**SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY EDUCATION CHARITY Charitable Incorporated Organization; Registered Charity No: 1185489 Founded by Edna Mathieson** 

## **REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

**FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024** 



## **REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS** 

## **SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY EDUCATION CHARITY** 

## **FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024** 

|**Our Aims**|**3**|
|---|---|
|**Our Impact**|**3**|
|**Our People**|**5**|
|**Our Financing**|**5**|
|**Our Strategy**|**5**|
|**Our Organisation**|**6**|
|**Officers and Advisors**|**7**|
|**Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities**|**8**|
|**Declarations**|**8**|
|**Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees**|**9**|
|**Statement of Financial Activities**|**10**|
|**Balance Sheet**|**11**|
|**Notes to the Financial Statement**|**12**|





**SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY EDUCATION CHARITY TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024** 

## **Our Aims** 

The Southwark Community Education Charity (SCEC) offers academic enrichment programmes within the local educational community that inspire children’s curiosity, ambition and confidence. We collaborate with three leading independent schools – Dulwich College, Alleyn’s and the James Allen’s Girls’ School (each a Partner School) – to operate enrichment schemes across literacy, maths, science and creative arts for primary school children in Southwark, Lambeth and Lewisham. The schemes afford pupils opportunities to participate in applied learning activities and expand their access to resources that facilitate their learning in fun and engaging ways. We want every child to embrace learning with curiosity and excitement. 

## **Our Object** 

To advance education within the London Borough of Southwark and the neighbouring boroughs of Lambeth and Lewisham through the operation of a scheme or series of schemes of academic enrichment lessons for children of primary age to promote learning, motivation and confidence. 

## **Our Impact** 

## **Our Schemes** 

Together with our Partner Schools, we currently offer four academic enrichment programmes to local state (maintained, voluntary aided and academy) primary school pupils which run on Saturday mornings for 1 to 2 terms and which are free to attend. Our Partner Schools host the schemes on their premises and contribute their teaching and learning expertise to the oversight and development of the curriculum. They also provide ancillary services related to the delivery and administration of the schemes. Most of these services are provided on a _pro bono_ basis. 

## **Literacy** 

Our Literacy Scheme, hosted by JAGS, is offered to children in Year 3 (aged 7-8) who are finding reading and writing challenging but who do not receive significant SEND support from their primary schools. They are taught by primary school specialists. 

The aim of the sessions is to increase the confidence of each child, whilst also encouraging them to enjoy reading and writing and to experience pleasure from engaging with books and stories. Lessons are designed around autobiography and biography as well as revisiting traditional fairy tales. Each child is assigned a mentor, a senior girl from JAGS, who works alongside her/him week by week providing small group supervision. Over the course of two terms, pupils in three classes of approximately 15 children attend up to 18 sessions in total. 

## **Mathematics** 

Our Mathematics Scheme, hosted by Alleyn’s School, is offered to children in Year 5 (aged 9-10) who already demonstrate an aptitude for mathematics. The sessions are taught by experienced maths teachers, with senior students from Alleyn’s School acting as mentors to help the children develop their skills and problem-solving strategies. 

The aim of the scheme is to provide Year 5 pupils with an exciting and educational experience in mathematics. The programme is designed to go beyond the national curriculum, challenging and stimulating the pupils' interest and ability in maths through a variety of engaging activities. Pupils engage in logic puzzles, innovative games, practical hands-on experiments, and explore topics such as codebreaking, 

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algebra puzzles, time zones, and triangle number problems. We aim to provide a fun and stimulating environment where pupils can improve their maths skills, make new friends, and grow in confidence. Sixty one children were split into four classes attending 17 sessions over two terms. 

## **Science** 

Our Science Scheme, hosted by Dulwich College in their state-of-the-art science labs, is offered to Year 5 children (aged 9-10) with an interest in and motivation to learn more about science.  Sessions are led by specialist teachers in biology, chemistry and physics. and supported by Year 12 and 13 mentors from Dulwich College and Sydenham High. 

