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2025-03-31-accounts

ANNUAL REPORT 2024 -25

TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Hammersmith & Fulham Youth Zone Charity number: 1179981 Company Number: 10381611

HAMMERSMITH & FULHAM YOUTH ZONE

TRUSTEES’ REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

Contents

Page

Reference and administrative information...................................1 Trustees’ report....................................................................2-17 Independent auditor’s report...............................................18-20 Statement of financial activities................................................21 Balance sheet..........................................................................21 Statement of cash flows...........................................................22 Notes to the financial statements.........................................23-29

REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

TRUSTEES

M Davies (chair) J Masraff (resigned 17/04/2025) R Devey B Tatham (resigned 13/11/2024) V Jerome I Wason N Trehy L Hewitson R Lehmann C Averty J Chigwende (resigned 04/05/2025) Y Yang (appointed 29/01/2025) P Marsh

COMPANY Registered NUMBER

10381611

CHARITY Registered NUMBER

1179981

REGISTERED OFFICE

2 EdCity Walk London W12 7TF

TRADING NAME

WEST - 'Where Everyone Sticks Together'

WEBSITE

https://westyouthzone.org

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Elanor Gunn

KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL

E Gunn Chief Executive Officer

T Cohen Head of Fundraising and Communications (until 20 January 2025) L Tambyraja Head of Fundraising and Communications (from 22 April 2025) R Britton Head of Youth Work

D Akinfolarin Head of HR and Operations

AUDITOR

Xeinadin Audit Limited, 5 Robin Hood Lane, Sutton SM1 2SW

BANKERS

Handelsbanken, Ground Floor, 3-5 Eastern Road, Romford, RM1 3NH

SOLICITORS

Teacher Stern, 37-41 Bedford Row, London, WC1R 4JH

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LETTER FROM OUR CHAIR LETTER FROM OUR CHAIR MARK DAVIES MARK DAVIES

It is my great pleasure to introduce our 2024/25 Impact Report.

Looking back, it’s remarkable to think that just over a year ago WEST Youth Zone was still preparing to open its doors. Now, it is hard imagining West London without it. Having been involved since the earliest days, when Hammersmith & Fulham Youth Zone was little more than an empty patch of land and an ambitious idea, I have witnessed this extraordinary vision evolve into a thriving reality. Serving as Chair since 2018 has allowed me to see, first-hand, how WEST has become a constant source of pride and inspiration: a place where extraordinary potential and possibility walk through the doors each day in the form of our members.

Since opening on 21st April 2024, WEST has welcomed over 3,000 young people. While they may come for the football or the climbing wall, the kitchen or the dance studio – they stay for the relationships, the belief, and the belonging.

And yet, as proud as I am of what we’ve built, I’m equally aware the need for spaces like WEST has never been greater. Today’s young people are facing an increasingly uncertain world, marked by alarming climate

change, global political instability, and rapid technological advancement. The impact of the pandemic continues to reverberate, and the number of children living in destitution has tripled since 2017.

In Hammersmith & Fulham alone, 1 in 3 children live in income-deprived households , and in some wards, that number is even higher.

School absence is rising, with nearly a quarter of secondary pupils persistently absent with limited access to alternative learning environments. Many families are priced out of activities like sports clubs or music lessons, and some young people are isolated without the means to socialise in the same way as their peers.

Behind closed doors, the effects of such challenges manifest in even more urgent ways: loneliness, anxiety, a lack of trusting adult relationships, and in some cases unsafe environments. We are seeing a national youth mental health crisis unfold. The demand for safe, purposeful spaces has never been clearer. Spaces that don’t just welcome young people, but actively centre around them. That provide the structure and consistency so many are missing, and prioritise both wellbeing and personal 2

development by design, not chance or luck. This is particularly vital in a context where youth work has been steadily deprioritised over the last decade.

This is why WEST matters. A young person can come here, enjoy a hot meal, meet a mentor, take part in over 20 activities per visit, and find friendship. In a time marked by significant instability and uncertainty, WEST remains a dependable force in their lives , offering them dedicated support during evenings, weekends and school holidays – 7 days a week . It is a place where they can simply be young people again. Hundreds of young people have come over 50 times in our first year alone.

Beyond WEST’s phenomenal building, everything we do is powered by the foundational partnerships we have built with young people themselves, passionate staff and committed volunteers. Alongside a growing family of funders, creatives, local leaders and philanthropists.

WEST is a community effort in the truest sense, and the feedback is a strong and moving reflection of this:

I’ve been at WEST since the beginning, and the most amazing thing about WEST [are] the connections and friends I’ve made. - WEST Member

Reflecting further on this journey so far, I want to express heartfelt gratitude to our Founder Patrons for their long-term commitment to local young people, and to

our Capital Funders for believing in this vision from its earliest days. We remain indebted to you all for your unwavering belief and support. It has allowed us to meet our

year-end fundraising targets and remain in a healthy financial position , enabling our team to plan ambitiously for the future.

With my time as Chair coming to an end, I leave with an overwhelming sense of pride and hope. WEST has been one of the most meaningful projects I’ve ever had the privilege to be part of, and it has reaffirmed my belief in youth work as a force for empowerment and social change. It has also been a joy to welcome a new generation of youth workers into this field, supported throughout by the OnSide network, whose guidance and expertise have been invaluable during our founding year and beyond.

