Level Trust Trustees’ Report and Accounts
Level Trust registered charity 1178223
September 2024 to August 2025
Contents
| Charity Information | 3 |
|---|---|
| Chair’s Foreword | 4 |
| Trustees’ Report | 5 |
| Partners & Funders | 13 |
| Accounts | 14 |
| Notes to the Accounts | 20 |
| Independent Examiner’s Report | 25 |
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Level Trust Trustees’ Report and Accounts
Charity Information
As of 31st August 2024
| Charity name: | Level Trust |
|---|---|
| Charity number: | 1178223 (formally 1153936) |
| Principal address: | Level Trust |
| The Uniform Exchange | |
| 2G Luton Point | |
| Luton | |
| LU1 2TW | |
| Trustees: | Ms Anisah Akthar |
| Mr Wasim Akhtar | |
| Mrs Bina Briggs | |
| Mr Christopher Curtis | |
| Mr Altaf Hussain (Chair)(until 22.07.25) | |
| Mr Mostaque Koyes | |
| Mr Sufan Sadiq | |
| Ms Rachel Warwick (Chair)(from 22.07.25) | |
| Bankers: | Metro Bank |
| 10–20 Castle Street | |
| Luton | |
| LU1 3AJ |
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Level Trust Trustees’ Report and Accounts
Chair’s Foreword
Stepping into the role of Chair of Trustees this year has been a genuine privilege. The extraordinary work Level Trust delivers every single day is only becoming more vital as more families in our town face deepening financial pressure. Nearly half of Luton’s children are growing up in poverty, and behind every statistic in this report is a child trying their best in circumstances no young person should have to navigate. Throughout the year, I’ve been struck by the honesty and courage of the families and children who shared their experiences with us. Many told us they were going without essentials, struggling to afford food, or worrying constantly about not having the right things for school. One young person summed it up starkly in the quote at the beginning of this report; “Our blazer is compulsory… not everyone has a spare £45 just laying around.” These are not small worries; they shape a child’s confidence, their attendance, and ultimately their ability to learn.
And yet, what shines through this report is not just the scale of the challenge, but the impact that kindness, dignity and practical support can have. This year, Level Trust supported children more than 13,000 times, providing uniform, shoes, coats, learning resources, digital devices and holiday activities that offered safety, joy and belonging. Families told us that this support eased pressure at home, helped their children attend school
more regularly, and gave them breathing space at moments when everything felt overwhelming.
I have also been deeply moved by the dedication of our staff and volunteers. Families consistently describe feeling respected, welcomed and understood and that is no accident. The staff and volunteers are Level Trust are a team who lead with empathy, listen without judgement, and believe wholeheartedly in the potential of every child who walks through our doors.
Looking ahead, the coming years for Level Trust will be shaped by determination and hope. Determination, because no child’s education should be shaped by the contents of their family’s bank account. Hope, because every day we see the difference that community, compassion and practical action can make. To our partners, funders and supporters: thank you. Your generosity and commitment make this work possible, and your belief in our mission strengthens us as demand continues to grow.
Rachel Warwick Chair of Trustees, Level Trust
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Level Trust Trustees’ Report and Accounts
Trustees’ Report
1. Background
In 2025, Level Trust continued its unwavering commitment to alleviating the effects of poverty on children’s education in Luton. Through a blend of innovative programmes, strategic partnerships, and grassroots engagement, we reached more beneficiaries than ever before, delivering tangible improvements in educational access, wellbeing, and community cohesion.
They’re 2.5 times more likely to be persistently absent from school, five times more likely to be permanently excluded from school, 30% less likely to get good GCSEs, and twice as likely to be not in education, employment, or training (NEET). These outcomes get worse the longer a young person spends on Free School Meals, yet the poverty rate across the UK has not meaningfully improved in 14 years.
Level Trust works tirelessly to work towards eradicating child poverty.
