Trustees’ Annual & Finance Report 2024/2025
Period from 1[st] July 2024 to 30th June 2025
Trustees’ Annual Report 202 4/5 The William Mills Foundation Registered Charity No. 1179790
Table of Contents
Overview ................................................................................................................................... 3 Objectives and Activities ........................................................................................................ 4 Achievements and Performance ............................................................................................ 4 Financial Review ...................................................................................................................... 5 Structure, Governance and Management ............................................................................. 5 Reference and Administrative details ................................................................................... 6 Declarations.............................................................................................................................. 7 Appendix A: Activities, Services and Projects delivered ................................................... 8 Future Steps Awards ............................................................................................................. 8 Germany Music Trip............................................................................................................... 8 The Will Mills Centre .............................................................................................................. 9 WillsFest ............................................................................................................................... 10 Bewdley Lord Mayor Charity 2025/2026 ............................................................................. 11 Trustee activity ..................................................................................................................... 11 Appendix B: Application for Future Steps Award ............................................................. 12 Appendix C: Application for Future Steps Programme .................................................... 14 Appendix D: Trustees’ Financial Report 2024/2025 ........................................................... 16
Page 2 of 19 Annual Report 2024/2025 Reg No. 1179790
Trustees’ Annual Report 202 4/5 The William Mills Foundation Registered Charity No. 1179790
Overview
The William Mills Centre and Youth Hub continues to be used by up to 50 young people on Tuesday to Thursday evenings. The feedback from young people and the community has been extremely positive. The centre is used by multi-agency organisations during week-days and The William Mills Foundation has access to it in the afternoons and weekend evenings, for delivery of Programmes and fundraising activity.
Our main fundraiser for the year was a Music festival, WillsFest, which raised approximately £5k. This was hosted and supported by Hopley’s Camping and The Rustic Kitchen , Bewdley. WillsFest also raised the profile of WMF locally and within the business community, attracting offers of CSR work and donations for the charity auction.
We also received regular donations from supporters (approximately £300 per quarter), a grant from the Bewdley Town Mayors Fund for £1186, and a grant for £3000 from the Public Health Youth Innovation Grant at Worcestershire County Council.
We made three awards during the year to young people on the Bewdley School music trip. School staff supported these applications and felt they would really benefit from the trip, which families could not afford. We had amazing feedback from all these young people on the impact of the events. See Appendix A: Activities, Services and Projects delivered
Our awards were all well above the £250 limit and we are finding that we do need to extend that figure as costs of all the services and equipment we have previously supported has risen significantly. This will be discussed at our AGM. We also need to discuss at the AGM, how the William Mills Centre may be supported after the 5-year lottery funding has expired.
Our aims for the year were:
-
To extend sessions and delivery within The William Mills Centre
-
To increase our fund raising through application for grants
-
To raise more funds by WMF delivered events.
We achieved objective 1 .
Objective 2 was achieved.
We achieved objective 3.
Our volunteers have continued to show wonderful support in undertaking individual events and increasing donations. In addition, we have kept our running costs as low as last year’s levels.
Expenditure has increased this year, as we supported Brunch Club through every holiday period. This was reviewed following this increased commitment during the 2024/25 financial year
The WMF ends the year in a healthy financial position for a charity of our size and longevity, and confident that we will remain resilient and able to operate in the years ahead.
Please refer to Appendix D: Trustees’ Financial Report 2024/2025
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Trustees’ Annual Report 202 4/5 The William Mills Foundation Registered Charity No. 1179790
Objectives and Activities
| Statement | SORP1 reference |
|
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | To advance in life and help young people who are socially, physically or economically disadvantaged in Worcestershire through the provision of awards to support activities which develop their skills, capacities and capabilities to enable them to participate in society as mature and responsible individuals |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
Refer to Appendix A below for details |
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 | The objective of the charity, as set out in as it’s purpose above, wasfinalised upon advice from the Charity Commission. |
| Policy on grant making | Para 1.38 | Refer to_Appendix B: Application for_ Future Steps Award_below Refer to_Appendix C: Application for _Future Steps Programme_below |
| Contribution made by volunteers |
Para 1.38 | Our Board and trustees are volunteers who have contributed all year to attend meetings, approve awards and deliver programmes and events. WillsFest also required musical and musical event delivery expertise not held within the WMF trustees. This was provided by a long term support of WMF, Ken Priest, his family and friends. |