After 8 Years in this role, summing up the impact WEST Youth Zone has had on me and the part I’ve played in its story is something words struggle to do justice. My thanks go to all the funders, partners, staff, volunteers, community, families and of course members who have shaped WEST into what it is today. And as it enters this next chapter, my hope is simple: that WEST continues to grow and remind us all of what’s possible when we believe in young people.

Mark Davies, Chair of WEST Youth Zone Date: 18th September 2025

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DECLARATION

The Trustees, who are also Directors of the company, present their Directors' report for the purposes of section 417 of the Companies Act 2006 and Trustees' Annual Report for the purposes of section 162 of the Charities Act 2011 together with the Financial Statements of the Charity for the year ending 31 March 2025. Hammersmith & Fulham Youth Zone was incorporated on 17 September 2016 (Company registration number: 10381611) as a company limited by guarantee and registered as a Charity on 19 September 2018 (Charity registration number: 1179981).

OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

WEST Youth Zone, named Where Everyone Sticks Together by local young people, opened in April 2024 - the newest Youth Zone in the OnSide network. The Youth Zone was founded to meet our charitable objective:

OUR VISION

WEST will embody its name “Where Everyone Sticks Together” by becoming a place which all young people in our community feel ownership of, an aspirational space where they can experience enriching physical, creative and social activities - delivered by youth workers who believe in their potential.

OUR MISSION

We will provide young people with:

OUR VALUES

We are committed to the values shared across the OnSide network of:

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PUBLIC BENEFIT

All the activities of the Charity (as summarised below) were undertaken to further its charitable purposes for public benefit. The provision of a high-quality facility for young people responds to a clear, ongoing demand from young people, parents and wider communities for more and better affordable places for young people to go. The Trustees of Hammersmith & Fulham Youth Zone believe they have complied with the duty in section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 to have due regard to the public benefit guidance published by the Charity Commission.

VOLUNTEERS’ CONTRIBUTION

Throughout the year all members of the Board of Trustees made invaluable voluntary contributions to the Charity’s work in terms of governance, professional and business experience, financial planning and fundraising. Such contributions were, on average, equivalent to one full day each calendar month. In addition, WEST had 20+ regular volunteers who supported our delivery on a weekly basis. We are very grateful to everyone who offers their time freely to help make WEST Youth Zone a success. During the year we hosted 3 bespoke takeover days by our founder patrons, with over 85 company employees giving their time to these special events.

OUR MEMBERS

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PERFORMANCE

WEST is an open-access youth provision for all young people across West London aged 8 up to 19 (25 for additional needs). Our location in the North of Hammersmith and Fulham means we are easily accessible to some of the most deprived wards in London.

1 in 3 young people are growing up in poverty in Hammersmith and Fulham, and there are particularly high rates of school absenteeism in both H&F and neighbouring RBKC.

The most recent Hammersmith and Fulham Giving report on the needs of the borough identified that before WEST opened, young people across H&F felt there was a lack of safe and engaging spaces for them, increasing ‘their risk of isolation, disengagement, and in some cases, exposure to unsafe environments’. WEST is trying to reach those young people and provide the support they need. In our first year, we have successfully reached 3,000 young people who have signed up as members and attended the Youth Zone.

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Membership to the youth zone costs young people £5 each year, with 50p entry to each session. Our membership spans across 147 wards from West London Boroughs, demonstrating the need for youth provisions in the area. It is comprised of:

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Gender
1%
Members with SEND
13%
36%
Female
SEND
Male
63%
None
Age
87%
Ethnicity
42%
15%
8-12
13-25
58% White
Global Majority
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----- Start of picture text -----
Indices of multiple
deprivation
37%
Other
IMD 1-3
----- End of picture text -----

85%

“Here at WEST, it feels safe and there’s freedom to do what you want. It’s good to be doing something positive, active and fun and not just be on screens at home.” -Ali, Young Leader

63%

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OUR DELIVERY

WEST Youth Zone is a universal youth work provision, meaning it’s available to all young people who want to access our services. We are providing somewhere safe to go, something engaging to do, someone trusted to speak to. This combination is creating a supportive environment for young people to play, discover new things, develop their skills and improve their overall wellbeing.

WEST is open 7 days a week, offering 9 weekly sessions, 52 weeks a year. Our sessions are staffed by skilled and dedicated youth workers who truly believe in young people – helping them see what they can achieve, and giving them the skills, confidence and ambition to go for it. We offer separate sessions for Juniors (8-12), Seniors (13-19), Beyond (additional needs) and Just 4 Girls (J4G). Altogether, across all of our sessions, we have recorded 35,000 visits this year.

Our Beyond session provides much needed inclusive and adaptive sessions to young people with additional needs spanning from learning difficulties to more complex needs. It is the only session that parents and carers can join their young people on, however they are encouraged to take the time back so that they can re-charge as well.

WEST Youth Zone is a great respite for disabled families. It gives an opportunity for growth, social interaction and developing new interests

- Beyond Member Parent

The J4G session is unique to WEST Youth Zone across the OnSide network, and emerged as a need for our local community during the pre-opening consultation process. We heard the craving for a space dedicated exclusive to young girls so they could build their confidence and creativity and experience a supportive environment with their peers, and so our Sunday J4G session was created.

