WiTeH SWITCH YOUTH SERVICES Registered CIO number 1179544 TRUSTEES, REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st MARCH 2025
Swltch Youth Servlces- Trustees Annual Report Yaar endlng 31st March 2025 The Trustees present their annual report and financial 8tstements forthe year 8nded 318t March 2025. B8ckground Th8 charity is a charitable incorporated org8nls8tion (CIO) Te81stered with the Charity CommisslonforEngLand and Wales, registered number 1179544. Th8 charityw8S incorporated on 14th August 2018, however trremained dom)ant until 18t M8y2023 when 8ctivtty commenced. This ch8ritytook over the operations, staff and premises of Maidstone Town Centre Youth Café (previously a registered ch8rty, r8list8red number 1127568) with effect from that date. Trustees The trustees ofthe ch8rity duringthe yearwere David Creasey Nicola Gallagher- resign8d 1710512024 Mariannewebb RachelJon8s Vane$88 Marson - appointed 1910612024 Regist8r8d Addra8S Switch Youth SeNices 34£ High Street Maidstone ME14 5JH Soiicltor8 GulLands Solicitors LLP 16 MSll Str88t Maldstone ME15 6xr Independant Examlnor 26 Lancet Lne Maidstone ME15 9RY
Swltch Youth Services- Trustees Annual Report Year ending 313t March 2025 Structure and Governance Swltch Youth Services {SYS- Charity no. 1179544) became an operational charitable Incorporated Organis8tion (CIO) in April 2023 although it had been incorporated in August 2018 with the Intentlon of tsking over Maid8tone Town Centre Youth Café IMTCYC- charity no. 1127568) Switch is the only secular open acc85S youth service wrfaiiable in the Maidstone Borough. Many others have closed due to withdrawals ol ststutoryfundin& Switch continue$ to attract targe numbers ofyoung people. many of whom have such siÉniflcant problems that if Switch was not here, they would havo IFttle or no open acc88S youth provision to engagewith. Switch is sorved by a Trustee board and omployed stsfFt8am 88 follow8: David Creas6y is a church leaderwith The Wine in Maidstone where he also serves 88 8 trusteo of the charlty. He Is also COwOPted School Govomor wlth Leigh Aeadery Trust. Dav8 chairs the Switch trustee board. Nicola Gallagher has been involved with Switch as a volunteer. and a trustee sinco Jun8 2023. Due to relocatingto the West Couiity Nicola resigned from the board in May 2024. Marianne Webb is a p8rtn8rwith 8 local fimi of soticitofs 8nd a trustee of M8id8tone Museum Found8tion. Rachel Jone8 is a Director of Strategic Pianningwith the local NHS Trust (Maidstone and Tunbridge Weiis) and a board member. Vanessa Marson is a finance manager wtth Ro¢k UK and joined our board in June 2024 on Nicola's departure. SYS continues to employ two rnember8 of 8tstr. Nick Batchelor- Youth SeNice Manager Erin Ever8field - Youth Centre Manager Both Nick and Erin haveyouth workquaitfications.. Nick BatcheLor Youth Justice Effective Practice Certificate- level 5 Advanced Diploma in Child Psychology- level5 CommunltyJu8tice Certificate In Drug and Alcohol setvices- level 3 Youth Work Practice- level 3 Designated Saf8gu8rding Lead - level 3
Swltch Youth Services - Trustees Annual Report Year ending 31st March 2025 Erln Eversfield L8vel 3 Dlploma in Youth Work Practice Deslgnat8d Safeguarding lead- level 3 The charity is ai80 fortunateto havethg 88rvices of 8 number ofadultvolunteerswho provide a valuable s8rvice to young people. They provide 8 r8ng6 of skills and valuable experience in their interactions with young people. and we 8r6very gratefulforthe time they give to setvingthe charity. All tru8tee8, staff and volunteers are Disclosure and Barring Service {DBS) certificated atthe enhanced LeveL ObJectfve8 SYS has four maln objectlvas as iald out In its Gov6mlngdocument. h achieve8 these objectives though f8cilitatln An open access café One to one mentoring Running multiagency outre8¢h programmes and events Offering ses8ion8for home 8ducated young people to access pro social activities Educational and training sessions for