OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2023-03-31-accounts

First Star Scholars UK

(A company limited by guarantee)

Report and Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 March 2023

Charity number 1180754 Company number 11067711

First Star Scholars UK

1

(A company limited by guarantee)

Financial Statements For the Year Ended 31 March 2023 Accompanying document of unaudited accounts

Contents Page
Legal and Administrative Information 3
Report of the Board of Trustees 4
Financial Review 15
Structure, governance and management 18
Risk Management 20
Independent examiners report 25
Statement of Financial Activities 26
Balance Sheet 27
Notes to the financial statements 28-33

2

First Star Scholars UK

Report of the Board of Trustees for the year ended 31 March 2023

The Board of Trustees presents its report and unaudited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023.

Reference and Administrative Information

Charity Name: First Star Scholars UK Charity registration number: 1180754 Company registration number: 11067711 Registered Office c/o Critchleys LLP Beaver House 23-28 Hythe Bridge Street Oxford OX12EP Operational address: 37 Deerhurst Close Hanworth Park Middlesex TW13 7HS Board of Trustees Chair Mr P Samuelson Mr S Irvine Ms M Drummond Dr J Arday Dr N Dosanjh Ms C Dovey Ex Trustees Mr F Young Ms AM Bird Trustees appointed 15 June 2023 Dr C Fletcher Ms I Beecroft Rev ’ d J Standley

Senior Management

Executive Director

Dr L Goodwin Critchleys Audit LLP Independent Examiners - Beaver House, 23-28 Hythe Bridge Street Oxford. OX12EP NatWest Bank- Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher Legal advisors -

3

Our Mission, Values, Aims and Objectives

Purposes and Aims

Our charity's purposes as set out in the objects contained in the company's articles of association are to:

First Star Mission

First Star improves the lives of Looked-after Children and Young People by partnering with universities, virtual school heads, schools and designated teachers, social services, carers, and local authorities to ensure looked-after young people have the academic, life skills, and adult support needed to successfully transition to higher education and adulthood. We pursue our mission through innovative university- preparatory programmes, providing professional assistance to stakeholders, and advocating for policy change. To provide a nationally recognised programme that nurtures aspiration and life potential for every care experienced young person.

Our aims and objectives remain rooted in the aspirations we hold for our scholars. During this year we reviewed our original business/strategic plan, and with major goals achieved, undertook a review.

These have been revised and reviewed. Stakeholders including staff, alumni, scholars and carers were consulted and the values of First Star re-established.

Belonging: We are a caring organisation. We nurture the uniqueness of each young person in our programmes. We appreciate their voice, their experiences, beliefs and ambitions and we offer our support and guidance unconditionally, with patience and with kindness.

Empowerment: We believe every young person in our programmes can achieve their potential. We provide an enabling environment that offers them freedom to explore their goals and builds their confidence to achieve them. We support our scholars into adulthood, offering sustaining networks and encouraging them throughout early adult transitions.

Commitment: We continuously support each young person in our programmes to achieve educational and early adulthood success and we will act as their advocates as we seek transformational change for our organisation and our scholars that will improve outcomes for all young people in care.

Partnership: We depend on our partners and the communities in which we work. We seek to work as “one team” with our stakeholders, united in our commitment to support young people in care. In doing so we hold ourselves to the highest standards of educational quality, professional care, and ethical probity.

First Star’s three -year goal (2023-2026) is to

First Star is widely recognised as the leading expert, offering the most robust pathway for young people in care to gain the benefit of a university education.

In order to achieve these goals we have established aims with annual action plans to monitor and evaluate progress.

4

  1. Nationally recognised, accredited, innovative, and young person-centred programmes.

  2. Expert in evidenced-based advocacy validated by data analysis and publication.

  3. Effective governance at all levels of the charity and its programmes.

  4. Robust sustainable infrastructure.

  5. Passionate and embedded culture of high aspiration and collaboration throughout the organisation.

Underpinning our goals are the aims for our young people, enabling us to measure outcomes. We intend that:

Our original (2018) five-year plan held the aims of

  1. Expansion of Board of Trustees and addition of Patrons

  2. 6 academies by 2024. Develop virtual academy / programme by 2021 (covid response).

  3. UK wide expansion to include Home Countries and Ireland

  4. To ensure sustainability of First Star UK

  5. Advocacy and engagement at national and local level

The focus of our work

Main objectives for the year 2022-2023

5

Outcomes

Alumni provision

November 2022 saw the development of the newly created post of Alumni and Projects Manager. This role emphasises the importance of support as our scholars’ transition to HE and through their degree – programmes. Microgrants have been introduced alumni support for guardian scholars now has a formalised offer to up to £500 support available in two cycles of up to £250 each. These grants can be used for a range of services including buying suitcases, books, equipment (eg. microwave; kettle; bedding; clothing/specialist equipment for interviews) and travel. Funding can also be put towards new laptops. Other events include continued get-togethers at Christmas meals.

Alumni don’t all progress to higher education and this support is also available for all our alumni, offering care packages as they transition to new accommodation, supporting interviews, job transitions, budgeting and other personal development.

The take up of this offer now formalised through our scholars and graduates’ platform ‘FS2U’ is growing. This reflects the need but also helps alumni stay in touch.

Alumni have been invited to apply for youth coach/ graduate scholar positions within our residential programmes. Several have been appointed for summer residentials at St Mary’s programme and FS2U programme.

Develop trustee roles and appoint additional trustees.

Three additional trustees have been recruited. The appointment of these additional three trustees will also be recorded in the Report 2023-24.

Establish new programme for 2022 start.

Our fourth cohort (FS2U cohort 1) attended their first residential at the University of Sussex with scholars travelling from as far afield as Newcastle, Bury, Southampton and Brighton. The Programme Director established and directed a 7-day residential programme in August 2022. A unique programme within our unique programmes, FS2U is delivered through online provision during term time, and this has been led exceptionally well by our English and Maths tutors, through our partnership with Villiers Educational Trust and the commitment of key staff. Our scholars were baseline assessed in English and Maths and tutors wrote cohort specific programmes to meet the needs of our young people. For example, individual scholars attending different schools are studying different Shakespeare texts – some sessions focus on text and others on the more general aspects of studying Shakespeare with scholars attending as appropriate. Similarly, scholars are entered for higher or foundation maths and grouped and taught accordingly.

6

Support for the residential was also led by the widening participation team at the University of Sussex and enabled us to provide a very personalised, detailed and hugely beneficial programme. Residential provision is 7 days each year with summer 2022 being the first residential.

Additional recruitment of scholars continued after the residential with collaboration from Aspire 2Us programme at Wolverhampton University, and virtual school headteachers across a number of local authorities.

Annual lecture

This continues to be on hold until a more favourable moment as many other organisations also bring back live events. It is our intention to hold/organise this during the 2024 year.

Safeguarding and staff training.