The aim of the sessions is to help children develop confidence in experimentation, learn to draw conclusions from observations, and leave inspired by the possibilities of science. The sessions include engaging presentations and demonstrations on fascinating topics, as well as the chance to conduct GCSE-level practicals, such as flame tests in chemistry, heart dissections in biology, and rocket building in physics. In the final session, parents and guardians are invited into the laboratory, where children showcase their knowledge and understanding. Three classes of 20 children attend approximately 9 sessions over the course of a single term. 

## **Creative Arts** 

Our Creative Arts Scheme, also hosted by Dulwich College, offers Year 5 children with an interest in art the opportunity to explore art and design in Dulwich College’s specialist studios. Guided by four expert teachers and supported by Year 12 and 13 mentors from the College and Sydenham High, children experiment with printmaking, clay sculpture, and digital art. 

The aim of the sessions is to provide an immersive artistic experience to nurture creativity, hone technical skills, and inspire a passion for artistic discovery. From creating collagraph prints to designing coral reef tiles that highlight climate change, they engage in meaningful artistic expression. In the Mac suite, they are introduced to Photoshop, where they transform abstract self-portraits into digital masterpieces. Two classes of approximately 12 children attend 8 sessions over the course of a single term. 

## **Overview** 

In the 2023-24 academic year, we worked with 14 local primary schools to identify nearly 200 pupils to participate in our schemes, namely: 

Ashmole Primary School SW8 1NT Bessemer Primary SE5 8HP Dog Kennel Hill Primary School SE22 8AB Dulwich Wood Primary School SE21 8NS Elm Wood Primary School SE27 9RR Fenstanton Primary School SW2 3PW Heber Primary School SE22 9LA Holy Trinity CE Primary School SW16 2JQ Ivydale Primary School SE15 3BU Kelvin Grove SE26 6BB Paxton Primary School SE19 1PA Rye Oak Primary School SE15 3PD St Anthony’s RC Primary School SE22 0LA St Georges CE Primary SE23 2NE 

Each primary school is invited to nominate pupils who would benefit the most from a particular scheme. Places are offered to the nominated pupils, and a waiting list is established once all places have been filled. 

- Features of the charity’s schemes which emphasised the public benefit of its activities in 2023-24 were: ● Attendance on the schemes remained free of charge 

   - 197 children from local primary schools benefitted in 2023-24. 

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- Across the schemes, approximately 40% of the children attending contributed to the pupil premium grant in their School. 

- Across the schemes, approximately 25% of the children were described by their school as having a special educational need. 

- 47 Year 3 children who find reading and writing a challenge benefited from one-to-one tuition in literacy skills. 

- 61 Year 5 children with above-average mathematical skills followed an enriching curriculum designed to supplement and expand their mathematical experience 

- 64 Year 5 children attended enrichment sessions in laboratory science activities 

- 25 Year 5 children attended a term of creative arts activities 

## **Our People** 

## **Teaching Staff** 

The charity is fortunate in continuing to be able to recruit and retain well-qualified staff, most of whom live locally. Teachers on the Science and Creative schemes are drawn from the Dulwich College teaching staff. Teachers on the Literacy and Numeracy schemes are employed by the partner schools specifically to teach on these schemes. 

## **Safeguarding** 

In keeping with the charity’s commitment to safeguard the welfare of children in its care, its Recruitment, Child Protection and Health and Safety policies are reviewed regularly. 

## **Our Financing** 

We rely on the generosity of grant-giving trusts and other bodies for funding its running expenses (in particular the salaries of its teachers) as well as private donors. In addition, we also receive in-kind support from our Partner Schools, which includes help with administration, rent-free accommodation and running the payroll. In 2023-24 we received further instalments of the legacy from Miss Kathleen Francis of £227,300 which together with amounts in 2021-22 and 2022-23 totals £406,161 to date. 

## **Financial Review** 

Total income for the year rose from £180,295 (2023) to £288,236 (2024). Net incoming resources were £227,424 (2023: – £118,289). The surplus for the year was added to reserves brought forward from previous years. Net assets at 31 August 2024 were £415,874. 