25 out of 29 children surveyed by Level Trust said they worried about not having the right things for school and 92 out of 98 parents said they worried about it too. Young people told us that they felt anxious about getting in trouble with teachers or being bullied for looking different.
“When I was younger, I didn’t know we were poor. All my friends were the same. Now I am at high school, it just gets worse and worse. I don’t let anyone come to my house. I don’t want them to make fun of me.”
Year 9 child, Luton
Over 2024/25 we worked with children on 13,603 occasions, 1,339 more than the year before. In 2025, approximately 4.5 million children were growing up in poverty across the four UK nations – 3 in 10 of all children. In Luton this figure is considerably higher with almost 5 out of every 10 children growing up in poverty. This is an inexcusable figure, with consequences that can cast a long shadow over a young person’s life. We know that young people from disadvantaged backgrounds face systematically worse outcomes at every stage in the journey from school to work.
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Level Trust Trustees’ Report and Accounts
Partnership. Dignity. Fun. Generous. Luton
2. Our aims
3. Values
The aims of Level Trust are to:
-
a. give children living in poverty what they need to thrive in their learning;
-
b. help schools provide quality support to poor children;
-
c. empower children, young people and parents to lead the changes they believe will make the greatest difference in alleviating poverty in the longer term.
Our values are incredibly important to us. They underpin everything we do. At Level Trust, we:
-
are committed to true partnership working, believing it brings about the best results
-
treat all people, especially those affected by poverty, with the utmost dignity
-
believe that all children deserve to be safe, happy and have fun, and try to have fun ourselves
-
are generous and try to give other people the best of what we have to offer
-
are passionate about Luton, celebrate its attributes and contribute towards making it even better
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Level Trust Trustees’ Report and Accounts
4. The team
Level Trust is run day to day by a skilled and compassionate team of staff and volunteers, without whom we would not be able to fulfil our important aims. The increased demand for our services driven by the cost of living crisis has brought challenges to us in terms of capacity but, throughout, the team have been highly resilient, flexible and committed and have made sure that every family who told us that they needed our help has been supported.
We have been delighted this year to welcome a new member of staff to our team. Jade Halsey has joined us as a shop assistant in the Uniform Exchange and has been a welcome and friendly addition to the team providing additional capacity as demand for services continues to increase.
Level Trust currently has 2 full time members of staff and 3 part time members of staff.
We are incredibly grateful for all that they have given and proud of what they have achieved under such difficult circumstances. We are continually grateful to our funders and partners who have provided us with additional support over the past year, without whom we would not have been able to achieve much of our work.
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Level Trust Trustees’ Report and Accounts
5. Governance
Governance Level Trust is a charitable incorporated organization (CIO) registered 3rd May 2018 with registration number 1178223.
Our team is governed by our highly experienced Trustee Board. Our constitution provides for a minimum of three trustees but to ensure we have all areas covered, we have seven serving trustees. Their role includes, but is not limited to: overseeing the financial management of the charity, all policies including our safeguarding practice, managing and mitigating risk and setting our strategic direction.
We are pleased to have welcomed Rachel Warwick to the board. Rachel brings a wealth of experience in the field of charity fundraising. Following the resignation of Level Trust’s chair, Altaf Hussain, Rachel stepped into the role of chair having been endorsed unanimously by the trustee board. Our sincere thanks go to Altaf who gave his time so generously over a number of years to support the charity and champion educational access for all children and young people regardless of their start in life or family circumstances.
6. What We Did
Over the year, we gave Luton children:
15,112 items of school uniform
136 pairs of school shoes
126 winter coats
1,303 sets of learning resources
32 digital devices
100% of schools surveyed said our work met children’s basic needs for warm and waterproof clothing and were positive about the support that Level Trust had been able to provide their children in levelling the educational playing field.
“Level Trust supports us week in and week out, year in and year out. They have provided uniforms, school shoes, warm coats and bedding to our families who are living in the most difficult of circumstances helping to take some of the financial strain off their household. We are proud to work closely with the charity and its staff to support our families who mean the world to us.”
