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 2025
REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY EDUCATION CHARITY
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
| Our Aims | 3 |
|---|---|
| Our Impact | 3 |
| Our People | 5 |
| Our Financing | 6 |
| Our Strategy | 7 |
| Our Organisation | 7 |
| Officers and advisers for the year ended 31 August 2025 | 9 |
| Statement of Trustees’ Responsibilities | 10 |
| Declarations | 10 |
| Independent Examiner’s Report to the Trustees | 11 |
| Statement of Financial Activities | 12 |
| Balance Sheet | 13 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 14 |
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SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY EDUCATION CHARITY TRUSTEES’ REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
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.
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 Purpose
In 2024-25, we examined our organisational purpose, mission and vision in light of our stated charitable objects. The outcome of this work was a clarified and refined statement of purpose:
Purpose
We offer academic enrichment opportunities to inspire children’s curiosity, ambition and confidence.
Vision
We want every child to embrace learning with curiosity and excitement.
Mission
We run academic enrichment programmes for primary school-aged children in Southwark, Lambeth, and Lewisham. Our initiatives provide opportunities for applied learning, expand access to resources, and foster collaboration within the local education community.
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 for approximately two hours on Saturday mornings for one to two terms. Our schemes are free to attend. Neither pupils’ families nor local state-funded primary schools who nominate pupils for our schemes pay any fees to participate. 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. In 2024-25:
- 189 children from local primary schools attended one of our schemes
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Across the schemes, approximately 52% of the children attending contributed to the pupil premium grant in their primary school
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Across the schemes, approximately 21% of the children were described by their school as having a special educational need.
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47 Year 3 children who find reading and writing a challenge benefited from one-to-one tuition in literacy skills.
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57 Year 5 children with above-average mathematical skills followed an enriching curriculum designed to supplement and expand their mathematical experience
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60 Year 5 children attended enrichment sessions in laboratory science activities
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25 Year 5 children attended a term of creative arts activities
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.
In 2024-25, a total of 47 children were enrolled in our Literacy scheme, which ran for 16 sessions over two terms.
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, 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.
In 2024-25, a total of 57 children were enrolled in our Maths scheme, which ran for 18 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 GCSElevel 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.
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In 2024-25, a total of 55 children were enrolled in the scheme, which ran for 9 sessions in the autumn 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 the College’s expert teachers and supported by Year 12 and 13 mentors from the College and Sydenham High Girls’ School, 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.
In 2024-25, 25 children were enrolled in the scheme, which ran for 8 sessions in the spring term.
Our Primary School Partners
In the 2024-25 academic year, we worked with 18 local primary schools in boroughs of Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark to identify189 pupils to participate in our schemes, namely:
| School | Post Code |
|---|---|
| Ashmole Primary School | SW8 1NT |
| Bessemer Grange Primary School | 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 |
| Harris Primary Academy* | CR0 8RQ_Child transferred in-year_ |
| Heber Primary School | SE22 9LA |
| Holy Trinity CE Primary School | SW16 2JQ |
| Ivydale Primary School | SE15 3BU |
| Kelvin Grove Primary School | SE26 6BB |
| Kingswood Primary School | SE 27 9RD |
| 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 |
| Streatham Wells Primary School* | SW2 3NJ_Child transferred in-year_ |
| Vauxhall Primary School | SE11 5LG |
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.
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 Maths schemes are recruited for their specialist expertise and employed by SCEC specifically to teach on these schemes.
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Administration
In November 2024 we hired a Scheme Director to serve as our first non-teaching employee with responsibility for overseeing charity administration and operations. The Scheme Director is a part-time employee reporting directly to the Board of Trustees.
Student Mentors
Each of our schemes is supported by volunteer student mentors. Our student mentors are recruited from our Partner Schools, JAGS, Alleyn’s and Dulwich College, as well as Sydenham High, a local leading independent girls’ school. The mentors provide in-classroom support to our pupils and in some cases may lead portions of a lesson.
Safeguarding
In keeping with the Charity’s commitment to safeguard the welfare of children in its care, its Safeguarding Policy is 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. Since 2021 we have received £406,161 from the legacy of Miss Kathleen Francis. The interim distributions totaling £227,300 were received in the 2023-2024 financial year with the residue from the estate distributed in 2025-2026 totaling approximately £50,000.
Financial Review
Total income for the year 2024-25 was £65,279. Expenditure was £84,828.
The fund balances brought forward at 1 September 2024 was £415,874. The net outgoing resources before transfers were -£19,549 resulting in a fund balance carried forward at 31 August 2025 of £396,325. There are currently no restrictions on our funds.
In November 2024, we hired a Scheme Director, our first administrative employee, to manage charity administration and oversee operations. The addition of this role is the principal driver of the material increase in our staffing costs year-on-year to £41,576 in 2024-25 from £15,360 in the prior period.
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.
As at 31 August 2025, approximately £300,000 was held in reserve in the form of short-term cash deposits. Due to the variability of funding year-on-year, the trustees aim to generate some interest income on capital reserves while ensuring sufficient availability of funds to meet our annual operating expenditures.
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 regularly. The Charity is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office.
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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.
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:
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Increasing board capacity by increasing the board size and recruiting trustees with key skills
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Building strategic relationships with our Partner Schools through the creation of an Advisory Committee
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Defining clear roles and responsibilities for trustees
In 2025 we refreshed our statements of purpose, vision and mission which established a clear frame for our strategy and the further development of our schemes as set out above in “Our Aims – Our Purpose”. As part of this effort, we committed to enhancing our offer within the local community.