A key focus for us in Year 1 was recruiting the right staff for our new, purpose-built youth zone. To date, we have a workforce of 88 staff, of which 20 are core team and 68 are sessional youth workers.

In just 1 year, we have delivered 42,000 hours of youth work across our team, ensuring we have become a consistent and reliable presence for the community we serve and have become a part of. The Youth Zone has had its doors open for 2,391 hours – which equates to over 100 consecutive days!

All our regular sessions have been supplemented by Holiday Club, which has run for 55 days, and a huge range of trips, special events and opportunities for our young people. These have ranged from trips to Kew Gardens, JD Sports Headquarters, workshop sessions on knife-crime awareness, football tournaments, all the way to Glow and Grow, our make-up artistry course for young girls at risk of grooming and exploitation.

Another key element of our delivery is providing £1 or free hot meals on every single session for our young people. We know the importance of healthy, nutritious food in young people’s development, and with foodbank usage in the borough up 300% since Covid, providing affordable and nutritious meals is a priority for us. We served 4,287 meals free of cost and 13,966 £1 meals over the course of the year.

“There are so many activities here! It’s amazing to keep my son entertained... and get him off the streets.”

- Junior club member parent

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“Youth work helped change my life, now I get to give that back” Harry Wills, Junior and Holiday Club Manager at WEST Youth Zone

Harry knows how important youth clubs and youth workers can be because they gave him the support he needed when growing up in Hammersmith & Fulham. Now 32, Harry is a manager at WEST and impacts members’ lives on a weekly basis.

Growing up in Shepherds Bush, Harry says the area shaped him for better and for worse.

“Shepherds Bush is my favourite place in the world. Just like WEST, people stick together. But, I also got caught up in things I shouldn’t have. I was excluded from school, hung out on the streets, and even ended up in a pupil referral unit. There were a lot of gang activity around, and I sort of fell into it. I was in a foster placement that was far away from my PRU, so when I got back into mainstream education in my area, far away from all that, it gave me space to reset. I knew I didn’t want that life for myself.”

A turning point came during the summer between Year 9 and Year 10, when Harry started attending a local youth club.

“That place meant everything. We played games, learnt graffiti art, went go-karting and paintballing with other youth clubs. There was this one youth worker, Jo, who just got me. We connected over football and rap music. She was someone I could talk to and trust, a really positive person in my life.”

Years later, at age 23, a suggestion from his social worker changed Harry’s path.

“She told me about a youth work apprenticeship. It just made sense to me. So, I went for it, and from day one it just clicked. I love building young people’s confidence, helping them find out who they want to be. There’s nothing more rewarding.”

When Harry saw WEST Youth Zone being built, he knew he had to be part of it.

“I was playing football across the street and saw this huge building going up. I thought, ‘That can’t be a youth club… that’s massive!’ I needed to get in on it. I had moved away from youth work at the time as there weren’t any full-time positions going in the area, probably because a lot of youth clubs were closing down. I joined WEST in December 2023 as Inclusion Coordinator, and honestly, our opening day was one of the best days I’ve ever had at work. It was a huge party!”

Now, after being promoted to Junior and Holiday Club Manager, Harry’s focus is on growth and impact for those clubs.

“We had 619 attendances over two weeks during Easter Holiday Club this year! It’s not just the number, it’s the fact that young people keep coming back. They feel safe here. They want to be here. That’s what matters. I feel so proud of my team that we can provide a service like this.”

Looking ahead, Harry is clear on his mission.

“I want to keep making our Junior Club stronger and continue giving them the kind of space that I needed when I was their age. Youth work helped change my life, now I get to give that back.”

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Macy’s Story Finding Her Voice at WEST

Macy first walked into WEST at the start of our journey, unsure of what to expect. With no friends to join her and nerves running high, she thought she’d give the Youth Zone a go after a family recommendation. What she found was a creative community of young people and Youth Workers who helped her discover her voice, her confidence, and direction for her future.

Discovering WEST

"My nan worked next door at the school, and she told me about WEST… as it was close to me, I thought I’d try it out. I was just expecting sports and stuff, but when I came in, there was so much here. I went into the music room, I was really surprised."

Macy first came to WEST Youth Zone out of curiosity. What began as a casual visit quickly turned into an important part of her life.

Overcoming Nerves

"I was really nervous, I didn’t have any friends to really go with. I was just wandering around… then I met a Youth Worker and we talked about my talent in music and how I want to learn bass guitar. Even that small chat made me feel more comfortable. I was so nervous before that, but now when I come in, everyone knows me."

Macy had to push past initial fears about fitting in. Her first conversations and early music sessions gave her the confidence to keep returning and improving her music and social skills.

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Creative Expression

"Being a singer, the music at WEST is great. You find loads of people with different talents like drummers or guitarists and other singers. And you can explore ideas with the youth workers and explain what you like and don't like. You can even work together with other members on a project. Outside of WEST now, we have made a music group and we're all planning on just writing stuff together in the summer.”

At WEST, Macy found a safe space to express emotions and ideas creatively through lyrics and performance. She made friends with similar interests, that she wouldn’t have met anywhere else. They now meet outside of WEST.