Family worker, a Luton primary school
98 out of 98 parents who answered our survey question told us they would use the money they saved through using Level Trust to help them pay for more essential items for their children and families. This included food, school trips, clothing, household bills and paying off debts.
“If you want to know what care and compassion is, go to the Uniform Exchange or talk to one of the Level Trust staff. Nothing – and I mean nothing – is too much trouble for them. One of the members of staff was telling me about the lived experience of the employees, volunteers and trustees and this really shines through. Families who go to the charity for support are treated with the utmost respect, in a dignified way and come away feeling empowered, held together and willing to return should they need support in the future.”
Senior leader, a Luton secondary school
“My child’s school told me about you and I am so glad. I got all the uniform I needed for free and I went straight to the shop to get some food with the money I didn’t have to spend on school stuff.”
Father of two accessing Level Trust services
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Level Trust Trustees’ Report and Accounts
“Level Trust reduces the stigma associated with poverty by ensuring all children have access to clean, appropriate school uniforms, promoting equality in the classroom.”
Senior leader, a Luton secondary school
97 out of 98 (99%) families surveyed said that using the Uniform Exchange reduced the risk of their child missing school. Children told us that they now could take part in P.E. and go to school. Schools told us that through the provision of digital devices, their young people were more engaged in their home learning and removed one of the barriers to them attaining in line with their non-disadvantaged peers.
“Students have been supported to access digital devices that they have used for their home learning and to participate fully in the school environment. We are extremely grateful to Level Trust for supplying the devices for our young people who are experiencing digital poverty.”
Pastoral Lead, a Luton Secondary School
Children Grew In Confidence & Had Fun.
100% of children who took part in our holiday schemes showed an improvement in their confidence.
“Level Trust’s holiday activity days have been wonderful for some of our most vulnerable children. We know that they are being seen by trusted adults and, should there be any concerns, we will be notified allowing us to step in to support the family and keep the children safe. The children also LOVE going to the activity days. They always come back after the holidays saying how much fun they had.”
Primary School Family Worker
“I had a brilliant, excellent, brilliant, excellent time!”
Key Stage 2 child who attended a holiday activity day
“Level Trust is one of our most valued partners. We regularly direct parents to the Uniform Exchange and Learning Locker and to the holiday activity schemes which are greatly appreciated by our working parents as they are free of charge and enable them to carry on working throughout the school holidays. Parents tell us that they greatly value the support the charity provides to their families.”
Luton primary school family worker
“One day I was at an event with my work. I got chatting to J who works at Level Trust. She told me all about the services they provided to families and how it was open to anyone in need. I was in need, but I didn’t say that. At the weekend I went into the shop. A lovely woman helped me and let me know that she was there to help me. When I was at home, I thought that Luton is such an amazing place with amazing people and amazing charities like Level Trust. I tell everyone about the charity and the help it will give to struggling families.”
Youth worker, Luton
It was notable in the feedback that children and parents had a sense of pride in using the Uniform Exchange because they could donate school uniform to help other children and support the environment at the same time.
“I always bring back the uniform that I got from the Uniform Exchange back to the Uniform Exchange so that other children can use it. My children grow so quickly that almost as soon as they have got it, they have grown out of it so there is still pliantly of wear in it.”
Mother of two children using the Uniform Exchange
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Level Trust Trustees’ Report and Accounts
7. Fundraising and marketing
We are incredibly grateful to all our donors, funders and partners, without whom we would have been unable to support all our children and families this year. Their commitment to us, responsiveness and flexibility has helped get us through this difficult year. We raise funding through applications to grant making bodies, building relationships with individual donors, working with corporate partners and through community campaigns. We are regularly featured in good news stories in the local and national press and this year took part in several TV pieces for local news and interviews for radio channels.
A huge thank you to Battenhall PR, who have given their time pro bono so generously. With their guidance, our growing presence on social media has resulted in more followers enabling us to reach more families that we have been able to support and donors who have been extremely generous in their support of Level Trust.
