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2025-08-31-accounts

Free Movement Skateboarding CIO

Trustee Annual Report

For the year ended 31 August 2025

Contents

  1. Reference and Administrative Details

  2. Report of the Trustees

  3. Structure, Governance and Management

  4. Objectives and Public Benefit

  5. Impact Overview

  6. Financial Review

  7. Charitable Activities and Achievements

  8. Insights from the Annual Survey

  9. Beyond Skateboarding

  10. Challenges and Lessons Learned

  11. Future Plans and Strategic Priorities

  12. Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities

Report of the Trustees

The Trustees present their annual report for Free Movement Skateboarding CIO for the year ended 31 August 2025.

The report has been prepared in accordance with the Charities Act 2011 and the Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting and Reporting by Charities (FRS 102).

Structure, Governance and Management

Free Movement Skateboarding (FMS) is a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), registered charity number 1184649.

The Trustees are responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the charity and meet regularly to review activities, finances, safeguarding, operational delivery, and long-term planning. Trustees give their time voluntarily and receive no remuneration or financial benefit from the charity.

FMS continues to operate through a combination of full-time staff, sessional instructors, volunteers, and partner organisations in Greece and internationally.

The Trustees regularly review the charity’s aims, objectives, and activities to ensure they remain aligned with the organisation’s charitable purposes and continue to provide public benefit.

Objectives and Public Benefit

The objectives of Free Movement Skateboarding are:

  1. To promote community participation in healthy recreation for the public benefit by providing facilities and activities capable of improving health and wellbeing, including but not limited to skateboarding.

  2. To provide or assist in the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure-time occupation, primarily for individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of youth, age, disability, financial hardship, or social circumstances, with the objective of improving their conditions of life.

Free Movement Skateboarding uses skateboarding as a tool to create safe and inclusive spaces for marginalised children and young people in Athens. Through weekly sessions, school-based delivery, community events, and educational activities, the charity supports participants’ wellbeing, empowerment, and social cohesion.

The organisation works primarily with children and young people from refugee, migrant, Roma, working-class, FLINTA, and disability communities, providing accessible and free activities in public spaces and schools.

The Trustees confirm that they have referred to the Charity Commission’s guidance on public benefit when reviewing the charity’s aims and activities.

Impact Overview

During the reporting period, Free Movement Skateboarding continued to expand its reach and strengthen the quality of its delivery across Athens and surrounding areas.

Key Impact Statistics

The charity’s weekly public skateboarding sessions remained central to its work, providing consistent, free, and inclusive opportunities for children and young people from diverse communities.

FMS continued to prioritise accessibility and inclusion by delivering sessions in neighbourhoods directly accessible to beneficiaries and communities facing social and economic barriers. Sessions were held in public spaces, schools, community centres, and disability support organisations.

The charity also made significant progress in participation from girls and non-male skaters. Girl participation reached 49% - the highest level FMS has recorded - reflecting their ongoing commitment to gender inclusion.

Financial Review

Free Movement Skateboarding operates through both a UK Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, and a Greek non-profit organisation (AMKE), registered with GEMI. This financial review reflects the activities of both organisational forms, which work together to deliver the charity's programmes in Greece.

During the year, the UK CIO received income of £68,118.43 and incurred expenditure of £48,064.84 . The Greek AMKE received income of £29,517.58 and incurred expenditure of £64,558.59 , alongside grant funding transferred from the UK organisation to support programme delivery. The figures presented below show the combined position of both organisations, with internal transfers removed to avoid double counting.

During the year ended 31 August 2025, total income amounted to £97,637.98 . Income was primarily derived from grant funding, including support from the adidas Foundation, Choose Love, The SkateRoom, Skateistan, and UNESCO SEVENTEEN. Additional income was received through partnerships, fundraising activities, individual donations, and other charitable income.

Total expenditure for the year amounted to £83,267.61 (excluding internal transfers between the UK and Greek organisations). The largest area of expenditure was staff and programme delivery costs, reflecting the charity's commitment to providing regular, high-quality skateboarding and youth development activities. Additional expenditure supported transport, equipment, administration, and operational costs.

The charity reported a net surplus for the year of approximately £14,368 , increasing total funds available to support future activities. Cash balances at the year end amounted to £52,331.41 , providing a solid foundation for continued programme delivery and organisational development.

The Trustees are satisfied that the charity remains in a sound financial position. They continue to monitor reserves, diversify funding sources, and maintain appropriate financial controls to support the long-term sustainability of the organisation.

The Trustees would like to thank all funders, donors, partners, and supporters whose contributions made the charity's work possible during the year.