"I love art here, especially because of Brian – the youth worker. He lets everybody do their own thing, but he brings everybody together in a way. You can do what you like, but everyone is part of the conversation.”

Whether through art or making music, Macy values the freedom to explore. The support and structure are there, but the outputs are truly hers.

The Future

"I thought I’d be stuck doing English or something I didn’t want to do. It was a big worry for me. But having this place, I get to talk to other people who have had other jobs, I’ve even considered youth work. The Youth Zone allows you learn how life works in a different and additional way to school – I think that’s such a great thing!”

“I’m trying to make my own path, I know I want to do something creative – something that connects people, like beauty, music, maybe media. I want it to include people, or even food, something that brings people together."

"I’ve done stuff I didn’t think I would – workshops, performances, even recorded music. I’m doing a placement at The Old Vic and I’m going to join Rhythm Studios for a Musical Theatre course. That’s something I never thought I’d be doing."

Macy’s vision for her future has expanded since being a member. She’s actively exploring and pursuing her passions and taking real steps toward a creative, collaborative career.

Youth Worker’s Response - Bethany

"Watching Macy grow has been one of the highlights of working at WEST. She’s developed so much confidence and found ways to express herself that really resonate - not just with staff, but with her peers too."

"She takes up opportunities, even when she has other things going on in her life. Whether it's performing at events or joining workshops, she’s pushing herself. Her creative side has really flourished, and we’re proud to be a part of her journey."

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LOOKING AHEAD

Looking ahead to 25/26, this will be a year of consolidation and enhancement at WEST, with our key priority being the recruitment and retention of young people to ensure that as many members as possible are benefitting from our delivery in the most meaningful way possible.

With that in mind we have identified some key areas of focus for the coming year:

Enhancing our delivery programme

Our ‘Try, Train and Team’ model for activities ensures there is a mix of entry-level fun and more focussed learning and development happening at WEST. Having offered a huge range of ‘Try’ activities in our opening year, we aim to reach a 50:30:20 split, guaranteeing that young people have opportunities to develop as well as experiencing new things. Additional full-time youth work roles offer new programmes, improve quality, and put us out in the community more developing partnerships. For example, our Employability Coordinator will support young people to engage in positive pathways beyond the Youth Zone, and our Female Engagement Coordinator will take on leadership of our Just4Girls session, focussing on increasing engagement from girls aged 13+ who are currently under-represented in our membership.

Up-skilling and retaining our team

We will continue to invest in the training and support offered to our staff and volunteers. This ranges from accessing Level 2 Youth Work qualifications for our sessional team to supporting key members of staff with individual training or mentoring programmes. We enhance good practice with specialist youth work training (for example around safeguarding themes or specific additional needs) and team training in the delivery areas to enhance the offer as outlined above.

These priorities will be supported by a robust programme of fundraising, continuing our focus on our multi-year Patron model to ensure the delivery team are able to plan long term and have the resource they require to respond to the needs of our members.

TRY

TRAIN TEAM

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FINANCIAL REVIEW

A summary of the results for the year is shown below:

Income* £10,380,415 Expenditure £2,103,432 Net income £8,276,983

*Of our total income, £8,493,478 relate to capital in-kind grants, specifically for the WEST Youth Zone facility, part of the EdCity development.

RESERVES POLICY

The Trustees have prepared projections of the operating costs of the Youth Zone. The Board of Trustees of Hammersmith & Fulham Youth Zone has established a reserves policy which appropriately reflects the risks to which the Charity is exposed. The reserves policy does not consider expenditure which is linked to restricted projects and therefore covered by restricted funds. To ensure a prudent level of financial resilience in an uncertain economic climate the Trustees have determined that unrestricted reserves should be maintained to cover 6-12 months of running costs. The Trustees recognise the scale of the capital of the Youth Zone, and the charity’s intention is to continue providing high-quality facilities for the long term.

With this in mind, the Trustees have designated £500,000 of the reserves as a Major Repairs and Renewals Fund and it is anticipated that some of this will be needed after 8-10 years of operation. Additionally, £50,000 has also been designated for IT and AV and it is anticipated that this may need renewing within 4 years. The Trustees manage Hammersmith & Fulham Youth Zones' finances so that an adequate level of reserves can be maintained in compliance with the reserves policy and will review the policy regularly as needed.

At 31 March 2025, the charity had total funds of £14,752,459 (2024: £6,475,476), of which £2,528,909 were unrestricted (2024: £2,449,779) and £12,223,550 were restricted, primarily capital (2024: £4,025,697).

INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES

Under the memorandum and articles of association, the charitable company has the power to make any investment which the Trustees see fit. Investments are made where required to further the aims and objects of the Charity. Currently, the Charity does not currently hold any investments other than cash on deposit with Svenska Handelsbanken.

FUNDRAISING DISCLOSURES

Our approach to fundraising is focused on engaging and interacting with philanthropic individual and corporate supporters who are passionate about supporting WEST Youth Zone. Our Founder Patron campaign continued throughout 2024/25 which generates revenue pledges for WEST Youth Zone to fund the first three to four years of operation. The Founder Patron campaign seeks unrestricted gifts of £25,000 per annum (or higher) for four years towards the revenue costs of WEST Youth Zone (some of which may also be directed towards the Youth Zone's reserves). WEST also seeks Cornerstone Patron commitments (£100,000 per annum for four years) from those with a higher capacity.