9. Reserves policy
The charity has unrestricted reserves at 31st August 2025 of £89,898. The reserves represent 3.5 months expenditure on charitable activities. It is the policy of the charity to hold no less than three months reserves. Restricted funds are held by the charity for only as long as is necessary to organise the relevant programmes. Normally these funds are spent within twelve months of receipt.
10. Post balance sheet events
No matters or circumstances have arisen since the end of the financial period which significantly affected or may significantly affect the operations of the charity, the results of these operations or the state of affairs of the Charity in the financial year subsequent to the financial period ended 31st August 2025.
8. Financial review
The financial statements show a surplus for the year of £86,939. The previous year we had a deficit of £59,020. The majority of the surplus has been raised in restricted funds to run the Uniform Exchange. During the year, the charity generated income of £380,516. Of this income, £333,814 was raised for specific programmes. Expenditure totalled £293,577 for the year, of which £293,577 was spent on specific programmes. Our income was £73,130 more than the previous year.
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Level Trust Trustees’ Report and Accounts
11. Future plans
Despite the challenges the effects of the pandemic and the subsequent cost of living crisis brought last year, there were also many opportunities. These have allowed us to facilitate the increased demand in the Uniform Exchange, welcome and respond to the needs of recently arrived refugee families who are often housed in temporary accommodation and to increase the number of disadvantaged children accessing our SMASH holiday provision.
Over the past year we gave over 30 children and young people laptops to support them with their studies and to help to level the educational playing field. We have a stable and talented staff body, and this will enable us to adapt to the ever-increasing demand for our services.
Our plans for the following year include:
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To source new premises to enable the charity to expand the services we offer.
-
Increasing the work we complete with schoolsparticularly in terms of delivery information sessions to children and parents.
-
Recruit an additional shop assistant to support on Saturdays for the Uniform Exchange.
-
Supporting a member of staff to learn to drive so that they are able to reach more schools and community groups to increase awareness of Level Trust’s services.
-
Increasing the number of attendees at our annual conference to allow for even greater networking and partnership working opportunities.
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Level Trust Trustees’ Report and Accounts
12. Statement of trustees’ responsibilities
Charity law requires the trustees to prepare the financial statements for each financial year which show a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and its financial activities for that year. 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;
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State whether applicable accounting standards and statements of recommended practice have been followed, subject to any departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
13. Independent examiner
We are very grateful to Jason Foxwell FCCA FCIE who has undertaken our Independent Examination this year.
14. Trustees’ report signed on behalf of the trustees:
Rachel Warwick, Chair
Date: 31st May, 2026
Mr Christopher Curtis, Trustee
- Prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the charity will continue in operational existence.
The trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2006. 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.
Date: 31st May, 2026
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Level Trust Trustees’ Report and Accounts
Partners & Funders
We would like to extend a huge thank you to all our project partners, schools and funders, without whom, our work would not be possible. We are very grateful for your time, money, venues, skills and expertise.
15. Main funders
Thank you to all those who make our work possible. Our main funders and supporters for 2024–25 were:
Amateurs Trust
Awards 4 All
Aviva Brokers Fund Beds and Luton Community Foundation – Luton Rising
Community Fund
Connolly Foundation Garfield Weston Foundation Gosling Foundation Hobson Charity Momentum Insurance Brokers Postcode Places Trust Steel Charitable Trust Swire Charitable Trust Wixamtree Trust The generous donors of Luton and Bedfordshire.