Charitable Activities and Achievements

What We Offer

FMS recognises skateboarding as a powerful tool for supporting physical, emotional, and social wellbeing. Through participation in skateboarding, young people are encouraged to build confidence, resilience, perseverance, and self-expression while developing positive social relationships.

The organisation’s sessions provide opportunities for children and young people to engage in physical activity, reduce stress and anxiety, and experience a sense of belonging within a supportive community environment.

Alongside skateboarding, FMS delivers parallel activities and creative workshops, particularly for younger siblings and participants who may not yet feel confident skating. These activities include value-based games, art workshops, and group activities focused on themes such as respect, teamwork, inclusion, and emotional wellbeing.

The organisation also continued to deliver the Edu-Skate curriculum developed by the Concrete Jungle Foundation. Edu-Skate combines skateboarding activities with non-formal educational themes including creativity, confidence, teamwork, resilience, and communication.

During the reporting period:

The curriculum continues to play an important role in strengthening participants’ social and emotional learning alongside their skateboarding development.

Overview of Sessions and Events

FMS delivered three primary forms of activity during the year:

Weekly Public Sessions

Weekly public sessions remained the core of the organisation’s work. These free and open sessions brought together children and young people from a wide range of cultural, social, and economic backgrounds.

Public sessions represented 89% of all sessions delivered during the reporting period and reached 68% of all unique participants across seven locations.

The sessions were designed to create safe, inclusive, and welcoming spaces where young people could build confidence, form friendships, and participate in positive community activities regardless of financial or social barriers.

Participants from 56 different cultural backgrounds attended sessions throughout the year, demonstrating the organisation’s commitment to diversity and social cohesion.

School-Based Sessions

FMS continued to strengthen partnerships with public schools in Athens, delivering skateboarding sessions directly within educational environments. These collaborations improved accessibility for children who may otherwise face barriers related to transport, cost, or exclusion.

The organisation maintained regular collaborations with elementary schools as well as a Special Needs Elementary School in Zefyri.

Community Events and Extra Sessions

Throughout the year, FMS organised and participated in 24 community events and collaborative activities. These events expanded the organisation’s reach, strengthened partnerships, and created opportunities for cultural exchange, visibility, and advocacy.

Key events included:

These events promoted inclusion, participation, gender equity, and community engagement while introducing new audiences to the organisation’s work.

Insights from the Annual Survey

The annual participant survey gathered responses from 39 young participants aged 7 to 15. The findings highlighted the positive impact of FMS sessions across key areas of wellbeing, including confidence, social relationships, and sense of safety.

Key Findings

Safety and Inclusion

Participants reported feeling significantly safer in FMS sessions than in public spaces.

Confidence and Skill Development

More than 65% of respondents reported improvements in confidence, perseverance, teamwork, and resilience as a result of attending sessions.

Social Cohesion and Friendship

Trusted Support Networks

97% of participants stated that they felt comfortable approaching the FMS team for support with personal problems or concerns.

The findings reinforce the importance of the charity’s work in creating safe and supportive spaces where young people can develop emotionally, socially, and physically.

Session Debrief and Monitoring

Following each session, instructors complete debrief forms to document participant engagement, safeguarding observations, behavioural incidents, and community interactions.

This process supports reflective practice and ongoing improvements in delivery.

Debrief data collected during the reporting period demonstrated strong levels of positive interaction and community engagement.

Positive Outcomes Observed

FMS remained transparent about the behavioural and safeguarding challenges that arose during some sessions. Instances of disrespectful behaviour, peer conflict, bullying, and discrimination were addressed through trauma-informed approaches, restorative conversations, and ongoing staff support

Beyond Skateboarding

Expanding Inclusivity

Sessions for Participants with Disabilities

Increasing accessibility for participants with disabilities was a key strategic priority during the reporting period.

In response, FMS established collaborations with:

The organisation delivered regular monthly sessions through these partnerships, engaging 25 unique participants with disabilities during the year.

These sessions represented an important step toward improving representation and accessibility within skateboarding in Greece.

Filika and Ps(h)y Dex

FMS continued to expand its FLINTA-focused projects, Filika and Ps(h)y Dex, both supported through the Skateistan Roll Models Programme.

These initiatives were developed to create safer and more welcoming spaces for girls, women, and gender-diverse participants within the skateboarding community.

Filika

Filika continued to provide weekly meet-ups, skate sessions, and community events focused on girls and queer skaters in Athens.

The project supported 41 regular participants and organised multiple events throughout the year, including Pride Month activities, community skate jams, and collaborative workshops.

Ps(h)y Dex

Ps(h)y Dex focused specifically on girls and genderqueer participants aged 12 and above.

The project combined skateboarding with discussions around mental health, inclusion, creativity, and empowerment.