These are largely raised through one-to-one meetings, including a tour of the facility for prospective donors. On occasion, WEST holds events to bring together groups of donors/prospective donors before following up with one-to-one meetings. WEST does not directly contact the public to take part in

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fundraising, but some key stakeholders (e.g. Trustees) may undertake their own challenges to raise money for the Youth Zone. The Charity follows the core principles of the Fundraising Regulator's Code of Practice. We do not employ third parties to undertake fundraising and WEST does not operate mass fundraising campaigns, cold calling, or street collections. WEST has received zero complaints about the Charity’s fundraising work.

THANK YOU TO OUR FUNDERS

We are hugely grateful to everyone that supported WEST during our first operational year. 49 individual patrons, corporate partners, trusts and foundations supported our work during 2024-2025, contributing to a total investment of nearly £1.8 million in our work with young people, with 64% of income coming from our Cornerstone & Founder Patrons.

In September, WEST Youth Zone hosted our first Founder Patron Dinner, a remarkable evening celebrating the dedication of our supporters, staff and volunteers to empower young people in the local community. The event brought together funders, supporters, and talented youth, held alongside a celebratory disco for senior members making it an evening to remember.

% BREAKDOWN OF INCOME CONTRIBUTIONS (EXCLUDING IN-KIND DONATIONS):

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3% 2%
3%
5%
7%
46%
16%
18%
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STRUCTURE, GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

GOVERNING DOCUMENT

Hammersmith & Fulham Youth Zone is a company limited by guarantee without share capital and registered under the Companies Act 2006, registration number 10381611. The company is governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association dated 17 September 2016. Management of the company’s affairs is vested in the co-Directors. It is a Charity registered with the Charity Commission on 19 September 2018.

In the event of a winding-up, the present members and those who have ceased to be a member within one year of such an event have guaranteed the liabilities of the company to the sum not exceeding ten pounds each.

RECRUITMENT AND APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES

The Trustees, who are also the Directors for the purpose of company law, and who served during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were:

Mark Davies (Chair) Rob Lehmann
Victoria Jerome Charmian Averty
Jamie Masraff (resigned 17/03/2025) Yixuan Yang (appointed 29/01/2025)
Rob Devey Philip Marsh (appointed 17/03/2025)
Nicole Trehy Ben Tatham (resigned 13/11/2024)
Ian Wason Jenny Chigwende (resigned 04/04/2025)
Louise Hewitson

The first Directors were the subscribers to the memorandum as notified to Companies House as the first Directors of the Charity. A person appointed as a Director thereupon becomes a Member of the Charity and a Director who ceases to hold office for any reason thereupon ceases to be a Member of the Charity. Directors have the power to appoint, by ordinary resolution, any person to be a Director who is willing to act as such. New Directors will be recruited according to the needs of the Charity and the suitability of possible candidates. A unanimous approval of existing Directors would lead to their appointment.

Trustees are trained in safeguarding and are invited to relevant development and learning opportunities such as OnSide’s national youth work conference. OnSide also provide a trustee handbook and induction sessions for new Youth Zone Trustees in the network.

The Memorandum and Articles of Association states that the number of members (Directors) shall have no maximum and shall not be less than three. At the first Annual General Meeting all Directors must retire and seek re-election. At each subsequent Annual General Meeting one third of the Directors are required to retire by rotation and seek re-appointment if they wish to continue.

The Members of the Charity are its Directors for the time being and the only persons eligible to be Members of the Charity are its Directors. Full details of the rules are contained in the company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association, dated on incorporation on 17 September 2016, which may be inspected at the Hammersmith & Fulham Youth Zone registered office.

PAY POLICY

The Directors, who are the charity’s Trustees, and the senior management team who are the key management personnel, are in charge of directing and controlling, running and operating the charity 15

on a day-to-day basis. All Directors give their time freely and no Directors received remuneration in the year.

The pay of the full staff team is reviewed annually. Staff paid hourly (mostly youth workers, but also cleaning and some reception, facilities and catering staff) are paid the London Living Wage. It is the aim of WEST that salaried staff receive an annual pay rise to take account of cost of living increases as long as the financial health of the organisation allows it. This was awarded in September 2024 at a flat rate of £2000 per staff member, meaning a greater percentage increase for those on lower salaries. Other pay increases can take place for changes of role or responsibilities. The Directors benchmark salaries against other similar charities in the voluntary sector as well as across all the Youth Zone network. Cost of living increases, and any change in the CEO’s salary, are approved by the Trustees. Any changes to another individual’s role or salary beyond £5000, are approved by the Finance Committee.

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

Hammersmith & Fulham Youth Zone is governed by its Trustee Board which is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the organisation and the policy of the Charity. The Trustees carry the ultimate responsibility for the conduct of Hammersmith & Fulham Youth Zone and for ensuring that the Charity satisfies its legal and contractual obligations. Trustees meet approximately every three months. Since opening the Trustees have delegated day-to-day management to the Youth Zone’s Chief Executive and their senior management team, according to an agreed delegated authority framework.