16. Partners
Partnership is key to how Level Trust works. Our partners refer children to our work, and share their skills, experience and resources. The expertise that they share makes our work possible. This year we worked with children from every local authority or academy school in Luton and with one independent school. Thank you to our delivery partners for your advice, support and generosity:
Adventures Into African Activities Boxing Saves Lives Caritas-Diocese of Northampton Citizens Advice Bureau Dan The Skipping Man Discover Islam Hygiene Bank KidsOut
Lugus Ceramics Luton Council Education Service Luton Council Refugee Service Luton Foodbank NGYT NOAH Enterprise Salvation Army Somali Voices Enabled Stepping Stones Stockwood Park RFC Wholehearted Childhood Charity Youthscape
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Level Trust Trustees’ Report and Accounts
Financial Report Level Trust Trustees. Report and Ateounts 14
Accounts
17. Statutory Accounts
Level Trust Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 August 2025
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Level Trust Trustees’ Report and Accounts
Level Trust – Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 August 2025
| Fund Name Unrestricted funds £ Restricted funds £ 2025 Total funds £ |
Fund Name Unrestricted funds £ Restricted funds £ 2025 Total funds £ |
2024 Prior year funds £ |
|---|---|---|
| Incoming Resources Community Fundraising Grants and Trusts Fundraising Events Other Fundraising Regular Donors Gif Aid Bank Interest Corporate Partners Resources expended Rent Rates and Utilities Conference Costs School Uniform Project Costs Shoes Wages and salaries Employer’s NI Pensions Advertising & Marketing Accountancy fees Networking Bank Fees Cleaning Recruitment costs Premises Maintenance Postage, Freight & Courier Ofce Refreshments General Expenses Volunteer Expenses Insurance Legal Expenses Consultancy Printing & Stationery IT Sofware and Consumables Website Design Amortisation of Intangibles Depreciation Staf Training Subscriptions Telephone & Internet Staf Travel Fundraising Expenses Surplus/(Defcit) of Income over Expenditure Fund balance b/f Balance before transfer Transfer from Unrestricted Balance afer transfer |
10,921 22,063 32,984 13,978 307,780 321,758 8,583 - 8,583 6,152 3,971 10,123 5,105 - 5,105 1,071 - 1,071 892 - 892 - - - 46,702 333,814 380,516 - 24,531 24,531 - 6,309 6,309 - 11,915 11,915 - 2,720 2,720 - 22,123 22,123 - 6,140 6,140 - 141,564 141,564 - 7,397 7,397 - 3,074 3,074 - 2,174 2,174 - 11,081 11,081 - 22 22 - 256 256 - 913 913 - - - - 2,844 2,844 - 9 9 - 187 187 - 507 507 - 571 571 - 1,674 1,674 - 1,584 1,584 - 8,203 8,203 - 640 640 - 1,321 1,321 - 6,481 6,481 - 7,000 7,000 - 1,033 1,033 - 2,339 2,339 - 1,645 1,645 - 1,894 1,894 - 541 541 - 14,885 14,885 - 293,577 293,577 46,702 40,237 86,939 121,196 26,654 147,850 167,898 66,891 234,789 (58,000) 58,000 - 109,898 124,891 234,789 |
22,530 256,697 15,351 3,308 5,770 2,050 1,680 - |
| 307,386 37,234 11,247 5,795 11,751 27,829 17,268 168,133 5,811 2,870 15,680 10,729 70 300 871 299 4,115 - 285 112 613 1,597 - 9,163 868 1,579 1,770 4,579 889 1,769 2,714 1,679 643 18,144 |
||
| 366,406 (59,020) |
||
| 206,870 147,850 - |
||
| 147,850 |
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Level Trust Trustees’ Report and Accounts
Accounts
18. Statement of financial activities
Level Trust Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 August 2025
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Level Trust Trustees’ Report and Accounts
Level Trust – Detailed Statement of Financial Activities for the year ended 31 August 2025
| Fund Name | Beds Learning Fund Over- heads Shops SMASH Building Fund Un- restricted 2025 £ |