During the reporting period, five dedicated community events were delivered through the project, engaging 58 individual participants.

Challenges and Lessons Learned

The operating environment in Athens continued to present significant social and economic challenges for the communities served by FMS.

Urban development projects and public space closures increasingly affected the availability of safe and accessible locations for sessions. At the same time, rising living costs and economic instability continued to disproportionately impact refugee, migrant, Roma, and working-class communities.

The charity also encountered safeguarding challenges throughout the year, particularly in its work with young people who have experienced trauma, displacement, social exclusion, or unstable living conditions. These challenges reflect the complex needs of the communities FMS serves, and the organisation remains committed to responding with appropriate, trauma-informed care.

The Trustees recognise that effective, trauma-informed youth work requires continuous learning, reflection, and adaptation.

In response, the organisation:

By Spring and Summer 2025, no safeguarding incidents were reported during sessions following the implementation of the above additional safeguarding and wellbeing strategies,

The Trustees remain committed to ensuring that all activities are safe, inclusive, and responsive to participants’ needs.

Overcoming Barriers

As public spaces became increasingly inaccessible during the year, FMS adapted its delivery model by strengthening partnerships with schools, parent associations, and community organisations.

This resulted in:

The organisation also continued to prioritise girl participation and FLINTA inclusion through weekly girls’ sessions and dedicated community projects.

Parallel activities including art workshops, collective painting projects, breathing exercises, mindful warm-ups, and value-based games continued to support emotional regulation, creativity, and social interaction.

These activities complemented skateboarding delivery and strengthened the organisation’s trauma-informed and holistic approach to youth work.

Organisational Development and Capacity Building

During the reporting period, FMS continued investing in team development, safeguarding, and organisational learning.

Training and professional development included:

These opportunities strengthened the organisation’s ability to deliver safe, inclusive, and impactful activities.

Strategic Priorities and Future Plans

Sessions and Programme Expansion

Over the next three years, FMS aims to strengthen and gradually expand weekly skateboarding sessions, with a focus on quality, inclusion, and sustainability.

Future plans include:

Curriculum and Infrastructure

The organisation will continue developing its in-house curriculum and teaching methodology through the “Rolling Together” project funded by the adidas Foundation.

The curriculum aims to provide a comprehensive toolkit supporting instructors and youth workers in delivering safe, inclusive, and empowering skateboarding sessions.

FMS will also continue investing in:

Inclusion and Partnerships

The charity will continue expanding collaborations with organisations supporting refugees, migrants, and participants with disabilities.

A new collaboration with Yoga and Sports for Refugees (YSR) began in September 2025 through the Sports for Refugees Coalition programme. The partnership aims to strengthen inclusion, representation, and community leadership by involving coaches with refugee and migrant backgrounds in FMS activities.

The organisation is also participating in an Innovation Incubation Learning Hub funded by Olympism365, Women Win, and Beyond Sport to develop best-practice guidance for skateboarding sessions supporting young people with learning disabilities.

Governance and Participation

FMS aims to strengthen participatory governance by:

The Trustees remain committed to ensuring that young people’s voices directly inform the future direction of the organisation.

Learn to Take a Break

During August, skateboarding sessions are paused due to extreme summer temperatures and reduced participant availability.

This period allows the organisation to focus on administration, strategic planning, fundraising, partnership development, safeguarding review, and preparation for the following delivery cycle.

The Trustees believe this seasonal pause contributes positively to the sustainability, safety, and long-term effectiveness of the organisation.

Conclusion

The Trustees are proud of the continued growth and impact achieved by Free Movement Skateboarding during the reporting period.

Despite significant social, economic, and operational challenges, the organisation continued to provide safe, inclusive, and empowering opportunities for hundreds of children and young people across Athens.

The Trustees remain committed to strengthening the charity’s sustainability, expanding access, and ensuring that skateboarding continues to be used as a meaningful tool for wellbeing, empowerment, and social cohesion.

Statement of Trustees' Responsibilities

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees' Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards.

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Charities Act 2011. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The Trustees declare that they have approved the Trustees' Annual Report and financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2025.

Approved by the Board of Trustees on: 9/6/2026

Signed on behalf of the Trustees:

Name: David Ascott

Position: Trustee

Signature:

Date: 9/6/2026

Independent Examiner's / Auditor's Signature Page

I report on the accounts of Free Movement Skateboarding CIO for the year ended 31 August 2025, which are set out in the accompanying financial statements.

Independent Examiner / Auditor:

Name: Michael Richmond

Professional Qualification: ACCA

Address: 5 Traherne Close, Hitchin, Herts. SG4 9DS

Signature: Date: 7/6/2026