Consistent with that commitment, in June 2025, the Board approved a proposal for a pilot choral music scheme to run in Autumn 2025 at Dulwich College.
We anticipate that these strategic initiatives 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 11 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.
Amendments to our Constitution
In October 2024, we amended our Constitution to better align our governance practices with our strategic objectives. These amendments included:
- An increase to the size of our board from 11 to 13 trustees achieved through an increase in the maximum number of co-opted trustees from 5 to 7, to enable SCEC to broaden the skills represented at the Board level.
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The creation of an advisory committee consisting of the heads of all three of our Partner Schools and removing the requirement that one trustee be the head of our Partner School.
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Provision for the automatic removal of a trustee from the Board under specific circumstances to align with our safeguarding duties.
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Clarification of the circumstances under which the Board may remove a trustee at its discretion, including in the event that a nominated trustee ceases to be an employee of the appointing body.
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 2025
Status Charitable Incorporated Organization Charity No 1185489 registered September 2019 (Formerly Southwark Community Education Council, Registered Charity No 1003405) Trustees Ms Alexandra Cambouris, Chair (Co-opted) Ms Kerri-Anne Bahth (JAGS nominee) Ms Isobel Baylis (Co-opted) Ms Melissa Fife (Co-opted) Mr Neil Green (Alleyn’s nominee) Dr Toby Griffiths (Dulwich College nominee) Mr Rohit Gulati (Co-opted) [Appointed Treasurer March 2025] Ms Helen Ingham (Co-opted) [Retired from the Board July 2025] Mr Ben Jones (Alleyn’s nominee) Ms Rhona Muir, Safeguarding Trustee (JAGS nominee) Ms Eleni Papolou – Ibrahim, Treasurer (Co-opted) [ Resigned from the Board April 2025] Mrs Jenny Stanley (Dulwich College Nominee) [ Joined the Board December 2024] Ms Maiken Vestergaard-Poulsen (Co-opted) Scheme Director Ms Daniela Warr Schori Y3 Literacy scheme co-ordinator Ms Kerri-Anne Bahth/Ms Catrin Shepherd Y5 Mathematics scheme co-ordinator Mr Neil Green Y5 Saturday Science co-ordinators Ms Alexis Lacheze-Beer & Ms Dina Dawit Y5 Creative Arts co-ordinator 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
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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:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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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) ……………………………………
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SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY EDUCATION CHARITY
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st AUGUST 2025
| Unrestricted Fund Note £ INCOMING RESOURCES Grants and donations received 5 9,000 Legacy 6 0 Other income 6 39,634 Bank interest 16,645 TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCES 65,279 RESOURCES EXPENDED Staffing Cost 41,576 Other expenses 0 Gifts in kind 39,634 Project expenses (insurance, legal etc) 3,354 Bank cherges 64 Independent examiner's fee 200 TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED 84,828 Net incoming/(outgoing) resources -19,549 before transfers Transfers between funds Fund balances brought forward at 415,874 1 September 2024 Fund balances carried forward at 396,325 31 August 2025 |
Restricted Fund £ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
Total 2025 £ 9,000 0 39,634 16,645 65,279 41,576 0 39,634 3,354 64 200 84,828 -19,549 415,874 |
2024 £ 9,000 227,300 47,607 4,329 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 288,236 | |||
| 15,360 0 47,607 1,576 0 200 |
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| 64,743 | |||
| 223,493 192,381 |
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| 396,325 | 415,874 | ||
SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY EDUCATION CHARITY
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31st AUGUST 2025
| __________ | __________ | __________ | __________ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2024 | ||
| Note | £ | £ | |
| CURRENT ASSETS | |||
| Cash at Bank | £ | 387,526 |
416,074 |
| Debtors | 9,000 | ||
| LESS: CURRENT LIABILITIES | |||
| Sundry creditors | -200 | -200 | |
| NET CURRENT ASSETS | 396,326 | 415,874 | |
| NET ASSETS | 4 | 396,326 | 415,874 |
| REPRESENTED BY | |||
| Funds: | |||
| Unrestricted | 3 | 396,326 | 415,874 |
| Restricted | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| TOTAL FUNDS | 396,326 | 415,874 | |
| Approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf |
Trustee Date
SOUTHWARK COMMUNITY EDUCATION CHARITY NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st AUGUST 2025
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 £ £ £ 0 0 0
3 UNRESTRICTED FUNDS
Incoming Resources Balance Resources Expended £ £ £ 65,279 -84,828 -19,549 Incoming resources included £3000 each receivable from schools - note 5
4 NET ASSETS BY FUND
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Current Current Net
Assets Liabilities Assets
£ £ £
Restricted 0 0 0
Unrestricted 396,526 -200 396,326 Including £3000 each
receivable from schools -
note 5
Total as at 31
396,526 -200 396,326
August 2025
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5 GRANTS AND DONATIONS RECEIVED
An invoice was raised for £3000 each to the schools pertaining to year 2024-25, which was paid by the schools in November and December 2025
Dulwich College
James Allen's Girls' School
Alleyn's School
6 OTHER INCOME
Other income includes £39,634 (2024: £47,607) 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 STAFFING COSTS
Staffing costs include the addition of a part time scheme director from November 2024.
No person was paid over £60,000 p.a.
8 TRUSTEES' EXPENSES
No trustee received any expenses reimbursed during the year.