2024 £ |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Incoming Resources Community Fundraising Grants and Trusts Fundraising Events Other Fundraising Regular Donors Gif Aid Bank Interest Corporate Partners Resources expended Rent Rates and Utilities Conference Costs School Uniform Project Costs Shoes Wages and salaries Employer’s NI Pensions Advertising & Marketing Accountancy fees Networking Bank Fees Cleaning Recruitment costs Premises Maintenance Postage, Freight & Courier Ofce Refreshments General Expenses Volunteer Expenses Insurance Legal Expenses Consultancy Printing & Stationery IT Sofware and Consumables Website Design Amortisation of Intangibles Depreciation Staf Training Subscriptions Telephone & Internet Staf Travel Fundraising Expenses Surplus/(Defcit) of Income over Expenditure Fund balance b/f Balance before transfer Transfer from Unassigned Balance afer transfer |
- 21,638 425 - - 10,921 32,984 - 98,000 195,889 13,891 - 13,978 321,758 - - - - - 8,583 8,583 - 3,371 600 - - 6,152 10,123 - - - - - 5,105 5,105 - - - - - 1,071 1,071 - - - - - 892 892 - - - - - - - - 123,009 196,914 13,891 - 46,702 380,516 - 7,863 16,668 - - - 24,531 - 2,501 3,808 - - - 6,309 - 11,915 - - - - 11,915 - - 2,720 - - - 2,720 16,281 1,070 508 4,264 - - 22,123 - - 6,140 - - - 6,140 - 40,250 91,352 9,962 - - 141,564 - 135 6,319 943 - - 7,397 - 1,013 1,842 219 - - 3,074 - 2,174 - - - - 2,174 - 11,081 - - - - 11,081 - 22 - - - - 22 - 256 - - - - 256 - - 913 - - - 913 - - - - - - - - - 2,844 - - - 2,844 - - 9 - - - 9 - 178 9 - - - 187 - 499 8 - - - 507 - 488 83 - - - 571 - 814 814 46 - - 1,674 - 1,584 - - - - 1,584 - 7,641 562 - - - 8,203 - 397 243 - - - 640 - 1,321 - - - - 1,321 - 2,328 4,153 - - - 6,481 - 1,900 5,100 - - - 7,000 - 806 227 - - - 1,033 - 52 2,287 - - - 2,339 - 1,440 205 - - - 1,645 - 1,404 263 227 - - 1,894 - 323 218 - - - 541 - 14,885 - - - - 14,885 16,281 114,340 147,295 15,661 - - 293,577 (16,281) 8,669 49,619 (1,770) - 46,702 86,939 7,616 11,566 1,444 6,028 50,000 71,196 147,850 (8,665) 20,235 51,063 4,258 50,000 117,898 234,789 10,000 25,000 20,000 3,000 (30,000) (28,000) - |
22,530 256,697 15,351 3,308 5,770 2,050 1,680 - 307,386 37,234 11,247 5,795 11,751 27,829 17,268 168,133 5,811 2,870 15,680 10,729 70 300 871 299 4,115 - 285 112 613 1,597 - 9,163 868 1,579 1,770 4,579 889 1,769 2,714 1,679 643 18,144 |
|
| 366,406 (59,020) |
|||
| 222,070 163,050 - |
|||
| 1,335 45,235 71,063 7,258 20,000 89,898 234,789 |
163,050 |
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Level Trust Trustees’ Report and Accounts
Accounts
Level Trust Registered number: 1178223 Balance Sheet as at 31 August 2025
19. Balance sheet
| 19. Balance sheet | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | Unrestricted funds £ |
Restricted funds £ |
2025 Total £ |
2024 Total £ |
| Fixed assets Intangible assets 3 Tangible assets 4 |
10,500 1,096 |
- - |
10,500 1,096 |
17,500 2,129 |
| Current assets Debtors 5 Cash at bank and in hand |
11,596 7,168 101,558 |
- - 124,891 |
11,596 7,168 226,449 |
19,629 |
| 9,169 132,245 |
||||
| Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 6 Net current assets |
108,726 (10,424) 98,302 |
124,891 - 124,891 |
233,617 (10,424) 223,193 |
141,414 |
| (13,193) 128,221 |
||||
| Funds of the Charity Restricted funds 7 Unrestricted funds 7 Net assets |
- 109,898 109,898 |
124,891 - 124,891 |
124,891 109,898 234,789 |
147,850 |
| 26,654 121,196 |
||||
| Total Funds | 109,898 | 124,891 | 234,789 | 147,850 |
20. Signed on behalf of the trustees
| Signature: Signature: |
Print Name: Print Name: Ms Rachel Warwick Mr Christopher Curtis |
Date of approval: 31st May, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Date of approval: 31st May, 2026 |
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Level Trust Trustees’ Report and Accounts
Notes to the Accounts
Level Trust
Notes to the Accounts
for the year ended 31 August 2025
as entitlement to the grant only occurs when the performance related conditions are met (5.16 FRS 102 SORP).