young peopleto achieve a construction industry acc888 card (ClS}. Provldlng outreach workers on a Frlday evenlng l)oth in the town and on the local rall network SYS also has access to secondary schools wtthin the borough and t8kes 858emblles detBiUng Its services, as well as specific sessions for the students on bullying, knlfe crime and crime dlversion talks includingthe impact of dwg8 and alcohol -this is not an exhaustive list of all the topics covered. Switch stsff have continued to d8liv8r high qu8Uty assemblies wtthin schools and repeat booktngs ofth6se are part of our delivery planto reach young people duringthisyear, makingthgm aware of Swltch services and details of ouropen access youth café In central Maidstone. Perspgcti Switch staff de81 viith Some of th8 most dÈfficult and hard to reach young people in Maidstone and the surrounding borough. The depth of case work and interaction with 8tstutory aggnclas. including 88feguardlng those at risk is a considerably resource inten8ive part of ourwork. We have soon the level of safeguardlng need and intensive case work increase over this last year. We believe some of thls is down to the lack of statutory open access youth provision, which has decreased sharply In thls 12 months, and the considerable reputation Switch has with statutory agencies. and young p8opi8
Swltch Youth SeNlces- Trustees Annual Report Year endlng31st March 2025 for promding high quality professional youth provhsion coupled with authentic relationshlps that have bullt tw8twith young people. Our relationships particuiarlywith Kent Police have been a tremendous 8UPPOrtforus and have resulted in better outcomes for young people. Our outreach WO including the workwith SE Tr8in8 has Yesulted in greater engagement wlth young peopiefrom a wider area of Kent and London. We arefullyaware ofthe posltion Maldstone providgsforthe circulation of County Lines drug distribution usingthe rail netsvork héncethe partnèrship wtthSE trains. Our an8ly8i8 of our activities demonstrates that level of trusL given tha very high-qu8Lity convers8tion8 that have taken plac8 as well as the safeguaffding 8Ctlvity of ourte8m to k89p children and young people safe.Thattrust Isveryapparentwhen wo see some of those young people returningto Switch in later yearB to see as volunteers themselves. Actlvltl88 Switch has continued to deliver high quallty open access youth provlslon b88ed In the county town of Maidstone. Its central premises make for easy access foryoung people as many transFt through the t¢vn after school. Swilch offers a place to meet and socialise In a safe 8pac8, where concerns. issues and conversations cantake place both to safeguard young people from harm but 8180 to develop p18ns and strategies to make b8tterdeclsionsand choices intheir lives. The trustees have focus$ad on 4things this year: 1. Con8iStent governance arrangements are in place includingthe provision of policies and procedures- Including safeguarding and financ8. Trustee meetings are regular and cover a range of essentigl areas to provide good man8gement oversightofthe charity 2. Staff support and line management18 a priorrty a8 is avallabilityoftrustees to help debr16f case issu88 Ven the nature ofthe charftles work 3.The rise In costs forth8 charfty sector and the ability to attractfvnding on any level has b88n cha118ngingthis year. The Irustees h8ve soughtto streamline expendltur6 to ensure good flnanci9l stability, but thls remains a significant. demandingand lormldable objectiveto ensure the charity's abllityto survive. This is not uni ue to Swltch as other I toc ose wit ownturn in reliable sourcès of funding. 4. The trusteos and staff have concentrated on promotional activitles including online presence, promotional materials. and videos to increase the volumes of young people acc888ingSYS Services and furtheringother8g8nci88 knowledge and trust In SYS so they can make appropriate ref8rral8, and to 8cces8 Other revenue str8am8.