First Star safeguarding policy and protocols now embrace both our campus and online provision. Increasingly attention is also focused on training with regard to trauma-informed behaviours and support alongside safeguarding and prevent training. Each year sees new programmes and the recent addition of our online programme provision of FS2U, led and staffed by FSSUK employees has added emphasis to the online safety protocols. To support the annual recruitment of residential staff, directors undertake safer recruitment training and administration tracks all training and DBS certification. Staff training for residentials and First Saturdays, online delivery and other activities includes safeguarding. Key staff also undertake online safety training and protocols for delivery of online aspects of FS2U. Protocols for online delivery are established including two staff/instructors on each session and no engagement if scholars are home alone. All scholars are provided with a laptop and this is done through carers with the intent of ensuring no inappropriate online activity takes place. Increasingly emphasis is being placed on developing scholars’ online safety awareness including use of social media. Group and 1-1 sessions with carers support their understanding of the programme and provision. Scholars on the online programme are provided with a First Star email identified by number to enhance safeguarding (e.g. firststarscholar001)

Safeguarding policy and procedures are updated annually. This takes place before each summer residential season - 2023 update has been received. Our external HR support - RISE HR undert oo k this with the Safeguarding lead. All staff (full and part-time) undertake annual safeguarding training. Trustees undertake NSPCC trustee safeguarding training. Programme Directors are trained as Designated Safeguarding Leads, and each programme / university setting has additional safeguarding leads. Annual reviews are undertaken by the Programme Directors which include any safeguarding events and the management of these ensuring lessons are learned and shared across the programmes. For residential settings on campus, our halls / hall floor access are sole user and we employ night staff to patrol and secure the well-being and safety of our young people. Our protocols are shared and posted for reminders for staff, and staff well-being checked on regularly. Records and actions of incidents and disclosures are undertaken and maintained in line with our safeguarding policy. All incidents are shared with the appropriate social worker and there were no issues or young person occurrences during First Star sessions and residentials that required external action.

Several scholars have experienced incidents (in school or their foster setting) and First Star Directors support scholars and carers wherever possible.

7

Equality

First Star programmes are open to all young people in care in the age range offered by individual programmes. We do not cherry pick the scholars; scholars can self-nominate or be nominated by their carers, teachers, virtual school, or other engaged adult. We do not make a judgment on current academic progress or attendance at school as these are often symptomatic of other issues faced by young people in care. We are careful to engage those with the potential to progress to higher education, even where it is not an aspiration or expectation at this time in their lives.

First Star does not discriminate on the basis of religion and the programmes will not include any religious training or ceremony. First Star Scholars UK is dedicated to encouraging a supportive and inclusive culture amongst the whole workforce and the young people we work with.

Our Equality and Diversity Policy reinforces our commitment to providing equality and fairness to all in our employment and for scholars and to not provide less favourable facilities or treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, ethnic origin, colour, nationality, national origin, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. We are opposed to all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination.

We do not ask or collect data regarding health, disability or other employment factor except to establish that the applicant can perform a necessary part of the job (or if reasonable adjustments need to be made), or where positive action is required to recruit an applicant with a disability. We undertake voluntary equality and diversity monitoring (which will not form part of the job selection or decision-making process). First Star provides staff with training relevant to their jobs and training needs will be assessed through regular staff reviews. Part-time employees and fixed-term employees are treated the same as those who are full-time or permanent. The FSSUK equality and diversity policy is reviewed every two years (last in 2023).

Sustaining advocacy

Engagement with a range of organisations continues, including the overarching strategy group of the Fair Education Alliance, the National Association of Virtual School Heads and the National Network for the Education of Care Leavers. First Star has received excellent opportunities and support for staff through the youth network of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.

The follow up League Table to our 12by24 Report (Centre for Social Justice, 2019) has been put in motion with grant funding for a new Report secured from The Portal Trust. The project is commissioned through Civitas, a Westminster think tank. The project will embrace a state of the nation summary of current care contexts, an analysis of on ongoing barriers and challenges for Higher Education access and a league table of how many care leavers go to university at UK Universities.

STEAM lecture series which initially launched in autumn 2021.

Provision has been established with a collaborative partner delivering our programme of STEAM sessions. Our first sessions (monthly) included further sessions on sustainability, with attendees awarded certificates of engagement. Other sessions have included wellbeing, introduction to HE and science projects. Further into the programme delivery will be managed, arranged and led by our Alumni and Projects Manager and be open to all young people in care in GCSE years.

8

How our activities benefit stakeholders.

Our main activities and who we try to help are described below. All our charitable activities continue to focus on the provision of the First Star programme and advocacy for young people in care and care leavers . Supporting young people to be heard is a focal point with the introduction of our Scholars’ Council giving representation to all programmes and electing representatives to join the Board of Trustees as special advisors. Each programme cohort elects 2-3 representatives to the council.

Advocacy

The commissioning of the Centre for Social Justice research and report on Care Leavers' transition to and progression at Higher Education (HE) resulted in the 12by24 Report published by the Centre for Social Justice in May 2019. With funding support from the Portal Trust secured, we commissioned the research for and writing of our League T able Report Card ‘Breaking Care Ceiling. The final report will be available in the summer early autumn of 2023, launched in Parliament with the support of our Patron, The Baroness Floella Benjamin.

Our advocacy continues to be informed by our own data. That this is valued is evidenced by the commissioning of research with our programmes by the University of Roehampton as part of a project supported by the Office for Students. The outcomes of this research will be published after the 2023 summer residentials where the main data and scholar voice will be captured.

The Pandemic has left its mark on the young people on our programmes, as it has with young people across the nation . While our scholars’ attendance remains stable, and all our young scholars sustain their engagement in education throughout their compulsory school years this is not without challenge and bumps along the way. Comparison with national data highlights the significance of the First Star programmes in sustaining educational engagement (a key objective). 100% of scholars across our programmes are currently still engaged with their education. First Star has taken on greater tuition and mentoring roles beyond our formal programme provision. Our directors are engaging more and more with other adults around the child to secure the best possible outcomes for our young people. This includes actions such as attending PEPs meetings, advocating for young people in their educational provision - GCSE rather than functional skills, opposing exclusions and the provision of mental health support. All of this is above and beyond the programme provision and increasingly becoming a feature of scholar - programme engagement.

Children Looked After continue to fare less well and the indicators are that the gap will have increased when the 2023 GCSE data is released. Our Report Card research is indicating than non-looked-after children are disadvantaged in their progress between primary school and Key Stage 4, with their average Attainment 8 score being just 20.3 compared to 48.8 (2021/2) for non-looked after children. The latest cohort of First Star scholars to complete their GCSEs have an average attainment 8 score of 47.1 with 32% of scholars passing GCSE English and mathematics at grade 5 and above compared to 10% of young people in care nationally and 50% of all pupils nationally. Of great concern is the data from Professor Lee Majors suggesting that 20-30% of young people leave the school system without a formal qualification. First Star does not cherry pick scholars, nor do we base recruitment on current academic progress and attendance at school. Nevertheless, 100% of First Star Scholars pass GCSEs. What we do well is personalise and create a family of scholars and our staff.

