Foundation31-12-2024
Final Audit Report
2025-09-23
Created: 2025-09-23 By: Caroline Clarke (carolinec@andrewwells.co.uk) Status: Signed Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAAV8er_5_9eRun_-sKBxIxbq5q8xf4CNZ2
"Rebecca Swift Foundation31-12-2024" History
Document created by Caroline Clarke (carolinec@andrewwells.co.uk)
2025-09-23 - 12:42:38 PM GMT- IP address: 5.159.200.147
Document emailed to Cathy James (cathjames@protonmail.com) for signature
2025-09-23 - 12:42:42 PM GMT
Email viewed by Cathy James (cathjames@protonmail.com)
2025-09-23 - 12:42:48 PM GMT- IP address: 185.159.157.24
Document e-signed by Cathy James (cathjames@protonmail.com)
Signature Date: 2025-09-23 - 6:41:57 PM GMT - Time Source: server- IP address: 209.198.129.28
Agreement completed.
2025-09-23 - 6:41:57 PM GMT