Offsetting
21. Accounting policies
Basis of preparation
The accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and 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, The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and with the Charities Act 2011.
There has been no offsetting of assets and liabilities, or income and expenses, unless required or permitted by the FRS 102 SORP or FRS 102.
Tax reclaims on donations and gifts
Gift Aid receivable is included in income when there is a valid declaration from the donor. Any Gift Aid amount recovered 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 the terms of the appeal have specified otherwise.
Support costs
There have been no changes of accounting policy, changes to accounting estimates or material prior year errors.
The charity has incurred expenditure on support costs.
Volunteer help
Recognition of income
Income is included in the Statement of Financial Activities (SoFA) when
The value of any voluntary help received is not included in the accounts but is described in the trustees’ annual report.
-
the charity becomes entitled to the resources;
-
it is more likely than not that the trustees will receive the resources; and
-
the monetary value can be measured with sufficient reliability.
Interest income
This is included in the accounts when receipt is probable and the amount receivable canbe measured reliably.
Liability recognition
Grants and donations are only included in the SoFA when the general income recognition criteria are met.
In the case of performance related grants, income must only be recognised to the extent that the charity has provided the specified goods or services
Liabilities are recognised where it is more likely than not that there is a legal or constructive obligation committing the charity to pay out resources and the amount of the obligation can be measured with reasonable certainty.
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Level Trust Trustees’ Report and Accounts
Governance and support costs
Support costs have been allocated between governance costs and other support. Governance costs comprise all costs involving public accountability of the charity and its compliance with regulation and good practice.
Support costs include central functions and have been allocated to activity cost categories on a basis consistent with the use of resources, eg allocating property costs by floor areas, or per capita, staff costs by the time spent and other costs by their usage.
Intangible fixed assets
Intangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulative amortisation and any accumulative impairment losses.
These are capitalised if they can be used for more than one year, and cost at least £1,000.
Website development over 3 years
Tangible fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets are measured at cost less accumulative depreciation and any accumulative impairment losses. Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets, other than freehold land, at rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset evenly over its expected useful life, as follows:
Pensions
Contributions to defined contribution plans are expensed in the period to which they relate.
22. Employee costs
| 22. Employee costs | |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 |
| Salaries and wages 141,564 |
168,133 |
| Social security costs 7,397 |
5,811 |
| Pension costs (defned contribution scheme) 3,074 |
2,870 |
| 152,035 | 176,814 |
No employees received employee benefits for the reporting period of more than £60,000.
Pension contributions are allocated to activities or overheads, on the basis of which activity the employee works on.
| Number | Number |
|---|---|
| Charitable activities 6 |
10 |
| Average number of persons employed by the charity 6 |
10 |
Office Equipment over 3 years
Debtors
Debtors (including trade debtors, prepayments and loans receivable) are measured on initial recognition at settlement amount after any trade discounts or amount advanced by the charity. Subsequently, they are measured at the cash or other consideration expected to be received.