## **Reserves Policy** 

The trustees are mindful of the necessity of maintaining sufficient reserves to allow the schemes to be run efficiently, ideally half the annual budgeted expenditure in case of a shortfall in donations or an unexpected expenditure. We currently have a large reserve due to an extremely generous legacy from a former chair of trustees. The funds are being held to support the future operating budget of the schemes and possible expansion plans. The uses of these funds are reviewed and evaluated regularly in line with our strategy. 

## **Risk Management** 

The Board of Trustees continues to review the major risks which the charity faces and introduces changes to procedures where appropriate to mitigate perceived risk. The Risk Management Policy is reviewed annually. The Charity is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office. 

## **Our Strategy** 

We are committed to developing curious, ambitious and confident learners by expanding access to academic enrichment opportunities for young children and by fostering collaboration among education providers in the local community. 

5 



In 2023, the board commenced a multi-year strategic review and transformation across governance, impact, operations and finance.  As part of this initiative in October 2024, we completed a restructure of our governance model with several key outcomes: 

- Increasing board capacity by increasing the board size and recruiting trustees with key skills 

- Building strategic relationships with our Partner Schools through the creation of an Advisory Committee 

- Defining clear roles and responsibilities for trustees 

We anticipate that this strategic initiative will help establish strong foundations to position SCEC to extend its offerings and reach and deepen relationships with local schools. 

## **Our Organisation** 

SCEC is a registered Charitable Incorporated Organization (Charity number 1185489). Founded by Edna Mathieson as Southwark Community Education Council, it was first registered with the Charity Commission in October 1992 and became a CIO in 2019. We deliver our schemes together with our Partner Schools – Dulwich College, Alleyn’s and the James Allen’s Girl’s School – three leading independent schools in South London each of which has a strong reputation for academic excellence. 

## **Board of Trustees** 

SCEC is governed by a Constitution which provides that the Board must have a minimum of 6 trustees and a maximum of 13. The Board is currently comprised of 12 trustees. Each of our Partner Schools, Dulwich College, Alleyn’s and JAGS, have the right to nominate two trustees to the Board. The remaining trustees are co-opted by the Board on the basis of their skills and experience. 

Trustees meet at least four times a year. All Trustees give their time freely and are not compensated for their work with us. 

As part of their fundamental responsibilities, the Trustees continued to work to ensure that the charity is complying with all statutory requirements and is being run efficiently. The Trustees are committed to discharging their duties in line with the Charity Commission’s Guidance on public benefit. 

## **Advisory Committee** 

In October 2024, SCEC established an Advisory Committee composed of our Chair of Trustees and the Heads of Dulwich College, Alleyn’s and JAGS. The Advisory Committee’s role is to provide advice, scrutiny and challenge to our Board and facilitate strategic alignment among SCEC and its Partner Schools, however it is not a decision-making body. 

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**SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY EDUCATION CHARITY OFFICERS AND ADVISERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2024** 

|**Status**<br>Charitable Incorporated Organization|**Status**<br>Charitable Incorporated Organization|
|---|---|
||Charity No 1185489|
||registered September 2019|
||(Formerly Southwark Community Education Council, Registered Charity No|
||1003405)|
|**Trustees**<br>Ms Alexandra Cambouris, Chair (Co-opted)||
||Ms Kerri-Anne Bahth (JAGS nominee)|
||Mr Neil Green (Alleyn’s nominee)|
||Dr Toby Griffiths, Safeguarding Trustee (Dulwich College nominee)|
||Ms Eleni Papoula - Ibrahim (Co-Opted) (from June 2024)|
||Ms Helen Ingham (Co-Opted)|
||Ms Jane Lunnon (Alleyn’s nominee)|
||Ms Rhona Muir (JAGS nominee)|
||Dr Cameron Pyke (Dulwich College nominee)|
||Ms Pauline Simpson, Treasurer (Co-Opted)|
||Ms Suzanne Saullo (Co-Opted through June 2024)|
||Ms Maiken Vestergaard-Poulsen (Co-Opted) (from June 2024)|
|**Scheme Administrator**<br>Anita Arthur||
|**Y3 Literacy scheme co-ordinator**|Ms Kerri-Anne Bahth|
|**Y5 Mathematics scheme co-ordinator**|Mr Neil Green|
|**Y5 Saturday Science co-ordinators**<br>|Ms Alexis Lacheze-Beer & Ms Dina Dawit|
|**Y5 Creative Arts co-ordinator**<br>Ms Finley Way||
|**Address**|c/o Dulwich College|
||Dulwich Common|
||London SE21 7LD|
|**Bankers**|HSBC Bank plc|
||28 Borough High Street|
||London|
||SE1 1YB|
|**Independent Examiner**|Mr S A Lewcock FCCA|