Revised DfE data suggests that only Irish Traveler children and those of Gypsy/Rom a communities fare less well in our education system than those in care. Most recent (and using revised metrics) Department for Education (DfE) data indicates that just 14% of care leavers aged 19-23 go on to higher education, compared to 47% of 19-23-year-olds in the general population. First Star data shows 50% of our first graduating cohort progressed to university, with a further 45% in further education, training, or employment.

9

Only 5% of our graduates are NEETS (compared to 39% of care leavers nationally). This matters a great deal, because access to higher education can be a powerful gateway to opportunity, particularly for those who have started with so little in life. The First Star programme recognises that not all our scholars will progress to higher education, and we ensure provision prepares them for employment, for apprenticeships and new education opportunities provision including T levels.

The self-advocacy and opinions of those who have lived experience of foster care continue to demonstrate the impact and the need for interventions such as First Star programme. Our Scholars tell us:

'First Star is a place where you'll be praised rather than tolerated and people actually care about you'

'One day one of the mentors said shoot higher and now I'm at a Russel group university'

'First Star is a place which always helps me find my best even when I feel down or lost. There are so many people that help you here'

– First Star continues to demonstrate the impact of GCSE outcomes often as a significant barrier to progression. Nevertheless, the impact of the Pandemic is still evident throughout through our education system and data indicates that under sourced pupils are more than 18 months behind their more advantaged peers by age 16. The narrative, not well explored, also needs to include access and aspiration:

“If you create a more supportive system (counselling, access to educational materials, access to extra-curricular and so forth) for care leavers within universities as well as in their education beforehand, you’d probably find more children in care seeing it as being worth going to university. It doesn’t matter that you’re ‘in care’, you can make it if you get the grades” First Star graduate.

First Star continues advocate for support for young people in care through the overarching strategy committee of the Fair Education Alliance, NNECL and NAVSH conferences and staff are keenly involved in the Learning Networks of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. Collaborations with other charities PYE Global aid our programme provision for Scholars. Charities such as mybnk and Become continue to contribute to programme provision. Our latest collaboration with Villiers Park Education Trust is supporting our First Star2U provision as well as carer engagement and leadership challenges for scholars.

Who used and benefited from our services?

First Star Scholars UK was established in 2017 with the pilot programme at St Mary's University, Twickenham, graduating our first scholars in 2021. First Star Scholars UK is based on the model successfully established in the US by Peter Samuelson in 2011 and there are 18 programmes across nations with three in the UK. As we know there are a record number of looked-after children in the UK, with 90 entering the care system every day and a projected 100,000 children in care by 2025. First Star is reflecting the national Leveling up or 'catching up' agenda and focusing provision for years 1 and 2 on GCSE and individual scholars' missed education.

First Star programmes develop this theme to a much a deeper level and build long-term pathways based on scholars' own aspirations. The outcomes for our first graduating cohort authenticates the longevity of the programme through continued engagement with our alumni programme ensuring scholars and alumni are never alone in their personal and educational journey. 50% of graduating Alumni were awarded places at HE, while only 5% are NEETs. Retention remains high across cohorts with our

10

University of Winchester cohort sustaining 100% retention. Cohort two at St Mary's was impacted by an outbreak of Covid-19 in the summer of 2021, a further residential was offered at Easter and well received by scholars and staff. Despite the challenges of Covid-19 most scholars remained consistent in their attendance through the First Saturday programme.

Our Alumni have positively engaged with First Star, and we are building this programme. Opportunities to develop networking skills have been enhanced by alumni presence at events in Liverpool, Stoke and Brighton engaging with and launching new university partners. Our alumni support has offered support for course fees, course materials and resources including specialist dance equipment. We continue to offer support in terms of personal items such as microwaves. We know that the numbers entering care reportedly increased by 44% during Covid -19 (Barnardo's, 2020) and the gap in learning between disadvantaged young people and their peers is now an estimated 18 months; we also know that 50% of care experienced students have considered withdrawing from HE due to financial circumstances, physical and mental health issues and stress of academic and First Star is working to support scholars into and through their HE and post-graduation experience, providing mentors, equipment and financial support.

Our 2021 GCSE results bucked the attainment trends for Looked After Young People, with scholars' average EBacc score was 5.28 compared to 4.38 for all pupils (2020) and 1. 7 for CLA (2020). First Star scholars ’ overall pass rate (grade 4+) was 89% compared to 79.7% (England) and 76.9% (London). Scholars overall pass rate (grade 5+) also exceeded their peers at 62.8%.

In a busy year after cohort 1 graduates entered HE and work and cohort 2 completed GCSEs in 2021 and transitioned to further education and post 16 courses. All cohort 2 scholars continue their education pathway but several also experienced upheavals in placement, social workers, and education settings. Of concern is that some of our scholars are being placed in unregulated residential settings in less than suitable circumstances and First Star Directors are supporting them through these challenges. Our First Star 2U programme is up and running. Our new programme Director was appointed and we recruited scholars nationally. Our initial FS2U residential took place in summer 2022 at Sussex University.

We remain committed to principles of not 'cherry picking', a concept even more important with the education attainment gap increasing and absence and missing for education numbers rising among school populations (140,000 children currently missing school). We are enhancing our evaluation and monitoring of scholars' progress with baseline assessments include in new programmes, regular reporting to schools, carers, virtual heads and social workers is now included in our planned provision for FS2U. Our University of Winchester Director has led the way in holistic engagement in the provision and monitoring of scholars' development including attendance at PEPs.

Selection and recruitment expanded nationwide with the launch of FS2U. Scholars are being recruited from as far afield as Newcastle, Manchester, Leeds, and Sussex. Scholars can self-nominate, and nominations can be made by an adult as well as their virtual school heads and schools. Eligible scholars should have a care plan; be in kinship care; have been identified by children's services as on the edge of care or have appropriate refugee status. Each application is reviewed upon its own merits, but we do not judge potential on current academic progress or school attendance as these can already be barriers to success for those in care.

Programme provision has been impacted by the Covid - 19 pandemic. St Mary's programme had to close in the summer of 2021 after a week and a half for cohort 1 (now alumni) and in the first week of the cohort 2 residential. Cohort 3 at Winchester successfully ran the whole 3-week provision. Both programmes are running a First Saturday programme each month to sustain engagement and support scholars, and both also offered a four-day Easter residential to enhance scholars ’ First Star engagement.