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Level Trust Trustees’ Report and Accounts
23. Intangible fixed assets
| Website development costs | £ |
|---|---|
| Cost At 1 September 2024 Disposals At 31 August 2025 |
35,580 - - |
| 35,580 | |
| Amortisation At 1 September 2024 Provided during the year On disposals At 31 August 2025 |
18,080 7,000 - |
| 25,080 | |
| Net book value At 31 August 2025 At 31 August 2024 Website development costs are being writen of in equal annual instalments over its estimated economic life of 3 years. |
|
| 10,500 | |
| 17,500 | |
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Level Trust Trustees’ Report and Accounts
- Tangible fixed assets
Office Equipment £
| Cost At 1 September 2024 At 31 August 2025 |
3,560 3,560 |
|---|---|
| Depreciation At 1 September 2024 Charge for the year At 31 August 2025 |
1,431 1,033 |
| 2,464 | |
| Net book value At 31 August 2025 At 31 August 2024 |
|
| 1,096 | |
| 2,129 |
25. Debtors
| 25. Debtors | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 £ |
2024 £ |
|
| Trade debtors Other debtors |
7,168 - 7,168 |
7,495 1,674 |
| 9,169 |
26. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
| 26. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2025 £ |
2024 £ |
|
| Trade creditors Taxation and social security costs Other creditors |
4,854 2,820 2,750 10,424 |
7,795 5,398 - |
| 13,193 |
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Level Trust Trustees’ Report and Accounts
27. Charity funds
| b/f | c/f | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/09/2024 | Income | Expenditure | Transfers | 31/08/2025 | |
| Fund Name | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ |
| Beds Learning Fund | 7,616 | - | (16,281) | 10,000 | 1,335 |
| Overheads | 11,566 | 123,009 | (114,340) | 25,000 | 45,235 |
| Shops | 1,444 | 196,914 | (147,295) | 20,000 | 71,063 |
| SMASH | 6,028 | 13,891 | (15,661) | 3,000 | 7,258 |
| Building Fund | 50,000 | - | - | (30,000) | 20,000 |
| Unrestricted | 71,196 | 46,702 | - | (28,000) | 89,898 |
| 147,850 | 380,516 | (293,577) | - | 234,789 |
| b/f | c/f | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/09/2023 | Income | Expenditure | Transfers | 31/08/2024 | |
| Fund Name | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ |
| Beds Learning Fund | 7,596 | 8,000 | (7,980) | - | 7,616 |
| Overheads | 6,018 | 64,912 | (127,364) | 68,000 | 11,566 |
| Shops | 4,221 | 112,483 | (161,260) | 46,000 | 1,444 |
| SMASH | 7,736 | 57,094 | (69,802) | 11,000 | 6,028 |
| Building Fund | 50,000 | - | - | - | 50,000 |
| Unrestricted | 131,299 | 64,897 | - | (125,000) | 71,196 |
| 206,870 | 307,386 | (366,406) | - | 147,850 |
| Fund Name | Type | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Beds Learning fund | Restricted | Learning resources, equipment, clothing and opportunities |
| Overheads | Restricted | Overheads |
| Shops | Restricted | Providing Uniforms and Resources |
| SMASH | Restricted | School Holiday Learning Programmes |
| Building Fund | Designated | Funds to identify, refurbish and move into charity premises |
| Unrestricted | Unrestricted | No Restrictions |
Transfers from unrestricted funds to restricted funds are made to fund specific projects where restricted funds raised are not sufficient to cover the project costs.
24
Level Trust Trustees’ Report and Accounts
Independent Examiner’s Report
Independent examiner’s report to the trustees of Level Trust
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Level Trust (the charity) for the year ended 31st August 2025.
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in connection with my examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
Responsibilities and basis of report
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’).
-
accounting records were not kept in respect of the charity as required by section 130 of the Act; or
-
the accounts do not accord with those records; or
I report in respect of my examination of the charity’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.
- the accounts do 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.
Independent examiner’s statement
Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of ACCA and ACIE, both of which are listed bodies.
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.
Mr J P Foxwell FCCA FCIE
independent-examiner.net
12 Hillbourne Road, Poole, BH17 7JB
Date: 31st May, 2026
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Level Trust Trustees’ Report and Accounts
leveltrust.org
Level Trust registered charity 1178223