Achievements and Performance
SORP Statement reference
1 The Charity Commission SORP is its Statement of Recommended Practice, to which this Annual Report complies.
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Trustees’ Annual Report 202 4/5 The William Mills Foundation Registered Charity No. 1179790
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | Refer to Appendix A: Activities, Services and Projects delivered |
|---|---|---|
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Statement | SORP reference |
|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period. |
Para 1.21 | Refer toAppendix D: Trustees’ Financial Report 2024/2025.Appendix D: Trustees’ Financial Report |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | Refer toAppendix D: Trustees’ Financial Report 2024/2025.Appendix D: Trustees’ Financial Report |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | None |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | None |
| The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 | Donations: Monthly contributions plus donations for auction at WillsFest Fundraising: WillsFest Grants: Lord Mayors Charity fund 2023/2024 WCC Public Health Youth Innovation Grant |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | Poor uptake by local secondary schools of services and funds offered. Lack of volunteers as time moves on. Current volunteers already work very hard to manage current level of fund raising. Less energy and desire to donate as all charities compete for donations and time passes since William died. |
Structure, Governance and Management
SORP Statement reference
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Trustees’ Annual Report 202 4/5 The William Mills Foundation Registered Charity No. 1179790
| Type of governing document |
Para 1.25 | Charitable Constitution |
|---|---|---|
| How is the charity constituted? |
Para 1.25 | Charitable Incorporated Organisation |
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | The charity has a chair, a treasurer, a secretary and 5 trustees. It works with the Bewdley School & Sixth Form Centre to identify young people for awards and the programme. |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity Name | The William Mills Foundation |
|---|---|
| Other names the charity uses | None |
| Registered charity number | 1179790 |
| Charity’s principal address | 11 Newland Road, Droitwich. WR9 7AF |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| Trustee Name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for the whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bilal Ibrahim | Trustee | N/A | WMF Committee |
| Gould, Gabriella | Trustee | N/A | WMF Committee |
| Hinton, Bethany | Trustee | N/A | WMF Committee |
| Mills, Elizabeth | Secretary | N/A | WMF Committee |
| Simmonds, Andrew | Trustee | N/A | WMF Committee |
| Thom, Alex | Treasurer | N/A | WMF Committee |
| Tillett, Jack | Trustee | N/A | WMF Committee |
| Willis, Victoria | Chair to the Trustees | N/A | WMF Committee |
– Corporate Trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved
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Trustees’ Annual Report 202 4/5 The William Mills Foundation Registered Charity No. 1179790
| Trustee Name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for the whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
|---|---|---|---|
| None | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity
| Trustee Name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for the whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (if any) |
|---|---|---|---|
| None | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
| Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf | of others |
|---|---|
| Description of the assets held in this capacity | None |
| Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this fallwithin the custodian charity’s objects |
N/A |
| Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets |
N/A |
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees :
| Signature: | |
|---|---|
| Full name: | Victoria Willis |
| Position: | Chair to the Trustees |
| Date: | 19/01/26 |
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Trustees’ Annual Report 202 4/5 The William Mills Foundation Registered Charity No. 1179790
Appendix A: Activities, Services and Projects delivered
Future Steps Awards are made to individual young people. These awards are made upon recommendation for young people who have potential shown in relation to a particular skill or life skill, but something within their life presents a barrier to their development or achievement. Generally, these awards are up to £250.
We have made three awards, relevant to this annual report.
Each young person awarded has some barrier or difficulty. Some of these are physical, some emotional and some practical. They may be caused by illness, disability, family breakdown or bereavement, for example. We use the knowledge and expertise of school staff to nominate young people for our awards.