11

Impact

Our pilot cohort graduated in the summer of 2021 having done so well at GCSE and with 50% progressing to HE and most others to FE and employment. We have developed a staff alumni role and are striving to keep links with as many alumni as possible. We aim to provide support through the challenges of year one at university where we know that care leavers are 38% more likely to give up - this provision includes seeking mentors for alumni - someone to share highs and lows with; 18% of alumni at HE institutions have a mentor through this project.

First Star Scholars GCSE results in 2021 reflected the increased emphasis on 1-1 provision, albeit driven by the pandemic and lockdowns. This has helped generate First Star templates for FS2U provision. FS2U classes are staged for different abilities, including those taking higher and foundation GCSEs and we provide 1-1 support with tutors on a termly basis. First Star GCSE outcomes are keeping pace with or exceeding national expectations.

First Star aims:

50% of graduates have earned places in HE; compared to the national care leaver average of 13%. NEETS among First Star graduates = 5% of graduates; 0% of our alumni are homeless yet they have experienced numerous moves since reaching the age of 18.

First Star programmes have a significant focus on GCSE preparation, exam techniques and revision in the first two years of the academic component of each First Star programme, particularly English, Maths and Science. This focus is impacting scholars' outcomes with our young people doing well in GCSEs.

Scholars' voice

... continues to be important to First Star and annually two scholars are elected each year as special advisors on the board of trustees. With the advent of new programmes, a scholars' council was being established to give a voice to all scholars.

'It's given me belief I can do everything'

'People here have given me so much confidence I was able to overcome my fears'

'/ wasn't sure what to expect but now I'm here it was the best decision I made'

Overall GCSE results improved despite the impact of the Pandemic. As the data shows the second cohort GCSE results improved upon previous years - despite being the Covid GCSE generation - success was facilitated through a hybrid approach, perpetuating the efficacy of the First Star provision.

12

Despite the challenges of the pandemic our cohorts continue to do well.

----- Start of picture text -----
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
English and English and Overall pass Overall pass English Grade Maths Grade Average attainment 8
Maths Grade Maths Grade rate Grade 4+ rate Grade 5 4 + 4 + Ebacc score score
4 + 5 + +
First Star 2021 Nationaly - peers (2020) CLA (2018) CLA (2020)
----- End of picture text -----

The average disadvantaged student is now educationally over 18 months behind their peers. 48% of children in care in mainstream schools are not entered for GCSEs while only 30.6% of children in care obtain a GCSE pass. With 100% of First Star cohorts exceeding the national average of entry to 3 GCSEs (and obtaining better than national average outcomes) the impact of First Star interventions and the progress of First Star young people is demonstrated.

First Star data signposts that:

13

provision - this is a pivotal element of provision.

Impact of Covid-19 is ongoing.

Our website is supplemented by an in-house database linking scholars and alumni to the care provision at their chosen university.

Learning and support was transferred to a second learning platform (website) at the same time as our main site was updated and www.firststar2U.org was established. This is a secure learning website.

Unfortunately, COVID-19 continues to have a knock-on effect on the progress of scholars and the efficacy of programmes in the summer. The St Mary's programme particularly suffered from the outbreak in the summer of 2021 and staff have worked with resilience and diligence to maintain scholar engagement and progress. Scholars returned in the summer of 2022 with all university and local health protocols in place at all three of our residential locations. Programme plans continue to support those unable to attend sessions or aspects of the residential to ensure they remain part of the First Star family.

Our cohort at the University of Winchester have led the way in their flexible response to the challenges of covid and supporting scholar engagement through a shorter summer residential, supported by the Easter residential. The attendance has remained strong with over 85% attendance at First Saturdays and increasing to nearly 100% attendance at the residentials. This has been supported by the continued engagement of staff who have returned, both throughout the year to support learning and for the residentials.

First Star Directors worked from home during the pandemic and continue to do so as appropriate and – in line with the return-to-work provision of their university this is matched by the approach for FS2U. Our focus continues to ensure the online provision (FS2U) and face to face support for scholars supports their progress and this has been revised and increased – both directors and tutors now offer 1 -1 interventions, online support for revision and career support as well as group and cohort sessions. Directors are invited to more and more PEPs meetings with this becoming embedded in the First Star provision. We have found scholars really engaged with Directors both during and after this support, appreciating that Directors are able to fully support scholars without explanation - supporting progress and challenge and offer innovative and sustained support.

First Star alumni provision continues to grow as we anticipate our second graduating cohort in summer 2023. Several alumni have been employed as youth coaches and we foresee expanding this provision across multiple residentials.

FS2U

First Star developed this new provision to provide support for scholars and carers beyond the geographical locations of our campus programmes. First Star is successfully giving access to scholars from multiple regions and schools / local authorities. Currently, 20 local authorities are represented among the scholars reflecting increased engagement among virtual school heads, fostering agencies and universities across England - signifying our determination to support Children Looked After in any setting. The essential ingredient of the First Star Family remains at the core of provision. This cohort is completing their first year online and approaching their second summer residential in the summer of 2023. The Programme Director - appointed in December 2021 has moved on (Easter 2023) and our new Director is refining and expanding the summer schedule while getting to know the scholars as the summer approaches.

The challenges of education, some stemming from life circumstances and from the aftermath of the pandemic continues to impact scholars increasing the need for support and online platform/ provision.

14

Our Scholars

Our scholars' placements continue to display the vulnerability we saw during covid, placement instability continues to be an issue. The stability and support, including financial support to secure attendance, offered by First Star continues to have an impact on the lives as well as the educational progress of our scholars. Online 1-1 support has been offered to more scholars this year to help them over the breech between schools and placements, absences, and gaps in learning. The trend – experienced immediately post covid in terms of increasing numbers of young people entering the care system continues with a 4.6% increase in those in care from 2020 - 2023. 1 in 4 children entering the care system is now aged 16 or 17 and we seek to make virtual schools and colleges aware of opportunities to join First Star wherever spaces make this possible. First Star Programme Directors continue to monitor our scholars' placements. Nationally placement stability has improved marginally since 2020 (33% experienced 2 or more placements in the year 2021 with 31% experiencing 2 or more placements in the year 2022). Nevertheless, anecdotally we have seen an increase in the trend to move young people into residential, at times unregulated, homes. With almost as many 16+ young people in care in unregulated settings as those in fostered or regulated settings the concern for post GCSE educational progress is becoming acute. Currently, all our scholars remain in education until 18 and 95% progress to higher education, further education or training, employment, or apprenticeships. First Star is enhancing our diploma offer to support our post-16 cohorts in future years as we anticipate that the knock-on effect of these statistics is likely to see more of our scholars being lost to their education provision. Offering 1-1 support to carers and scholars and involvement in PEPs meetings supports this ambition to ensure our scholars remain in education.

