Trustees’ Annual Report for the period
From 6/04/2024 Period start date To - 05/04/2025 Period end date
Charity name: Academics Stand Against Poverty UK
Charity registration number: 1183564
Objectives and Activities
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document |
Para 1.17 | To prevent or relieve poverty through undertaking and supporting academic research and other projects to understand the factors that contribute to poverty and the most appropriate ways to mitigate these. Nothing in this constitution shall authorise an application of the property of the CIO for the purposes which are not charitable in accordance with section 7 of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 and section 2 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008. |
| Summary of the main activities in relation to those purposes for the public benefit, in particular, the activities, projects or services identified in the accounts. |
Para 1.17 and 1.19 |
Academics Stand Against Poverty UK (ASAP UK) is the UK chapter of an international association that focusses on issues in the UK & overseas. We draw on the independence & creativity of academics and students to question existing practices regarding poverty, providing a platform for the community to address important moral & social issues & focus academic attention and intelligence upon them. We have five key objectives: 1. Build a diverse network of academics, and provide a platform for them to connect with each other. 2. Support our networks in developing a multi-disciplinary evidence base in relation to poverty, inequality and human flourishing that can be used for policy-making. 3. Equip our network of academics with the tools and skills to engage effectively with policy-makers and the media. 4. Connect policy-makers with our academic network, both to provide |
| them with a better understanding of the existing research and to link up research with their needs and objectives. 5. Widen the public discourse around poverty, inequality and flourishing society, to enable the public to hold policy-makers to account for the implications of policy decisions. |
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|---|---|---|
| Statement confirming whether the trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit |
Para 1.18 |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
SORP reference N/A Para 1.38 Policy on grant making N/A Para 1.38 Policy on social investment including program related investment N/A Para 1.38 Contribution made by volunteers N/A Other
Achievements and Performance
| SORP reference | ||
|---|---|---|
| Summary of the main achievements of the charity, identifying the difference the charity’s work has made to the circumstances of its beneficiaries and any wider benefits to society as a whole. |
Para 1.20 | The charity seeks to draw on the independence and creativity of academics to question existing practices regarding poverty. To this end the charity has sought to formalise its presence in the UK by incorporating as a UK registered charity in order to bolster its ability to undertake projects and to collaborate with others. The charity undertakes a range of activities particularly focussing on events and activities that draw together and convene multidisciplinary academics to discuss |
different the most pressing issues regarding poverty (both in the UK and overseas) to determine ways to shine a light on issues that are not always duly considered and to explored.
Additional information (optional)
| Additional information (optional) | Additional information (optional) | Additional information (optional) |
|---|---|---|
| You may choose to include further statements where relevant about: | ||
| Achievements against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | We continue to work towards ensuring key posts amongst Trustees are in place during the recent transition in Trustees with a new Chair now in post. Our recruitment activity in the previous year has not resulted in suitable candidates for appointment and so we will renew our recruitment activity. This is necessary as one of the Trustees will stand down at the end of this year resulting in a need to not only replace them but secure additional Trustees. As such we will be looking to expand Trustees to include an extra member to take on the Treasurer role and increase capacity of current Trustees. The charity was able to deliver its planned 2024 Election Manifesto Audit. We had a success partnership with the Policy Press who were able to publish the output but also host additional outputs linked to this activity (blog series and podcast). Are work towards redeveloping the seminar series has progressed and will look to secure funding to support events. We continue to build existing networks with a variety of Learned Associations such as the Social Policy Association, British Sociology Association amongst others – this work will be led by our Chair. |
| Performance of fundraising activities against objectives set |
Para 1.41 | The charity has not typically raised funds to support its activity. We may look to do so for some events in the future. |
| Investment performance against objectives |
Para 1.41 | |
| Other |
Financial Review
| Financial Review | ||
|---|---|---|
| Review of the charity’s financial position at the end of the period |
Para 1.21 | The charity still has no income – as outlined in previous returns we have been planning our potential fundraising activity and will now be seeking funds to support our Manifesto Audit project as well as networking and outreach work with Learned Societies. Such funds would be used to ensure activity remains relevant to the purpose and focus of the charitable objectives of the charity. |
| Statement explaining the policy for holding reserves stating why they are held |
Para 1.22 | The charity is still at a foundational stage but will work towards developing a policy that as it generates income it will work towards ensuring the organisation holds reserves sufficient to support 3 months running costs. |
| Amount of reserves held | Para 1.22 | £0 |
| Reasons for holding zero reserves |
Para 1.22 | The organisation does not have an income adequate to build reserves as yet. |
| Details of fund materially in deficit |
Para 1.24 | N/A |
| Explanation of any uncertainties about the charity continuing as a going concern |
Para 1.23 | N/A |
Additional information (optional) You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
The charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising) |
Para 1.47 |
Our fundraising relies on two separate, but linked, approaches: First, we will fundraise for specific projects e.g. Manifesto Audit where appropriate. The kind of donors we will be targeting include ActionAid and University funding. Second, we are aiming to fundraise core costs to support our events programme and ongoing engagement activities. We are seeking around three philanthropic donors. The collateral needed for each type of donor is slightly different and requires different proposals, monitoring and reporting requirements. Our fundraising approach will be tailored accordingly |
|---|---|---|
| Investment policy and objectives including any social investment policy adopted |
Para 1.46 | |
| A description of the principal risks facing the charity |
Para 1.46 | |
| Other |
Structure, Governance and Management
| Description of charity’s trusts: |
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|---|---|---|
| Type of governing document (trust deed, royal charter) |
Para 1.25 | Constitution |
| How is the charity constituted? (e.g unincorporated association, CIO) |
Para 1.25 | CIO |
| Trustee selection methods including details of any constitutional provisions e.g. election to post or name of any person or body entitled to appoint one or more trustees |
Para 1.25 | Election of board members at Board Meetings by its members (the Board) |
Additional information (optional)
You may choose to include further statements where relevant about:
Policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees |
Para 1.51 |
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|---|---|---|
| The charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works |
Para 1.51 | |
| Relationship with any related parties |
Para 1.51 | |
| Other |
Reference and Administrative details
| Charity name | Academics Stand Against Poverty UK |
|---|---|
| Other name the charity uses | ASAP UK |
| Registered charity number | 1183564 |
| Charity’s principal address | C/O CLERKENWELL WRITERS GUILD 2 WARDROBE PLACE LONDON |
| EC4V 5AH |
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole year |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catarina Tully | ||||
| Carla Washbourne | Treasurer | 6thApril 2024 to 31st March 2025 |
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| Gerardo Arriaga- Garcia |
Secretary | |||
| Lee Gregory | Chair | |||
| Thomas Bundschuh |
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– Corporate trustees names of the directors at the date the report was approved Director name
Name of trustees holding title to property belonging to the charity Trustee name Dates acted if not for whole year
Funds held as custodian trustees on behalf of others
Description of the assets N/A held in this capacity
Name and objects of the N/A charity on whose behalf the assets are held and how this falls within the custodian charity’s objects Details of arrangements for N/A safe custody and segregation of such assets from the charity’s own assets
Additional information (optional)
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information)
Type of Name Address adviser
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Exemptions from disclosure
Reason for non-disclosure of key personnel details
Other optional information
Declarations
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s) Full name(s) Lee James Gregory Carla-Leanne Washbourne Position (eg Secretary, Chair Treasurer (acting) Chair, etc) Date 31/01/2025