7 



## **Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities** 

The Trustees are required to prepare financial statements for each financial year which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of results of the charity for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required to: 

- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; 

- make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; 

- prepare the financial statements on the ongoing concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the project will continue to operate. 

The Trustees are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. 

The Trustees confirm that the financial statements comply with the requirements of the charity’s governing document and the requirements of SORP. 

## **Declarations** 

The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above. 

Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees 

Alexandra Cambouris Chair (date) ……………………………………………………. 


**----- Start of picture text -----**<br>
8 May 2025<br>**----- End of picture text -----**<br>


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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY EDUCATION CHARITY
I resy)rt on the accounts ol the charity for the year ended 31 August 2024, which a￿ set out attached to the report.
This report is made solely to the tharivs trustees, as a body, in accordan￿ with the Charities Act 2011. My independent
examination has been undertaken so that I might state to the charity's trustees those matters l am ￿Uired to state to
them in an independent examinerfs report and for no other purpose. To the full8st extent pemiitted by law, I do not accèpt
or assume responsibility to anyone other than the charity and the charitys trustees as a body for my independent
xaminei's work, for th15 report or foi the 5t8t8fflent I have giv8n.
Respective responsibilit188 of tho trustees and independent Exarnlner
The charity's trustees a￿ responsible for the preparation of the aceounts." the charities trustees consider that an audit is
not required for this year under se¢lion 144121 ol the 2011 Charities Act (the 2011 Acll and that an independent
examinats.on is needed.
It Is rny respon5ibilty to-.
examine the account5 under Section 145 01 the 2011 Act.,
follow the Pro￿dureS laid down in the General Directions given by the Charity Comrnission under section 14515llbl of the
2011 Act., and
- stats whether p8rticu18r mattèrs hava corne to rny attgnlion.
Basls of Indepet)dent examlnerfs report
My examination was (arried out in accordan￿ with the General DI￿¢tionS given by the Charity Commission. That
examinatyon includes 8 review of the ac¢ounting records kept by the charity anij a comparison of the accounts p￿Sente(l
with those records. 11 also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking
explanations from you as trustees concerning any such matters. The proce(lU￿$ undertaken do not provide all the
evidence that would be required in an audit. and consequently no opinion Is given whether the accounts present a'true
and fair view and the report is limited to thosa matt6rs sèt out in th8 Statement b81ow.
Independent examlnerf8 Statement
In connection wth my examination, no m8tt8r has com8 to my 8tt8ntion.'
111 which gives me reasonable Cause to believe that in any material respect the ￿qUireMents..
to keep accounting records in accordan￿ with section 130 of the 2011 Act., and
to prepare accounts which accord ￿th the accounting records and to comply wth th8 accounting requirements
ofthe 2011 Act have not b8en rnet., or
121 to which, in my opinion, attents.on should be diawn. in ord8r to 8n8bl8 a proper und8rstsnding of th8 accounts to be
reached
S.A. L8wcock FCCA
Windsor Lodge
Millfield Rtsad
Hounslow
mKId￿SeX TW4 5PN
12 December 2024

SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY EDUCATION CHARITY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st AUGUST 2024 