Financial Review

First Star continues to secure new funders despite the challenges of the economic crisis, including restricted funding for programmes (university-led). First Star had a net increase in funds of £17,710. First Star reports to donors in an annual cycle determined by the timing of funded – donations and donor requirements. Restricted Funds those designated for our campus/ university led programmes or specific research/projects is also reported through First Star where donors require this. Campus/university programme partners also secure funding directly from donors and are solely responsible for reports and audits in relation to these funds. This year restricted funds for university partners have been secured and these are noted in the accompanying accounts - First Star Scholars Unaudited Accounts for the Year Ended 31st March 2023.

Principal Funding Sources

The principal funders for First Star Scholars UK are:

The MariaMarina Foundation; The Peter Cundill Foundation; the National Lottery Community Fund, the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, The Considered Ask and the Portal Trust.

For our university partner programmes, funders include The Linbury Trust, The Paul Hamlyn Foundation, the Dulverton Foundation, the MariaMarina Foundation, KPMG, The Religious of the Assumption, The Peter Harris Foundation, Sussex University.

Investment Policy

First Star does not currently invest funds received.

15

Reserves Policy

The Board of Trustees considered the charity's requirements for reserves in light of the main risks to the charity. It has established a policy whereby the unrestricted funds not committed by the charity should be a minimum of 3 months of the expenditure. The reserves target agreed by Trustees is three months in general funds.

The present level of reserves available to the charity of £153,420 exceeds this target level which is considered a minimum level. This continues to show the impact of Covid-19 and is reflective of the timing of specific grants and funds. New staff employees were employed and included the programme director for the FS2U provision and a head of development (fundraising). Other events, having been delayed, were planned for 2022-23 - these include advocacy research, the annual lecture and evaluation and monitoring activity. the annual lecture has not yet resumed, however in-depth research into the league table of university providers and access to Higher Education is now under way and due for publication in summer 2023. First Star has given great focus to evaluation and monitoring of programmes, beyond simple metrics of GCSE outcomes and is developing a project with a partner university for the summer of 2023. The charity continues with a work from home policy with appropriate online and face to face meetings. Face to face meetings have been established as a monthly event wherever possible. A conference is planned for May 2023 bringing together staff and directors from across all our programmes. Reserves available are £153,420. The timing of donations can affect the held reserves throughout the year.

Restricted funds: The board noted that restricted funds of £124,500 were received.

Restricted funds were spent in compliance with the restrictions of the grant-giving funder.

16

Plans for Future Periods

First Star development continues with the successful provision of the second summer residential at our University of Winchester partner and the third provision of a residential for the 2nd cohort with our St Mary’s partner. First Saturday programmes also continue and attendance rates at over 85% for the former . Attendance at the St Mary’s programme has lagged as the scholars moved through post-16 education and bore the brunt of cancelled face to face residentials and First Saturdays during the Covid Pandemic. The efforts of the staff have ensured regular engagement using a flexible, online model which has paved the way for the FS2U development. The First Summer residential for this new programme was held at Sussex University and offered both academic and creative and challenging activities to the scholars. The feedback from scholars was extremely positive with the next year already being planned. – Scholars were able to access this FS2U programme from across the county coming from as far afield as Newcastle, Bury, Southampton, and Sussex our programmes from a greater geographical area in England. Such expansion is essential to ensure access to, quality and sustainability of our programmes. The launch of the STEAM lecture series was less successful initially, but with revision of the approach is now starting to develop its online potential. We anticipate opening the provision to all GCSE age young people in care (not just First Star scholars as at present). First Star continues to review staffing plans and responded to changes within the year, conserving resources as more staff changes took place this year. The Director of FS2U left for pastures new at the end of the financial year and we have yet to appoint a new Director. This has not impacted the programme delivery with other staff stepping in. First Star recognised the issues of the economic crisis offering support in the form of salary rises to staff. The appointment of the Head of Development was less successful with the post holder leaving within their probationary period. The charity plans to engage a bid writer in the new financial year. First Star has developed an alumni programme of support, both for those who have progressed to higher education and for all our other graduates, offering financial support, budgeting and employment advice and mentoring support. The development of the STEAM programme and the Scholars Council and the Alumni – Programme has led to the provision of a new post Alumni and Project Manager which was filled in November.

Key Performance Indicators over the first 5 years
(established 2019):		 2022- 2023 meeting KPIs
1.
Expansion of Board of Trustees and
addition of Patrons		 Board has expanded from 3 to 5 with 3
more trusteesjoiningboard in 2023-24
2.
6 academies by 2024.Develop virtual
academy / programme by 2021		 2 cohorts at St Mary’s
1 cohort at University of Winchester
1 FS2U cohort
Agreement from SLT at Staffordshire
New partner to be announced in summer
2023 for 2024 start.
2ndcohortplanned forUoW summer 2024
3.
UK wide expansion to include Home
Countries and Ireland		 Discussion with Ireland partners under way
4.
To ensure sustainability of First Star UK
through
o fundraising, Ongoing and all programmes have been
funded–fundraising events with university
partners
o corporate partnerships, Under development
o office and staff expansion, Staffing expanded–alumni manager;
director for Fs2U –admin staff
o marketing Marketing through social media; TES;
o event/project management Events to launch 12by24; annual lecture
planned by postponed–covid;
5.
Advocacy and engagement at national
and local level		 12by24 Report published by Centre for
Social Justice

17

Report Card/League table commissioned
withCivitas
6.
Development projects to focus on
o Annual lecture series (2020 inaugural)
postponed until 2021		 Postponed at the moment–covid and other
projects–plans and discussion with
sponsors under way
o First Star Awards linking curriculum across
programmes		 Awards being developed with Directors–
UoW scholars all taking an award. Fs2U
session linked to diploma throughout setting
mew models of delivery
o Staff training programmes developed in
collaboration with Partners in Youth
Empowerment and Street Games		 Staff training for all developed to embrace
safeguarding, prevent, and expanded to
include all in trauma informed behaviours.
Trustees undertake safeguarding certificate;
key staff trained a DSL and safer
recruitment leads

First Star has made considerable advances to completing these KPls including our 4th programme in recently partnering with the University of Sussex as the provider of the residential setting for the Summer residential for FS2U. First Star continues to develop new university partners and expects to announce a new partner in summer 2023. We continue to develop our plans for a Midlands programme.

The addition of the FS2U programme has seen the recruitment of excellent teachers/tutors, and the introduction of baseline assessments and a curriculum that focuses on scholars needs. This is a challenge because of the geographical reach of the programme engaging with scholars not able to access a physical campus programme while offering the same support, and development through our diploma curriculum and GCSE / post-16 academic development as well as a hybrid campus residential of 1 week. Planning has taken account of the different examination boards and levels (foundation/higher) that scholars are entered for. Provision has included the online STEAM lectures with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths to reflect the employment and academic opportunities at HE that scholars can aspire to.