Swltch Youth ServiGe8- Trustees Annual Report Year ending 31st March 2025 Ourstsff team and volunt88rs hav8 been active thls year in 8UPPOrtingyoung people through: {last year's figures are in brackets) 811175) young people have accessed On8 to One Sesslons 2. 4800 (48611 visit8 hav8 be8n made to the Open A¢ces8 Centre- operatingTues to Friday 3.3(k7pm 3. 990 (1635) youngpgople h8ve attended school assemblies wn bythe SYSTeam 4. 1417 (1335) young people have been engaged on outr88ch either in the town or on the rail networ 5. The totsl number of interactions with young paople this year has been 7462 17531). 6. The Total numberof newyoung people who have Interacted with SYS forthe first time 18 2834 (1932). Whilst some a¢tNity figures have d8cr8osed. open access vi8its havg remained very steady. We have also increased our pr88ence in outreach work. and thls hes included a Partnership with SE Trains giving our staff acc88S to the rail netr¥vork to engage with young people. We have seen a substantial increase in people engagingwith Swltch for the first tlme and the figures below demonstrate the areas of those interaotlons. There have been conslderable increasas in the number of conversations in all areasthatwe record. M08t notable is the increase in conversations around crime and violence. These are the core topics discussed within the Youth Centre and on Outr6a¢h 6321308) conver8ation8 around drugs 438 {147) conversation8 around mental he81th 22 (325) conversations around relationships 11381408) conversations around crime and violence 1425 conversations around behaviour- n8w area forthls report Rècènt trustee reslgnatlons and appolntments Nicola Gallagher- resigned 1710512024 Vanessa Mar$on- appointèd 1910812024 n considenn -Th1vI ies ofIarl1he ees ave re the Charfty Commisslon on public benefit and this has been outwork8d as described above.
Swltch Youth Servlces- Trustees Annual Report Year endlng31st March 2025 Fln8nci81 rovlaw and outlook ThIs i8the 8econd ennualreportof 8Ctivityforthe charityand ithas resulted in incom8 of £64395 and expenditur8 of £73581 gtving a d6ficit of £9186. The charity18 dependont onthe supportof individuals and organisations for funding and the trustees would like to record their appreciation of th8 strong support they have received and their sincere thanks to allwho have contributed. As a re8uIt of tho arnount of 8UPPOrt frt has been able to attract during th8 year, and slnce the year end the trustees believe the ch8rltyto be a golng concem. The charity aims to continue and div8rsify its fundrgising 8fforts to Secure the future of the wo Roservos poll¢y The trustees have adopted a policythat a reserve of £10.000 is requlred to meet unforeseen expenditures and accordingLythis sum is regarded as reseNes. Rlsk statement The trustees have examined the major risks th8tthe charityfaces. These are rlsks from helpingvuinerableyoung people and financial risks dueto dependence on donations and grants. Risks around helpingyoungpeople are mitigated byprocedure8 mentioned previously* Including DBS checks. Fin8ncial risks r818ts to a shortage of funds rf donations are Insufficient and from fraud. These are addressod by a locus on fundraising snd by intemal controls overexpendlture. Trugto95' responslbllftles Th8 trustees acknowledge thelr responsibiltties to keep proper accounting records. to monitorthefinancial position ofthe charityand to prepare fin8nclal stAtementsfor each accountingyear. also to safeguard its assets and to guard against fraud. Approv8d by order of the Board of Trustees onlfjseptember 2025 and signed on its behalf David Creasey Chair of Trustees Dato: .,/,/.
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRusfEES OF SWITCH Yoimi SERVICES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025 I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of Switch Youth Servlces ('*he ¢haritV'I for the year ended 31 March 2025. R¢sponsibllltles and bas15 of report As the trustees of the charlty VOLF are resp)nsible forthe preparatlon of the accounts In accordance wlth the requirements of the Charitie5 Art 2011 {ahe 2011 Act'l. I report In respert of my examinatlon of the tharivs accounts carried out under sectlon 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the appllcable Direttlon5 glven by the Charlty Commiwon undersection 14515) {bl of the 2011 Act. Independent examlner's statement I have completed my examinatlon. I confirm that no matter5 have come to my attention in connertlon with the examinatlon giving me cause to believe that In any material respectr. l. accounting records were not kept In respett of the charlty as required by section 130 of the 2011 Act,. or 2. the accounts do not accord with th05e records,. or 3. the accounts do not comply wlth the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charlties {Accounts and Reports) Regulatlons 2008 other than any requlrement that the accounts gfve a tnje and falr vlew which is not a matter consldered as part of an Independent examlnatlon. I have no concern5 and have corne acr05S no other matters In connectton wlth the examlnation to whlch attentlon Should be drdwn In this report In order to enable a proper understandlng of the accounts to be reached. Signed RiiJ&- RT Wllllams 26 Lancet Lane Maldstone ME15 9RY Date 26/Y
ststement of Flnanclal ArtÉvities Year endlng 31st Marth 2025 2025 2014 t4otes Income Donations Grants Recelvable 11,678 62.517 48.7T3 23,072 Charttsble Activites 5,738 Totsl Income 64,395 9L327 ExPendIr Ralslng Funds Charitsble Activitles SUprt and admlnlstratlon costs 72.334 65577 1,247 1,193 Totsl Expendlture 73.581 66.770 Net Defi¢lt / Surplus -9.186 247 6enernl Fund Balance as at l Aprfl 2024 24.5S7 Balance at 31 Marth 2025 15.371 24557 The notes on page5 11 to 13fomi part of these (yccounts.