We evaluate the effectiveness of our awards by asking the young people what they think they will achieve and why this will help them in their future life. We then set timelines for this feedback. The young people are then also seen and spoken to at some point during their award pathway by trustees from The WMF to assess progress towards these goals.
We can share more details pf the awards but would need to redact some details and ensure confidentiality. If you require more details, please approach the Secretary and we can consider appropriate disclosure if required.
Germany Music Trip
The WMF supported three students to undertake a music trip to Germany. This was the feedback we received from these students.
“We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to The William Mills Foundation for their generous support in enabling three students from The Bewdley School to attend the Germany Music Tour in 2025. Your contribution made a significant difference in ensuring these students could take part in this unforgettable experience.
The tour took place from 9th July to 14th July 2025, with just under 40 students traveling to Germany. The itinerary included three concerts in Bingen, Koblenz, and Oberwesel, where our talented students showcased their musical skills. These performances raised just under €300 in donations, which have been reinvested back into the school’s music department to further enrich our program.
Beyond the concerts, the group enjoyed a variety of cultural and recreational activities, including:
-
Visiting Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Cabinet
-
A River Cruise on the Rhine
-
Exploring Marks burg Castle
-
Experiencing summer tobogganing
-
Riding the Boppard Chair Lift
-
Spending a full day at Phantasia land.
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Trustees’ Annual Report 202 4/5 The William Mills Foundation Registered Charity No. 1179790
These experiences not only created memories that will last a lifetime but also helped students develop their performing skills, confidence, and musical range. The tour was a resounding success, and your support played a vital role in making it possible.
Sadly, one of the students who attended thanks to the foundations support is currently extremely poorly, suffering with their mental health and currently hospitalised.
The tour provided this student with hope and while away was a completely different student who developed independence, confidence and demonstrated to themselves, their family and others ‘they can’. After the tour and going into the Summer holiday and witho ut the routine of school, friends and support of key staff. This individual’s mental health took a spiral that has resulted in serious intervention. It is though the view of the parent, the school and myself as trip leader that without this opportunity this could have been a lot worse.
The impact of culture, school trips and the performing arts cannot be underestimated. It is a way for even the quietest student to express themselves and find an outlet and a voice that otherwise they would not have. We recognise this was a huge cost outlay for only 3 young students, but the impact on their lives and the memories created will last a lifetime and help shape and support them into their adult lives.
When the students who attended were asked for their feedback to share with the foundation one said ‘The Germany Music trip has been my favourite school trip ever! It was the most amazing opportunity that I would never have had without the help of the William Mills Foundation. I learnt a lot about performance and was able to develop my skills as a musician to an extent that is hard to achieve within a classroom. We visited so many beautiful places and I made a lot of really good friends from this trip!!’
Thank you once again for your commitment to supporting young musicians and enriching their educational journey.”
“ I think I can honestly say that the Germany trip was one of the best weeks of my life. At first, I was somewhat terrified of going away for a week abroad without my family, but once we arrived it was completely fine. I met so many new people - some that I can probably call friends now, and overall, just enjoyed the whole thing. Playing music in all of the different towns was so fun and uplifting, and visiting all the different sights like the theme park and Rüdesheim was such a great experience!
A massive thank you to the Will Mills foundation for allowing me to have been a part of this wonderful experience.”
The Will Mills Centre
We have extended delivery of the Holiday Brunch Club considerably during this financial year. Having piloted this coming out of COVID and as a result of the energy crisis, the Foundation trustees decided to try and support running of Brunch Club every school holiday, except Christmas, when uptake has been minimal.
Brunch Club has up to 40 attendees every day. It is free of charge and provides structured and themed activities, breakfast/brunch and support across the Kidderminster and Bewdley communities. Uptake increases each holiday to the point where we have had to employ extra staff to support numbers. Parents and carers (which are increasingly grand-parents and older carers) express their reliance and gratitude for the provision.
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Trustees’ Annual Report 202 4/5 The William Mills Foundation Registered Charity No. 1179790
During 2024/2025, WMF provided Brunch Club from Monday to Friday every week during:
-
July/August 2024 summer holiday
-
October 2024 half term,
-
1 week up to Christmas during December Christmas holidays 2024,
-
February 2025 half term and the
-
Easter 2025 holidays.