First Star ’s continued engagement with funders and stakeholders includes local authorities (virtual school heads especially), current and potential programme (University) providers and the university sector, youth fund network with the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, NNECL, the Fair Education Alliance, the Beacon Collaborative, The Portal Trust and Philanthropy Impact. Presentations have been given with the Westminster Events programme and sessions undertaken with Access HE.

Structure, Governance and Management

Governing Document

First Star Scholars UK is a charitable company limited by guarantee, incorporated on 1st November 2017 and registered as a Charity on 19th November 2018. The company was established under a Memorandum of Association which established the objects and powers of the charitable company and is governed under its Articles of Association. Originally established as First Star Academies UK; on 12th February 2020 a resolution was passed to change the name of the charitable company to First Star Scholars UK. This change was confirmed at Companies House and the Charities Commission. In the event of the company being wound up members are required to contribute an amount not exceeding £10.

18

Recruitment and Appointment of Trustees

The Directors of the company are also charity trustees for the purposes of charity law and under t h e company's Articles are known as Trustees. All Trustees give their time voluntarily and received no benefits from the charity. Any expenses reclaimed from the charity are set out in the accounts in the accompanying document.

First Star's work focuses upon young people in care. The Board of Trustees seeks to ensure that the needs of this group are appropriately reflected through the diversity of the trustee body. Ongoing recruitment of trustees reflects the Board’s focus on breadth of expertise, and lived experience reflecting scholars lives; and on sustainability and governance. Recruitment reflects the young people in care/care leaver focus of the charity.

Two scholar special advisors are nominated annually to attend the Board and represent the newly developed Scholar’s Council and the views and ideas of scholars from all programmes. In addition, the strategic plan has been revised and updated to reflect our expansion intent, advocacy activity and sustainability plans. Stakeholder engagement was sought with empathises on input from scholars and alumni. Four values developed through consultation:

Trustee engagement

Most trustees are already familiar with the work of First Star and are encouraged to visit programmes, join events and are keen to offer their expertise for specific projects, challenges, and activity. Trustees are encouraged to engage with scholars through meetings and via visits to a First Saturday or a summer programme. We continue to review and revise our selection and interview process ensuring potential trustees are introduced to the roles and responsibilities of trustees, including the importance of safeguarding.

Trustees review and update our safeguarding policy and their training annually and undertake a DBS check upon appointment. Policies and planning enable trustees to familiarise themselves with the workings of charity. To this end we hold quarterly strategic reviews/meetings to encourage blue sky – thinking these are separate from but lead into the quarterly Trust Board meetings. All materials are securely shared via our online HUB and include an annual

19

Trustees review policies on a cyclical basis and we have engaged an HR consultant to undertake a complete review ensuring we are compliant and up to date.

Risk Management

The Trustees are responsible for the overseeing of the risks faced by First Star. Detailed considerations of risk are delegated to the Executive Director of First Star Scholars UK. Risks are identified, assessed and controls established throughout the year. A formal review of the charity's risk management processes is undertaken on an annual basis with reporting by exception at quarterly board meetings. Risk is managed under the headings of Governance, External Risk/Covid-19 Risk, Regulatory and Compliance Risk, Financial Risk and Operational Risk. These risk categories are under review following the strategic planning/review that has taken place and risks will be aligned to the objectives in the new plan for 2023.

Policies are reviewed on an annual/biannual cycle as appropriate to each policy.

The main risks that the Trustees have identified and the plans to manage those risks are:

Governance: First Star's aim is for continued expansion with clear robust strategic governance.

We manage this risk through the use and development of sub-committees - recruitment, budget, and strategic. Quarterly strategic trust meetings, where wider discussion takes place, enable the exploration of specific developments - discussed, reviewed and planned for. The protocols for recruitment are continually reviewed, and developed and recruitment is led by a founding trustee, ensuring consistency of approach and robust recruitment procedures. The introduction of an HR partner has added review and compliance checks to our policy reviews. All policies have been reviewed and updated by this external agency and protocols for staff management, governance and trustee oversight enhanced.

External Risk/ Post Covid -19 Impact risk: Expansion of our programmes and new projects requires the appointment of new staff; and engagement of university partners in provision leading to successful outcomes for scholars. Risks Include: Programme closure; new programmes not starting; stewardship with donors; changing government policy; safeguarding concerns; online issues including scholars not – engaging or getting zoom fatigue. The impact of Covid 19 remains a risk in relation to outcomes current cohorts are all survivors of lockdown, school closures, school strikes and high levels of absence among returning pupils (post covid).

We manage these risks by - collaborating closely with university partners in programme development, delivery and in fund-raising activities; developing our national advocacy and national profile; increased social media engagement with twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn having regular weekly and monthly posts; increased engagement with local government agencies including attendance at PEPs meetings; engagement with national groups such as the Fair Education Alliance, Virtual School Heads and NNECL. Our engagement includes attending PEP meetings with young people and the team surrounding them; increased offer of small group and 1-1 support for GCSE preparation; clear safeguarding policies and expanding training opportunities and activities for staff.

Regulatory and compliance risks: security of documents; compliance with government, company and charity law is essential and we seek the well-being of staff and those we benefit. Risks include: Nonreturn of compliance documents; report issues to donors; security of documents, staff wellbeing concerns.

We manage these risks through the use of a secure Hub; the support of our legal advisers; the engagement of an external accountancy firm to reconcile expenditure and process salaries each month; – through annual financial examination; reporting and stewardship with donors new employee roles to

20

secure fundraising activities including reporting; agreements and contracts detailing securing timelines with donors and university partner/programmes providers.

Financial risk: sustainably of First Star Scholars UK is essential if our ambitious regional and national expansion is to continue. Risks include: Poor budgetary control; inadequate reserves; lack of fund raising.

We manage these risks by maintain sufficient reserves to ensure staff sustainability and core activity; programme expansion is only assured if sufficient funds are secured for each individual cohort. We undertake monthly and quarterly budget monitoring at trustee and operational levels; we include strategic fundraising for First Sta r and university programmes in our annual plans; the planned appointment of fundraiser/head of development was made although the post holder left within year. Focus is now on appointing a specific fundraiser/bid writer to support sustainability in 2023 onwards.

Operational Risk: expansion brings some additional risk including as additional staff and volunteers are engaged and new partners sought. These risks include - lack of staff capacity and capability; lack of resources to support staff for projects and for new initiatives; lack of attention to staff well-being and health and safety; volunteer issues, whistleblowing.

We manage these risks through consideration of budget for staff resources to support expansion; – regular review of policies; a head of development fundraising was appointed in year but left without – impact a bid writing/fundraising role is being re-established for 2023; a whistleblowing action activated a review panel which the Board of Trustees, and an independent HR specialist consultant undertook the review. After due process, support for the staff, and trustee inquiry, the review recommended HR developments with additional HR provided across the charity and reinforcement for admin/comms; policy review and protocol are ensuring this maturation of provision and new collaborations promote workforce support and provision to match the programme expansion. Programme expansion is secured for the benefit of scholars, and we emphasise ensuring all operational aspects are sustainable for each four-year programme.