Swltch Youth Servlces Balance Sheet As at 31st March 2025 2024 CurreDt Assets Bank Balance5 Debtors 14.314 23.924 1310 1.315 15M4 25239 Amounts due In less than one year Creditors 253 Net Current Assets n 24.557 15371 24557 Genernl Fund Free Funds Reserves 5.371 14.557 io.rLKJ .¢) Total Funds 15371 2457 The accounts were approved by the trustees on signed on thelr behalf by: 2025 and Davld Creasey The notes on pages 11 to 13fonn port of these arxounts io
Swltch Youth Servlces Notes to the Accounts Year ending 315t March 2025 l Atcountlng Polldes Basls of Preparatlon The financial statements ofthe dmrity. which is a publk benefit entty under the Financlal Reporting Standard 102, have been prepared in accordance wlth that stsndard and wtth the assodated Statement of Recommended Prartlce 'Accountlng and RÈty)rting by Charltles". The flnanclal ststements have been prepared L)n a golng concern basls. Incom1 Resource5 Income 15 rècognised when the charity is legalty entttled to the intome, the amount is measurable and It Is probable that the Income will be recerwed Resources Expended Expendrture is recognlsed on an accruals basis as a Ilablllty is Incurred. Expendltu includes VAT which cannot be recovered. Voluntsers. food Small amounts of fo(NJ and drink are provlded to volunteers from time to tlme In appreclatlon of their SekeS. &nce the value of fcod provtded lo volunteers is quantlfiable Is reflected in Café Sales and shown as a cost. Taxation The charlty Is Èxemptfrom corFK)ration tax on Its charttable a¢t1¥ie$ Penslon Costs The charity operates a deflned contribution scheme. Contrlbutlons a tharged to the Statement of Rnancial ArtAilties in the perlod to *thith they relate. 2 Income from Donallons 2025 Donat.1ons4roM-indfvldualAd.c9Vp9FabO Gift Aid 2.780 11.678 4,485 62,517 3 Grant Incorne Grants from non-Govemmentsl entibes Grants from Local AhOrItIeS 35,930 12,843 48.773 12,666 10,406 23,072 li
Switch Youth Servlces Notes to the Accounts Year ending 31st March 2025 4 Income from Charftable Athltles 2024 Events Reipts Café Sale5 L035 1909 3,944 3.820 1,918 5,738 5 Charitsble Artlvitl 2025 2024 Dlrert Charltsble Costs Employment ¢9sts Premises costs General costs Café supplles 52,821 44.886 4.905 4,688 IL975 13,304 2,633 2.699 n?34 65,5TI Support athnln15tratlon Insurance Bank Charges Costs of c105ing predete55or ch81ity Independent Examinations fee 1,247 12 617 1,247 1,193 6 SL7ff and Remunerailon costs 2025 2024 Staff costs Gross Salaries Employer's Nl (after allowance) Employerfs pension contr[lOn5 Payroll bureau cost 5Lth53 43,760 1.157 624 600 502 52,821 44,886 The charlty had two employees duringthe year. Trustees, remuneratlon No amount5 were paid or are due to be paid to any trustee orto any p*rson connected to them. 12
Switch Youth Services Notes to the Accounts Year ending 31st March 2025 7 Bank Balances Nat West- Switch Youth 5er¥lces account Nat West- current account PayPal account 14.229 23N20 504 14.314 23,924 8 Debtors 2024 Prepayments PAYE & NIC in credlt Payroll Deposlt 565 560 750 1,310 750 1.315 9 Ciedltors other credFtors PAYE & NIC Pension 2025 532 150 254 13