____________________________________________________________________________________ 

|Note<br>INCOMING RESOURCES<br>Grants and donations<br>received<br>5<br>Legacy<br>6<br>Other income<br>6<br>Bank interest<br>TOTAL INCOMING<br>RESOURCES<br>RESOURCES EXPENDED<br>Tutor fees payable<br>Other expenses<br>Gifts in kind<br>Project expenses (insurance, etc)<br>Independent examiner's fee<br>TOTAL RESOURCES<br>EXPENDED<br>Net incoming/(outgoing) resources<br>before transfers<br>Transfers between funds<br>Fund balances brought forward at<br>1 September 2023<br>Fund balances carried forward at<br>31 August 2024|Unrestricted<br>Fund<br>£<br>9,000<br>227,300<br>47,607<br>4,329<br>288,236<br>11,429<br>0<br>47,607<br>1,576<br>200<br>60,812<br>227,424<br>188,450<br>415,874|Restricted<br>Fund<br>£<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>3,931<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>3,931<br>-3,931<br>3,931<br>0|Total<br>2024<br>£<br>9,000<br>227,300<br>47,607<br>4,329<br>288,236<br>15,360<br>0<br>47,607<br>1,576<br>200<br>64,743<br>223,493<br>192,381<br>415,874|2023<br>£<br>16,953<br>118,500<br>44,470<br>372|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|||||180,295|
|||||15,760<br>0<br>44,470<br>1,576<br>200|
|||||62,006|
|||||118,289<br>74,092|
|||||192,381|
||||||



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## SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY EDUCATION CHARITY 

## BALANCE SHEET 

## AS AT 31st AUGUST 2024 

_____________________________________________________________________ 

|Note<br>CURRENT ASSETS<br>Cash at Bank<br>LESS: CURRENT LIABILITIES<br>Sundry creditors<br>NET CURRENT ASSETS<br>NET ASSETS<br>4<br>REPRESENTED BY<br>Funds:<br>Unrestricted<br>3<br>Restricted<br>2<br>TOTAL FUNDS|2024<br>2023<br>£<br>£<br>416,074<br>192,581<br>-200<br>-200|
|---|---|
||415,874<br>192,381|
||415,874<br>192,381<br>415,874<br>188,450<br>0<br>3,931|
||415,874<br>192,381|



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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st AUGUST 2024 

___________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

## 1 ACCOUNTING POLICIES 

The accounts are prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with the statement of recommended practice for Charity Accounts, published by the Charity Commission. 

Income is accounted for on a receivable basis. Gifts in kind are included in income and expenditure at a value equivalent to the lower of market value and value in use to the charity. 

Expenditure is accounted for on an accruals basis. All costs are charged in the Statement of Financial Activities directly to the category to which they relate. 

Unrestricted funds are funds which are available for use at the discretion of the trustees in furtherance of the general objectives of the charity and which have not been designated for other purposes. 

Restricted funds are funds which are used in accordance with the specific instructions imposed by the donors or which have been raised by the charity for particular purposes. 

## 2 RESTRICTED FUNDS 

||Incoming|Resources|Balance||
|---|---|---|---|---|
||Resources|Expended|||
||£|£||£|
|JAGS Literacy Scheme|3,931|-3,931||0|



3 UNRESTRICTED FUNDS 

|Incoming|Resources|Balance|
|---|---|---|
|Resources|Expended||
|£|£|£|
|288,236|-60,812|227,424|



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## 4 NET ASSETS BY FUND 

|NET ASSETS BY FUND||
|---|---|
|Restricted<br>Unrestricted<br>Total as at 31 August 2023|Current<br>Current<br>Net<br>Assets<br>Liabilities<br>Assets<br>£<br>£<br>£<br>0<br>0<br>0<br>416,074<br>-200<br>415,874|
||416,074<br>-200<br>415,874|



- 5 GRANTS AND DONATIONS RECEIVED 

Grants and donations were received from: 

Dulwich College James Allen's Girls' School Alleyn's School 

## 6 OTHER INCOME 

Legacy received from the estate of Kathleen Francis, first chair of trustees 

Other income includes £47,607 (2023: £44,470) of intangible income. An equivalent amount has been included in Gifts in kind. It represents the value of the free use of the premises of the three independent schools together with administrative and payroll support costs in connection with running the schemes. 

## 7 TRUSTEES’ EXPENSES 

No trustee received any expenses reimbursed during the year. 

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