We trialled doing Brunch Club for older teenagers, including specific sessions for young carers and LGBTQIA+ groups, but this had no uptake.
The centre has been open as a youth hub since March 1[st ] 2022 and is used by up to 50 young people on Tuesday to Thursday evenings. Feedback from young people and the community has been extremely positive. The centre is used by multi-agency organisations during weekdays, with some hire fees (where applicable) being used to support running costs.
We have received the below feedback from the Lottery Panel:
“ Thanks for the report, we really did enjoy reading about the last 12 months. It’s great to see the progress made, especially the fact that the children and young people really seemed to – have taken ownership of the direction of the centre its great that you gave them the opportunity to do so and it seems to be going from strength to strength. It’s particularly positive to see how members of other communities, i.e. BAME, LGBTQ+ and SEN are attending.
The different events and sessions being held, together with the links to other organisations and agencies is also great to see, plus the fact that the centre is open outside of term time as well. We loved seeing that The William Mills Foundation
We would like to congratulate you both on the joint funding for the community youth garden as well.
It seems like the future of the centre is a positive one and we look forward to hearing more over the next year. We may ask if members can visit such a successful project.
– ” Please pass on our thanks to everyone involved keep up the great work.
In relation to the youth work within the centre, the WMF is still represented at the Wyre Forest District Schools and Police Panel and the Wyre Forest Suicide Prevention Schools Panel.
WillsFest
This event was held between June 7[th] and 8[th] 2025. Nine adult semi-professional music bands performed over two days during the afternoon and evening. On the Saturday and Sunday mornings, the stages were used for young people with musical talent to perform. This was organised and supported by the Bewdley School Community outreach music teacher.
Funds were raised by donations, a raffle, an online auction and sale of merchandise. The event also provided an art workshop for children. It was intended to be a community and family event promoting the WMF as well as the value and talent of music to young people from within our community.
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Trustees’ Annual Report 202 4/5 The William Mills Foundation Registered Charity No. 1179790
Hopley’s Family Camping and The Rustic Kitchen allowed use of their facilities free of charge for WillsFest, as well as subsistence vouchers for band members. They also arranged donations from local food and drink providers.
WillsFest raised £5k in funds but importantly also raised the profile of WMF in the local area, with offers for more support from organisations visiting the event, and many connections made for future support.
Bewdley Lord Mayors Charity 2025/2026
The William Mills Foundation also successfully applied to be the one of the Bewdley Lord Mayor charities for 2025/26. This will promote WMF locally, as well as attract a lump sum donation at the end of the Mayoral year in 2026.
There is commitment required from trustees for this nomination and WMF has already been represented at a fundraising quiz and the Remembrance Day parade in Bewdley. We have further commitments to a Valentines dinner (14[th] Feb 2026) and Fashion show (13[th] March 2026).
Trustee activity
The WMF would like to thank all the trustees for their support in delivering our awards, events and programmes. They also bring a group of supporters in friends and family, without which we couldn’t deliver all that we do.
We also have two additional former trustees, who are non-quorate members of the team, but – organise events, coordinate attendance at events they support through sport, as well as assisting massively all our events.
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Trustees’ Annual Report 202 4/5 The William Mills Foundation Registered Charity No. 1179790
Appendix B: Application for Future Steps Award
Page 12 of 19 Annual Report 2024/2025 Reg No. 1179790
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Trustees’ Annual Report 202 4/5 The William Mills Foundation Registered Charity No. 1179790
Appendix C: Application for Future Steps Programme
Page 14 of 19 Annual Report 2024/2025 Reg No. 1179790
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Trustees’ Annual Report 202 4/5 The William Mills Foundation Registered Charity No. 1179790
Appendix D: Trustees’ Financial Report 2024/2025
Quarterly Summary Income and Expenditure
2023/2024 summary included for comparison purposes only.