Organisational Structure

First Star Scholars UK Board of Trustees – at the year beginning April 2022 8 trustees were members of the Board. Trustees and the Executive Director meet quarterly and are responsible for the strategic direction and policy of the charity. Two trustees stepped down in year and three new trustees are in the process of reinforcing the board through their appointment. Within the financial year 2023-2024 these three new trustees joined the Board and are noted on the list of Trustees signing this document. In addition, legal representatives, and scholars' representatives attend board meetings.

Day to day responsibility for the provision of the services rests with the Executive Director. The Executive Director is responsible for ensuring that the charity delivers the services specified and that key performance indicators are met along with ensuring the charity continues to develop working practices in line with good practice.

Related Parties

First Star works closely with the university partners who provide the setting and support for programmes to enable them to be established and ensure scholars become integrated into the Higher Education experience. Scholars are associated with a particular programme and in the campus model to a particular university, or in the case of FS2U with First Star central. Each university campus programme has a full-time Director appointed by the University who works closely with the Executive Director (FSSUK) to ensure the programme runs according to the curriculum, safeguarding and budget expectations of First Star as established through each Memorandum of Agreement.

This year we have three live programmes and an alumni programme active across the UK. Our camp us programmes started in London and are gradually expanding outwards

21

– south and west, with the prospect of a midlands/north programme in the next 12-18 months. Each programme needs the support of very senior leadership in the university to commence and works best with an enthusiastic champion high up in the staff. It takes between 18-24 months to establish – each programme moving from leadership agreement, legal agreement, fundraising, staffing appointments, scholar recruitment and programme delivery. While the Programme Director is usually appointed and employed by the university there remains a dotted line of responsibility and reporting to the Executive Director of First Star to ensure financial and programme delivery remain consistent with the Agreements and the values of First Star. Monthly directors ’ meetings are supplemented by monthly team meetings and where possible these are face to face. Director's meetings and conferences are expanding to include programme specific staff such as tutors and mentors. These facilitate the sharing of best practice and resources, recruitment and offer support for Directors I programmes.

Reports from each programme detail progress, issues, as well as metrics and both hard and soft data on our scholars. These assist in planning and budget monitoring. All funding for each programme is accounted in fiscal reviews. This ensures, financially and reputationally, that the budget and Agreements between First Star and each partner university are adhered to. Reports for funders/donors are prepared and presented as requested/agreed - some aspects of stewardship for programme funding run through First Star and for specific funders programmes report directly to their donor/s. The university Programme Directors are responsible for reports, providing data and narrative either direct to donors or for funder reporting via FSSUK. The reporting process is negotiated with each donor separately, with some funds channeled through First Star and some funds provided directly to the university for each programme.

----- Start of picture text -----
Funder C
Programme X
Funder B
joint bids or bid
through FSSUK
Funder A
Programme y
FSSUK
Funder D
core / central
operations
Funder E
FS2U
Funder F
----- End of picture text -----

Funding relationships:

First Star maintains its own core costs and secures the FS2U budget and funding – both remaining separate from the Programmes at different university providers. University providers are responsible for auditing their own accounts.

Responsibilities of the Board of Trustees

Company law requires the Board of Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the charitable company as at the balance sheet date and of its incoming resources and application of resources, including income and expenditure, for the financial year.

In preparing these financial statements, the trustees followed best practice and:

Selected an accounting firm and adopted their accounting policies applying them consistently to provide monthly reconciling and reports, quarterly reports and provide annual unaudited accounts;

22

made judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and

prepared financial statements on a going concern basis.

The Board of Trustees is responsible for maintaining proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charitable company and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 1985. The monthly accounting records are delegated to the Executive Director and regular reports are provided for trustees. The trustees prepare a quarterly update scrutinised at the quarterly Board meetings.

The Board of Trustees is 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.

The Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees are directors for the purpose of company law and trustees for the purpose of charity law, who served during the year and up to the date of this report are set out in the accompanying document.

In accordance with company law, as the company's directors, we certify that:

“so far as we are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the company's independent examiners are unaware; and as the directors of the company we have taken all the steps that we ought to have taken in order to make ourselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the charity's independent examiner is aware of that information.”

Independent Examiner

Critchley's were re-appointed as the charitable company's Independent Examiners providing unaudited accounts and have expressed their willingness to continue in that capacity.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. The Independent Examiner is satisfied that the accounts of the company are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination. The Independent Examiners Report accompanies this document.

Agreed by the Board of Trustees

Peter Samuelson Marta Drummond Stuart Irvine Jason Arday Nawtej Dosanjh Cath Dovey

Trustees appointed in 2023-2024

Colette Fletcher Imogen Beecroft Jade Standley

and signed on their behalf by:

Mr Peter Samuelson. Chair of Trustees

Date 1 3 th December 2023

23

FIRST STAR SCHOLARS UK

INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT

TO THE TRUSTEES OF FIRST STAR SCHOLARS UK

I report to the trustees on my examination of the financial statements of First Star Scholars UK for the year ended 31 March 2023.

Responsibilities and basis of report

As the trustees charity (and also its directors for the purposes of company law) you are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 (the 2006 Act).

Having satisfied myself that the financial statements of the charity are not required to be audited under Part 16 of the 2006 Act and are eligible for independent examination, I report in respect of my examination of the charity’s financial statements carried out under section 145 of the Charities Act 2011 (the 2011 Act). In carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the 2011 Act.

Independent examiner's statement

Since the charity’s gross income exceeded £250,000 your examiner must be a member of a body listed in section 145 of the 2011 Act. I confirm that I am qualified to undertake the examination because I am a member of , which is one of the listed bodies.

I have completed my examination. I confirm that no matters have come to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:

I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the financial statements to be reached.

Robert Kirtland FCA Critchleys Audit LLP

Beaver House 23-38 Hythe Bridge Street Oxford OX1 2EP

Dated: .........................

24

FIRST STAR SCHOLARS UK

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

Unrestricted
Restricted
funds
funds
2023
2023
Notes
£
£
Income and endowments from:
Donations and legacies
3
187,280
124,500
Other income
4
621
-
Total income
187,901
124,500
Expenditure on:
Charitable activities
5
230,093
64,598
Net (expenditure)/income for the year/
Net movement in funds
(42,192)
59,902
Fund balances at 1 April 2022
135,710
-
Fund balances at 31 March 2023
93,518
59,902		 Total Unrestricted
funds
2023
2022
£
£
311,780
263,600
621
-
312,401
263,600
294,691
269,557
17,710
(5,957)
135,710
141,667
153,420
135,710

The statement of financial activities includes all gains and losses recognised in the year.

All income and expenditure derive from continuing activities.