Decisions are determined by consensus, or – where a vote is needed – by a simple majority of votes. In the case of an equality of votes the Chairman of the meeting has the casting vote.

RISK MANAGEMENT

The Trustees have considered the major risks to which the charity is exposed. The organisational risk register is fully updated for each board meeting, with any movement and the top risks highlighted to Trustees along with mitigations. The full risk register is reviewed by Trustees every 6 months. Day-to‑day risk management is delegated to the Chief Executive and senior leadership team, and the Trustees are satisfied that risks are being anticipated and mitigated appropriately. Key potential identified risks over the financial year and their ongoing mitigations are:

Significant Safeguarding Incident with reputation risk

This is the most critical risk for any organisation working with young people. Mitigations in place: WEST has a safeguarding Trustee portfolio holder instils a robust culture of safeguarding awareness and checks at all levels. It does this through mandatory training and DBS checks for all staff and volunteers including Trustees, and a clear safeguarding escalation procedure which is recorded thoroughly. Regular refreshers also take place and safeguarding risks are discussed at the Senior Leadership and Delivery Managers team meetings. WEST is part of key local networks for safeguarding and can access support and advice as needed, with additional training being provided in relevant specialist areas.

Reach

The risk that the numbers of young people engaging with West might be too low or might fall, or that the geographical/demographic mix of our young people might start to become not reflective of the population we serve. WEST is ambitious in the number of young people we seek to serve and a focus on this will remain a key priority after a successful opening year, against a national backdrop of isolation among young people. Mitigations in place: The only demographic which is currently under-represented in our attendance is girls aged 13+ so a Female Engagement Coordinator has been recruited who will focus on this area and the Just4Girls programme. An Employability Coordinator has also been recruited to ensure that there are meaningful long-term opportunities to continue to retain and support our older young people as they transition to independence.

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Failure to recruit, retain and develop high quality staff in key positions.

This is a key challenge for many youth organisations, which many experienced staff having left the sector entirely over the last 15 years. Mitigations in place: West’s recruitment strategy is dynamic, targeted and robust with ongoing assessments of salaries and benchmarking against other similar or local jobs to maintain competitiveness as much as possible. The Board supports staffing initiatives when needed and staff development / culture is focused on at the highest level within WEST. This remains a priority area for investment and focus. WEST offers in-house training but also ample external opportunities, for example through OnSide’s Talent Academy or London Youth.

STATEMENT OF TRUSTEES’ RESPONSIBILITIES

The Trustees (who are also Directors of Hammersmith & Fulham Youth Zone for the purposes of company law) are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Report (incorporating the Directors’ report) and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102: The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charitable company and of the income and expenditure, of the charitable company for that year. In preparing these financial statements, the Trustees are required to:

The Trustees are responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charitable company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

In so far as the Trustees are aware:

The financial statements comply with current statutory requirements, the company's Memorandum and Articles of Association and the Charities SORP.

The Trustees’ Report was prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to small companies. The Trustees report was approved and was signed on behalf of the Trustees by:

M.Davies, Chair: Company Director and Trustee 18th September 2025

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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF HAMMERSMITH & FULHAM YOUTH ZONE

OPINION

We have audited the financial statements of Hammersmith & Fulham Youth Zone (the ‘charity’) for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the Statement of Financial Activities, the Balance Sheet, the Statement of Cash Flows and the notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

BASIS FOR OPINION

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the charitable company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

CONCLUSIONS RELATING TO GOING CONCERN

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Charity’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least 12 months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

OTHER INFORMATION

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, including the Trustees’ report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. The Trustees are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.

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Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit:

MATTERS ON WHICH WE ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT BY EXCEPTION

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the charity and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Directors’ report included with the Trustees' report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEES

As explained more fully in the Trustees' responsibilities statement, the Trustees' (who are also the Directors of the charitable company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are responsible for assessing the charity’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Trustees either intend to liquidate the company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

AUDITOR'S RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

Based on our understanding of the charity, we identified that the principal risks of non-compliance with laws and regulations related to company and financial reporting legislation and we considered the extent to which non-compliance might have a material effect on the financial statements.

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AUDITOR'S RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONT.

We considered those laws and regulations that have a direct impact on the preparation of the financial statements such as the Companies Act 2006 and Charities Act 2011.

We assessed the susceptibility of the company's financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by making enquiries of management, considering the internal controls in place and discussion amongst the engagement team.

We determined that the principal risks were related to the recognition of income and expenditure on fixed assets.

In response to the risks identified we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to reviewing Trustees meeting minutes, examining the donation records, and examining the lease agreement and expenditure invoices for the development.

There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of noncompliance. Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: http://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.

USE OF OUR REPORT

This report is made solely to the charitable company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and regulations made under that Act. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the charitable company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditors' report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charitable company and its members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Paul Newton FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor) for and on behalf of Xeinadin Audit Limited, Statutory Auditor Chartered Accountants

5 Robin Hood Lane Sutton Surrey SM1 2SW Date: 19th September 2025

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STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES (INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

All of the above results are derived from continuing activities and include all gains and losses recognised in the year. The notes of pages 23-29 to form part of these financial statements.

BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2025

21

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to entities subject to the small companies regime.