Period from 1[st] July 2024 to 30[th] June 2025
Page 16 of 19 Annual Report 2024/2025 Reg No. 1179790
Trustees, Annual Report 202415 The William Mills Foundation Registered Charity No. 1179790 The William MIIL Foundatyon William Mi115 Foundation Summa 2024 25 oi 18.093 Q3 13.995 Totsl Opening Cash Balance 14.541 13.606 Income DD Donations 312 303 298 298 1.211 Donations Grants 4.186 4.186 20 Misc 20 WillsFest 5.127 5.127 Total IvKome 322 5.425 11,043 Expenditure Awards Brunch Club Insurance Programme '24 Webslte WillsFest WMF Centre (192} (3,7501 (32} (1,5651 (li) {2,4421 {2,634) 1625) {1.5(Ki} {6.7(Kl) {32) 121} 1118) {1.565) 1422) 1811) {3.(KKI) {825) (32} (li} 130) {3711 (811} (3.CKK)} Total Expenditure (8.550) 1868) (687) (5.146) (15.251) Closing Cash Balance 14.541 13.995 13.6 13.885 Closing Balance per STM Difference 14.541 13.995 13.6 13.885 HTB lyr Fixed Bond 36,859 36,873 36,873 36,873 Totsl Funds 51,4Tr) 50.868 50.479 50.758 Page 17of 19 Annual Report 202412025 Reg No. 1179790
Trustees’ Annual Report 202 4/5 The William Mills Foundation Registered Charity No. 1179790
William Mills Foundation Summary 2023/24
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opening Cash Balance | 26,059 | 23,876 | 22,971 | 20,637 | |
| Income | |||||
| Amazon Smile | - | ||||
| DD Donations | 356 | 337 | 327 | 312 | 1,333 |
| Donations | 250 | 250 | |||
| Football '23 | 492 | 492 | |||
| Grants | 1,000 | 1,000 | |||
| Misc | - | ||||
| Quiz '24 | 1,036 | 1,036 | |||
| Total Income | 1,848 | 587 | 327 | 1,348 | 4,111 |
| Expenditure | |||||
| Awards | (1,025) | (22) | (600) | (1,647) | |
| Brunch Club | (2,000) | (1,200) | (1,520) | (500) | (5,220) |
| Circus Skills | (870) | (230) | (1,100) | ||
| Football '23 | - | ||||
| Insurance | (29) | (29) | (29) | (20) | (108) |
| Mind Balance | - | ||||
| Misc | - | ||||
| Programme '24 | (682) | (2,474) | (3,156) | ||
| Savings | - | ||||
| Website | (11) | (11) | (30) | (299) | (350) |
| WMF Centre | (96) | (400) | (496) | ||
| Total Expenditure | (4,031) | (1,492) | (2,661) | (3,893) | (12,077) |
| Closing Cash Balance | 23,876 | 22,971 | 20,637 | 18,093 | |
| Closing Balance per STM | 23,876 | 22,971 | 20,637 | 18,093 | |
| Difference | - | - | - | - | |
| HTB 1yr Fixed Bond | 35,550 | 35,550 | 35,550 | 36,859 | |
| Total Funds | 59,426 | 58,521 | 56,187 | 54,951 |
AJT 14/04/2025
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Trustees’ Annual Report 202 4/5 The William Mills Foundation Registered Charity No. 1179790
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
| Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf | of others |
|---|---|
| Description of the assets held in this capacity | Nil |
| Name and objects of the charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this fall within the custodian charity’s objects |
N/A |
| Details of arrangements for safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets |
N/A |
| Statement | SORP Reference |
|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period. |
Para 1.21 |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 |
Declarations
The Treasurer declares that this is an accurate statement of the charity’s financial position, as at bank 30/06/24
Signed by the charity’s treasurer:
Signature: A. Thom
Full name: Alex Thom
Position: The William Mills Foundation Treasurer Date: 19/01/26
The Trustees declare that they have approved the treasurers’ report above
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees:
Signature:
Full name: Victoria Willis
Position: Chair to the Trustees
Date: 19/01/26
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