The statement of financial activities also complies with the requirements for an income and expenditure account under the Companies Act 2006.

25

FIRST STAR SCHOLARS UK

BALANCE SHEET

AS AT 31 MARCH 2023

Notes
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
9
Current assets
Cash at bank and in hand
Creditors: amounts falling due within one
year
10
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities
Income funds
Restricted funds
11
Unrestricted funds		 2023
£
159,380
(17,131)		 £
11,171
142,249
153,420
59,902
93,518
153,420		 2022
£
143,516
(10,646)		 £
2,840
132,870
135,710
-
135,710
135,710

The company is entitled to the exemption from the audit requirement contained in section 477 of the Companies Act 2006, for the year ended 31 March 2023.

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements.

The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476.

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

The financial statements were approved by the Trustees on ...13th December 2023 ......................

.............................. Stuart Irvine Trustee

Company registration number 11067711

26

FIRST STAR SCHOLARS UK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

1 Accounting policies

Charity information

First Star Scholars UK is a private company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is C/O Critchleys LLP, Beaver House, 23-38 Hythe Bridge Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1 2EP.

1.1 Accounting convention

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the charity's articles of association, the Companies Act 2006, FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the Charities SORP "Accou nting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102)" (effective 1 January 2019). The charity is a Public Benefit Entity as defined by FRS 102.

The charity has taken advantage of the provisions in the SORP for charities not to prepare a Statement of Cash Flows.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the charity. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

1.2 Going concern

At the time of approving the financial statements, the trustees have a reasonable expectation that the charity has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the trustees continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

1.3 Charitable funds

Unrestricted funds are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of their charitable objectives.

Restricted funds are subject to specific conditions by donors as to how they may be used. The purposes and uses of the restricted funds are set out in the notes to the financial statements.

1.4 Income

Income is recognised when the charity is legally entitled to it after any performance conditions have been met, the amounts can be measured reliably, and it is probable that income will be received.

Cash donations are recognised on receipt. Other donations are recognised once the charity has been notified of the donation, unless performance conditions require deferral of the amount. Income tax recoverable in relation to donations received under Gift Aid or deeds of covenant is recognised at the time of the donation.

Legacies are recognised on receipt or otherwise if the charity has been notified of an impending distribution, the amount is known, and receipt is expected. If the amount is not known, the legacy is treated as a contingent asset.

27

FIRST STAR SCHOLARS UK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

1 Accounting policies

(Continued)

1.5 Expenditure

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. Direct costs attributable to a single activity are allocated directly to that activity. Shared costs which contribute to more than one activity and support costs which are not attributable to a single activity are apportioned between those activities on a basis consistent with the use of resources.

1.6 Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.

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

Office equipment

Straight line depreciation over 4 years.

The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the statement of financial activities.

1.7 Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts.

Basic financial assets

Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.

Basic financial liabilities

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

1.8 Employee benefits

The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.

Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the charity is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.

1.9 Retirement benefits

Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.

28

FIRST STAR SCHOLARS UK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements

In the application of the charity’s accounting policies, the trustees 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.

3 Donations and legacies

Unrestricted Restricted Total Unrestricted
funds funds funds
2023 2023 2023 2022
£ £ £ £
Grants 91,948 9,500 101,448 251,574
Donations 95,332 115,000 210,332 12,026

4 Other income

Unrestricted Total
funds
2023 2022
£ £
Other income 621 -

29

FIRST STAR SCHOLARS UK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

5 Charitable activities

Support costs
Staff costs
Depreciation and impairment
Advertising and marketing
Office costs
Travel and subsistence
Information technology
Other costs
Independent examination fees
Accountancy and payroll fees
Professional fees
Recruitment fees
Donations given
Activities undertaken directly
Provision of academic and life skills education to children in social care
Analysis by fund
Unrestricted funds
Restricted funds		 2023
£
172,134
2,994
891
8,814
17,460
6,215
9,302
3,168
4,854
4,159
7,704
21,112
258,807
35,884
294,691
230,093
64,598
294,691		 2022
£
115,170
725
2,222
12,355
8,971
9,906
3,795
2,709
5,284
-
-
-
161,137
108,420
269,557
269,557
-
269,557

6 Trustees

None of the trustees (or any persons connected with them) received any remuneration or benefits from the charity during the year.

7 Employees

The average monthly number of employees during the year was:

2023 2022 Number Number

6 2

30

FIRST STAR SCHOLARS UK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

7
Employees
Employment costs
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs
The number of employees whose annual remuneration was more than £60,000
is as follows:		 (Continued)
2023
2022
£
£
154,487
103,775
11,910
7,373
5,737
4,022
172,134
115,170
2023
2022
Number
Number
1
1		 (Continued)
2023
2022
£
£
154,487
103,775
11,910
7,373
5,737
4,022
172,134
115,170
2023
2022
Number
Number
1
1
115,170
2022
Number
1

8 Taxation

The charity is exempt from tax on income and gains falling within section 505 of the Taxes Act 1988 or section 252 of the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 to the extent that these are applied to its charitable objects.

9 Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets
Office equipment
£
Cost
At 1 April 2022 4,915
Additions 11,325
At 31 March 2023 16,240
Depreciation and impairment
At 1 April 2022 2,075
Depreciation charged in the year 2,994
At 31 March 2023 5,069
Carrying amount
At 31 March 2023 11,171
At 31 March 2022 2,840

31

FIRST STAR SCHOLARS UK

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

10 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
Other taxation and social security
Trade creditors
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income		 2023
£
3,801
10,507
243
2,580
17,131		 2022
£
4,044
3,729
293
2,580
10,646

11 Restricted funds

The income funds of the charity include restricted funds comprising the following unexpended balances of donations and grants held on trust for specific purposes:

Movement in Movement in funds Movement in funds
funds
Incoming
Balance at		 Incoming Resources Balance at
resources 1 April 2022 resources expended 31 March 2023
£ £ £ £ £
University of Winchester - - 38,000 (30,000) 8,000
FS2U - - 55,000 (3,986) 51,014
FSS Summer School staffing - - 9,500 (9,500) -
The Portal Trust - - 22,000 (21,112) 888
- - 124,500 (64,598) 59,902
Details of the restricted funds are included in the trustees report.
Analysis of net assets between funds
Unrestricted Restricted Total Unrestricted
funds funds funds
2023 2023 2023 2022
£ £ £ £
Fund balances at 31 March 2023 are represented
by:
Tangible assets 11,171 - 11,171 2,840
Current assets/(liabilities) 82,347 59,902 142,249 132,870
93,518 59,902 153,420 135,710

12 Analysis of net assets between funds

13

Related party transactions

During the year ended 31 March 2023, trustee expenses were paid to one trustee for travel and subsistence totaling £4,977 (2022: £3,679 to two trustees).

32

Total trustee donations in the year were £3,767 (2022: £nil)