These financial statements were approved by the board of Trustees and authorised for issue on and are signed on behalf of the board by:

M Davies Chair of Trustees

Company registered number: 10381611

The notes on pages 23 -29 form part of these financial statements.

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2025

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HAMMERSMITH & FULHAM YOUTH ZONE Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 (continued)

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Hammersmith & Fulham Youth Zone is a private charitable company limited by guarantee. The charitable company is incorporated in England and Wales. The address of the registered office is: 2 EdCity Walk, London W12 7TF.

The Trustees have ensured that all major donors are regularly contacted, that any decrease in their giving is flagged up as far in advance as possible. Our Founder Patron commitment is over four years, so we have plenty of lead in time in order to secure a renewal. We also actively seek new donors through expanding our existing network.

Whilst it is never possible to be certain of the future, to date the Trustees consider that the steps taken are sufficient to classify the charity as a going concern and are confident in the Youth Zone’s ability to meet its obligations for the coming financial year.

1.3 Income

All income is recognised once the Charity has entitlement to the income, it is probable that the income will be received and the amount of income receivable can be measured reliably. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations is recognised at the time the donation is receivable.

1.4 Expenditure

Raising funds

This expenditure comprises costs incurred in encouraging people and organisations to contribute financially to the charity’s work. It includes the costs of hosting fundraising events.

Charitable activities

Expenditure is recognised once there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic benefit to a third party, it is probable that a transfer of economic benefits will be required in settlement and the amount of the obligation can be measured reliably. Expenditure is classified by activity. The costs of each activity are made up of the total of direct costs and shared costs, including support costs involved in undertaking each activity.

All expenditure is inclusive of irrecoverable VAT.

1.5 Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets costing £500 or more are capitalised and recognised when future economic benefits are probable and thecostor value of the asset can be measured reliably. Tangible fixed assetsareinitially recognised at cost. After recognition, under the cost model, tangible fixed assets are measuredatcost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. All costs incurred to bringatangible fixed asset into its intended working condition should be included in the measurement of cost.

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HAMMERSMITH & FULHAM YOUTH ZONE Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 (continued)

1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

1.5

Tangible fixed assets (continued)

Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

Leasehold building 50 years Fixtures and fittings 3 years 3 Equipment years

1.10 Funds

Unrestricted funds are those which are not subject to any special restrictions and they can be used as the Trustees decide in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity. Restricted funds are funds which are to be used in accordance with specific restrictions imposed by donors orwhich have been raised by the Charity for particular purposes. The aim and use of each restricted fund isset out in the notes to the financial statements. Investment income is allocated to the appropriate fund.

1.11 Accounting estimates and judgements

Inthe application of the charity’s accounting policies, the directors are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.

The estimates and judgements that have the most material impact on the financial performance and position of the Company are as follows:

(i) Depreciation of fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. The estimates of useful economic lives and residual values can have a significant effect on the depreciation expense recognised. These factors are reviewed annually to ensure they continue to be appropriate.

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HAMMERSMITH & FULHAM YOUTH ZONE Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 (continued)

2 Donations and legacies
2025 2024
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
£ £ £ £
Capital grants Capital- - - - 195,000
in-kind
grants		 - 8,493,478 8,493,478 -
Donations and grants 1,479,440 98,270 1,577,710 765,037
Gift aid 129,813 - 129,813 74,004
────── ────── ────── ──────
1,609,253 8,591,748 10,201,001 1,034,041
══════ ══════ ══════ ══════
3 Income from charitable activities
2025 2024
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
£ £ £ £
Income from young people 89,673 - 89,673 1,253
Premises 36,467 - 36,467 1,440
────── ────── ────── ──────
126,140 - 126,140 2,693
══════ ══════ ══════ ══════
4 Investment income
2025 2024
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
£ £ £ £
Bank interest 51,606 1,182 52,788 48,068
══════ ══════ ══════ ══════

25

HAMMERSMITH & FULHAM YOUTH ZONE Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 (continued)

5 Expenditure on charitable activities

2025 2024
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
£ £ £ £
Staff costs (note 6) 1,261,080 4,692 1,265,772 324,745
Volunteer 1,380 - 1,380 1,462
Premises 180,239 - 180,239 4,143
Delivery 44,141 3,324 47,465 6,796
Catering 65,282 - 65,282 3,682
Support costs (ii) 168,198 359,124 527,322 79,099
────── ────── ────── ──────
1,720,320 367,140 2,087,460 419,927
══════ ══════ ══════ ══════

(i) Support costs

2025 2024
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total
£ £ £ £
Depreciation - 359,124 359,124 4,492
Management costs 158,596 - 158,596 67,347
Audit fee 7,260 - 7,260 6,000
Accountancy
Bad debts		 fee 1,800
542		 -
-		 1,800
542		 1,260
-
────── ────── ────── ──────
168,198 359,124 527,322 79,099
══════ ══════ ══════ ══════

The auditor’s remuneration amounts to a fee (excluding VAT) of £6,000for the auditand £1,500for accounts preparation (2025: £5,000 audit, £1,100 accounts).

6 Staff costs

taff costs
2025 2024
£ £
Wages and salaries 1,181,462 297,379
Social security costs 69,529 21,857
Pension costs 14,781 5,509
────── ──────
1,265,772 324,745
══════ ══════

The average number of employees during the year was 86 (2024: 15).

One member of staff received payments in excess of £60,000 in the current year (2024: £nil).

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HAMMERSMITH & FULHAM YOUTH ZONE Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 (continued)

7

Tangible fixed assets

Leasehold Fixtures &
Building fittings Equipment TOTAL
£ £ £ £
Cost or valuation
At1April 2024 3,591,517 172,675 141,524 3,905,716
Additions 8,501,398 28,319 26,947 8,556,664
At 31 March 2025 12,092,915 200,994 168,471 12,462,380
Depreciation
At1April 2024 - - 4,492 4,492
Charge for the year 241,728 63,211 54,185 359,124
At 31 March 2025 241,728 63,211 58,677 363,616
Net Book Value
At 31 March 2025 11,851,187 137,783 109,794 12,098,764
At 31 March 2024 3,591,517 172,675 137,032 3,901,224

8 Debtors

2025 2024
£ £
Accrued interest 9,968 -
Prepayments 37,351 7,219
Gift aid and Founder Patron donations receivable 130,196 100,142
Other debtors 79,083 25,000
────── ──────
256,598 132,361
══════ ══════

9 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

editors: Amounts falling due within one year
2025 2024
£ £
Trade creditors 28,806 92,910
Tax and social security 32,751 22,499
Other creditors 85,146 48,814
Accruals and deferred income 200,284 161,556
────── ──────
346,987 325,779
══════ ══════

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HAMMERSMITH & FULHAM YOUTH ZONE Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 (continued)

10

Deferred income
2025 2024
£ £
Deferred income at 1 April 2024 150,000 -
Release from previous periods (150,000) -
Deferred in the year 174,920 150,000
────── ──────
Deferred income at 31 March 2025 174,920 150,000
══════ ══════

Deferred income consists of pledged donations that were given for future years.

11 Funds

Balance at 1 Income Expenditure Transfers Balance at
April 2024 31 March
2025
Unrestricted funds
General funds 2,449,779 1,787,485 (1,736,292) 27,937 2,528,909
────── ────── ────── ───── ──────
Restricted funds
Capital Funds 4,025,697 8,494,660 (359,124) (8,009) 12,153,224
Sensory roomfitout
The PetersFamily		 -
-		 30,000
60,000		 -
(2,812)		 (19,928)
-		 10,072
57,188
(Employability)
Westfield artproject - 8,270 (5,204) - 3,066
────── ────── ────── ──────
4,025,697 8,592,930 (367,140) ─────
(27,937)		 12,223,550
────── ────── ────── ──────
─────
Total funds 6,475,476
══════		 10,380,415
══════		 (2,103,432)
══════		 -
═════		 14,752,459
══════
Balance at 1 Income
Expenditure		 Balance at 31
April 2023 March 2024
Unrestricted funds
Generalfunds 1,991,012 784,721 (325,954) 2,449,779
────── ────── ────── ──────
Restricted funds
Capital Funds 3,825,616 300,081 (100,000) 4,025,697
────── ────── ────── ──────
Total funds 5,816,628 1,084,802 (425,954) 6,475,476
══════ ══════ ══════ ══════

Capital Funds – these are funds received towards the building of the Youth Zone. The income of £8,494,660 mainly relates to capital-in-kind grants recognised in this year and the transfer of £8,009 in the year is to adjust the prior year’s fixed assets, included in general funds, after taking into account the capital -in-kind grants.

Sensory room fit-out - Thiswas funding allocated by OnSide to deliver a fitted out Sensory Room at WEST. The transfer this year is forthe amount spent on the sensory room fit-out which is included in fixed assets.

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HAMMERSMITH & FULHAM YOUTH ZONE Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2025 (continued)

11

Funds (continued)

The Peters Family (Employability) - This funding is to launch the employability programme at WEST and ismostly to cover staff salaries involved in the project, trips and consumables.

Westfield - Arts Project - This was for a project running up to an exhibition and was for materials, youth worker hours, trip costs for young people and external delivery by visiting artists.

12 Analysis of net assets between funds
Unrestricted Restricted Total
£ £ £
Fund balances at 31 March 2025 are represented by:
Tangible fixed assets - 12,098,764 12,098,764
Current assets 2,875,896 124,786 3,000,682
Creditors due within one year (346,987) - (346,987)
────── ────── ──────
Total net assets at 31 March 2025 2,528,909 12,223,550 14,752,459
══════ ══════ ══════
Unrestricted Restricted Total
£ £ £
Fund balances at 31 March 2024 are represented by:
Tangible fixed assets - 3,901,224 3,901,224
Current assets 2,775,558 124,473 2,900,031
Creditors due within one year (325,779) - (325,779)
────── ────── ──────
Total net assets at 31 March 2024 2,449,779 4,025,697 6,475,476
══════ ══════ ══════

13 Trustees’ remuneration and expenses

During the year, no Trustees received any remuneration or other benefits (2024: £nil).

No Trustees were reimbursed expenses in the year (2024: £nil).

14 Related party transactions

During the year, Trustees and related parties donated a total of £101,150 to the charity (2024: £20,000).

Key Management Personnel aggregate remuneration was £221,693 (2024: £155,357).

There were no other related party transactions during the year.

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